ON MARCH 4, 1984, the RNLI will celebrate the 160th anniversary of its foundation in 1824. The event in itself is perhaps of minor importance—just another milestone—but what it represents is of far greater significance: the unbroken record of lifesaving at sea around our coasts for 160 years achieved by the dedication and commitment of thousands of individual volunteers.

Over these years lifeboat people, all giving of their best in service or in money or in kind, have welded together an Institution which is not only far greater than any one, or any group, of them, but which has had the strength to continue and extend its work from generation to generation. The result is-a body which is held in the highest regard both nationally and internationally.

It may seem remarkable that such a body should depend entirely on volunteers for its existence. For 160 years, however, voluntary crewing has brought forward the most able seafarers backed up by tireless, skilled shorehelpers; voluntary financing has given them the best boats and equipment available at any one time in the Institution's history; and voluntary management committees, both locally and nationally, have kept the service at peak efficiency. These are facts endorsed from time to time by various management consultancy and governmental surveys on the Institution.

Most important of all is the result of all this effort. The RNLI exists for one purpose alone, and the record books show the magnitude of its achievement: more than 110,000 lives rescued from certain death at sea.

In 160 years a great deal has changed but the RNLI's role and the way in which lifeboat people—crews, shorehelpers, fund raisers and committee members—ensure that this role is fulfilled remains constant. Remembering our predecessors and looking to those who will follow after us, we have every reason to celebrate March 4, 1984.

AGM 1984 The RNLI's annual meetings for 1984 will take place on Tuesday May 15 at the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, London. The annual general meeting of the governors of the Institution will be held at 11.30am in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and the annual presentation of awards will take place at 3 pm in the main auditorium.

As for the meetings in 1983, application forms are being sent out to all governors with the journal, in order to save the cost of envelopes and postage for a separate circular. All governors, therefore, will receive an application form for both the morning and afternoon meetings with this winter journal.

If you are a governor wishing to attend the AGM and if by any chance the form is not tucked into your journal, please write to the Director, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ, stating your requirements.

Branches and guilds will received information about how to apply for tickets for the annual presentation of awards on the afternoon of May 15 from their regional offices in the usual way. If any other supporters of the lifeboat service would like to attend the afternoon presentation of awards meeting, they should write to the Director at the address given above.

Three lifeboat people It is with deep regret that we report the death of three men who, in differing ways, gave great service over many years to the lifeboat service: Air Vice- Marshall Sir Geoffrey R. Bromet, KBE CB DSO DL, Grahame E. Farr and David H. Roff.

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Bromet, a life vice-president, died on November 16. After serving in the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps in the 1914-1918 war he became an officer in the Royal Air Force, returning in 1939 from retirement to serve as one of the key men in the campaign against U-boats in the Second World War. From 1945 to 1952 he was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. Sir Geoffrey, who joined the Committee of Management of the Institution in 1952, was elected a vice-president in 1962 and a life vice-president in 1972. He was a deputy chairman of the RNLI for four years, from 1964 to 1968, and at one time or another served on all the standing committees. Sir Geoffrey, an outstandingly fair man, took keen interest in all aspects of the Institution's work. He was chairman of New Romney and Romney Marsh branch from the time it was formed in 1953 until 1978, since which time, until his death, he was patron of the branch; even when well into his eighties, together with Lady Bromet, he still collected regularly for the lifeboats at the terminus of the little Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway.

Grahame Farr, who died on November 22, had supported the lifeboat service for more than 50 years. A marine historian of distinction and authority, he wrote a number of books on wrecks and rescue in the West Country as well as compiling papers on early classes of lifeboats and amassing detailed aids to lifeboat history. His meticulous work provided invaluable sources of reference for other researchers, his contribution to the understanding of lifeboat history being both unique and generous. Grahame Farr was the archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society and honorary editor for a number of years of the International Lifeboat Journal. A good friend of the lifeboat service, he was a man very much liked for himself and very much respected for the quality of his work.

David Roff, who died on November 30, came from the Admiralty to join the permanent staff of the RNLI in 1919 and served for 43 years. When he retired, in 1962, he was assistant secretary of the Institution. Throughout his career he had been deeply concerned with the technical work of the RNLI, latterly, giving personal assistance to the chief inspector of lifeboats.

On station The following lifeboats took up station duties during the period from mid August to the end of November 1983: Poole: 33ft Brede class lifeboat 33-07, RNLB Inner Wheel, October 16.

Aberdovey: Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat B599 Long Life III, November 3.

Selsey: 47ft Tyne class lifeboat 47-001, RNLB City of London, November 21.

St Paul's Cathedral At the Annual National Service for Seafarers, attended by HM The Queen at St Paul's Cathedral on October 19, 1983, Coxswain John Horton of Calshot lifeboat was the RNLI's colour bearer; he was escorted by Emergency Mechanic Christopher Smith and Crew Member John Street. The flags of six maritime organisations were ceremoniously paraded during a service at which the Bishop of London gave the sermon.

The Committee of Management was represented by Mr Michael Vernon, a deputy chairman, and Captain John Leworthy, a vice-president. Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, deputy director, was also present.

Centenary Arranmore lifeboat station was presented with its centenary vellum by Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet, a vicepresident of the Institution, on Saturday October 8, 1983. The presentation was made at a special Mass at St Crone's Church during which the lifeboat station was blessed and re-dedicated to the task of saving life at sea. Since its establishment 100 years ago on Arranmore Island, off the west coast of Donegal, the station's lifeboats have been launched 273 times rescuing 156 people. Coxswains and crews of Arranmore lifeboats have been awarded one gold, three silver and six bronze medals.

Centenary vellums have recently been awarded to the three lifeboat stations established in 1884: Walton and Frinton, Essex, St Helier, Jersey, and Dunmore East, Co Waterford.

New telephone number As reported in the autumn journal, the address of the RNLI in the City of London is now: RNLI Office, Baltic Exchange Chambers, 14-20 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8BU. The new telephone number is 01-283 3696.

The provision of this new city of London office by The Baltic Exchange represents, in fact, a donation in kind to the RNLI, because the accommodation is given to the Institution free of charge. It is just one of the many ways in which, over nearly 90 years, The Baltic Exchange has given most marvellous support to the lifeboat service. This association is, for instance, the donor of the 47ft Watson lifeboat The Baltic Exchange, stationed at Salcombe since 1962 (seepage 294).

Staff retirements The end of each year sees the retirement of a number of long-serving members of staff well known to lifeboat supporters. Those who retired at the end of 1983 had between them given well over 300 years service to the Institution.

Michael Porcher, CMG OBE, retired as secretary (operations division) after 19 years service; Robbie Roberts retired as chief printer after 44 years service; Douglas Brown retired as trading manager, and Mrs May McMaster, MBE, retired as regional organiser (Northern Ireland), both after 43 years of service; Tony Watson retired as deputy chief technical officer after 36 years service; Arthur King retired as office manager (Cowes) after 30 years service; Gordon Parsons retired as a fleet mechanic after 23 years service; Ken Morgan retired as senior draughtsman (machinery drawing office) after 21 years service; Niven McVicar retired as district surveyor of lifeboats (South Scotland) after 20 years service; Peter Berry retired as assistant surveyor of lifeboats after 13 years service; Lt Ernie Gough, RN, retired as staff officer (communications), and Lt- Cdr Don Weeks, RN, retired as senior machinery overseer, both after 11 years service; Mrs Jessie Fisher retired as office superviser (Midlands office), and Mrs Rose Richards retired as appeals office clerk, both after ten years service.

Gifford Rosling, area organiser (Southern) also retired, because, unfortunately, of ill health, after ten years service.

In Northern Ireland the regional organiser is now Mrs Beth Duffin.

Following the appointment taking effect from February 1 of Ian Wallington as assistant appeals secretary, Michael Ashley, formerly regional organiser (South London), will be the new regional organiser (South East) while Captain Geoffrey Garrick has moved from the North East, where he was an area organiser, to take up the post of regional organiser (South London)..