An enjoyable experience While I was on holiday near Veryan last summer I enjoyed sailing by dinghy in Gerrans Bay. However on July 18, when I had the outboard motor on the boat, the motor failed and I was driven on to the rocks at Nare Head. The Coastguard alerted the Falmouth lifeboat which came to the aid of myself and my son.

You never believe that a lifeboat would be required to rescue yourself and I wondered what it would ever be like, never realising that I was about to have that experience.

The experience proved to be most enjoyable, if somewhat amusing, due I am sure to the skill of the crew of the lifeboat.

I would like, if I may, to take this opportunity of thanking the coxswain and his crew for their efforts, and to congratulate him for commanding such a friendly outfit. The comradeship on board was most noticeable and the Falmouth lifeboat is very well reported in Coventry and among the landlubbers of the Midlands. My special thanks to John Bobin and his mate who came ashore in the rubber dinghy to pull us off the rocks. Without your lifeboat I would certainly have lost my dinghy The RNLI was excellently displayed to myself and those who watched from Pendower Beach.

I have no doubt that the whole operation was a simple task to some trips your crews are asked to pursue but I believe you made it look very simple because you have the skill and desire to succeed.

Thanking you all once again.—A. N. COOKE, 138 Norton Hill Drive, Wyken, Coventry.

Out of the mouths . . .

The reproduction in your issue for Autumn 1977 of a letter of thanks from pupils of a middle school reminds me of the splendid addition to my own collection which followed my spending a morning with the second year of a middle school last winter. Some days later, there came through my letterbox a packet containing 89 independently written letters of thanks from the children, of a high general standard and containing much useful comment. I cannot help prizing most one young woman's letter in which she says, 'I hope you don't mind my telling you I thought I would be bored.' Apart from the charming frankness and implied compliment, that is a valuable reminder that children in school are not just a captive audience and that they need to be won by the right approach, at least as much as adult groups.—NORMAN p.

CLARKE, honorary information officer, 41 Victoria Road, Colchester, Essex.

My last class of fourth year children, who finished their term in July, decided they would like to raise some money for a worthwhile cause. So Class 4/2 chose the RNLI. To raise the money, they decided that I, their teacher, should go on a slimming diet!! So they weighed me one Friday, and three more Fridays. They sponsored me one penny for every pound I lost. In three weeks I lost 61b, and we raised £2. We all had lots of fun, we know it was all worthwhile, and I feel the benefit! With thanks for a wonderful service—• RUTH WHEELHOUSE, Mrs, Mapledene Junior School, Mapledene Road, Sheldon, Birmingham..