Immediate thanks On Wednesday December 10, 1980, our diving boat Kermit, named after a famous frog, decided to roll over on her back in an attempt to swim like her namesake. She found, however, that although in this position floating was easy, unlike a frog her means of propulsion did not work totally submerged and upside down. This position did not suit here crew who were not too politely deposited into the sea between Berry Head and Sharkham Point.

Kermit has been severely reprimanded for taking such an action, and on behalf of her crew, of which I myself was a member, may I offer our very sincere thanks to the coxswain and crew of the lifeboat for their speedy action on that day, and as a more practical expression of our appreciation we enclose a cheque in aid of RNLI funds.

Once again many thanks for your prompt assistance on that fateful day.—J. G. ERRINGTON,director, Keliston Marine Ltd, Orwell Quay, Duke Street, Ipwich, Suffolk.

The diving work boat Kermit, rounding Berry Head in a near gale, force 7, blowing from south south west, shipped water and capsized. Her crew of four were able to cling to her upturned hull and her inflatable dinghy. Torbay lifeboat, the 54ft Arun Edward Bridges (Civil Service No. 37), alerted at 0920 by Brixham Coastguard, slipped her moorings five minutes later. The lifeboat, together with the trawler Our Sarah Jane, was alongside Kermit by 0941, and each boat took two of the men on board. As one of the men picked up by the lifeboat needed medical attention, Edward Bridges made for Brixham at best possible speed to land him and his colleague before returning to recover Kermit's dinghy and a floating gas cylinder and to escort Our Sarah Jane, with the inverted diving boat in tow, back to harbour. Mr Erring- Ion's letter, much appreciated by Torbay station, was sent to the honorary secretary.

Captain Barry Anderson.— EDITOR.

Continuing thanks We were on a boating holiday near Arran this Easter and were unfortunately caught in the severe gales in that area. After a number of hours in the gale the front cleat on our boat started to rip out of the hull and we were in danger of coming loose from our mooring and drifting in the gale. We were not in a position to anchor our vessel safely and, as there were warnings of another force 9 gale, we sent up flares and Lamlash lifeboat came and took us off.

Although we can never repay the lifeboatmen for rescuing us, we hope that we can contribute in some way to the fund-raising activities the RNLI undertakes and hope you will be able to send us details of how we might help.—JUDITH AND JOHN RAMSDEN, 4 Ings Way, Rawcliffe Drive, York.

The sighting of a red flare from the cruiser was reported to Clyde Coastguard by a 999 call at 1546 on Friday April 24. The weather was deteriorating fast and the northerly wind had already risen to near gale, force 7. By 1557 Arran (Lamlash) D class inflatable lifeboat had launched, reached the cruiser, taken off her crew of four and was returning to station. Mr and Mrs Ramsden's letter offering welcome practical help was sent to the director of the RNLI.—EDITOR.

Why? Recently I received a letter from a lady who sent me used Christmas cards, stamps and foreign coins to help the lifeboat service. She told me that her interest in the RNLI dated from the time when, aged 13, she had won a prize in an essay competition for which the subject was 'The Lifeboatman'.

The story of the lifeboats and their crews had, she said, deeply impressed her, even at that raw age.

We all have the same basic reason for supporting the RNLI, but there must be hundreds who have special tales and some of them could be inspiring to the rest of us.

For myself, I have two special reasons. Firstly, I came from a naval port and generations of my family had gone to sea; one of my great grandfathers was lost at sea with Speculation which left West Africa one day in the mid-nineteenth century and was never heard of again. So I always had the interest, but what makes me keep going when I do not feel like it is the memory of the friend I had when a schoolgirl, who was lost together with his father and brother and indeed all but one of the crew, in the St Ives lifeboat disaster.

—TOPSY LEVAN, Mrs, honorary secretary, Richmond-with-Kew branch, 17 Bushwood Road, Kew Green, Surrey.

Full circle I was very interested in the article 'Going alongside and survivor recovery' in the winter issue of THE LIFEBOAT for also in that issue was the obituary for Lt William Henry Benni- Son who was a Hartlepool man and coxswain of the lifeboat and who was awarded the gold medal for the service to ssHawkwood in 1942. I was 11 years old at that time and our school held an essay competition on the rescue. I was fortunate to win second prize in thecompetition, but little did I know at that time that I would be involved in later years in helping to raise funds for our local lifeboat and that my husband would be a Shoreline member.

It seems I have come a full circle, as I am honorary secretary and treasurer of a group called Harbour Friends of the Lifeboat. Our first fund raising effort was in 1976 and since then we have raised £5,520.21.

Lt Bennison presented my prize to me all those years ago, and in later years he attended some of our fundraising functions.—v. FOSTER, Mrs, 26 Swainby Road, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, Cleveland.

Go west Would you believe it—a minute part of Flamborough lifeboat station is, from mid June, to be located in the middle of the Canadian Prairies. Mrs Wilson of Bridlington decorates goose eggs. The one she gave us has a picture of the lighthouse on the outside but somehow she has managed to hinge the shell and inside the egg is a relief of Flamborough station complete with a little sand and concrete from the slipway.

We auctioned the egg in aid of Flamborough lifeboat appeal and a Mrs Webb of Red Deer, Alberta, who was visiting her sister here paid £15.5&for it. Her brother-in-law is a member of the launching crew, so we feel we now have a real link with Canada. Mrs Webb is returning to Canada full of admiration of our voluntary lifeboat service and intends to display the egg to her friends and neighbours and sing the praises of the service over there.—M. BIRD, Miss, honorary secretary, Flamborough lifeboat appeal, 17 Church Close, Flamborough, North Humberside.

Extract from a recent letter written by Miss Bird to the RNLI North East District office.—EDITOR..