ON SATURDAY May 7 a damp, overcast morning overshadowed the preparations at Oban for the naming ceremony of the first 33ft Brede lifeboat to go on station. As the time of the ceremony drew nearer, however, the weather improved and a warm, dry breeze brought life to the gaily bedecked South Pier. Set in the natural bowl of Oban Bay, overlooked by the magnificent monument and flanked by Caledonian MacBrayne ferries, the Trinity House vessel and yachts moored to the pontoons dressed overall, the 400 guests, soaked, maybe, but happy, awaited the arrival of the namer and very generous donor of the lifeboat, Mrs A. A.

Ritchie. Oban's Brede is the third lifeboat given to the RNLI by Mrs Ritchie: the 37ft Oakley James Ball Ritchie has been on station at Ramsey since 1970 and the 54ft Arun The Cough Ritchie has been on station at Port St Mary since 1976.

Escorted to the site by a young piper, the principal guest and platform party were welcomed by a guard of honour drawn from the Oban Boys' Brigade who were themselves celebrating their organisation's hundredth anniversary, and at 2.30 pm precisely the National Anthem was played by the band of Oban High School conducted by David Mason. Having called upon Julie Graham, daughter of a crew member, who presented a bouquet to Mrs Ritchie, Oban branch chairman, Mr Lake Falconer, lead the proceedings wherein the Brede lifeboat was most modestly handed over to the RNLI by her charming donor and accepted by Sir Charles McGrigor, convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council and a member of the Committee of Management. Sir Charles, in his turn, delivered the lifeboat into the care of the station branch through the good office of the honorary secretary, Captain Norman Macleod.

After a vote of thanks from Mrs Lesley McPhail, president of Oban ladies' guild, to everyone taking part in the ceremony and all supporters of the station, the service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend A. Camp- "bell, Moderator of the Presbytery of Lorn and Mull, and Monseigneur T.

Wynne of St Columba's Cathedral, Oban. Mrs Ritchie was then invited to name the lifeboat Ann Ritchie.

The champagne bottle broken, the engines sprang to life and Coxswain/ Mechanic John Patrick Maclean displayed the versatility and manoeuvrability of the boat, impressing all present and not least the special guests Mr Frank Nichols, the builder of the boat, and Mr P. Denham Christie who chaired the RNLI Boat Committee during the introduction of this new class into the fleet.

With impeccable timing, the RAF helicopter paid its own particular tribute to the occasion with the RNLI house flag prominently displayed from its winch wire and the lifeboat then moved out into Oban Bay with principal members of the platform party on board to display her speed and proficiency to the crowds of people lining the water's edge.

At the conclusion of the formalities all guests were entertained to tea provided by the ladies of the guild and helpers at Oban High School and enjoyed sampling a special naming cake which was ceremoniously cut by Mrs Ritchie.

So a memorable day concluded for many people who had come together from various parts of Scotland and other areas of the United Kingdom; a day and an occasion which confirmed the vitality of the lifeboat family and one which enhanced this, the fiftieth anniversary year of Oban ladies' guild.—K.T..