BARMOUTH'S NEW 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat was named Princess of Wales by the Princess on November 25 in her first engagement for the RNLI. The Princess, accompanied by Prince Charles, was given an enthusiastic welcome by the large crowds and took obvious delight in naming the lifeboat. Over £60,000 towards the cost of the boat was raised by a special appeal in Wales to celebrate the Royal Wedding. A full account of the naming ceremony will appear in the next edition of the journal. City of London naming Another unique naming ceremony took place on the River Thames on November 1. Lady Leaver, Lady Mayoress of London, named the prototype 47ft Tyne class lifeboat City of London at the steps by Fishmongers' Hall. Among the guests were Lord Inchcape who was chairman of the City of London Appeal which raised over £400,000 to pay for the lifeboat and representatives of many businesses and livery companies which had contributed to the appeal.

The lifeboat is the first to bear the name City of London and will be stationed at Selsey when she completes her trials.

New Bredes The 33ft Brede class lifeboat, built by Lochin Marine and based on one of their commercial hulls, is now in production.

The prototype boat, used for extensive trials, is to be sold and subsequent boats, which incorporate a number of important modifications, are already in service; 33-02, Ann Ritchie, is on station at Oban and 33-03, Leonore Chilcott, is at Fowey.

Radar simulator gift The RNLI is fortunate to receive support in many different ways. Many firms make regular donations in the form of goods; Duckhams lubricants, Martell brandy and Champion spark- plugs are well known examples. In August a most valuable and useful gift of a marine radar simulator was made to the Institution by Rediffusion Simulation Ltd.

The simulator, which will be used to train lifeboat crews in radar operating procedures, has been installed in a caravan and will be taken to lifeboat stations all around the coast to provide local training facilities. Previously such training had to be carried out at sea or at special training centres.

Another step forward After prolonged technical and operational evaluation trials the RNLI has selected a VHP direction finding system as the standard installation in certain classes of lifeboat. The equipment, the Simrad L1520 from Racal Decca, can give the bearing of transmissions from a casualty fitted with a VHP radio, thus helping to reduce considerably time spent searching.

At present this VHP DP equipment can only be installed in certain cabin lifeboats which lie afloat; further technical work is necessary before it can be considered for other lifeboats, including housed boats with folding aerials. It will be standard equipment for all new lifeboats of the Arun, Waveney and Brede classes, and it will be fitted to existing boats of these classes over a period of about four years; Clyde and Thames class lifeboats will also be included in this programme. Each installation in an existing boat will, of course, call for individual attention; in particular, as the new aerial has to be at the highest point, above the wheelhouse, the effect of its weight on the stability and self-righting capability of each boat must be carefully checked.

Staff retirements At the end of 1982 a number of well known and long serving members of staff retired. Lt-Col Brian Clark retired as national organiser (Ireland) after 15 years service; Glyn Williams as regional organiser (Wales) after 15 years service; Ken Bryon as legacies and trusts controller after 44 years service, and Peter Young as electronics surveyor after 18 years service. Mrs Doris Hills, whose cheerful voice has greeted thousands of people telephoning Poole, retired as telephone operator after nearly ten years.

In Ireland, Mrs May McMaster is now regional organiser (Northern Ireland) and Jimmy Kavanagh is national organiser (Republic of Ireland). Miss Anne Williams has been appointed regional organiser (Wales).

Centenary vellums Lifeboat stations at Arranmore, Co Donegal, and Port Erin, Isle of Man, have been awarded centenary vellums on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of their establishment in 1883.

National Sea Service Seven lifeboatmen from Kent attended the annual National Service for Seafarers held in St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London on Trafalgar Day, October 21, 1982. Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Anthony Hawkins of Dover was the Institution's colour bearer at the service, escorted by Emergency Mechanic Michael Abbott and Crew Member Alan Barker. Making up the uniformed party were Tractor Driver Richard Taylor and Assistant Tractor Driver John Miller from Margate and Crew Members Charles Reid and John Snoad from Littlestone-on-Sea. Also attending the service were Michael Vernon, a deputy chairman of the Institution, Captain J. B. Leworthy, a member of the Committee of Management, Rear Admiral W. J. McClune, a member of the Boat Committee, and Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, deputy director.

Salute to Maritime England Coxswain/Mechanic Leonard Patten of Newhaven and his wife Frances represented the Institution at the Salute to Maritime England concert held at the Royal Festival Hall on October 23. The concert was organised by King George's Fund for Sailors, to which the proceeds were donated.

Scottish Office The RNLI Scottish office has moved to 26 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BW. Tel: 031-229 2206. Annual Meetings 1983 THE RNLI'S annual meetings for 1983 will take place on Tuesday May 17 at the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, London.

The annual general meeting of the governors of the Institution will be held at 11.30 am in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and the annual presentation of awards will take place at 3 pm in the main auditorium.

As for the meetings in 1982, application forms are being sent out to all governors with the journal, in order to save the cost of envelopes and postage for a separate circular. All governors, therefore, will receive an application form for both the morning and afternoon meetings with this winter journal.

If you are a governor wishing to attend the AGM and if by any chance the form is not tucked into your journal, please write to the Director, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ, stating your requirements.

Branches and guilds will receive information about how to apply for tickets for the annual presentation of awards on the afternoon of May 17 from their regional organising secretaries in the usual way. If any other supporters of the lifeboat service would like to attend the afternoon presentation of awards meeting, they should write to the Director at the address given above.

Tyne class: The second prototype 47ft fast slipway boat in heavy weather trials (left) off Berry Head, Brixham (photograph by courtesy of Crew Member Nigel Coulton) and (below) off Padstow (photograph by courtesy of John Watts, Cornerways Studio)..