ON HER EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY, August 4, HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was sent the following telegram by our Chairman, the Duke of Atholl: 'Members of the RNLI Committee of Management, lifeboat crews, voluntary workers and staff thank you for your 43 years of Patronage and send you sincere congratulations and loyal greetings on this happy and memorable anniversary.' Her Majesty replied: '/ am extremely touched by your telegram of good wishes on my birthday and send my very sincere thanks to you and to all who joined in your kind message.' The Queen Mother, who, with the Queen, is a Patron of the Institution, has been deeply interested in lifeboat affairs for many years. An account of the contributions she has made to its wellbeing since the early 1920s appears on page 88.

Budget benefits charities The Finance Act 1980, which became law on August 1, has brought potential extra benefits to charities.

Gifts to charities are exempt from Capital Transfer Tax, unless made within one year of death, when the exemption has been raised from £100,000 to 200,000. Deeds of covenant can be taken out over a four-year period, instead of seven years, and are allowable against income tax at higher rates as well as the basic rate. This last change can substantially increase the income from covenants at no extra cost to the donor and a more detailed explanation can be found on page 85.

A long-standing charity benefit which was not affected by the budget is the transfer of stocks and shares to a charity; such transfers can be made without incurring Capital Gains Tax.

New York victory A team of RNLI lifeboatmen was invited to take part in international lifeboat races during the New York Harbor Festival again this year, following the success of the team from TheMumbles, which came second in last year's finals. Pan Am generously provided flights to and from New York and arranged hotel accommodation for the team, which was drawn from Hartlepool, Teesmouth and Crimdon Dene lifeboat stations. Local firms in the north east, giving practical support, provided blazers, flannels, track suits and tee shirts for the occasion.

Although the crew had never rowed together before and had only had three weeks' training, quickly organised by their divisional inspector, Lt Alan Tate, they won their heat against the Australian and United States Coast Guards and, in an exciting final, won by five lengths, coming up from two lengths down at the halfway mark.

The day before the races, July 4, the lifeboat crew had carried the RNLI flag through the streets of New York in the Independence Day Parade, drawing warm applause from the thousands of people lining the route.

Station changes Changes in patterns of casualties and advances in lifeboat technology lead tochanging requirements at lifeboat stations.

The D class inflatable lifeboats stationed at Humbermouth and Coverack were withdrawn this year because of a decline in the number of incidents in their areas and the improved coverage provided by Arun class lifeboats, at Humber and Falmouth respectively. Falmouth's 18ft 6in McLachlan boarding boat has also been designated as a lifeboat. At Invergordon, where there is a 52ft Barnett lifeboat, the McLachlan lifeboat has been withdrawn.

New stations, operating inflatable lifeboats, were opened on trials at Hunstanton (Norfolk) and Portaferry (Co. Down) last year and at Penarth (South Glamorgan) this year. The Search and Rescue Committee of the Institution keeps the whole of the coast constantly under review with the aim of making such changes to give the best possible lifeboat coverage.HM Coastguard HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES has agreed to become Honorary Commodore of Her Majesty's Coastguard Service, an appointment which has been graciously approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

Prince Charles served as an auxiliary coastguard during his education at Gordonstoun.

Birthday Honours In the Birthday Honours List, Mr W. F. G. Lord was awarded the OBE for services to the RNLI, particularly in Scotland. Mr Lord, honorary secretary of the City of Edinburgh branch from 1950 to 1975 and a vice-chairman of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Lifeboat Council, served on the Committee of Management from 1971 to 1979, when he resigned because of ill health. He was awarded the silver badge in 1962.

Miss Pattie Price With the death of Miss Pattie Price in Simonstown, South Africa, on June 1 the RNLI lost a revered honorary life governor and seafarers a remarkable friend. Apart from her work for lifeboats, Pattie Price, of rare versatility, excelled in her time as a teacher, journalist, musician, artist and athlete.

After reading a letter from Sir Godfrey Baring, Chairman of the Institution, published in The Times in 1940 on the wartime work of the lifeboat service, Miss Price launched an appeal in South Africa which ultimately funded three lifeboats: the 46ft Watson Cabin lifeboat Field Marshal and Mrs Smuts,built for Beaumaris in 1945; the 51ft Barnett (Stromness) lifeboat Southern Africa, built for Dover in 1949; and the 46ft 9in Watson Deneys Reitz, built for Fowey in 1954. Between them, in their service lives, these three lifeboats rescued more than 351 people.

In April, 1966, disaster struck a fishing vessel off Stilbaai, South Africa, when 17 members of the crew were drowned. Miss Price wrote to The Argus advocating the formation of a sea rescue service in South Africa similar to the RNLI and her letter was to lead directly to the formation of the National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa in May, 1967.

Anniversary vellums Broughty Ferry and Moelfre lifeboat stations were both awarded vellums on the occasion of their 150th anniversaries in 1980..