FIRST EVER LIFEBOAT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION PLYMOUTH: JULY 19 - AUGUST 17LIFEBOAT INTERNATIONAL is the slogan chosen for the International Lifeboat Exhibition which is to be held in West Hoe Park, Plymouth, from July 19 to August 17. It is to be one of the major events in The Year of the Lifeboat'.

The people of Plymouth are very proud that their port and city has been chosen for the exhibition, and are showing their pleasure in a number of practical ways: a site has been provided free, some financial support has been promised, and a wealth of advice based on local knowledge has been put at our disposal.

The exhibition area will extend over about four acres and it will be housed under special framed tents. As well as displays depicting the history and development of the RNLI, five overseas lifeboat services are taking stands: Canada, France, German Federal Republic, the Netherlands and the USA. Other UK services engaged in search and rescue operations will also be represented: the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, HM Coastguard, the Post Office and Trinity House will all be there. Finally, some of the firms associated with the building, maintenance and supply of equipment, materials and stores for the RNLI's fleet will have their own stands. Souvenirs will be on sale and there will be refreshment facilities.

No exhibition would be completewithout the boats themselves, and the RNLI plans to have at Plymouth a new lifeboat from each of the following classes: 70'Clyde, 52' Arun, 50'Thames, 44' Waveney and 37' Rother—all selfrighting boats. These will be joined by five foreign lifeboats. One, from France, will be there the whole time, but the others will make visits of varying length during the exhibition. A lifeboat from Norway is expected, although the dates of her visit are not yet known; Arwed Emmingham, a 26.6 m rescue cruiser with daughter boat from the German Federal Republic, will be in Plymouth from the opening for four days; Wiatr, a 21.02m rescue cruiser from Poland, will be there from July 19-30; and Sigurd Golje, a 23.8 m patrolling steel lifeboat from Sweden, from July 19-August 5.

The US Coast Guard may be sending one of their Coast Guard cutters on a short visit to Plymouth during the exhibition period.

On display inside the exhibition it is hoped to have the RNLI's last pulling lifeboat from Whitby, and, if a suitably generous sponsor can be found to cover the transportation costs, an 1873 RNLI standard 30' self-righting double-banked lifeboat on loan from the Mariners Museum, Newport News, USA. Outside the tented area it is intended to have a 'Liverpool' lifeboat on her carriage: a boat which is expected to become a permanent exhibit at the Exeter Maritime Museum after she leaves Plymouth.Special attractions will include search and rescue demonstrations in Plymouth Sound by RN and RAF helicopters, HM Coastguards and lifeboats. The Royal Marines will perform the ceremony of Beat Retreat on Plymouth Hoe, there will be a firework display and lifeboats will be present at some of the major local yachting and waterborne events.

A yacht rally at Plymouth is being arranged over the opening weekend, and with races, receptions and visits to the exhibition and lifeboats it should prove a most enjoyable gathering. Ex-lifeboats will also be welcome.

The two Dutch lifeboat societies also celebrate their 150th anniversaries in 1974 and they wish to show parts of the Plymouth exhibition at their own international lifeboat exhibition being held in Amsterdam later in the year. It is hoped that the Lord Mayor of Plymouth and Burgomaster of Amsterdam will each pay official visits to the other's city and exhibition.

Response to requests for volunteers to help at the exhibition has been wonderful.

The manning of the large souvenir stall is now assured for the whole period, but other jobs, such as wardens, sellers of programmes, membership, admission and draw tickets, as well as jobs in the office and at the enquiries desk, are still available. Anyone willing to help should get in touch with me, Commander P. D. Sturdee, QBE, RN, RNLI Exhibition Office, 30 George Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth, PL1 3NY, telephone 69124.

We are looking for support for this unique exhibition from all friends of the RNLI and hope that as many people as possible will visit Plymouth while it is on. You may have to wait 150 years for the next one!.