CALLERS TO THE CENTRAL OPERATIONS/ INFORMATION ROOM on the fourth floor of the RNLFs headquarters are frequent. During a typical morning, the chief of operations may wish to be given particulars of recent lifeboat passages, the trials officer will want details of the shipping forecast, the director's personal assistant needs to know where a divisional inspector can be contacted and the computer section requires information about a new lifeboat going on station. The staff officer (communications) has, perhaps, an urgent message to be telexed to The Decca Navigator Company, the surveyor of machinery requests that passages on a relief lifeboat are arranged for two boat mechanics while the assistant public relations officer makes the first of two daily visits to check if there are lifeboat services to report to the press.

Visitors who are shown round head office always like to identify 'their' lifeboat station from the stateboard on the far wall which not only shows the deployment of lifeboat stations in each of the nine divisions throughout Great Britain and Ireland, but details of the class of lifeboat, her speed, launching requirements, whether she has a selfrighting capability and if she carries radar or navigational aids.

Beneath the seemingly informal atmosphere, however, this room fulfils an especially important function. Manned by three people during office hours and by a duty officer at other times, here is collated all information relevant to the safe and efficient operation of the RNLI's fleet. Information which may be needed not only by staff in head office or on the coast, but by HM Coastguard and other search and rescue authorities.

Busy telephone lines may bring requests for stores—anything from the smallest spare part to a relief engine or inshore lifeboat. Requests are passed to the depot across the road where a 24-hour watch is maintained, enabling the stores to be despatched to the coast in the minimum of time.

Lifeboat services are reported daily by Coastguard Rescue Headquarters.

Complicated services or ones that take place in gale force conditions, are immediately telexed to CO/IR by HM Coastguard. The message can be passed to the divisional inspectors, or alternatively, the situation can be monitored by CO/IR. A supply of charts and navigational publications covering the entire coastline enables the duty officer to plot an incident or casualty and follow its progress.

In very bad weather the work can become extremely urgent and of the greatest importance. Last Christmas Eve, Cdr Peter Gladwin, who was duty officer, was sleeping in the cabin across the corridor when he was summoned at 3 am by the Telex alarm. The Coastguard at Land's End reported that the Padstow and St Ives lifeboats had launched to the assistance of a Danish coaster off Trevose Head.

It was only the beginning of a day that was to result in seven lifeboats, from all areas, answering calls to distressed shipping as severe storms pounded the entire coast. Sadly, it was the day a lifeboatman was to lose his life when Kilmore lifeboat was twice capsized, and twice righted herself.

Cdr Gladwin was quickly able to contact the staff required to return to the office and take action in these circumstances.

It was also possible to remain in close contact with the stations and to have necessary information readily available. Such a possibility had not existed before the setting up of the CO/IR two years ago, after the RNLI's transfer from London to Poole.

The decision to set up the CO/IR was the outcome of considerable discussion by the Committee of Management following the loss of Fraserburgh lifeboat in 1970 and taking into account the changes which had been occurring in the pattern of lifeboat services, including their increased number, over the past decade. Operational control continues to be exercised locally by station honorary secretaries as launching authorities and the coxswains while at sea, but the Institution has a more comprehensive overall view of lifeboat operations on the coast and so the facility to help when needed. H.D..