ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS from many thousands of people, all, as it were, like threads being twisted together to form one rope of great strength, form the basis of Shoreline support for the lifeboat service. Year by year the sum of these subscriptions provides a regular, known and growing income upon which reliance can be placed. That is the foundation on which the membership scheme is built, where it all starts; but it is most heartening that so many of you, our Shoreline members, are not prepared just to leave it at that. Not only do you give your subscriptions, you give much more in many different ways.

There are those who each year subscribe amounts over and above the minimum for their class of membership; those who covenant their subscriptions, thus increasing their value to the RNLI; those who send extra donations; and those who individually or as teams help to enrol new members. Then there are members who organise events on our behalf, and it is most encouraging to read the letters telling us of these special efforts; through these letters, many of you, whom we in the Membership Office have never met, become old friends—like Geoff Threadgold of The Horns at Gnossal, Staffordshire, and his customers, who have helped Shoreline for many years—and I know that any supporter of the RNLI will always be made very welcome at this hostelry. You will have to buy your own drinks of course! Cheers!! Extra help has come over the past two years from the staff and children of Billingshurst County Junior School, West Sussex. In that time, keeping up their efforts on our behalf, they have raised the magnificent sum of £1,332 for RNLI funds.

So often it is the children themselves who, without any prompting from adults, make up their minds they want to help the lifeboats, and then think up their own ways of doing it. We heard the other day of a group of seven young children from the village of Brereton, Cheshire, who braved the snow and cold to go carol singing; the amount they raised, £22, was sent to Shoreline to be passed on to the Penlee disaster fund. That was just one of many, many gifts which were sent by our members towards the disaster fund; there were far too many to report in detail, but our deep thanks go out to you all.

It is not only children who have good ideas! Recently we heard of two of our members who celebrated their silver wedding by organising a barn dance and charging all their friends and relations a nominal 'entrance fee'; the amount raised was given to the RNLI. I understand it was a most enjoyable evening and one that will long be remembered.

Congratulations on your silver wedding, Mr and Mrs Ibberson, and thank you for your support.

* * * Two Shoreline members, Martin Bave of Coven, near Wolverhampton, and Peter Crooke of Walsall embarked on a fantastic journey from the Anchor Inn, Coven, by canal and river to Humber lifeboat station. Sponsored by Goodyears and an associated company, Tyre Services Great Britain, by rela-lives and by friends the two set off in one-man canoes along the Staffs and Worcester Canal, the Rivers Penk, Trent and Humber, negotiating Trent Falls on the way, to arrive at Spurn Point on Saturday April 17; there, after a journey of 204 miles, they were given a royal welcome by Coxswain Brian Bevan and the crew of Humber lifeboat to whom they delivered plaques from Wolverhampton branch. With additional help from the Anchor Inn, Coven, and the Rock Inn, Tettenhall, £470 was raised for the lifeboats.

* * * These have all been individual efforts but of course many of our members are also either members of the RNLFs fund raising branches and guilds themselves or give their support to events organised by their local branches and guilds. The attendance of Shoreline members is always much appreciated—you will find a warm welcome. Practical help is also much appreciated, particularly on flag days, and our regional organisers will be only too pleased, if asked, to put Shoreline members in touch with the fund-raisers in their own area. Here is a list of their names and addresses: Scotland: Ken Thirlwell, RNLI, 45 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3NN. Tel: 031- 225 4014.

North East: Brian Stevenson, RNLI, The Mill, Glasshouses, Nr Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Tel: 0423 711667.

Midlands: Richard Mann, RNLI, 16 Harborne Road, Birmingham, B15 3AA. Tel: 021-454 3009.

East: George Price, RNLI, Aldham Road, Hadleigh, Suffolk. Tel: 0473 822837.

London North: Miss Susan Steer, RNLI, 10-12 St Albans Road, Barnet, Hertfordshire, ENS 4JX. Tel: 01-441 0997.

London South: Michael Ashley, RNLI, 6 Bell Parade, Glebe Way, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 ORH. Tel: 01-777 1776.

London City: Raymond Pope, RNLI, Borneo House, 62-63 Mark Lane, London, EC3. Tel: 01-481 1219.

South East: Ian Wallington, RNLI, 9 Union Square, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 SHU. Tel: 0892 35000.

Southern: Mrs Wendy Nelson, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ.

Tel: 0202 671133.

South West: Andrew Young, RNLI, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 1RN.

Tel: 0272 29139.

Wales: Glyn Williams, RNLI, Aberdare House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff. Tel: 0222 31831.

North West: David Jones, RNLI, Princes Chambers, 26 Pall Mall, Manchester 2.

Tel: 061-834 6978.

Ireland: Lt-Col Brian Clark, Dublin Office, 3 Clare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 0001 762217.

Belfast Office, 33 Saintfield Road, Belfast.

Tel: 0232 645645.

* * * A ninth Shoreline Club has just been formed—at Coventry. Any Shoreline members in that area who would like to join should write to the honorary secretary, Mr M. Simms, 25 Moor Street, Earlsdon, Coventry. We send our best wishes to Club No. 9 and, of course, to you all—PETER HOLNESS, membership secretary, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 I HZ..