Re-count . . .

In a branch house-to-house collection two boxes may, rarely, be found to contain the same amount when opened, but how about this ? Two collectors worked on the opposite side of each road in their area, together, and on two consecutive evenings. On the third evening they took separate roads, but were helped by a third collector who worked with each of them in turn for half the time (and had his own box).

The two boxes concerned were consecutively numbered, and were issued to a husband and wife.

The amount found in each box by the treasurer (Lloyds Bank) was £15.7H.

As branch secretary T questioned the totals on the chance that, with the same surname, an amount had been put down twice in error. Also, as one of the two collectors concerned, I just did not believe it. Do you? HONORARY SECRETARY, Bodmin and District Branch, High Bank, Love Lane, Bodmin, Cornwall.

Twice saved Will you please convey to the crews of the Beaumaris and Holyhead lifeboats our very sincere thanks and appreciation for the services they rendered to myself and three crew members on May 22 and 24? After many years of sailing, my 25' yacht Sabine was involved in two separate incidents which endangered life.

The first incident occurred while boarding the yacht, which was on moorings three-quarters of a cable south east of Beaumaris Pier; after four trips with crew and provisions, on the last trip, for reasons not yet ascertained, my inflatable dinghy deflated causing the outboard to fail. One crew member was recovered by heaving line thrown from the yacht and hoisted aboard, but the second member was blown by a strong southerly wind, still in the dinghy, seaward.

Both were wearing inflatable lifejackets.

A red flare was sent up at 0010. It is with admiration that I report that owing to the efficiency of your service at Beaumaris, both crew member and dinghy were returned safely to Sabine at 0035. For a rescue involving launching and search to be executed in just 25 minutes takes some believing, but it is a fact: times were recorded and entries made in the log.

The second incident occurred while we were on passage from Beaumaris to Abersoch when, with Bardsey Island light bearing 175°T distance 7 miles, we experienced very strong winds which required us to reduce sail down, eventually, to a storm jib. As the wind was south-easterly and so offshore I decided to make for Nefyn under motor and obtain shelter from the coast: the engine, however, refused to start, despite just having undergone an expensive overhaul by professional engineers.

Not wishing to make a landing during darkness, I then decided to ride it out in deep water until daylight. We were unable to make headway during the night and owing to tide and wind were being constantly swept north west. At 0732, with a further increase of wind strength forecast and my crew becoming exhausted, I radioed for assistance. This message, though weak (the batteries being low after the attempts to start the engine), was picked up by Holyhead and Fishguard Coastguard. Anglesey Radio broadcast a general call to all ships in the area. At about 1100 on May 24 the Shell tanker Lovellia was sighted and we set off two orange smoke flares, which she saw. The master of this ship kindly made a lee for us and informed Radio Anglesey of our position, 11 miles south west of the Skerries.

Your Holyhead lifeboat reached us some hours later and at 1630 we were safely moored in Holyhead Harbour.

Please thank the coxswain and crew for their kindness in taking two members of my crew aboard, one of them a lady, and for the hospitality extended to them while aboard.

To the members of these two lifeboat crews we send our very grateful thanks and hope sincerely we shall not require their services in the future. But it is nice to know that all ended well owing to the help we received from the RNLI and those gallant lifeboat men. Their praise will be high in the yacht clubs we visit.— B. EVANS, 46 Heyes Drive, Wallasey, Mersey side, L45 8QW Continuing kindness My son and I were involved in a sailing accident off Shoreham Harbour early on Saturday, May 29. One reads daily of the rescues effected by the lifeboat service, but I doubt if people realise the kindness which continues after the rescued are safely ashore.

During the very trying period when my son was in hospital with a fractured skull, individual members of the RNLI accommodated me, fed me, and never gave my morale a chance to drop, though all the ferrying and companionship involved must have made a nonsense of their own bank holiday weekend plans.

To a service for which I have alwayshad immense respect I can now add sincere affection—for mums, sons, husbands, wives, the lot.

Incidentally, my son's injury, from which he is now recovering, did not prevent him from retaining command of his boat. Until the time he was helped up the ladder on to the quay he was in complete command of the situation, and I merely acted on his orders. Thank you, Shoreham.—MARY MACLEAN, Royal Air Force Yacht Club, Humble, Southampton.

At 0247 on Saturday, May 29, RLP, the 41' Watson lifeboat temporarily on duty at Shoreham Harbour, launched to investigate a red flare sighted two miles south of the harbour. Visibility was moderate and there was a moderate easterly breeze. She came up with the casualty, a Tango class trimaran, at 0320, took her in tow and brought her back to Shoreham. As one of the crew of two had sustained a head injury the lifeboat radioed for an ambulance to meet them as they came ashore.—THE EDITOR.

Lifeboat 'houses' Here's another way in which the lifeboat service can be publicised by local people. At Gunfleet Secondary School, Frinton-on-Sea, the houses are named after the local lifeboats. They have Courtauld House, named after the Walton and Frinton lifeboat, RNLB Edian Courtauld, Graham House after RNLB Margaret Graham at Harwich, and Wyndham House after RNLB Valentine Wyndham-Quin at Clacton. They have a fourth house called Trinity named after the Trinity House depot at Harwich.

Last summer the school had a new extension built and they called this Hillary after the founder of the RNLI, Sir William Hillary, p. A. EDWARDS, Farnham, 22 Kenilworth Road, Hollandon- Sea, Essex.

Anglers in distress On behalf of the Firth of Clyde Sea Angling Association and all competitors who took part on May 16 in the Clyde Open Boat Championship at Helensburgh, may I extend to you and your staff, in particular the officers active at Helensburgh, a most sincere appreciation for the outstanding and prompt service rendered to anglers in distress ? May I also thank you for the prompt assistance of officers at the Helensburgh station regarding notification to the organisers of anglers stranded due to the severe gales on the day of the championship? I would be indebted if you could convey our appreciation to everyone at Helensburgh. ALEX A. FORREST, Chairman Firth of Clyde Sea Angling Association, 97 Cockles Loan, Renfrew.

During the afternoon of Sunday, May 16, a sudden southerly gale caught out a number of small boat sailors and fishermen in the Gareloch. Helensburgh 1LB, with George Hulley, S. Massie and S. Douglas (continued opposite).