NEWS POINT FIRST AMONG EQUALS Those who find themselves explaining how the RNLI operates, how it is organised and how it is funded are very often asked, "What do other countries do? Is the RNLI unique?". The answer could have been found at La Coruna, Spain in June this year at the XVth International Lifeboat Conference (see full report on pages 202-3) when lifeboat organisations from every corner of the globe came together to discuss their common interests and problems.

Some countries' lifeboat services are run by government departments, some are totally voluntary and some combine both methods. Some operate many lifeboats, some, with only a small coastline, only require a few.

Some nations rely very largely upon private boat owners to organise themselves into a rescue service. All are able to contribute something at an international conference and all have something to learn.

The RNLI (which provides the secretariat for the International Lifeboat Federation) is no exception.

However, there are aspects of this country's lifeboat service which others have graciously acknowledged to be outstanding.

The RNLI is the oldest lifeboat service in the world. It runs more lifeboats on a wholly voluntary basis than any nation and its crews benefit from some of the latest lifeboat design and equipment technology. The voluntary system may not be every country's answer, but it certainly works for us.New appointments Five new members have been elected to the Committee of Management of the RNLI. They are Rear Admiral Roger Dimmock, Mr A. K. S. (Roly) Franks, Dr William Guild, Mr RichardLeworthy and Mr Colin Mudie.

Rear Admiral Dimmock is Flag Officer, Naval Air Command. He has been president of the Denmead and Hambledon branch of the RNLI since 1981.

Mr Franks, who has recently retired as chairman of Phicom PLC, joined the RNLI's finance committee in 1985 and is secretary of the Brenchley, Matfield, Horsmonden and Lamberhurst branch of the Institution.

Dr Guild, a lecturer at Edinburgh University, is a member of the RNLI's medical and survival committee and a member of the Scottish Lifeboat Council, the RNLI's executive committee and Edinburgh branch committee.

Mr Leworthy, a company director of Richard Price Television Associates and London Weekend Television (International), has been a member of theInstitution's public relations committee since 1984.

Mr Mudie, a naval architect involved in yacht and small boat design, is a member of the technical consultative and boat committees of the RNLI.

Two members of the RNLI's Irish Division have been appointed members of the Council of the Irish Water Safety Association by the Minister of the Environment, Mr Padraig Flynn, TD.

Frank Nolan, a helmsman with the Tramore Inshore Rescue Service, has been appointed national chairman of the association. He has been an active member of the Tramore ILB crew since 1967.

Kevin Desmond, a DI.A with Wicklow lifeboat, has been appointed a member of the water safety council, with special responsibilities for rescue services.

Bravery awards The Maud Smith Award for the most outstanding act of lifesaving by a lifeboatman during 1986 has been awarded posthumously to Coxswain Captain John Hogg, of Tynemouth lifeboat for saving the crew of three from a fishing vessel in April last year.

The Ralph Glister Award for the most meritorious service carried out in 1986 by the crew of a lifeboat under 10 metres in length, goes to the crew of the Eastbourne inflatable lifeboat, Helmsman Ian Stringer and Crew Member Derek Tucker, for the rescue of three men from a capsized dory involved in the filming of a James Bond film at Beachy Head last December.ANNUAL MEETINGS 1988 South Bank, London, Tuesday May 10 Annual General Meeting of Governors: 11.30 am in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall.

Annual Presentation of Awards: the afternoon meeting will be in the main auditorium, Royal Festival Hall.

Further details will be circulated with the winter edition O/THE LIFEBOAT.Clyde class The decision to replace Kirkwall's 70ft Clyde class lifeboat Grace Paterson Ritchie with a new £490,000 52ft Arun class boat and the proposed withdrawal from Clovelly, North Devon of the City of Bristol, means that the Clyde class of lifeboat will be disappearing from the RNLI's fleet during the next 12 months.

The new Kirkwall boat is to be named Mickie Salvesen after Mrs Mary Salvesen, whose legacy has funded its provision.

The withdrawal of Clovelly's 70ft Clyde with effect from mid-1988 was announced at a public meeting there in August by Mr Donald Redford, chairman of the Institution's search and rescue committee.

It was stressed that with 47ft Tyne class lifeboats on station at Padstow, Tenby and The Mumbles and the arrival next year at Appledore of another Tyne, effective lifeboat cover for the Bristol Channel area will be adequately provided.

Rescue records An analysis of the RNLI's figures for 1986 shows that 60 per cent of the services by lifeboats were to pleasure craft for the fourth year running. They launched 2,186 times to such craft,saving 1,071 lives, more than 76 per cent of the lives saved in all types of rescue.

The time spent dealing with yachts (1,351.8 hours) was, for the first time, greater than that spent on fishing vessels (1,265.4 hours). Motor boats (1,063.9 hours) were followed by merchant and commercial vessels (447.5 hours).

Rescue centre HM Coastguard's new Maritime Rescue Centre at Bridlington was formally opened by HM Lord Lieutenant for Humberside, Richard Anthony Bethell.

Costing £500,000, the centre co-ordinates maritime rescues in an area of 1,000 square nautical miles of the North Sea and replaces an older establishment at Spurn Point..