ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, WEDNESDAY APRIL 14 THE TRUE MEASURE OF SUCCESS — 1,038 LIVES SAVED IN 1975 THOSE MARVELLOUSLY UNDER-STATED CITATIONS . . .' Thus Raymond Baxter put into words the feelings of the crowded Royal Festival Hall on the afternoon of April 14 as he rose to move the traditional resolution immediately following the presentation of awards for gallantry. One after another twelve gallant men, coxswains, helmsmen and crew, together with Martin Ruddy, a 14-year-old Scout, had come up to receive their medals, silver or bronze, from the Chairman of the Institution, Major-General Ralph Farrant.

'The wind was north north east force 9 ... heavy rain . . . while crossing the Long Sand the lifeboat was laid over 70 degrees to starboard and momentarily overwhelmed . . .'; '. . . gale force 10 winds .. . seas over 25' swept the lifeboat, some filling the wheelhouse . . .'; '. . . hurricane force winds . . . Dover . . .

extremely confused seas in the harbour entrance from which no vessel, save the lifeboat, had been able to venture all night...';'... during the return passage the lifeboat encountered breaking seas of 40-50 feet in height...';'... gale ... he rowed five exhausting times backwards and forwards through the heavy swell and rough seas . . .' This is both the most solemn and the most triumphant hour of the lifeboat year.

It was Raymond Baxter, guest speaker but nevertheless an old friend, who, as he ended his speech, also put into words the buoyant optimism of the day.

Despite having raised more money in 1975 than ever before, the Institution's expenditure for the year had exceeded income by about a quarter of a million pounds. While accepting this as a reality which has to be faced, there was no doubt that lifeboat people were undeterred, looking ahead with renewed determination and faith: Now this crisis has not been the fault of any of you for not trying hard enough.

It is simply the product of inflation—the insidious rat in our national larder. It would be very foolish to pretend that the situation is not extremely serious, but the RNLI is used to serious situations.

No one needs the lifeboat when it is all plain sailing. So be it. We have the men to put to sea when everything is against them. Some of them are with us this afternoon. It is up to al/ of us to prove that though we may not be of their mettle, we can at least emulate their example. By meeting the challenge all square, as a lifeboat herself will turn her bow to challenge and overcome a thundering, breaking wave, we, too, shall redouble our efforts, ride out the storm and see our men safely home.' The day had begun with the morning annual general meeting at which Major- General Farrant had presented the annual report and accounts to the Governors: 'I should like to welcome everyone to this marvellous turn-out of Governors.

Thank you all very much for coming . . .

'As you all know this is the first time that I have had the privilege of addressing the Governors of the RNLI as Chairman.

I count myself fortunate in being in a position to report to you on a year of considerable success. Last year the lives of over 1,000 people were saved from death by drowning. This is the true measure of the success of our work, and it it most gratifying to be able to add that no member of a lifeboat crew lost his life on service or on exercise during the year. Another figure of some significance is that last year the RNLI recorded its 100,000th rescue of human life since we began to keep records around the middle of the last century.

'During 1975 the RNLI raised more money than ever before. In the same year we sent six new lifeboats to their stations, and when you consider that a modern lifeboat costs between £100,000 and £200,000 this gives you some idea of the constructional programme on which we have been engaged. During the year we completed the move of our head office to Poole . . .' General Farrant went on to speak of the Institution's close co-operation with lifeboat services overseas and other organisations at home engaged in the work of saving life at sea. During the year an RNLI delegation had attended the twelfth International Lifeboat Conference in Finland, at which 19 countries had been represented. The first 54' Arun class lifeboat to have been built of GRP, launched that spring, had made the passage to Helsinki: 'When she was shown to the delegates . . . she aroused considerable interest and admiration because she looked as though she had been shipped under wraps straight from the builder's yard. She is now on station at Weymouth.

We are already receiving enquires from foreign countries interested in purchasing or building lifeboats of the Arun class.' At the wish of an overwhelming majority of delegates to the conference the RNLI is to continue to provide a central secretariat for lifeboat organisations throughout the world.

'I am sure you will agree that this is a high compliment and an indication of the international standing of the RNLI today.' General Farrant then turned to the question of financial reserves. The move of the head office to Poole had been a successful venture both financially and administratively. The building and the freehold of the land on which it stands had been paid for almost entirely by disposing of the lease of 42-44 Grosvenor Gardens, which was, of course, a diminishing asset. With the new building, not only were the working and travelling conditions of the staff improved, but the Institution's funds were spared the burden of having to pay London allowances. Despite an operational deficit during the year the RNLI's financial reserves were, in fact, somewhat higher at the beginning of 1976 than they had been at the beginning of 1975, largely because of an improvement in the stock market.

'Nevertheless ... we must continue to regard our reserves as dangerously low...

Not so long ago reserves of £1 million meant that there was enough money to cover a year's operational costs even if no new money came in. Today £1 million in reserves would cover our running costs for only about two months.' The erosion of working capital and the level of expenditure had been examined most carefully in the course of the year: 'As our first responsibility must be to endeavour to maintain our coastal cover at its present level, the conclusion reached was that we must introduce a temporary pause in the accelerated building programme on which we embarked a few years ago.

'I want to emphasize as strongly as I can that this is a pause and not a diminution of the programme.

'May I remind you of the background ? In 1970 we decided to double the rate of boatbuilding with the intention of raising the average number of offshore boats completed in a year from five to ten. In announcing the policy, the late Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, who was then our Chairman, said openly that it was an act of faith and that we did not have the financial resources at the time to ensure that the programme would be completed.

We had high hopes of our anniversary year to keep us going in this act of faith.In fact, we have been building at this accelerated rate, and that is why there are now 11 new lifeboats under construction which are due to be completed this year. One of these, a 44' Waveney, just launched, is to be called Ralph and Joy Swann as a mark of our appreciation of the many years of devoted service to the Institution of my predecessor, Commander Ralph Swann.

'However, we are having to slow down on construction because of inflation.

Whilst on this topic, I recently heard the chairman of one of our committees, who is a retired admiral—that does not pin him down too closely—comment that when he was a lieutenant the cost of a destroyer was about the same as the cost of a 70' lifeboat now. It was a very good illustration when he first used it last year; I am sorry to say that this year his destroyer would be only a 54-footer! The grim fact is that in the past five years the cost of building boats has trebled.

Therefore, we are having a pause in the building and are ordering only three new boats this year, but by the end of the year we shall have completed 43 new offshore lifeboats since 1970, which is an average of seven new boats per year.

When sufficient funds become available we shall order more new boats.' General Farrant then spoke of the efforts being made to keep expenditure down wherever possible without compromising the efficiency of the service, and also of the efforts being made to increase contributions, particularly from the marine sector of industry.

'In presenting any picture of the RNLI's finances there is one primary consideration which must be taken into account, but which is not easily quantified.

This is public goodwill, on which the whole success of the service depends.

I can truthfully state that the RNLI in its long history has never enjoyed greater goodwill among the public at large in this country than it does today.

That this is so is principally due to the voluntary efforts of all those who work for the service, an appreciable number of whom are Governors of the Institution.

It is because, of the existence of this goodwill that the Committee of Management is reasonably confident of overcoming the serious financial problems which confront the RNLI today.' Coming to the accounts, a summary of which appear on this page. Major- General Farrant pointed out that the net current assets had improved during the year by £0.36 million to a total of £3.74 million; much of the increase in freehold property, which stood in excess of £1.5 million, was in respect of the headquarters building at Poole. The net income for general purposes of slightly over £4.5 million showed an increase by some £363,000 which, with the amount released from restricted funds, brought available income for the year to over £5 million for the first time in the history of the Institution.

In a year when national inflation had been running at an average of at least 24 per cent, the Institution had been able to curtail its overall expenditure increase to 19 per cent, compared with 1974, varying from 39 per cent increase in the boat building programme to 5 per cent in the costs of fund raising and publicity.

Administrative expenses had increased by 26 per cent, due mainly to salary and pensions costs and the rises in costs of travel and the telephone, but economies were already in hand, and it was hoped that the increased cost of these administrative items would be held to about 6 per cent in 1976.

In conclusion, General Farrant said that as the net funds available for capital expenditure at £1.35 million had fallen short of capital requirements by about £0.27 million, that sum had been taken from reserve to fulfil the boatbuilding programme.

After some discussion on the presentation in the accounts of investments— their performance was agreed to have been extremely good—the report and accounts for 1975 were adopted.

Next, the President, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, the Vice- Presidents, the Treasurer, the Duke of Northumberland, and Deputy Treasurer, David Acland, and other members of the Committee of Management were declared elected. Price Waterhouse were re-appointed as auditors and thanked for their valuable help and advice.

The question was raised by Major J. Showell-Rogers, RM (Poole) of the qualifications required for launching authorities. He said that, while he understood that it had been laid down that all station honorary secretaries and other launching authorities should be master mariners or naval officers with watch-keeping certificates, he felt that rather than such formal qualifications it was more important to find people, with, of course, knowledge of the sea, who were conscientious and reliable and who would not leave the telephone unattended. The Chairman replied that people chosen would be those who have the right experience at sea as well as the other qualifications.

About 40 per cent of launching authorities 'do the job because they are excellent people who know what they are about and not because they have a master mariner's certificate or some naval qualification. We are extremely flexible.' During discussion on flag days and house-to-house collections, Mr Boothof Wallington asked whether it might not be better to hold the London flag day on a Saturday rather than on a Tuesday; to which Captain Nigel Dixon, RN, Director, replied that in Central London, where a great deal of money is raised, and especially in the City, a week day was likely to be more successful than a Saturday. Tuesday was traditional and the RNLI enjoys the privilege, given to it by the Metropolitan Police, of having the first flag day of the season. Therefore, unless there were any other evidence to show that another day would be better, the situation would be left as at present.

* * * Major General Farrant, Chairman of the Institution, welcomed everyone to the afternoon meeting for the presentation of awards: 'I am delighted to see the hall so full. Congratulations!' He spoke of the question-marks which had been in many people's minds after the end of 1974, 'The Year of the Lifeboat'.

Could we possible do as well again? Would there be a feeling of anti-climax ? 'We now know the answer to those questions. It can be given in a single sentence. In spite of the economic difficulties, of which everyone is aware, more money was raised for the RNLI last year than in 1974 or any other year in the RNLI's long history. This was a measure of the achievements of our fund-raising branches and guilds, and their efforts cannot be valued too highly.

I think that you are entitled to give yourselves a clap.' After the happy applause had died down, General Farrant went on to speak of the success of local and regional appeals, such as the Bradford and Bristol appeals and the Hampshire Rose appeal, which emphasises the importance and value to the RNLI of local pride in a local lifeboat and crew. He also thanked the Institution's many regular supporters, such as 'our friends in the Civil Service and Post Office Lifeboat Fund' and other organisations like Scouts and Guides, Rotarians and Round Tablers, Foresters, Oddfellows and Buffaloes . . . 'I know I shall be naming only some of the organisations to which the RNLI is indebted.' General Farrant went on to talk of the new appeals being made to industrial enterprises and financial houses, to shipping, insurance and other concerns: 'As you may have read, we were delighted to receive a gift of £100,000 under deed of covenant from the board of British Petroleum to provide a new lifeboat to be stationed at Aberdeen.

(Applause). We hope that other great companies will follow that example. It is, perhaps, indicative of the variety of support the RNLI receives that this gift is to be supplemented by one made by the Aberdeen students to provide the electronic equipment in the new lifeboat.' (Applause.) General Farrant then spoke of the financial situation; of the deficit for the year of £268,000; of the efforts being made to keep down expenditure without impairing the efficiency of the service; and of the decision to introduce a temporary pause in the boatbuilding programme.

'Therefore, we are ordering only three new boats this year compared with the 11 that are already on order and which will be launched. Nevertheless, we are still confident that by about 1980 all our offshore lifeboats, apart from the three boats of the 70' Clyde class, which are very stable, deep-draught craft, will have a self-righting capability. That was our target six years ago and in spite of the pause we are adhering to the policy which we adopted in 1970 . . .

'The RNLI has had some stormy years—years in which the hands of Commander Ralph Swann and the late Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods were at the helm. We may well have stormy passages ahead—I expect more than one—but we can, I think, face the future with considerable confidence, principally because of the very great measure of goodwill which the RNLI enjoys today in Britain and Ireland. For this we are greatly indebted to our honorary workers, but I should also like to express our thanks to what is now fashionably called "the media"—that is to say, the press, television and radio—for the admirable way in which over the years they have reported and commented on the work of the lifeboat service . . . this may be an appropriate moment to introduce our guest speaker, although in a sense no introduction is necessary, for the name and voice and face of Raymond Baxter are known to us all.' (Applause.) Concluding his remarks, General Farrant then presented the awards for gallantry: Coxswain Frank Bloom, Walton and Frinton: silver medal On September 14, 1975, the Walton and Frinton lifeboat Edian Courtuuld went to the help of the yacht Tsunami in distress on the south side of the Long Sand. A strong gale, force 9, was blowing and there was heavy rain. Three men were taken off the yacht, then, as the owner and one other insisted on remaining on board, a tow line was passed and a long tow began at two knots in violent seas. This arduous service in dangerously shallow waters lasted 14£ hours.

Coxswain/Mechanic David Kennett, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight: silver medal In the early hours of September 14, 1975, the Yarmouth lifeboat The Earl and Countess Howe was called to the aid of the 28' sloop Chayka of Ardgour disabled in storm force 10 winds and heavy confused seas seven miles south of the Needles Channel. With superb timing and expert seamanship Coxswain Kennett twice brought the lifeboat alongside to snatch first three and then the remaining two exhausted crew men on board.

Coxswain/Mechanic Arthur Liddon, Dover: silver medal Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Anthony Hawkins, Dover: bronze medal: Late on the evening of December 1, 1975, the Dover lifeboat Faithful Forester launched to the aid of the coaster Primrose which had lost her steering gear. The wind was storm force 10 gusting up to 100 mph. The crew of Primrose eventually managed to rig temporary steering gear; Coxswain Liddon advised a course to be steered for Dover and by passing alterations of course, speed and tidal conditions piloted the coaster into harbour.

Coxswain William Richards, Penlee: bronze medal Early on the morning of January 25, 1975, the Peniee lifeboat Solomon Browne launched in gale force winds gusting to hurricane force to answer a distress call broadcast by MV Lovat, the crew of which were abandoning ship.

Two helicopters had been despatched to the casualty and were able to save two lives, but, sadly, 11 others were lost and the lifeboat had the arduous and unhappy task of recovering five bodies.

During the return passage the lifeboat encountered breaking seas of 40-50 feet in height.

Coxswain John Petit, St Peter Port: bar to his bronze medal Emergency Mechanic John Robilliard, St Peter Port: bronze medal On completion of a service to a fishing vessel on the night of July 14, 1975, the St Peter Port lifeboat Sir William Arnold was called to the aid of the tanker Point Law, which was aground on Alderney. As there was no immediate danger to the tanker's crew, Coxswain Petit waited until first light when, in gale force conditions, he held the lifeboat just clear of the rocks, while Crew Member Robilliard brought off six of the crew (one in a stretcher) in the lifeboat's inflatable dinghy; he rowed five exhausting times backwards and forwards. As the tanker began to break up the six remaining crew members were taken off by helicopter.

Helmsman William Shearer, Berwickupon- Tweed: bronze medal On May 31, 1975, Berwick-upon- Tweed ILB went to the aid of a trimaran capsized in rough sea. An unconscious woman was first hauled from the water; two men clinging to the upturned hull reported that a second woman was trapped beneath it. Helmsman Shearer returned to harbour at full speed and, having landed the woman into medical care and embarked a Coastguard with an axe, the ILB returned to the casualty and freed the trapped woman.

Helmsman Michael Coates, Whitby: bronze medal On Friday, July 25, 1975, WhitbyILB was launched to the aid of a man hanging on to the crumbling rock face of a nearby cliff; he was in danger of losing his hold and of being swept away by the heavy breaking sea. The ILB was anchored off and, while Crew Member David Wharton remained on board, Helmsman Coates swam to the foot of the cliff attached to a line. He persuaded the man to slide down into the sea and they were both hauled back on board the ILB.

Coxswain/Mechanic Charles Bowry, Sheerness: bronze medal In the early morning of August 16, 1975, the Sheerness lifeboat Helen Turnbull went to the aid of a 30' yacht Eladnit which had lost her rudder and gone aground in a near gale and heavy broken water. As there was danger that the lifeboat herself might be driven aground, Coxswain Bowry anchored and two crew members were veered down to the casualty in the inflatable dinghy. On learning that of the five people on board two were young children and two adults overcome by seasickness, the coxswain decided to tow the yacht off. This achieved, the yacht's crew, with first-class seamanship, were transferred to the lifeboat.

Crew Member Brian Hodgson, Whitby: bronze medal On August 18, 1975, Whitby ILB was conducting a search after a report that a small boat had been swamped and her crew of two men washed overboard.

While searching in rough seas one man was seen in the water outside the line of breaking surf and a second man, a nonswimmer, in obvious trouble on the edge of the surf. Crew Member Hodgson entered the water to help the first man, so that the ILB could go directly to pick up the other man. The ILB then recovered Brian Hodgson and the first man just as they were about to be swept into the surf.

Helmsman Julian Morris, Weston-super- Mare: bronze medal Late on the night of September 13, 1975, the ILB was launched to the aid of five people. They had climbed on to a rocky ledge after their motorboat had been wrecked at the base of a cliff, and they were in danger of being drowned by the rising tide. After making one run in through the rough and confused seas, frequently grounding on submerged rocks, Helmsman Morris approached again, anchored and veered down near enough to heave a line ashore. Four men were then hauled out to the ILB by the line and the fifth waded out.

Martin Ruddy: bronze medal During the afternoon of June 7, 1975, 14-year-old Martin Ruddy of the 1st Ilfracombe Scout Troop was rowing his new 9' inflatable dinghy close to the beach when he saw a speedboat half a mile to seaward, with her occupantssignalling for help. Although he had been warned of the dangerous cross currents and rocks in this vicinity he immediately began to row out. After 20 minutes he reached the speedboat, now sinking, and succeeded in. getting the four occupants and a dog aboard his inflatable before starting the arduous and dangerous row back to the shore.

Major-General Farrant next called upon Raymond Baxter to propose the resolution.

Beginning a speech, every minute of which was to delight his audience, Raymond Baxter listed his qualifications for '. . . participating in this distinguished occasion'. They were, he said, three in number: "The first is that in my time I have actually been a customer of the RNLI. By that I do not mean that I bought a flag from one of your charming ladies—• although I have actually been known to do that too from time to time—but that I have had occasion to summon assistance at sea from the colleagues of those gallant men whom we all honour today.

I hasten to add that in this particular incident no one got a medal—least of all me—but it gave me the opportunity to see the work of the Institution at close quarters; well, as close as the rise and fall between my old Dunkirk veteran . . .

and the inflated rubber hot-water bottle for which two splendid chaps had abandoned the warmth and comfort of the local pub on a rather dark and blowy night in the lower estuary of the Thames. All that was a long time ago ...

'My second qualification is that many years even before that... I went with my sister to my first dance. It was held in the lifeboat house at Sennen Cove . . . little did I think that night that some 20 years and a world war later I would put to sea with the Dover lifeboat complete with a television crew ... We went out to the South Goodwin Lightship, the one that was lost in the subsequent tragedy, and gave the crew their first television set ...

'My third qualification—and I have the Chairman nervously wondering where on earth this speech is going—is that I enjoy the privilege of appearing from time to time in some of your living rooms, and have done so on two occasions to make the television appeal on behalf of the RNLI. . .

'Therefore . . . I flatter myself that my wife and I are among colleagues and friends in your distinguished company this afternoon. The more I think about that, the more proud I am to be here at all.

'Whether or not there are such things as national characteristics, and the idea does not enjoy the support it did when I was a boy, it is demonstrable that the people of Britain have much in common with ducks. They don't half take to the water! Three weekends ago my daughter and I went to see the Head of the River Race here on the Thames, in which my son was rowing. That afternoon no less than 380 racing eights competed against each other over the tideway from Mortlake to Putney—the University Boat Race course in reverse, but that doesn't matter because, as you will have noticed, they all row backwards anyway. The point is that over 3,000 men and boys—- and there were some heads even greyer than mine with not nearly as much hair were prepared to travel great distances from literally all over the country to pull their guts out against each other in a blade-to-blade struggle over the most demanding course in the world. All that for a few pints of beer which they would have to pay for themselves anyway.

'That sort of behaviour is, I like to think, still typically British. Certainly there is no such race elsewhere in the world. No other people would be daft enough to attempt such a thing.

'I believe that the Royal National Life-Boat Institution is also typicallyBritish, or what many of us used to like to think of as such. Its only purpose is to go to the rescue of those in peril regardless of who they may be, where they come from, what their business is or how they managed to get into danger in the first place. In order to do that men such as those with us this afternoon are prepared to lay down their lives. We all remember with pride those who have done so. That may sound all very well—a fine, flowery couple of sentences—but those of us who have ever been in a bit of a dust-up at sea know that it is not just as simple as that.

It has to do with being wet and cold for hours on end; with being brutally banged about, deafened, blinded and utterly tiied, and with being frightened. One of the citations mentioned waves 40 or 50 feet high and breaking. I estimate that from the floor to the top shelf of the gallery is less than 50'. Just look, ladies and gentlemen, and think. Perhaps most of us could do that once or twice and be very pleased with ourselves. The lifeboatmen live with that reality every day and night of their serving lives.

'These men put to sea in weather which has every responsible skipper of vessels which are ten times the size of the lifeboat running for shelter. They know and their wives, mothers and families know that at any minute the call may come slashing through the closely woven fabric of everyday life like a cutlass through a cushion. It may rattle the china on the breakfast table, rupture the routine of a working day, break up a quiet evening with the "tele" or down at the local, rudely snatch from the warm comfort of sleep. Sometimes the reason may be trivial, the product of gross incompetence, ignorance or carelessness.

The boat may be back in a matter of minutes or after only weary and anxious hours.

'Yet year after year individuals and whole families of men continue to accept that call and fight like tigers when someone has the unhappy task of telling them that enough is enough. They know full well that there is a queue behind them, waitins and eager to take their places.

Is there anywhere in the world a tradition more noble ?'Then there are the secretaries. They are a curious breed. They come from all walks of life and are of all ages, persuasions and temperaments. They have the invidious task of "pressing the button".

It is not for them to share the excitement of the seagoing. It is for them to wait and worry; to organise and co-ordinate; to commit the crew to the task and then to supply the back-up. Could all that be done by other than volunteers? I do not know; frankly, I doubt it.

'The RNLI, as we all know, is built on a highly localised, if you like parochial, basis. It is made up of small groups of people who, even if they may not all be close friends, at least all know each other well. The whole ethos is to do with the local community; from the coffee morning in the Midland vicarage and the sale of work in Manchester to the fact that the coxswain's grandfather taught him the shoals round the river mouth, and that everyone knows that Fred is worried about his daughter's baby. That is what it is all about.

'Industrialists as well as sociologists are now beginning to realise that big is not necessarily beautiful. Everyone here could have told them that years ago.

'To those who wonder why the organisation and financing of the RNLI should not be, particularly these days, a function of the State, my response, for what it is worth, is "God forbid".

(Applause.) In the first place it is the consensus among those who know— permanent staff, honorary secretaries, coxswains and crews, fishermen, and many in the other rescue services including the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force—that quite simply it would not work, at any rate not with the same degree of efficiency at the operational end. That, ladies and gentlemen, is all that matters.

'Of course, if as taxpayers we were called upon to find the money, instead of having to listen to me you could all be getting stuck into the tea and buns, or better still be at home doing the gardening or the spring cleaning. You would not have to waste all that time at committee meetings, on draughty street corners on flag day, and dreaming up new ideas for the village fete. However, again I have two objections. First, all the evidence suggests that we get better value for money doing it our way; that is not just a bigoted opinion, it is the conclusion of hard-bitten experts who have analysed the finances and management of the Institution. Secondly, because if it were so the country would certainly be the poorer in the moral and spiritual sense, as well as in the purely financial sense.

(Applause.) 'In both contexts this country is demonstrably less well off than it was.

For many of us this is a matter of major concern and regret. However, the very presence of all of you here this afternoon is proof that though Great Britain may be poorer than she was, she is by no means bankrupt yet. Unfortunately this leads me to a cold fact which I am sure will come as a shock to many. Despite the triumphs of last year's 150th anniversary, despite the RNLI's impeccable and •ever-mounting record of service, despite the magnificient efforts of the fundraisers and the open-hearted generosity of the British people who support them, despite all this and more, the RNLI is, as the Chairman said, in the red. As of this year our expenditure exceeds our income.

'As one would expect, the danger signals were spotted early by those those business men who give so generously of their time and expertise in guiding the affairs of the Institution. As the Chairman told us, the Committee of Management has curtailed the programme of new boat building in order to preserve the highest standards of day-to-day maintenance and equipment.' Raymond Baxter, ending his speech with the paragraph quoted on page 156 at the beginning of this report, then moved the resolution: That this meeting fully recognising the important services of the Royal National Life-boat Institution in its national work of life-saving, desires to record its hearty appreciation of the gallantry of the coxswains and crews of the Institution's lifeboats, and its deep obligation to the local committees, honorary secretaries and honorary treasurers of all station branches; to all other voluntary committees and supporters and to the honorary officers and thousands of voluntary members of the financial branches and the ladies' lifeboat guilds in the work of raising funds to maintain the service.

Since the last annual general meeting the Committee of Management had awarded two honorary life governorships, one bar to the gold badge and twelve gold badges to honorary workers for long and distinguished service.

Presentations were made at the Festival Hall by Major-General Ralph Farrant to all but Miss V. Hooper and Mrs Sayer, who were unable to be there.

HONORARY LIFE GOVERNOR P. G. Garon, MC GM Honorary Secretary of Southend-on-Sea station branch from 1952 to 1975.

Mr Garon, a highly respected member of the Southend community, has been connected with the station since before 1930. In addition to being honorary secretary of this busy lifeboat station, he undertook talks and attended events on behalf of the RNLI, and has for many years been concerned not only with the crew but with the various sub-committees that run the operational and fund-raising organisation.

Mrs P. Hamley-Rowan Honorary secretary of East Sheen and Barnes branch since 1939.

Mrs Hamley-Rowan, although severely disabled and confined to a wheel-chair, increases the branch revenue each year. She is the longest serving supporter in the South London district and has dedicated her whole life to raising funds for the lifeboat service.

BAR TO GOLD BADGE G. T. Paine, MBE Chairman of Dungeness station branch since 1931.

Mr Paine has a record of unbroken service with Dungeness station branchsince 1931. He has organised and supported most fund-raising events in the area and given considerable time to looking after the welfare of the lifeboat personnel, also ensuring that the station is operated in a highly efficient manner.

GOLD BADGE J. J. Adams Honorary secretary of Hastings station branch since 1956.

Mr Adams is considered to be an outstanding honorary secretary and runs a highly efficient lifeboat station. In addition he has devoted a considerable amount of time to fund raising on behalf of the RNLI.

Mrs W. H. Almond Chairman of Adlington guild since 1939.

Mrs Almond has provided great leadership and inspiration to her committee for over 25 years. She is a tireless worker and promotes considerable enthusiam for the RNLI in her area.

N. P. Clarke Honorary information officer of the RNLI and honorary treasurer of Colchester branch since 1968.

Mr Clarke holds the only official appointment of honorary information officer of the RNLI. In this capacity he undertakes many talks and film shows.

He also provides invaluable information to different organisations and associations.

His branch support for the RNLI dates back to 1946 at Newport, then at Harwich, Southampton, and finally to Colchester where he holds the position of honorary treasurer.

Mrs T. Dowding Chairman of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston guild since 1965.

During the years Mrs Dowding has been associated with the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston guild, of which she is now chairman, it has raised over £32,000, mainly due to her leadership and untiring work.

T. Downing Honorary secretary of Barrow station branch since 1949.

Mr Downing has undertaken the responsibilities of honorary secretary of Barrow station branch since 1947.

During this period he has looked after the operational affairs and has also been very active with fund raising.

Miss V. Hooper President of Barmouth guild since 1972.

Miss Hooper as president of Barmouth guild plays a very active part, assisting at all fund-raising functions.

She has been on the committee for many years and from 1955 until she retired from the position in 1968 she was a very able and energetic honorary secretary.

J. Kennedy Honorary secretary of Lytham station branch since 1951.

Mr Kennedy has been a most efficient and active honorary secretary for nearly 25 years. In addition to looking after the operational duties of the station branch he has played a leading part in raising funds in the area.

Dr J. Leiper, MBE Honorary medical adviser of Aberdeen station branch since 1948.

Dr Leiper has been a very active honorary medical adviser with Aberdeen station branch for almost 27 years. In December 1966 he was awarded a certificate in respect of his meritorious conduct when injured while helping on a lifeboat service to the trawler Heikendorf. He is always willing to undertake talks and help at fundraising functions.

I. Moar, BEM Chairman of Longhope station branch since 1971.

Mr Moar gave much invaluable help at the time of the Longhope disaster.

He is very active in local RNLI committee affairs and has been an enthusiastic member of the branch for over 40 years.

Mrs E. Pemberton, JP Honorary treasurer of Wallasey guild since 1950.

Mrs Pemberton has always been the main driving force of this excellent guild. Her considerable enthusiasm is warmly welcomed and she is always prepared to be of help.

Mrs R. K. Sayer Honorary treasurer of Newhaven guild since 1952.

Mrs Sayer has looked after the financial affairs of the guild for 23 years. She has also been one of the leading organisers on the committee.

As the wife of the station honorary secretary she gets deeply involved in all local lifeboat activities.

Miss H. Weiste Chairman of Orpington guild since 1964 and honorary organiser for Green Street Green.

Miss Weiste was one of the original members of Orpington branch and is without question one of the most active members. She is probably the main inspiration behind most of their fundraising projects. When the guild was formed in 1964 Miss Weiste was appointed its chairman.

The Committee of Management had also awarded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum to Councillor T. E. Hall, HON. MA, and to the Royal Marines, Deal, for their outstanding help and service to the RNLI, and these presentations were made at the Festival Hall.

As Lord Mayor of Bradford 1974/5, Councillor Hall promoted the Bradford appeal set up in 1974 to raise money to fund a new lifeboat. It was largely through his zeal and energy that over £80,000 was raised.

For a considerable number of years there has been a close association between the Royal Marines, Deal, and the Walmer lifeboat station. This practical help continues to the present time and was of immense value when the new Walmer lifeboat was recently named at her station. The vellum was received by Colonel Shallow, Commanding Officer, Royal Marines, Deal.

The last presentation by General Farrant was made to Lord Baden- Powell; it was a special certificate of thanks to the Scout Association for 'Operation Lifeboat', an appeal for Scouts throughout the country during 1974 to raise funds towards the cost of a 44' Waveney lifeboat. The target of £100,000 was exceeded by over £1,000. The lifeboat, at present being built at Bideford, is to be named The Scout and will be stationed at Hartlepool.

To conclude the proceedings of the afternoon the Chairman called upon Lieut.-Colonel R. Crawshaw, QBE TD DL MP, to move a vote of thanks to Raymond Baxter for his address. After speaking of Mr Baxter's distinguished war record in three fighter commands, and of all the help he gives not only to the RNLI, of which he is a member of the Public Relations Committee, but also to a number of other charities, Colonel Crawshaw continued: 'For a few minutes I should like to touch on some of the points which Mr Baxter made in his very interesting speech . . . He was doubtful, if the service ceased to be voluntary, whether it could exercise the same influence over the Life-boat Institution as it does at present. I have news for you: it could not. I am quite certain of that . . . We could not administer the Lifeboat Institution from a central source with the same enthusiasm and dedication as it is administered on a voluntary basis.

I have come to the conclusion, in my short life, that the efficiency of an organisation which is taken over by a central authority deteriorates in direct proportion to the amount of money that is put into it. (Applause.) 'This organisation is unique in many ways. There are those who man the boats and who face the dangers. Yet they would be of no use if they were not backed up by all of you here who represent countless thousands who support them during the year. However, again, none of you would be any use if it were not for people such as Raymond Baxter who, behind the scenes, uses his expertise, good common sense and offers advice in order to help us to run the RNLI... While people such as Raymond Baxter continue to exist in our society, the "Tomorrow's World" of those who go down to the sea in ships will be secure in time of emergency by the dedication of those who serve the Royal National Lifeboat Institution,' (Applause.) The business of the afternoon being concluded, lifeboat people retired to the foyer to meet their friends and take tea..