Butaseis Together with countless people throughout Torbay, I was extremely concerned over the presence of the liquid gas tanker Butaseis. I have been advised of the outstanding action taken by the coxswain and crew of the lifeboat in going to the assistance of the crew of the vessel and later standing by to assist those who put their lives peril whilst dealing with the fire on board.

Their outstanding courage in undertaking this most hazardous task deserves the highest praise.

I write to express my most sincere thanks to the coxswain and crew for their unstinting effort in ensuring the safety of the people of Torbay, and would ask you to convey my thanks and admiration to all your men.—LEN S. w. HOWARD, Mayor of Torbay, Mayor's Parlour, Torre Abbey Mansion House, Torquay, Devon.

This letter was written to Captain Barry Anderson, honorary secretary of Torbay lifeboat station. The service to Butaseis on December 28, 1979, is reported on page 80.- EDITOR Grace Darling collecting box? I bought the little tin lifeboat Grace Darling, shown in the accompanying photograph, in a junk shop in London.

I wonder whether any of your readerscan identify it? Could it have been an early collecting box? There are two eyes, bow and stern, for suspending the boat and a single eye on the bottom of the keel amidships. Inside amidships there is a thwart with a hole in it for a mast, which could have supported a sail with some exhortation on it. Any ideas or recollections would be welcomed.

—MALDWIN DRUMMOND, Cadland House, Fawley, Southampton.

No more welcome sight . . .

Myself and my three crew were taken from rocks by Berwick-upon- Tweed lifeboat on June 14, after our yacht Havoc had been holed in thick fog.

For many years I have been engaged in local fund raising and a Shoreline member, never expecting the need for active assistance. Along with many others I can confirm that there is no more welcome sight than a lifeboat.— D. M. H. MITCHELL, Fairacre, 22 Albany Road, West Ferry, Dundee.

Crew association Last year at Tenby, we sounded out the crew on the idea of forming an association and, when they agreed, we held our first meeting in October. The coxswain, Josh Richards, was elected chairman with myself, the radio operator/signaller, as secretary. Two of the local management committee, Jack Thomas and Geoff David, were elected president and treasurer, and with four more of the crew we formed a committee.

Last Christmas we gave a children's party for all crew members' kiddies, when they each received a present, and we also gave a cash donation to all the local widows of ex-members. These were paid for by the crew out of a weekly contribution.

From such fund-raising events as a very successful dinner dance lastMarch and three rowing regattas this summer, we are able to make contributions towards amenities for the crew and also to local charities.

Since we started this association, we have spent a very enjoyable evening in the company of Burry Port lifeboat crew, and are hoping to return their hospitality in the autumn.—MICHAEL CROCKFORD, Sheer Water, The Harbour, Tenby, Dyfed.

'Modern Motor-Lifeboats' As one of your Shoreline members, I would ask if any of your readers could assist me by providing a replacement for a very treasured book that I have recently lost.

The volume in question is Modern Motor-Lifeboats by the late J. R. Barnett which was published around 1933 and gave all hull lines and elevations plus plan drawings of the then standard classes of boat together with much essential detail of each type.

Its loss is very serious for me and I would be pleased to hear if anyone can help.—PHILIP M. CRITCHLEY, 26 Peel Road, Brighton, East Sussex.

Hobblers A letter from R. M. Bere was published in the summer issue of THE LIFEBOAT asking about the derivation of the word 'hobbler'. The following definition appeared in a mid nineteenth century nautical dictionary: 'HOBBLERS—A name given to a class of men on the coast of Kent, etc., half smugglers, and half pilots, without license, ready for either occupation, but qualified only for the first, who go out in their boats when the barometer indicates a storm, and hobble off and on to pick up a job.' Postscript . . .

The summer issue of THE LIFEBOAT contained an announcement of the complete insurance and financial service for lifeboat supporters being promoted by Aegis Insurance Services (Group) Ltd, from which the RNLI benefits financially. Response to the scheme, details of which appear in the advertisement on page 103, has been encouragingly good..