Lord Brabazon of Tara, the government's minister for shipping, accompanied by Lady Brabazon, visited RNLI headquarters, Poole in August. His party included Rear Admiral M. L. Stacey, of the Department of Transport and was met by Mr Michael Vernon, a deputy chairman of the Institution and by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, its director.

The minister was taken on a tour of the head office and depot buildings and, after lunch, (pictured below) boarded the new 52ft Arun class lifeboat City of Glasgow III, soon to go on station at Troon in Scotland. The minister and his party sailed from the RNLI depot quay for a short demonstration run in Poole Bay at the conclusion of their visit.

• The previous month Lord Brabazon visited the Isles of Scilly, where the St Mary's lifeboat station is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary. He was there to present the Department of Transport Rescue Shield to the St Mary's Auxiliary Coastguard Rescue Company, for the rescue of 35 people from 20 yachts driven ashore at Porthmelon in storm force 10 winds in August last year..