Fast fleet 'on target' for 1993 WITH RECORD numbers of lifeboats under construction or on order, the RNLI's chairman, the Duke of Atholl told a packed Royal Festival Hall on May 12 of his vision of the service in the year 2000.

In the presence of HRH the Duchess of Kent—wife of the president—the chairman said that his confidence in the future of the RNLI was founded largely upon the achievements over the previous year of those attending the South Bank meeting and of the thousands of others around the country just like them.

The Chairman's speech The confident tone of the day was set at the morning meeting of governors— again very well attended—at which the Duke of Atholl told those present that the success of 1986 had given the committee of management the confidence to plan ahead.

"The way we determine our future must include many factors, some of which are easier to take into account than others.

The more of which we can be certain, the better plans we can lay, and thanks to the activities of our lifeboat crews, our technicians, and particularly our fund raisers in 1986, the climate for effective planning has continued to improve." Clearly, said the chairman, in the field of operations more than in any other the unexpected will happen. Lifeboat crews must be prepared for such eventualities and are trained to deal with all kinds of accidents or emergencies.

Nor was it possible to predict exactly how often an individual station will be called upon from one year to the next, although some stations were bound to be generally more busy than others, he said.

"However, appreciable trends do emerge; for instance, for each of the last twenty years lifeboats have saved 1,000 lives or more, and in the last six years, annual launch figures have steadily risen above the 3,000 mark. 1986, with 3,641 launches, and 1,398 lives saved and a further 632 people extricated from potentially dangerous predicaments, was yet another hectic year for lifeboatmen.

"But to return to the business of planning, our rescue records do show us that we can fairly accurately predict the overall volume of lifeboat activity from one year to the next. The very large number of lifeboat services each year also allows us to build up a vast store of experience and a lesson learned on one part of the coast will always be of value to stations elsewhere.

This is where training is so vital to the modern lifeboatman and 1986 saw an important landmark in this field with thecommissioning of a new training centre at Poole headquarters. Of course, some of the best training a crew member can receive is to be out on service or exercise among his more experienced colleagues.

But in this day of complex equipment Poole can provide essential familiarisation in the handling of it. Add to this the training given in navigation, in radio and radar procedures by our mobile training units, and you have all the elements we need to guarantee a professional lifeboat service." Years of experience have given the Institution the ability to build lifeboats not only designed to withstand treatment far tougher than any boat might have a right to expect, but also lifeboats which are precisely the tools required for the job in hand, said the Duke.

"Two Arun class and three Tyne class lifeboats were completed last year while orders for 17 further Aruns and Tynes were placed. We also built no fewer than five Atlantic 21s, three C class and 18 D class inflatable lifeboats in 1986 and ordered work to start on 30 more of these lifeboats under 10 metres. We have never before had so many boats under construction at one time. I think we can be said to be doing our bit for the British boat building industry! Incidentally, all our boats are built in Britain.

"Every new lifeboat incorporates the very latest in design and technical knowhow and they are all capable of speeds in excess of 18 knots. The development of speed in our fleet—as long as it sacrifices nothing to safety—is still fundamental to our boat building policy. The time taken to reach a casualty will often decide whether a life is saved or lost." The target he had set 12 months ago, to complete the introduction of the RNLI's fast lifeboats by 1993, was still the aim and progress continued to be made on development of the fast carriage lifeboat—currently under trial before going into production at the end of the year.

Once the FCB is in build, enabling the programme of replacing 37ft Oakley and Rother class lifeboats to get under way, then work would resume on the Medina project, said the Duke.

Turning to the advances made during the year with onboard equipment, thechairman said that the introduction of a new daylight viewing radar screen, visible to every crew member in the cabin and the development of an intercom system whereby crew members can talk to each other using headphones fitted into their protective helmets, were among the technical achievements of 1986.

"The extent to which we are able to allow for the unexpected and to plan the way ahead depends, of course, on the measure of our financial well-being. I said last year that we would be spending £50 million on boat building alone over the seven year period to 1993. Now I am pleased to announce that in 1986 no less than £5.7 million was spent on building new lifeboats and 30 per cent of our entire outgoings went on capital expenditure.

This was only possible because our many benefactors responded so admirably to the gauntlet I threw down last year and produced yet another record income for the Institution of over £30 million.

"Overall expenditure in 1986 ran to £25.2 million and it is encouraging to note that for yet another year the proportion of this sum which is spent on central administration has fallen and again it is more than covered by our investment income. Expenditure has been heavy this year on survey and overhaul of lifeboats. This has been partly brought about by urgent work required on some of the 37ft Oakley and Rother class boats whose problem of premature deterioration I outlined in my report last year. But as all lifeboats become more sophisticated, more work is required on their survey and this will always be a justifiably high area of expenditure, albeit one that is carefully monitored." Fund raisers' achievements The chairman paid tribute to the "magnificent efforts" of the fund raisers, noting that branches and guilds had increased their contribution by some seven per cent, well above the rate of inflation.

Trading, lotteries and subscriptions had all shown significant increases, with Shoreline membership standing at 125,000 in May. Among the successful appeals run during the year, the most spectacular was that organised by Messrs Matthew Gloag, distillers of The Famous Grouse Whisky, which had raised more than £360,000 by the time of the 1987 London Boat Show, withthe promise of more to come—enough in total to completely fund a new Tyne class lifeboat.

Income from legacies increased from £12.5 million to £17.3 million and there was evidence that support from legacies was becoming much more broadly based, with a growing number of small amounts, rather than a few very large bequests.

The chairman ended his speech by wishing Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, the RNLI's director, a long and happy retirement. The 1986 AGM was the last which Admiral Graham would be attending in his current capacity, before his retirement at the end of the year.Presentation of Awards THE RNLI's annual presentation of awards in the Royal Festival Hall during the afternoon was, as ever, keenly anticipated by the many hundreds of voluntary workers and other supporters who had travelled from all over Britain to attend.

This year's event was made especially memorable by the presence of HRH the Duchess of Kent, wife of the RNLI's president.

Greeted by warm applause, the Duchess spoke in her address of the families of lifeboat crews who, she said, fully share the risks that their menfolk have to face.

She paid tribute to the "special bravery" of Mrs Anne Hogg, who received the silver medal awarded to her husband, Coxswain Captain John Hogg, shortly before his sad and untimely death.

Before the presentations, the Duke of Atholl gave his customary review of the year, but began by asking his audience to project themselves into the year 2000.

"Picture the RNLI in the year 2000 and picture particularly this meeting. I am happy to say that I do not see it changing very much. There will, however, be a new chairman and a new director, that at least 1 can promise you. There will still be courageous acts of lifesaving to recognise, I am convinced of that. I am equally convinced that we will still be presenting awards to honorary workers and that their efforts will be no less strenuous than today in supporting a highly efficient and totally voluntary lifeboat service. I also have a very clear vision of the lifeboats we will be running at the turn of the century.

"By 2000 every lifeboat should be capable of a speed in excess of 18 knots, whether she lies afloat or launches from a slipway or carriage. Both the Tyne class and fast carriage lifeboats will be a familiar sight, as familiar as the Arun which by then will be gradually stepping aside in favour of a brand new replacement. Our fleet of inflatable lifeboats will also have further evolved but I am sure their job will still be much the same as today and just as important." He based his confidence in the way ahead largely upon the achievements during 1986 of those present and thousands of others just like them, said the chairman.

"Our lifeboatmen, for instance, continue to inspire a belief in the future. They put to sea on service 3,641 times last year and there are 1,398 people alive today only because they did.

"Later you will hear some remarkable stories when the medal citations are read out. Remember, these are the most outstanding rescues, but behind every launch lies a drama of some proportion. And you only have to listen to how today's medallists won their awards to be aware of the variety of different calls that are answered by a modern lifeboat. They were to a fishing vessel, a coaster, two yachts, a windsurfer and an upturned motor launch and each service was performed by a different class of lifeboat. This is a sure sign that the RNLI is excellently geared and its crews well prepared and trained to cope with any eventuality." New build record If the deeds of lifeboatmen in 1986 supplied the spirit needed for the future, then the work on building and developing new lifeboats during the year had produced the hardware, he said.

A record number of lifeboats were in course of construction or on order andprogress was being made in the development of the new fast carriage boat.

" is, of course, the phenomenal success of the fund raisers which has allowed us, once again, to meet the annual demands of our service and to bolster both our free and boat building reserves. These healthy financial circumstances give me another reason so confidently to predict the RNLI's good fortunes in the year 2000.

"The branches and guilds lie at the very heart of all the Institution's fund raising.

Their response to my announcement last year that we would be doubling our rate of boat building was to increase their direct contributions by some seven per cent, well over the rate of inflation. This increase, coupled with yet another steep rise in legacy income, has given us the magnificent record total of over £30 million raised in 1986. If branches and guilds are able to sustain a similar level of increase in 1987 and provided legacies continue to follow their present upward trend, I am sure that we can raise the funds that our current needs and future plans require.

"Nationally, the RNLI is always on the lookout for new sources to supplement its regular income from Shoreline, lotteries, Trading and its many invaluable annual appeals. To this end we very much hope that the recent concession by the Treasury, which allows employees to make regular tax-free contributions to charity, will persuade many more people to give as they earn to the lifeboats. I would ask you all to use your influence to encourage this scheme as its potential as a fund raiser is enormous." The chairman concluded by saying how fortunate the Institution had been during the year to once again receive the encouragement and close attention of the president, HRH the Duke of Kent and that it was, therefore, an immense pleasure to welcome the Duchess of Kent, herself no stranger to many lifeboat crews and volunteers and held in great affection by them all.

The Duchess's Speech "Thank you chairman for those kind words of welcome and thank you everyone for inviting me to this very special meeting.

"I feel it a very great honour, as the wife of the president of the RNLI, to be asked to present your annual awards today but what is still more of an honour to me is that there should be a lifeboat bearing my name. I have also been fortunate enough to visit a number of lifeboat stations over the years and feel I have many friends amongst the coxswains and their crews all over Britain.

"Courage, steadfastness and selflessness are qualities which are synonymous with our lifeboatmen, although I feel sure they are too modest to look upon themselves as being in any way heroic.

"Amid all its sophistication and efficiency let me also tell you that the RNLI is still one of the most friendly Institutions I know. Last September I was able to pay a return visit to Torbay where I was shown again the Arun class lifeboat Edward Bridges which I had named 11 years earlier. Between my two visits her crew had rescued some 200 lives, including the ten men saved during the 1976 gold medal service to the motor vessel Lyrma. However, all they were concerned about when met them again was that I was made warmly welcome and they were kind enough to present me with two magnificent lobsters on my departure. This is only one example of the friendliness I find on all my visits to the coast and of course it is not only the crews enjoy meeting but everyone involved in the well-being of the station.

"At this point I want to take the opportunity of mentioning the families of the lifeboat crews who fully share the risks that their menfolk have to face. Lifeboatmen's wives have to show their own sort of quiet courage and forebearance whenever a boat is launched and I admire them deeply for it. I must make mention too of the special bravery of Anne Hogg who will soon receive her husband's silver medal herself following his sad and untimely death not long after his award was announced.

"An essential supporting role is played by the fund raisers, many of whom live many miles from the sea and the loyal determination and ingenuity you show each year in ensuring an ever higher income is something I warmly applaud.

know that the RNLI's widespread network of branches and guilds is possibly unique among charities in the way it provides such a solid framework on which to build nationwide support. It is nice too to know that the RNLI enjoys the support of every age group. Just as an nonagenarian is still happy to stand on the street on Lifeboat Day so there are six-year-olds growing sunflowers to raise money for the cause.

would therefore like all of you whose waking hours are given over to the lifeboat service, whether as voluntary helpers or futltime staff, who may wonder occasionally how much their efforts are being noticed and appreciated, to take heart from what I have said about the Institution.

Together you all contribute towards a service which holds the affection of our entire nation and is indeed regarded as a model by many other countries.

"There are amongst those here today some whom I can only describe as admiring guests who have occasions only from time to time to be involved with the RNLI.

It is for this smaller group that I speak this afternoon. I am sure I speak for all of us when I say we feel proud to have any connection, large or small, with the RNLI. We watch the Institution's affairs with admiration and respect and interest and feel thankful that such a superb organisation exists in this country." Long applause greeted the speech and when it had subsided Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the RNLI, stood to read the citations of the seven bravery medals which the Duchess of Kent presented.

Coxswain Robert Maiden, Hartlepool, bronze medal On November 9, 1985, the Dutch coaster, Anne ran aground off Hartlepool in a violent north-easterly storm and heavy breaking 20ft seas. The 44ft Waveney class lifeboat, The Scout, with Coxswain Maiden at the wheel, ran in to the coaster four times to take the four men off and twice the lifeboat was swept by heavy seas which broke over and round the casualty. (Full report, page 6, THE LIFEBOAT, Summer 1986.)On April 15, 1986, the fishing vessel La Morlaye, was lying inside the breaking surf with fishing gear still over her side in a force 8 gale with 20 foot rolling waves, in darkness and only a few hundred yards from the beach. Thecoxswain made three attempts to tow the casualty clear with the 52ft Arun class lifeboat, George and Olive Turner, without success. He finally decided that he had to take the risk of going alongside and successfully took off the crew of three. (Full report, page 42, THE LIFEBOAT, Autumn 1986.) Coxswain Stephen Shaw, Alderney, bronze medal On May 4, 1986, the yacht Sea Victor ran into trouble in a southerly gale and rough seas. Coxswain Shaw, with the 33ft Brede class lifeboat, Foresters Future, made ten approaches to the casualty to take off three members of the crew and put Assistant Mechanic Michael O'Gorman on board to assist the fourth member of the crew, organise the tow and operate the bilge pumps. (Full report, page 44, THE LIFEBOAT, Autumn 1986.)Coxswain Stephen Shaw, Alderney, bar to bronze medal; Second Coxswain Martin Harwood, Alderney, bronze medal On August 25, 1986, the Germanowned yacht Seylla II, with six people on board, issued a MAYDAY appeal as she drifted with a broken rudder three miles north east of Alderney in a southerly force 10 storm. Coxswain Shaw took the island's 33ft Brede class lifeboat Foresters Future alongside the crippled yacht, in very difficult conditions, enabling Second Coxswain Harwood to leap aboard and organise a successful tow.

(Full report, page 155, this issue.) Helmsman Ian Stringer, Eastbourne, bronze medal On December 9, 1986, three members of a film unit filming a new James Bond adventure were capsized in their 17ft outboard-powered Dory during filming of a stunt involving catapulting a Land Rover into the sea from the top of 400ft cliffs near Beachy Head. Helmsman Stringer brought the D class lifeboat Humphrey and Nora Tollemache through dangerous rocks and shallows, with breaking seas and surf making navigation hazardous to effect the rescue.

(Full report, page 149, this issue.)Honorary Life Governor Mrs T. Dowding Committee member of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Ladies' Lifeboat Guild from 1949 to 1954, its assistant honorary secretary from 1954 to 1960, honorary secretary from 1960 to 1965 and chairman since 1965; awarded silver badge 1968, gold badge 1976, bar to gold badge 1981.

Mr N. P. Clarke Flag day organiser Newport, Gwent branch from 1946, honorary secretary of Harwich Financial branch 1949 to 1956 and of Southampton branch 1956 to 1962, honorary treasurer Colchester branch since 1968, the RNLl's honorary information officer since 1974; awarded silver badge 1962, statuette 1970 and gold badge 1976.

Mr J. N. Wilkinson Honorary secretary Howth station branch since 1958; awarded binoculars 1969, gold badge 1983.

Bar to Gold Badge Mrs F. W. Radcliffe Joint honorary secretary Stalybridge Cheshire) branch 1936 to 1948, honorary treasurer 1956 to 1967, honorary secretary 1966 to 1984 and vice president since 1984; awarded silver badge 1964, gold badge 1978.

Mrs D. Pemberton IP Collector and member Wallasey Ladies' Lifeboat Guild 1949, honorary treasurer since 1950; awarded silver badge 1962, gold badge 1976.

Miss M.H. Watson Flag organiser and member of Anstruther branch committee since 1940, president of Anstruther Ladies' Lifeboat Guild from 1960 to 1986.

Gold Badge Mrs E. Beaumont Committee member Bexleyheath Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1936, chairman 1950 to 1953 and 1973 to date; awarded silver badge 1982.

Mrs R. A. Blood Committee member and lifeboat day organiser Eltham Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1962, chairman since 1970; awarded silver badge 1973.

MrsD. K. Dennis Committee member Godstone and District branch since 1958, honorary treasurer since 1963; awarded silver badge 1974.

Mrs I. L. Adams Committee member Hastings and St Leonards Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1958, honorary secretary 1968 to 1972; awarded statuette 1974.

Mrs V. M. Guy Committee member Hastings and St Leonards Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1958, vice-chairman 1966 to 1968, chairman 1968 to 1972; awarded silver badge 1974.

Mrs G. Walford MBE Honorary secretary Ightham and District branch from 1965 to 1976, chairman and honorary secretary Sevenoaks and District branch since 1977; awarded silver badge 1975.

Dr J. F. Wilson Chairman Bridlington Ladies' Lifeboat Guild from 1954 to 1969, vice-president since 1969; awarded silver badge 1969.

Mrs W. Waring jp Honorary secretary Castleford Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1962; awarded silver badge 1977.

Mrs W. Crawshaw Honorary treasurer Spenborough Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1951; awarded silver badge 1972.

Mrs N. McLees President Motherwell Ladies' Lifeboat Guild from 1957 to 1972, member of Glasgow (South) Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1975, chairman from 1982 to 1984, honorary president since 1984; awarded silver badge 1968.

(Continued on page 168).