RNLB SHORELINE, the 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat which was originally funded by our Shoreline appeal, moved station last year from Blyth, in Northumberland, to Arbroath where, on Saturday April 16, a service of re-dedication was held. It may have been a cold, blustery day but nevertheless by early afternoon 350 invited guests awaited the arrival of the guest of honour, Sir Alec Rose, to the site at the harbour where the ceremony was to be held. At the appointed time a guard of honour drawn from the local Sea Cadets sprang to attention, a bugle fanfare sounded a welcome and Major-General R. J.

Ephraums, chairman of Arbroath branch, opened the proceedings.

Following her four years' initial service at Blyth, Shoreline was now delivered to Sir Charles McGrigor, convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council and a member of the Committee of Management, by Sir Alec Rose who, as you will all remember, is Shoreline member No.

1. A yachtsman who has circumnavigated the world singlehanded, Sir Alec ended his speech by wishing RNLB Shoreline happy sailing. Lt David Hill, station honorary secretary, then accepted charge of the lifeboat on behalf of the branch for her continuing service at Arbroath.

To music from Arbroath Instrumental Band with hymn singing led by Arbroath Male Voice Choir, the service of re-dedication was led by the Reverend T. Gemmell Campbell, Minister of the Old Parish Church who had also taken part in the naming ceremony of Arbroath's previous lifeboat, The Duke of Montrose, exactly 25 years before; he was supported by the Reverend P. Foylan and the Reverend W. F. Ward, who is an active member of the station. In his prayers, Mr Campbell offered thanks . . .

'. . . for all who, catching the sacred contagion of Thy glorious spirit, the spirit of caring, have shown this care and concern for their fellows, especially all associated with this noble Institution. We remember with gratitude the lives which have been saved. We remember with sorrow the lives which have been lost. We remember with pride the lives so freely given that others might live.' At the conclusion of the service the three clergy moved from the platform to the podium at the quayside to bless the lifeboat, after which the principal guests were invited to go aboard. As Shoreline moved out into the harbour lined with fishing boats bedecked with bunting, a Royal Air Force helicopter flew past paying its own particular acknowledgement with an RNLI house flag proudly displayed and a piper, Morag McKenzie, played appropriate traditional music.

With typical Scottish hospitality, the ladies of Arbroath guild had prepared refreshments, and never had a hot cup of tea been more welcome! Several of the Shoreline members present told me how much they had enjoyed the day, and we know that our boat will be in very good hands.

* * * It was with great sorrow that we heard of the death on May 18 of Father Foylan, just a month after he had taken part in the re-dedication of RNLB Shoreline. Father Foylan had been a great supporter of the lifeboat service all his life and he will be much missed.

You may remember that in previous issues of the journal I have mentioned the Shoreline radio network run by Mr J. E. Bowden. Some 15 Shoreline members, including a crew member from Rhyl, are now joining in the discussions over the air, but the frequency originally chosen has turned out to be very noisy. A change has been made, therefore, to 3680 kHz; so listen out for G2AYQ, Mr Bowden, or G3JKW, another regular participant from Peterborough, on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 1930 GMT. There still seems to be some confusion regarding our new membership cards, so please can I clear up one problem that has arisen a number of times. If you are paying your subscription by direct debit or by banker's order, when your new membership card arrives from us each year you will see printed on the backing form which comes with it the words FOR INFORMATION ONLY. It is not a request for payment; your subscription will already have been claimed by other means. It is, as it says, only for your information. We are sorry for any problems caused in the past and hope that the position will now be clear.

Now I have an apology to make to Shoreline Club No 9, Coventry, and Shoreline Club No 10, Hastings; in the last issue of the journal I am afraid I gave the numbers the other way round.

I am sorry. Shoreline Club No 9, at Coventry, now has a new honorary secretary: Mr G. Dawson, 195 Cubbington Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 7AU.

From all of us in the Shoreline office at Poole, we wish you a very warm and happy summer and thank you for your continuing support.—PETER HOLNESS, membership secretary, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ..