A CENTENARY DINNER AND DANCE Was held at the Royal Hotel, Clacton, on April 21, 1978, at which Raymond Baxter, guest of honour and a member of the RNLI Public Relations Committee, presented the centenary vellum to the branch president, Harold Felgate, acknowledging one hundred years of lifesaving by one of the oldest lifeboat stations in Essex. After the cutting of a huge centenary cake by Coxswain Arthur Harman a large number of guests danced until the small hours.

Clacton lifeboat station was established in 1878, and the first lifeboat to take up residence in the newly-built boathouse was a 34ft self-righter presented by the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons. She was named Albert Edward to celebrate the safe return of their Grand Master, HRH The Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII, from a grand tour of India. July 10 was the day chosen for her naming and dedication ceremony, but already Albert Edward had proved her worth, for in the May of that year, with Coxswain Robert Legerton in command, she had saved the lives of nine men who were snatched from the brig Garland, stranded on the Gunfleet Sands.

A cheering throng accompanied the lifeboat as she was hauled on her carriage by a team of heavy horses along the seafront, down Pier Gap to the beach where in traditional form she was dedicated to the service of those in distress at sea. Celebrations went on until late on that July day in 1878.

On a July day in 1978 clocks were turned back one hundred years as crowds once more thronged the seafront to witness a lifeboat, hauled by heavy horses, as she made her way down Pier Avenue to the beach for her dedication: Clacton's new ILB, D262.

Hundreds of lifeboat supporters and holidaymakers joined in the prayers and hymns and as strains of 'Eternal Father, strong to save' drifted out across the choppy sea, our minds went back to those who have served in the lifeboat over the past hundred years rescuing nearly 1,000 lives, some, alas, also giving their own lives in their endeavours.

These were two of the highlights of Clacton's centenary year, but that was not all.

The ladies' guild played an important role in the organisation of many events during the year and they started the ball rolling with a spring fashion show in March which proved very popular and raised f 120 towards the branch's aim of funding its new ILB. In April a souvenir stand was manned at the Trades Fair held at Butlin's Holiday Camp. Here on display was an 8ft by 4ft carpet mural supplied by a local carpet firm, with a detailed picture of Clacton's present 37ft Oakley Valentine Wyndham-Quin. In May the lifeboat herself gave an air/sea rescue demonstration off the pier with a helicopter from RAF Mansion.

June was a busy month for the station honorary secretary, Ken Broad, and his hardworking committee: first an arts festival in the town hall and then a 'charity nite' on the pier which proved a fantastic success. A wine and cheese party was followed by free rides on the amusements and, of course, a visit to Reg Bloom's famous dolphins.

The result was £1,250 into the funds.

Carnival week, an ever-popular and important occasion in Clacton's calendar, was taken over by 'lifeboat fever'.

The week's events included an 'It's a Knockout' competition in which the lifeboat's team distinguished itself. The carnival procession had Dennis Chilvers' half size model lifeboat from Dagenham and together with the lifeboat crew dressed as pirates, but with plastic buckets to the fore instead of cutlasses, raised plenty of laughs as well as amassing a heap of small change. During the week a raft race was held round the pier, the new ILB acting as guard boat, happily not needed.

Clacton Carnival Committee had in 1978 decided to honour Clacton RNLI by making it their principal charity, hoping to donate a portion of the proceeds towards the new ILB. In the event an astonished Ken Broad was presented with a cheque for £3,000, enough in itself to pay for the boat completely! Clacton Sailing Club's annual regatta also honoured the lifeboat, and what a proud sight as Walton and Frinton's reserve lifeboat, the 46ft 9in Watson Michael and Lily Davis, Valentine Wyndham-Quin and an ex-lifeboat Pentland Spier all rode at anchor off the clubhouse on August 13. Before giving a demonstration with the Coastguard and an RAF helicopter the two lifeboat crews did battle in a rowing race, Clacton rightly taking the honours, but only just. Later in the day the sailing club presented a cheque for £65.

The year's activities were concluded with a wine and cheese party held by the ladies' guild at Holland-on-Sea, raising £160, and in October a huge raffle and angling contest run by Westcliff Boat Angling Society which prompted an absolute armada of craft of all sizes to leave the shore in search of the 'big one'.

Such was the interest and justifiable pride in Clacton's lifeboat that during the year donations came in steadily.

Brentwood High School for Girls continued on page 137.