Boxed clever Gloucester's Flag Day is always held early in the year, when the weather can be guaranteed to be inclement. This year's collecting went on during a blizzard of snow! Determined to keep the chill wind from my feet and ankles, I decorated a suitable sized cardboard box with RNLI posters, complete with slogans, such as "Support the Lifeboats".

Standing inside the box not only kept my feet much warmer but drew many a curious stare. Some could not believe just what I was doing, others came to say what a good idea! But each one found it hard to ignore me completely and the collecting boxes were well filled in spite of the weather.

One note of warning however—a forward step in a forgetful moment could have proved a rather flattening experience.—MRS ANN RICHARDS, Gloucester with Churchdown Branch Secretary, Longlevens, Gloucester.

The Parlour Performers invite . . .

I am a Life Governor of the Lifeboat Institution and always anxious to do anything I can to assist. I direct a group of singers called The Parlour Performers who give concerts of Victorian andEdwardian music for various bodies.

When we appear for charity, we do so for nothing and when we appear for those who are in a position to pay us, we extract as much money as possible. We have appeared for City Livery Clubs, The London Symphony Orchestra Supporters' Club, The Trollope Society, The George Eliot Society, many concerts for the Save the Children Fund and similar organisations.

Obviously, I would like to put our services to work on behalf of the RNLI and if there is some way in which our availability can be publicised to local groups, preferably within easy reach of London—although we are prepared to travel further afield when it is possible and can be fitted into our busy professional lives—we would obviously be very happy to hear from people. We can mount anything from a short after dinner entertainment (though obviously we would not want to travel so far for that) to a full concert.—JOHN ANSTEY, 31 Newbury Street, St Bartholomew's, London EC1 (tel. 01-606 2886).Derek's farewell On retiring as Coxswain of the Mumbles lifeboat after 32 years, I received many letters, cards and gifts from people connected with the RNLI.

May I take this opportunity of saying "thank you" to all of them for their kind wishes and making my retirement a memorable and happy one.—DEREK SCOTT, former Coxswain, the Mumbles lifeboat.

Lifeboats and salvage My thanks to your book reviewer for correcting my error in stating that on occasion 'crews are allowed to launch for the purpose of salvage' in Cruising—a manual for small cruiser sailing. Was this ever the case in years gone by? Anyway I deeply regret my error because my admiration for the Service is unbounded. I confess that my sole reason for mentioning salvage in this context was to have a stab at certain of my fellow yachtsmen who still seem to think that the RNLI is part of the Welfare State, or perhaps an A A Getyou- home Service, annual subscription lOp on flag day. It was intended to make these weekend Magellans think twice before pooping off.—DBS SLEIGHTHOLME, Polstead, Suffolk.

Twice rescued I was interested to read the '50 Years Ago' article in the Spring edition of THE LIFEBOAT concerning the service to the English Trader by the Torbay lifeboat in January 1937 which resulted in Coxswain Mogridge being awarded a clasp to his bronze medal.

As you will well know the English Trader survived this incident only to be lost in October 1941 when wrecked on Hammond Knoll off the Norfolk coast, 44 of the crew being rescued by the Cromer lifeboat. For this service, which Henry Blogg said confronted him with the most appalling problem he had to face, the Cromer coxswain was awarded a third service clasp to his silver medal, the rest of the Cromer crew were awarded either bronze medals or service clasps. Coxswain Johnson of the Gorleston lifeboat was awarded the bronze medal for his gallant attempts at rescue.—R.C. WILTSHIRE, Brundall, Norwich.Warm thanks May I through your letters page extend a very warm and sincere thank you to the lifeboat crew of the Port St Mary's lifeboat in getting me ashore off the cargo ship MV Lancasterbrook when I was taken ill at 0330 on March 17, 1987. The service was that fast we actually had to wait for the ambulance.

As a member of Shoreline for a few years now I never thought that I would have to call on the lifeboat services.

Once again thanks to lifeboatmen everywhere and keep up the good work.—p. p. TURNBULL, Hartlepool, Cleveland..