Aberdeen, Wednesday, September 8: Lowering skies, spatters of rain and a chill wind greeted guests invited to Aberdeen's Regent Quay for the naming ceremony of the station's new 54' Arun class lifeboat, BP Forties; but the greyness of the day was relieved by the colour of the Royal Marine Band, the Grampian Police Pipe Band and the brilliant orange superstructure of BP Forties herself.

Chairman of the branch, Mr R. M. Addison, QBE, welcomed everyone to what was very much a local community occasion and introduced the various speakers. First, Mr D. E. C. Steel, DSO MC TD, Chairman of BP, which had made a magnificent gift under deed of covenant of £100,000 towards the new lifeboat, handed her over to the RNLI; he spoke of his company's pleasure at being able to make such a positive contribution to the safety of local seafarers.

Next, Mr I. Barclay, representing the students of Aberdeen, handed over a cheque for the £7,000 they had raised to defray the cost of BP Forties' electronic equipment.

The lifeboat and cheque were accepted on behalf of the Institution by Sir Charles McGrigor, BT, Convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council and a member of the Committee of Management, who in turn delivered the boat to the care of the Aberdeen branch; she was accepted by the honorary secretary, Captain Brian Atkinson. There followed a service of dedication led by the Reverend James S. Wood and then the lifeboat was named by Mrs David Steel.

That night, at the informal party for the branch and its guests which traditionally rounds off a naming ceremony day, a celebration cake was cut by Mrs Betty Bird, wife of Coxswain Albert Bird. It had been presented by SunblestBakeries (Aberdeen), whose managing director, Mr Donald May, is the brother of a member of Broughty Ferry ILB crew.

Weymouth, Friday, September 17: For those people who put so much time and thought into planning the naming of Weymouth's new 54' Arun lifeboat, Tony Vandervell, the last minute arrival of rain following the driest summer in memory must have been very disappointing; but the weather served as a gentle reminder of the lifeboat's role.

Whatever weather they encounter on service, however, Weymouth crew have every reason for confidence in their new lifeboat. The first Arun to be built of glass reinforced plastic, she was put through some 6,000 miles of trials before going on station, during which she showed herself capable of maintaining her full speed in severe conditions (useful near to Portland).

The cost of Weymouth's new lifeboat was provided by a gift from the Vandervell Foundation. The late Mr G. A. 'Tony' Vandervell, a noted industrialist, is remembered especially for his Vanwall racing car. Mr J. L. Reed, MBE, a trustee of the Foundation, handed the lifeboat over to the RNLI, represented by the Chairman, Major-General R. H. Farrant, CB, who, in turn, delivered her to the care of Weymouth branch; she was accepted by the honorary secretary, Lieut.-Commander B. F. Morris, RN.

After a service of dedication conducted by the Reverend Geoffrey Walton assisted by the Reverend Arthur Lister-Hetherington, the lifeboat was named by Commander F. R. H. Swann, CBE, RNVR, a Vice-President of the Institution and a member of the Committee of Management. Tony Vandervell turned full circle, embarked the special guests and a chorus of siren blasts from Swanage lifeboat, /. Reginald Corah, and the British Rail ferry accompanied the lifeboat's passage to the opsn sea.

Ramsgate, Thursday, September 23: A naming ceremony, a Royal visit and a tribute to a revered friend: all the makings of a very happy day. HRH The Duchess of Kent had come to Thanet to name Ramsgate's new lifeboat—a lifeboat to be named Ralph and Joy Swann after Commander Ralph Swann and his late wife in recognition of Commander Swann's outstanding and devoted services to the RNLI as Chair-man from 1972 to 1975 and a member of the Committee of Management since 1953. It is particularly appropriate that she is a 44' Waveney because Commander Swann played an important part in the introduction of this fast afloat class into the RNLI fleet.

More than 2,000 people had gathered round Ramsgate Harbour and, as Her Royal Highness, greeted with a fanfare played by the Herald Trumpets of the Royal Marines, made her way along the eastern cross wall, she stopped for a quick word with many of the schoolchildren who lined her path.

Councillor R. Taylor, Mayor of Ramsgate and chairman of the branch, opened the proceedings with a speech of welcome. The lifeboat was delivered into the care of Ramsgate branch by Major-General Farrant and accepted by the honorary secretary, Mr T. A.

Brown, who told how she had already been launched on service four times and rescued nine lives.

After a service of dedication by The Lord Bishop of Dover, assisted by the Rural Dean of Thanet, the Duchess of Kent performed the naming ceremony.

Recalling Ramsgate's fine record, and remembering in particular the 2,800 men brought off the beaches of Dunkirk by RNLB Prudential, the Duchess spoke of the debt owed to all lifeboatmen and to their families: theirs is '. . . a humane and wonderful job. It would be impossible to overstate our gratitude to them.' Only the best was good enough for them..