THE FOURTEENTH International Lifeboat Conference was formally opened by HRH Prince Bertil of Sweden on June 5 in Gothenburg. More than 50 papers on subjects of mutual interest were presented to delegates from 24 lifeboat societies from all parts of the world.

HM The King of Sweden attended one session of the conference and watched a rescue demonstration in which lifeboats, helicopters, pilot boats and police launches all took part.

The Swedish Lifeboat Society had delayed its seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations a year to coincide with the conference, for which it was the host, and received commemorative certificates and gifts from other lifeboat organisations throughout the world.

A small conference exhibition was dominated by British exhibitors: Fairey Allday Marine, Lochin Marine, Halmatic/ Osborne Rescue Boats, Functional Clothing and the Robert Gordon School of Survival.

At the conference two greatly respected figures in the international lifeboat movement who had died since the ILC had last met in 1979 were greatly missed: Consul Hermann Helms, former chairman of the West Germany Lifeboat Institution, and Admiral Franc.

ois Picard-Destelan, former vice-president of the French Lifeboat Society.

Both had contributed much to the international co-operation which exists between the world's lifeboat services.

A report of the conference appears on page 262.

Committee of Management Invitations to join the Committee of Management have recently been accepted by Mr Rodney Addison, OBE, Mr Robin Aisher, Mr George King, CBE, and Captain Anthony McCrum.

Mr Addison. an Aberdeen lawyer, has been chairman of Aberdeen branch since 1975; he has been a member of the branch almost continuously since 1954 and served as honorary secretary (financial) from 1968 to 1975. Mr Addison has also served as a member of the Scottish Lifeboat Council's Executive Committee since 1968 and of the RNLI's Fund Raising Committee since 1971. He was awarded the silver badge for long and distinguished service in 1978.

Mr Aisher, a director of Marley pic, is a well known yachtsman, chosen Yachtsman of the Year in 1977, who has represented Great Britain at three Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 1968. and in four Admiral's Cup series; he was team captain for the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and Admiral's Cup team captain in 1975 and 1981.

Mr Aisher has given long service to the Royal Yachting Assocation, including chairmanship of the Olympic Committee from 1972 to 1976. and of the Yacht Racing Division Committee from 1978 to 1982, and he has been a representative on the International Yacht Racing Union Permanent Committee since 1971. He is also a member of the National Sports Council and vice-commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

Mr King, who first joined the Blue Funnel Line as a midshipman in 1941, was managing director of BP Tanker Company from 1975 until his retirement in 1981. While serving as an officer with BP he wrote the textbook Tanker Practice which became a standard work for a quarter of a century and, among other appointments, he was chairman of the Tanker Committee, chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, deputy chairman of the London General Shipowners Society and served on the Executive Committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Mr King, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, is chairman of the Marine Society, a younger brother of Trinity House, and a liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

Captain McCrum served in the Royal Navy from 1936 to 1964. Since then, his career in industry has included personnel posts in British Steel and the Redland Group; he was a member of the Redland Management Board from 1979 until his retirement in 1983.

British maritime appeal To celebrate 100 years in the match industry and also Maritime England Year, J. John Masters, the match manufacturers, launched a British maritime appeal in 1982. For every case of matches or 20 lighters sold, the company donated £1 to a maritime charity, the retailer choosing the charity from a list of four nominated by the company.

The RNLI was chosen as one of the beneficiaries and J. John Masters presented the Institution with cheques totalling more than £54,000. A framed record of thanks, signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, has been presented to J. John Masters.

RNLI national lottery The RNLI national lottery continues to grow in popularity and in money raised. The figure reached in just one quarter has been as much as £42,000 and, to encourage ticket sales further, the Fund Raising Committee has decided to increase the prize money. From the twenty-fourth lottery, which will be drawn on January 31, 1984, the first prize will be increased to £2,000 and there will be seven additional prizes of £100 each, so that the number of prizes in all will be 20 instead of 13 as at present.

From now on, THE LIFEBOAT will carry £5 worth of lottery tickets, and extra tickets can be supplied, on request, from RNLI HQ in Poole. The support of readers in taking lottery tickets themselves or selling them among their friends is greatly appreciated but of course there is no obligation to take part; if you do not wish to use the tickets, please destroy them. On station The following lifeboats took up station duties during the period from mid May to mid August 1983: Weston-si-tper-Mare: Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat B557, Weston Centenary, May 25.

Whitstable: Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat B560, British Diver, July 10.

Exmouth: 33ft Brede class lifeboat 33- 06, RNLB Caroline Finch, August 4.

Open days RNLI headquarters and depot at Poole will, for the second time, be opened to lifeboat supporters and the general public for three days next summer: July 19, 20 and 21. Fuller details of the programme will be published later, but please note the dates in your diary.

Telephone change From October 29 the telephone number of the RNLI's office at Aberdare House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, will be Cardiff (0222) 488500; there will still be two lines but both will have the same number..