WHEN THE NUCLEAR submarine HMS Spartan sailed from Barrow-in-Furness last February she had to navigate an exact course out into Morecambe Bay.

A Decca trisponder chain of four 'slave' stations was set up from which distance could be measured with an accuracy of three decimal points of a kilometer and Cdr John L. Hammer III, USN, representing the Hydrographer of the Navy, asked if he could use Barrow lifeboat slipway to calibrate the chain. While he was there Second Coxswain Albert Benson showed him over the station's 46ft 9in Watson lifeboat Herbert Leigh, the commander insisting on removing his shoes first. In a letter of thanks following his visit, Cdr Hammer wrote: 7 must say that I was impressed by your station and only just have I come to realise the versatility of the RNLl lifeboats'..