THE RNLI is to establish a new lifeboat station at Alderney in the Channel Islands and within the next few months a 33ft Brede class lifeboat will be sent there for an initial trial period of twelve months.

There was a lifeboat station at Alderney from 1869 to 1884 but there are no records of service launches. The station was thought to have closed when many of the fishermen left the island and it was not possible to provide a lifeboat crew.

The people of Alderney have already indicated their whole-hearted support for the establishment of the new station and no difficulty is expected in recruiting lifeboatmen to man the lifeboat.

* * * In the summer issue of THE LIFEBOAT it was stated that both services for which former Coxswain Richard Evans was awarded the gold medal for gallantry were carried out in the 42ft Watson lifeboat Watkin Williams, now in the Welsh Industrial Maritime Museum at Cardiff Docks. The service to Nafsiporos in 1966 was carried out in Watkin Williams, but the service to Hindlea in 1959 was carried out in the 41ft relief lifeboat Edmund and Mary Robinson.

* * * One evening towards the end of July the yacht Solent Claymore had just switched on her engine to make better time, after enjoying a beautiful sail up Channel from Dartmouth for about six hours, when her propeller was fouled; even though she continued to sail she found the fouled propeller impeded progress and her speed was reduced to two or three knots. Portland Coastguard kept watch on her through the night and until 1400 the next afternoon when, with visibility down to about two miles and the wind down to force 1, help was organised.

The first boat to reach Solent Claymore was Sir William Roe, a firing range safety boat, closely followed by MV Gull, a former Liverpool lifeboat at one time stationed at Runswick but now owned by Paul Neate, a lifeboat supporter at Poole. Sir William Roe was able to clear Solent Claymore's propeller, and all was well, but as a gesture of appreciation the yacht's owner sent donation of £25 to the RNLI.

* * * On August 9 Paul Walker, a Mudeford lifeboat crew member, dived into the fast-running ebb off Mudeford Quay, swam to a sandbank opposite, ran along the beach and waded chest deep to rescue a girl clinging to a buoy.

The girl, who had been trying to swim across The Run at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, was in danger of being swept out to sea.

* # * Flying Flowers, which for £5 sends carnations anywhere in the UK direct from its nursery in Jersey, makes donation to the Institution for every order received on a special RNLI order form; so far £200 has been raised in this way and here is an ideal gift for any occasion which will also help the lifeboats.

Order forms are available from the Appeals Office, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ..