IN THE EARLY HOURS of November 30, 1973, the motor vessel Burtonia sank off the east coast of England with the loss of four lives. Three men were picked up by another motor vessel and one by Aldeburgh lifeboat. The Aldeburgh and Lowestoft lifeboats were both launched and they recovered three bodies. The Department of Trade and Industry decided that a formal investigation was called for, and the findings of this were published on July 31. The court found that the Joss of life was caused by the shifting of the Burtonia's cargo of lead concentrate and that this was contributed to by the wrongful act or default of the owners. It was stated specifically in the report 'that there was never any criticism of the Royal National Life-boat Institution'.

The report did, however, deal at some length with problems of search and rescue, and immediately after the findings were made public the DTI announced that action had already been taken to bring home the lessons of the Burtonia incident to people responsible for SAR operations around the coasts.

In particular they had been reminded of the need to up-date information about the position and crews of casualties, especially when they are moving, and to use three-figure bearings instead of cardinal points.

It was stated in the report that 'the significance of the co-ordinating role in search and rescue is not universally appreciated'. The question of whether the role of co-ordination was purely advisory or whether it ought to be supervisory in some respects was considered, the conclusion reached being: 'We consider that the true role of the Coastguard is that of giving the best informed advice available . . . It is notnecessary for the Coastguard to instruct a particular lifeboat to launch. It would seem far more desirable to continue the practice that the Coastguard should request a particular lifeboat authority to launch.' Largest lifeboat flotilla In the month of July the largest flotilla of modern lifeboats ever assembled was seen in Plymouth, and perhaps the largest number of lifeboat supporters ever to be found in one place at one time enjoyed the hospitality of Her Majesty the Queen in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

The International Lifeboat Exhibition at Plymouth was opened by the Duke of Kent, the RNLI's President, on July 19, and of the various ceremonies associated with it none was more moving that that which took place on Sunday July 21, when the various lifeboats put out together and a wreath was laid on the water to commemorate lifeboatmen of all nations who had given their lives in an attempt to save others. The exhibition itself has aroused intense interest, and a man of long experience in the exhibition field described it as the best marquee exhibition he could remember having seen.

The number of active supporters of the RNLI is fortunately so large that sadly but inevitably many had to be excluded from the garden party at Buckingham Palace on July 16. From those who had the good fortune to be present the Institution has received numerous letters stating how memorable the occasion was. Among those who were deeply moved, and to whom the event had a very special significance, were Mrs Matthew Barber, Mrs William Barber and Mrs Richard Stevens, all of whom had come up from St Ives in Cornwall. All three were widows of menwho lost their lives when the St lifeboat capsized in 1939.

Ives Bristol and Ship Owners Another major appeal has been launched to enable the people of a district to provide their own lifeboat. A new lifeboat of the 70' class known as City of Bristol has already been formally named, and the people of Bristol and district are being called upon to raise £150,000 to cover her cost. A number of leading figures in the business world in Bristol are combining together under the chairmanship of Sir Tom Hood, and the chairman of the working committee, John Hill, is himself a director of one of the oldest established shipbuilding firms.

From time to time people ask about the support given to the RNLI byshipping companies and shipping interests generally. It is gratifying to be able to report that recently the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company presented a cheque for £10,000 to the RNLI to mark The Year of the Lifeboat'. Thirty-eight Greek shipping companies also responded to a special appeal with contributions ranging from £50 to £1,000 per company.

Onedin Line The ship seen by television viewers in the 'Onedin Line' has served to raise a substantial sum for the RNLI. Philips Electrologica had the happy idea of sending the ship, Charlotte Rhodes, a three-mast topsail schooner built in Denmark in 1904, round leading ports in Britain and charging a boarding fee of 20p, the proceeds being donated to the RNLI.

Support from Sport During the summer months many sporting events have been staged by RNLI branches to mark 'The Year of the Lifeboat'. Of these one of the most ambitious was the pro-am golf tournament sponsored by Associated Tyre Specialists, which was held at the Notts Golf Club, Hollinwell, on May 29.

From this the RNLI received about £3,000. Nearly all the leading British golf professionals took part; generous supporters of the Institution paid as much as £100 to compete; and a list of the other competitors read like a Who's Who in sport and show business.

They included Bobby Charlton, Henry Cooper and Gary Sobers. The individual winner of the professional event, Christy O'Connor, on receiving his award from Raymond Baxter, spoke most warmly from his own personal knowledge of lifeboat crews in County Galway..