Last bowman Ronald Chapman has been promoted to Second Coxswain of Skegness lifeboat.

This means that the historic position of bowman will no longer exist within the RNLI as he was the last lifeboatman to hold the post.

In the days of pulling and sailing lifeboats, the bowman, next in seniority to the second coxswain, was the man officially in charge of the anchor, cables and bow heaving line. Even with the advent of motorised lifeboats, many stations retained the post. In modern lifeboats the responsibilities of a bowman are shared by more than one crew member and the appointment is therefore no longer made.

Long Service Awards The long service badge for crew members and shore helpers who have given active service for 20 years or more has been awarded to: Hastings Coxswain/Mechanic J. H. W. Martin Second Coxswain D. White Tractor Driver J. Hamilton Humber Second Coxswain D. Bailey Kinghorn Crew Member A. D. Me Andrew Crew Member H. Robertson Crew Member G.Tulloch Llandudno Crew Member H. Hughes Lowestoft Coxswain P. Gibbons Latest RNLI film Raymond Baxter's new film In Danger's Hour explores in 27 minutes virtually every facet of the modern RNLI. Mr Baxter looks at the lifeboats, talks to the crews, asks why the voluntary system of funding works so well and shows genuine rescues using dramatic library film.

In Danger's Hour opens with Mr Baxter's recent BBC television appeal, itself a highly successful fund raiser, and goes on to explore why men volunteer to join lifeboat crews and how their families feel about it. The history and traditions of the RNLI are illustrated with paintings, models and historic archive film, including rowing and sailing lifeboats. The modern fleet is shown by the Tyne, Brede, Arun, Medina and Atlantic 21 lifeboats at sea, and thefitting out, at RNLI Cowes Base, of the D class inflatable. RNLI Director, Rear Admiral W. J. Graham tells Mr Baxter why the different classes are needed and explains the benefits of a voluntary lifeboat service. The back-up services provided by the Poole depot, the drawing offices and head office in general are also explained.

Sequences of rough seas, rescues and wrecks include film not seen publicly before and there are poignant pictures of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne which was tragically lost in December 1981. Three fishermen are plucked from the sea as their boat sinks under their feet; a grounded ferry, a tanker, fishing boats and an oil rig are all assisted by lifeboats.

Finally, Mr Baxter asks Norman Burrough, chairman of the film's sponsors, James Burrough pic (distillers of Beefeater Gin) to explain why he decided to sponsor the film and what, as a businessman, he thinks of the Institution and its efficiency. In Danger's Hour contains no staged incidents, no actors and the wrecks and rescues are all for real. It is one of the most dramatic lifeboat films ever made.

On station The following lifeboats have taken up station duties: Littlehampton: Atlantic 21 class lifeboat B564, Blue Peter I, September 7.

Macduff: Atlantic 21 class lifeboat B530, September 19.

Holyhead: 47ft Tyne class lifeboat ON 1095 (47-004). St Cybi II (Civil Service No 40), September 20.

Fraserburgh: 47ft Tyne class lifeboat ON 1109 (47-007), City of Edinburgh, November 30.

Festival of Remembrance A lifeboatman took part in the procession in the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday November 9. On the special 40th year after the end of World War II, Len Patten, coxswain of Newhaven lifeboat, was invited to join the ranks of servicemen to carry the RNLI flag in this moving show of remembrance.

Helicopters The article Colleagues from the Sky in last quarter's issue caused considerable interest and comment. Wing Commander Ian Robins from Headquarters Strike Command, RAF High Wycombe, has asked that one or two amendments to the article be pointed out. Namely, the Wessex helicopters of RAF Valley are under the control of NRCC Edinburgh and not Plymouth and that Nimrods, available both to NRCC and SRCC, are based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall.He also makes the point that RCC controllers will all have had Nimrod experience and that although navigators, winch operators and winchmen tend to stay longer in SAR, RAF air and ground crews do not specialise in SAR alone.Memorial garden A garden, the inspiration of the late Councillor Clarry Ash, has been built at Penlee Point in memory of the lifeboatmen lost in December 1981. Mrs M. E.

Harvey of Newlyn gave the land andlocal people provided materials and plants for the garden whose centrepiece is a steel memorial plaque, presented by Port Talbot branch. Last May the garden was dedicated by the Reverend R. H. Cadman and other clergymen in the presence of the Mayor of Penzance, RNLI officials, families of the lifeboatmen lost and many other supporters.

Back sliding On a visit to Newton Ferrers in South Devon the emergency mechanic of Poole lifeboat, Alan Channell found himself standing in front of the old Yealm River lifeboat station which was closed in 1927. It was a chilly day and he was wearing his RNLI sweater.

Although the slipway was still intact, the building had been otherwise attractively converted. Admiring the builders' handiwork, Alan Channell stepped back, lost his footing on the slimy surface and began a spectacular, accelerating slide on his back 20 feet down the slipway. He picked himself up at the bottom and coolly remarked to the bemused bystanders that it must be a good sixty years since a lifeboatman launched from that particular slipway.

Lottery Poole Town's tourism officer, Patrick Baker, was on hand on October 31, 1985 to draw the 31st national lottery at Poole head office. Mr Baker has done much to publicise the work of the RNLI through his office and an invitation to draw the lottery was a way of thankinghim for all his help. Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director, and Anthony Oliver, appeals secretary, were on hand to ensure fair play.

Following the draw, Councillor John Jewson, ex-Mayor of Woking, presented to Admiral Graham a cheque for £13,300, the total amount raised during his year in office. The money will be used to buy navigational equipment for the new Tenby lifeboat, RFA Sir Galahad.

The prizewinners were: £2,000: C. Barrell, Ipswich, Suffolk.

£500: P. M. Hales, Coverack, Cornwall.

£250: G. L. Clifford, Weston-super-Mare, Avon.

£100: Maxine Linnell, Bishopston, Bristol; Mrs C. Collard, Highgate, North London; Mrs M. J. Perks, Great Wyrley, Near Walsall, Staffordshire; A. J. Whadcoat, Gravesend, Kent; Mr J. G. Doyle, Formby, Merseyside; A. Brownlie, Southend-on-Sea, Essex; John Linsie, Coventry, West Midlands.

£50: E. G. Pople, Ashford, Middlesex; B. Jarman, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire; Miss A. Normile, Carrville, Durham; Mr J. Medlicott, Shrewsbury, Salop; Mrs B. Shrubshall, Chard, Somerset; Mr and Mrs Eva, Walthamstow, London; J. R.

Newson, Southminster, Essex; John Rawnsley, Horsforth, Leeds; Miss M. Maughan-Wolf, Hove, East Sussex; Miss M. J. Higgs, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

The draw for the 32nd national lottery will be held on January 31, 1986 at Poole head office..