The Maud Smith Award for the most outstanding act of life saving by a lifeboatman during 1978 has been made to Coxswain John Petit of St Peter Port for the rescue of two men from the oil rig Orion on the night of February 1/2.

Orion ran aground on the rocky north-west shore of Guernsey when she parted from her tug in storm force winds and high seas. For this service Coxswain Petit received the silver medal for gallantry.

The Ralph Glister Award for the most meritorious service of 1978 by the crew of an inshore lifeboat has been made to Helmsman Nicholas White and Crew Members Richard Spindler and Anthony Blizzard of Weston-super- Mare for the rescue on November 12 of three boys who were trapped in a cave.

The three inshore lifeboatmen received the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum for driving their ILB, in gale force winds and darkness, into the cave entrance to rescue the boys and two auxiliary coastguards who had gone to help them.

The James Michael Bower Fund monetary awards have been made to the two lifeboatmen who received the RNLI's silver medal in 1978: Coxswain John Petit of St Peter Port, and Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan of Humber..