RECENTLY I VISITED the USA in my capacity as secretary of the American/ British Lifeboat Appeal Committee.

I was able to make my journey at no cost to the appeal through the generosity of Transworld Airlines and was fortunate enough to be on the inaugural flight of their new Lockheed 1011 from London to New York.

The purpose of my visit was to help the work of the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS), a tax exempt charity registered in the United States which is raising funds to provide a new lifeboat for the RNLI.

In New York I had a number of discussions with Nicholas L. Ludington, the secretary of AFRAS. I was encouraged to find that he had succeeded in interesting a number of leading figures in the New York business community in the cause of AFRAS. Among those whom I met were Martin Hansen, vice-president of the Chase Manhattan Bank; Arthur L. Armitage, principal director of Ward Howell Associates Inc; Jerry Blyde, a former banker now in the communications industry; and William Tailyour, a Scotsman with a leading position in the paper industry.

In New York the affairs of AFRAS suffered something of a setback in the early stages because the first secretary/ treasurer to be appointed was unable to spare the time to promote this appeal. It was most gratifying to find there is now the embryo of an effective organisation in being.

Californian meetings Through the good offices of members of the American/British Appeal Committee in London, in particular Bruce Mitchell of the Bank of America and Philip Wilson of Chevron, I was very well received in San Francisco by leading figures in both these great enterprises.

I also received much help from the British Consul-General, Tim Kinnear.

Perhaps my most fruitful meeting was with Frank Elton, the executivedirector of the British-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco, who agreed to become regional organiser for AFRAS in the San Francisco Bay area. He was duly appointed to this post by the president of AFRAS, Admiral Thomas R. Sargent III.

I addressed the San Francisco branch of the Royal British Legion, which was attended by some 50 or 60 people, including an American general.

Members of the Legion assured me that they would support the cause of AFRAS. Another keen supporter whom I met was the director of Skipper Travel Services Ltd, Irving Anshen, who regularly arranges boating holidays for Americans in Europe. In Southern California I was fortunate in being put in touch by the British Consul-General in Los Angeles with a retired RAF group captain, W. M.

Tremear, who while serving in Coastal Command during World War II was shot down in the sea and rescued. He willingly agreed to act as regional organiser for AFRAS in Southern California.

My discussions with Admiral Sargent, the president of AFRAS, an old friend whom I met at the International Lifeboat Conference in New York in 1971, included a luncheon arranged by the United States Coast Guard at Long Beach. The principal speaker was Vice-Admiral Austin C.

Wagner, who may also be associated with AFRAS. Those interested in supporting AFRAS in California may like to note the following addresses: Vice-Admiral Thomas R. Sargent, III, USCG (Retd), 1311 San Julian Drive, Lake San Marcos, California 92069 USA Frank Elton, Executive Director, British-American Chamber of Commerce and Trade Center, 68 Post Street, San Francisco, California 94104 USA Group Captain W. H. Tremear, 4244 Jackdaw Street, San Diego 92103 USA.