WHEN RICHARD EVANS, the former Moelfre coxswain, concluded his reply to the toast of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at a dinner given by the Corporation of London in Guildhall on April 26 to mark 'The Year of the Lifeboat', all those present spontaneously rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation. It was a tribute both to a man of great distinction, who had spoken most felicitously, and also to a tradition of 150 years which was being respectfully marked. On only two other occasions since 1945 have speakers at Guildhall received standing ovations: one was Mr Harold Macmillan when he received the Freedom of the City of London; the other was Sir Alec Douglas- Home.

Second gift of lifeboat In proposing the toast of the RNLI, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Hugh Wontner, singled out two individuals for mention: one was Richard Evans, the other was Major Osman Gabriel. On April 25 the Lord Mayor, in his capacity of a member of the Committee of Management of the RNLI, had formally received from Major Gabriel a new lifeboat, which stood outside Guildhall for two days. This lifeboat is named Mary Gabriel and is the second which Major Gabriel has presented to the RNLI. To provide the money for the boat, Major Gabriel sold his collection of rare jade and stamps. The lifeboat, which is now stationed at Hoylake and which was presented by Major Gabriel to celebrate his 59th wedding anniversary, was named at Shoreham, near Major Gabriel's home, by Lady Egremont, on May 2. Mary Gabriel is one of the Rother class, and before the naming ceremony had taken place she had already been out on an effective lifesaving mission.Cathedral Services The celebrations of 'The Year of the Lifeboat' began in Britain with a service in St Paul's Cathedral on March 4, and in the Republic of Ireland with a reception given by the Minister for Transport and Power in St Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle on the same day.

The service in St Paul's was a deeply moving event attended by the Queen Mother and the Duke and Duchess of Kent. The Archbishop of Canterbury preached a most inspiring sermon and a lesson from the Old Testament was read by Rabbi Dr Leslie Edgar. The congregation included Mr Harold Wilson, who later that day was called upon by the Queen to form a new Government.

It is known that at least 150 otherTelegram received by Commander F. R, H. Swann, CBE, RNVR, Chairman, Royal National Life-boat Institution, May 22: At the thirty-second session of the Council of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization now meeting in London it was unanimously agreed that the outstanding record of the Royal National Life-boat Institution be recognized on this its 150th anniversary. On behalf of the Council it gives me great pleasure to convey our congratulations on this proud occasion and to reaffirm our appreciation and commendation for the distinguished contribution made by the RNLI in the saving of life at sea.

Rear Admiral Edwards, US Coast Guard, Chairman IMCO Council.services of thanksgiving and dedication have been held to mark 'The Year of the Lifeboat' in churches and chapels.

Services were held in St Patrick's National Cathedral, Dublin, and in Exeter, Liverpool, Manchester, Chichester and St Albans Cathedrals on March 10, and in the Cathedrals of Winchester, York, Durham, Salisbury and Truro subsequently.

Paintings of lifeboats A painting of the St Ives lifeboat entitled In Face of Danger by Ben Maile was presented to the RNLI and sold to a private collector for £5,000. A limited edition of 600 signed artist's proofs were printed by Solomon and Whitehead, also to be sold for the benefit of the RNLI for £100 each. Mr Maile was himself once helped by a Cornish lifeboat, the Newquay ILB, and in gratitude and in recognition of the work of the RNLI in the past 150 years he offered his picture for sale in the hope of raising enough money to provide a new lifeboat.

Lifeboat paintings were exhibited in the Guildhall Art Gallery in London in April. Many of the paintings have adorned the walls of 42 Grosvenor Gardens, and they include works by William Joy, C. Stanfield, T. C. Dugdale, David Cobb and Francis Russell Flint.

James Carmichael's picture of Grace Darling and her father putting off to the Forfarshire was also included, and beneath the portrait of Sir William Hillary was a striking watercolour by W. L. Wyllie.

Lifeboat International This number of THE LIFEBOAT is largely devoted to the important exhibition known as 'Lifeboat International', which is being held in Plymouth from July 19 to August 17. Its sub-title is 'The Men Who Never Turn Back'. It is known that new lifeboats from France, the Federal German Republic, Norway, Poland and Sweden will join the fournew RNLI lifeboats, the whole flotilla sailing from Poole on passage for Plymouth on July 16. From July 16-20 there will be a visit of a cadet squadron of the United States Coast Guard.

HRH The Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI, will formally open the exhibition at West Hoe Park, after visiting the boats afloat.

Among the principal exhibits will be the only pulling lifeboat of the RNLI still preserved in this country. This is the former Whitby lifeboat, Robert and Ellen Robson, which is normally on display in a museum at Whitby. As a curtain-raiser to the University Boat Race, this boat was rowed by a crew formed of past presidents of Oxford and Cambridge boat clubs at Putney on April 5. A commentary on the row was given in the BBC television programme 'Nationwide' by the former Sheringham coxswain, Henry 'Downtide' West.

New Chief of Operations Attention has been called in recent numbers of THE LIFEBOAT to the huge boat building programme on which the RNLI is now engaged. In order to concentrate his immense energies on this programme, Lt-Commander W. L. G.

Dutton, who has held the post of chiefinspector of lifeboats since 1961, has assumed a new post as controller/ lifeboat construction and development.

The operational tasks for which the chief inspector was formerly responsible have now been taken over by Commander D. B. Cairns, with the title of chief of operations. Before taking over his new appointment, Commander Cairns held staff appointments in the RNLI head office. He has also served as inspector of lifeboats in areas from the Wash to Plymouth and in Ireland..