The Maud Smith Award for the most outstanding act of lifesaving during 1980 has been made to Coxswain/ Mechanic Malcolm Macdonald of Stornoway for the rescue of 29 men from the trawler Junella on September 29. In a strong southerly gale and heavy breaking seas Coxswain Macdonald took the lifeboat alongside the fishing vessel, which had run aground among dangerous rocks, and held her there for 40 minutes while Junella's crew were hauled to safety from a pilot ladder. It was a black night and the operation- was made most dangerous by the rise and fall of the lifeboat in breaking seas and heavy swell.

Altogether the lifeboat was at sea for more than eight hours. For this service Coxswain Macdonald was awarded the silver medal.

The Ralph Glister Award for the most meritorious service carried out in 1980 by the crew of a lifeboat under 10 metres in length has been made to Helmsman Frank Dunster and Crew Members Trevor Pearce and Graham Wickham of Hayling Island. On December 14 they rescued four men in a south-westerly gale, a very rough sea and poor visibility in driving spray and pouring rain; their yacht's rudder had broken off a lee shore. After two unsuccessful attempts to take the Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat alongside- the yacht, Fitz Flyer, in huge seas, two of the crew were taken off on the third run in; it took four more attempts to snatch a third man. A further run in was needed to take off the yacht's skipper.

For this service Helmsman Frank Dunster was awarded the bronze medal and Crew Members Trevor Pearce and Graham Wickham were awarded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum.

The James Michael Bower Fund awards for 1980 have been made to Coxswain/ Mechanic Malcolm Macdonald of Stornoway, Coxswain/Mechanic Charles Bowry of Sheerness, Coxswain/Mechanic Ian Johnson of Troon, and Coxswain/ Mechanic Kenneth Voice of Shoreham Harbour, who each received the silver medal..