EARLY SUMMER began with several inshore lifeboat ceremonies. On Saturday, May 14, a number of readers of the Birmingham Evening Mail, together with members of Birmingham branch committee, travelled to Exmouth, South Devon, for the handing over ceremony of of a new D class ILB. The boat, which had been funded by an appeal launched by the Birmingham Evening Mail last year, was handed over by Clem Lewis, assistant editor of the Mail and chief organiser of the appeal.

Three days later, on May 17, members of the Sedgley and Wombourne Rotary Club, once again from the Midlands, visited Flint, North Wales, when their president, John Moore, handed over to Flint honorary secretary a D class ILB for which they had raised the funds.

On Tuesday, May 31, HRH The Duke of Kent, President of the Institution, visited three Kentish lifeboat stations: Dover, Walmer and Littlestone. At Walmer he attended the dedication of the new D class ILB and unveiled a plaque commemorating its gift by the Wednesday Club of Deal, the Rook Brothers and Aspen Garages. At Littlestone, after the dedication of the Atlantic 21 and new boathouse, the Duke unveiled a plaque thus formally opening the boathouse which had been built by the crew members themselves from material either given to them or provided at re -iced prices by local firms.

Saturday, June 11, was the day for the naming ceremony of the Atlantic 21 Wolverhampton, which will be stationed at Abersoch, North Wales, and for which the people of Wolverhampton had already raised £21,000 toward the £30,000 needed to cover the cost of the boat and all her equipment. She was named in West Park, Wolverhampton, by the Mayor, Councillor Jessie Beddows, thus renewing the town's links with lifeboats after 100 years. It was in 1866 that the town raised the money for the lifeboat Wolverhampton which was stationed at Swansea; the naming ceremony of that boat had taken place at Bushbury in the presence of the mayor of the time.

On to Friday, June 17, for the handing over ceremony and dedication of Mablethorpe's, Lincolnshire, new ILB and extensions to the boathouse. The D class ILB had been provided by the Women's Motor Racing Associates Club following a ball at the Dorchester Hotel, London; one is held each year in aid of a different charity. The extensions to the boathouse had been made by members of Alford Round Table, who not only raised the necessary funds but did the work themselves; all helpers were unskilled except for one plumbej" and one electrician. It took about 1,000 man hours and cost just under £1,800.

Two days later, Sunday, June 19, saw the dedication service at Lytham St Anne's, Lancashire, of the D class ILB purchased with the proceeds of the North West Green Shield Trading Stamps appeal. Four and a half million stamps were collected, for which a higher than normal exchange rate was given by the Green Shield company..