THE WEST GERMAN lifeboat Eiswette visited Poole on May 30 and 31 before sailing to Jersey for St Helier lifeboat station's centenary celebrations on June 1 and 2. While in Poole, Carl Max Vater, vice-chairman, and other senior officials of the German Lifeboat Society, DGZRS, held discussions with RNLI staff and the German lifeboatmen met Poole crew members. The officials also visited the RNLI Cowes Base and Fairey Allday Marine on the Isle of Wight, meeting members of Lymington and Yarmouth lifeboat stations on their way to the island.

On June 4, returning from Jersey, the South Holland Lifeboat Society's rigid inflatable lifeboat visited Poole and Cowes. The lifeboat is similar in type and layout to the RNLI Medina, has jet propulsion and, with a watertight wheelhouse, is self righting. The lifeboat was named Koningin Beatrix by the HM The Queen of the Netherlands; the ceremony at the Royal Maas Yacht Club in Rotterdam on April 3 was attended by RNLI Committee of Management representatives Major General Ralph Farrant and Maldwin Drummond.

Lt David Stogdon, former superintendent of the RNLI's base at Cowes, who was the adviser to the South Holland Lifeboat Society in the building of Koningin Beatrix, was also present. The Netherlands delegation to Jersey was led by Jan Kleijwegt, who became inspector of the South Holland Lifeboat Society on the retirement of Bernard de Jong, one of the RNLI's very good friends in the International Lifeboat Conference. Bernard de Jong was also in Poole for Koningin Beatrix's visit, when a certificate expressing the Institution's appreciation for his many year's service in the cause of lifesaving at sea was presented to him by Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, deputy director of the RNLI, on behalf of Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, the director, who was unable to be present..