Royal wish fulfilled When Her Royal Highness Princess Anne named Southendon- Sea's new Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat last May, she confided in broadcaster Raymond Baxter, chairman of the RNLI's public relations committee, that she would like to go to sea in one.

Her wish came true on Sunday, June 7 when, accompanied by her son, 10-year-old Master Peter Phillips, she visited Lymington lifeboat station and spent half an hour at sea on board the Frank and Mary Atkinson, taking the controls under the supervision of senior helmsman Alan Coster.

During her visit, the Princess Royal, as she became soon afterwards, accepted a cheque for £50,000 from Mr and Mrs Atkinson, donors of the Lymington boat bearing their names. The Atkinsons have now funded three Atlantic 21s.

Princess Anne spent several minutes chatting with members of the crew and officials of Lymington lifeboat station before boarding the Frank and Mary Atkinson for the exercise in the Solent.

Calshot lifeboat, the 33ft Brede Safeway, exercised with a Royal Navy Wessex SAR helicopter from Lee-on-Solent while the Royal party was at sea..