THE 13TH INTERNATIONAL LIFEBOAT CONFERENCE, on which a report appears on page 148, was as always an extremely harmonious and friendly affair. Indeed it would be difficult to find a gathering of pleasanter people anywhere in the world. To someone of my generation, brought up on the general assumption that the British did most things better than other people and repeatedly disillusioned by the experiences of the last 30 years, it was particularly gratifying to experience once again the esteem in which the RNLI is held internationally. To suggest that any one lifeboat service is better than any other, that it has better crews or better boats, would be both arrogant and absurd. Yet it remains a fact that the RNLI, through providing the central secretariat for the lifeboat organisations of the world for many years past, enjoys a unique standing, which is readily and generously recognised.

It also became clear at the conference that the RNLI's editing and producing of Lifeboat International, the internal annual publication, is increasingly appreciated. This publication came into existence as a consequence of a paper submitted by the RNLI at the eleventh international lifeboat conference in New York City. The proposal to have such a publication was well received at the outset, for it was generally recognised that, with more and more important new developments in technology, the gap of four years between conferences left a void in communications which needed filling.

New RNLI Director A new Director of the RNLI has been appointed to succeed the late Captain Nigel Dixon. He is Rear Admiral Wilfred Graham, who recently retired from the Royal Navy after 35 years' service. He was Flag Officer Portsmouth and Port Admiral from 1976 until he retired. He graduated from the Imperial Defence College (now the Royal College of Defence Studies) in 1970 and is a member of the Nautical Institute.

He commanded HMS Ark Royal and became well known to the general public when the BBC filmed the television series 'Sailor' on board Ark Royal.

Admiral Graham was born in Kilmacolm, near Glasgow, and spent his early life there. He now lives in Crondall, near Farnham, in Hampshire and is married with four children.

New intermediate lifeboats The RNLI depot at Cowes has been working for some time on designs for a new boat which could serve as an intermediate lifeboat between the Atlantic 21 and conventional offshore boats. A prototype boat has been built at Souter's yard in Cowes, and a happy decision was taken to call the new class of boat 'RNLI Medina'. The trial speed of this boat is estimated to be about 25 knots. The hull is in cold moulded mahogany, with an internal structure mainly of plywood and a conning position built of aluminium alloy just forward of midships. There is a righting air bag, which has to be inflated by the crew in much the same way as in the Atlantic 21.

Another intermediate lifeboat, whose estimated trial speed is also about 25 knots, is being developed simultaneously. This is an adaptation of a commercial hull produced by Lochin Marine in GRP. To meet the RNLI's requirements considerable stiffening has been introduced to the hull.

So have foam buoyancy, watertight doors and watertight hatches. The engines are twin Caterpillar diesels, each producing 203 hp.

Major lifeboat displays Through the generous support of sponsors the RNLI will have both the central feature at the International Boat Show, Earls Court, in January, 1980 and the largest and most important photographic exhibition on the subject of lifeboats ever to be staged in this country.

The sponsors of the RNLI's feature at Earls Court are the Midland Bank Limited. A major contribution is also being made by the Department of Trade and Industry, and the theme of the central feature will be search and rescue.

The photographic exhibition is being sponsored by Kodak Limited, who celebrate their centenary year in 1980.

The photographic exhibition, to which many fine photographers who have done work for the RNLI will be contributing, will be staged in London in March, 1980. It is hoped to transport the exhibition later to other leading cities.

Tribute to the brave The day of the annual presentation of awards at the Royal Festival Hall ends with an after-theatre supper at the Rubens Hotel for all the medallists and their families. Mrs Anne Wall has very generously made this culmination of a memorable day her personal tribute to the men and women in the front line of the lifeboat service, sending an annual cheque for what has come to be known as the Anne Wall Supper and also to provide small gifts for the wives and sweethearts of 'the men who do such an admirable and indescribably praiseworthy job'. The letter which accompanied Mrs Wall's cheque this year continues: 'I feel very deeply that it is the women who suffer, never knowing if their loved ones will return, though they proudly share in their men's honour which is so very well deserved. If I may be permitted to express my admiration for them in this way it may inspire other friends of this wonderful work to do the same.' Helicopter rescues In the spring 'Notes of the Quarter' mention was made of the rescue by naval helicopter of the crew of the coaster Fendyke to which Broughty Ferry lifeboat had put out late on Christmas Eve (see page 157). In fact the rescue was carried out, not by a naval helicopter, but by an RAF Wessex helicopter from Leuchars and an RAF Sea King from Lossiemouth, and we apologise for this error. For this service the crew of the Wessex from Leuchars have received the following awards: Air Force Cross: Fl Lt Adrian Murray, pilot (now retired) and Master Air Loadmaster Iain Brunton, winchman.

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air: Fl Lt Brian Canfer, navigator, and Fl Sgt Larry Evans, winchman.

Anniversaries Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station has been awarded a centenary vellum on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the station in 1879, and Ramsey lifeboat station has been awarded a vellum on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the station in 1829.

Obituaries It is with deep regret that we announce the following deaths: February Thomas John Henry Cooper, coxswain of Ramsgate lifeboat from 1963 to 1975. He joined the crew in 1930, serving as bowman from 1946 to 1952 and second coxswain from 1953 to 1963, and he was awarded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum in 1968.

March Mrs Dorothy Theresa Phillips, founder chairman of Little and Broad Haven ladies' guild and wife of Elson Phillips, the station honorary secretary.

Wavy Line appeal The Wavy Line Grocers' Association, which supplies some 2,000 small grocers in England and Wales, is launching a promotion to raise £137,000 to fund a Rother class lifeboat. All its groceries carry the Wavy Line symbol, and the association will give 2p for every empty Wavy Line container returned to one of their shops between June and August this year. In addition there will be a series of raft races and three or four large charity dances, at the last of which it is hoped to present a cheque to the RNLI.

Maritime Book Society Due to unavoidable delays, some subscribers to the spring issue of THE LIFEBOAT may have experienced difficulty in returning their coupon in the advertisement by the required date to claim their free book 'Little Ship Meteorology'. The Maritime Book Society generously made an appropriate extension to the return date to allow for delayed coupons..