For some time it has been the practice of apprentice training schools to build clinker boarding boats for the Institution to an RNLI design. It is a practice of mutual benefit because clinker is the most skilled form of boat building, and so an invaluable exercise for the apprentices, while the lifeboat service receives for the cost of materials what would otherwise be very expensive boats. The RNLI was recently presented with this boarding boat, of excellent workmanship, bv the Isle of Wight College of Arts and Technology. She was built by first year students as part of their industrial 'off the job' training course under the guidance of their tutors, John Hatch and Derek Toms and she was handed over bv Sir John Nicholson to Cdr Peter G/adwin, superintendent Cowes Base, at the college's prize evening on April 15. (r to I) John Hatch, Mr L. Oseman, head of Department of Construction, Cdr G/adwin, Sir John Nicholson and boatbuilders Duncan Bales, Neil Unstead, Darin Butler, Chris Catling, Mark Tyler, Paul Kent and Andrew McKinley.

photograph by courtesy of Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers.