DOVER: OCTOBER 30, 1979 IT WAS PARTICULARLY FITTING that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother should agree to visit Dover to name the new lifeboat, for she is not only a Patron of the RNLI, but earlier last year she was installed as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

Lifeboat supporters from branches and stations throughout south-east England gathered to greet her on Tuesday October 30, undeterred by the drizzle and grey clouds, which most passed off as 'typical lifeboat weather'. Members of Rotary Clubs were also out in force as they had provided a substantial part of the cost of the 50ft Thames class lifeboat. There were actually two lifeboats in the Wellington Dock for the Boulogne crew of the French lifeboat service had sailed across the Channel to be at the ceremony.

Captain Stanley Williams, chairman of Dover branch, welcomed the Queen Mother. Mr D. Imrie Brown, president of Rotary International, Great Britain and Ireland, then presented the lifeboat to the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, on behalf of the 58,000 Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland and noted how well the Rotary motto 'Service above Self applied to the lifeboat service. The Duke of Atholl handed over the lifeboat to Captain Peter White, honorary secretary of the station, who expressed the honour and pride the station felt in receiving Rotary Service. Since the lifeboat had arrived, some four weeks before the ceremony, she had answered six calls and the crew found her a superb craft in every way. Following the service of dedication, led by the Bishop of Dover, the Queen Mother was invited to name the lifeboat. She first thanked Rotary International for providing the lifeboat which would guard the Straits of Dover, a 'treacherous and violent narrow stretch of sea'. The new lifeboat, she said, would '. . . maintain the traditions of a service which is admiredThe 50ft Thames lifeboat Rotary Service at her naming in Wellington Dock with Boulogne lifeboat in attendance.

throughout the world . . . " for '. . . when ships are running for shelter, lifeboats are putting to sea'.

The Queen Mother spoke of the splendid record of the Dover crew and went on to pay tribute to their wives and families. 'By your patience and understanding, you also serve', she told them.

Then came the moment of naming, the champagne bottle smashing down on the bows, and Coxswain Anthony Hawkins called for three cheers for Her Majesty.

As Rotary Service came alongside the harbour wall, Captain Williams presented the Queen Mother with a painting of the new lifeboat and Captain White invited her to board the lifeboat for an inspection.

Coxswain Hawkins displayed the great manoeuvreability of the lifeboat in the narrow confines of the dock and the Queen Mother obviously enjoyed every moment aboard for she spent a long time in the wheelhouse chatting to the crew. She left after tea but the day's ceremonies were not over.

Michel Boitard, president of Boulogne lifeboat station, which was founded one year after the RNLI, presented Captain Williams with a commemorative gold medal and a larger gold medal from the Societe Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer was presented by Admiral Picard-Destelan, vicepresident of the French lifeboat service and an old friend of the RNLI.

Finally the Duke of Atholl presented a service vellum to former Coxswain Arthur Liddon and a silver badge to honorary medical adviser Dr S. Tally.

Within a few days of the naming ceremony, Rotary Service was in the news again, for she towed in television personality Hughie Green's yacht.

Operating in the busiest shipping lanes in the world, Rotary Service will never be short of work.—R.K..