ONCE AGAIN another year has passed and 1982 has been the best year yet for Shoreline recruiting, due largely to the great support that we have had from our existing members. Our membership now stands at more than 92,000 and I am certain that if we can keep up our present impetus, one day in 1983 we shall reach—and pass—that magic figure of 100,000. Perhaps you will be the one who enrols that 100,000th member? Because of the large increase in numbers last year there have been times when it has been difficult to keep abreast of correspondence and, from sheer quantity, we have not been able to answer some letters as quickly as we should have liked. We are back on an even keel again now, I am happy to say, but if at any time you have had to wait for a reply we are very sorry and send our apologies. But please, do keep writing to us. We are always delighted to receive your letters and to hear your various suggestions; some we are able to take up, but others, unfortunately, are too difficult to implement. Never mind. From the steady stream coming in, some well worth while ideas can often be netted.

One very interesting letter arrived on" my desk just after the autumn journal had gone to press. It was from Mr J. E.

Bowden, an amateur radio enthusiast.

He is wondering whether any other Shoreline member has the same hobby and, if so, whether it would be possible to set up a Shoreline radio net on 80 metres in the evening. Mr Bowden suggests Monday and Wednesday evenings at 1930 GMT on frequency 3770. His call sign is G2AYQ—and he will be listening out for you! I shall be most interested to hear how many of you meet' on the air.

A letter from the honorary secretary of Leicester branch invites any Shoreline members in that area who are interested in joining in local RNLI activities to telephone Stephen and Suzanne Gamble (Leicester 695481) who are responsible for putting the programme together.

Another letter, this time from a ladies' guild honorary secretary, asks for the help of Shoreline members. The Isles of Scilly guild is collecting decorative plates to auction in aid of RNLI funds. Anyone visiting Scilly within the next year who would like to donate a plate for this collection is asked to bring it with them and leave it with either the secretary, Mrs M. Soar, 6 Harbour View, St Mary's, or with Mrs H. Williams, Rosevean, Church Road, St Mary's. A little help from a lot of holidaymakers could make this auction a tremendous success.

* * * The 37ft 6in Rother class lifeboat Shoreline, which was funded by the great efforts of our Shoreline members and which has been stationed at Blyth since 1979, has a new posting. For operational reasons, Shoreline has been replaced at Blyth by a 44ft Waveney lifeboat and, after a routine fit out, she went on station shortly before Christmas at Arbroath, on the east coast of Scotland.

It is hoped that a dedication ceremony will be held at Arbroath in the early spring. Any member who would like to attend this ceremony should write, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for reply, to the RNLI Scottish Office at 26 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BW. Please give your Shoreline number and mark the envelope carrying your letter 'Shoreline Dedication'.

* * * Four new Shoreline clubs were formed during 1982, bringing the total number to ten. I have already told you about the clubs at Scarborough, Peterborough and Coventry. The latest club, No. 10, is at Hastings. Any Shoreline member who would be interested to join should write to Tony Taunton, 1 Willow End, Hastings, East Sussex, or telephone Hastings 438411. Tony will be very pleased to hear from you.

* * * As you know, Fred. Olsen Travel has arranged a number of cruises or special group travel departures for RNLI supporters in the past few years. More are planned, the next being an Easter cruise to the Canary Islands in ss Blackwatch.

Full details can be obtained either from Shoreline office at Poole or from Fred. Olsens direct; their address is 11 Conduit Street, London W1R OLS (telephone 01-491 3760).

Since the group departures started, we have received a number of enquiries from our members asking if it is possible to make other, individual, holiday arrangements through Fred. Olsen Travel. I am pleased to announce that the answer is now—yes! The RNLI and Fred. Olsen, working together, have formed the Supporters of the RNLI Travel Club. The Travel Club will be based at 11 Conduit Street and will be operated on the RNLI's behalf by Fred.

Olsen Travel. Sylvia Beamish has been appointed secretary of the club and you can telephone or write to her at the Conduit Street address (see above).

Because the Travel Club is operated by Fred. Olsen Travel, a wide range of knowledge is at your disposal. Sylvia and her colleagues have visited many of the areas in which you may be interested and can, therefore, give you first hand information. As well as putting this experience at your disposal, Fred. Olsen is making regular donations to the RNLI and the club will send you a travel bond voucher worth £5 every time you make a booking spending between £100 and £199, £10 every time you make a booking spending between £200 and £299, and so on. These travel bond vouchers have no cash value but may be used in one of three ways: 1. They can be put towards the cost of further travel arrangements booked through the Supporters of the RNLI Travel Club.

2. They can be put towards the cost of any item in the range of Shoreline insignia or from the RNLI souvenir catalogue.

3. The travel bond vouchers can be sent to Shoreline as a donation to RNLI funds.

One way and another, 1983 looks like a year of promise. We are nearing membership of 100,000 and there are already ten active Shoreline clubs scattered round the country, with arrangements well in hand for the formation of four more. The support you give to the lifeboat service and the efforts you make to help provide the funds the RNLI needs are greatly appreciated— but it is not all hard work: perhaps we shall meet on holiday! To all members, at home and abroad, we send our best wishes for a happy, successful and peaceful New Year.—PETER HOLNESS, membership secretary, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ..