Tour takes in six stations His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, the RNLI's president, visited six Essex coast lifeboat stations in July, meeting lifeboat crew members and their families, station officials and members of the Institution's fund raising branches and guilds.

Accompanied by Mr Robert W.

Adcock, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex and Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the RNLI, the president began his tour at Harwich and also visited Walton, Clacton, West Mersea, Burnham and Southend lifeboat stations.

Arriving at Harwich Green by helicopter the Duke was shown the Waveney class lifeboat John Fison and also the Harwich Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat.

At Walton, the president was able to board the relief Watson class lifeboat Guy and Clare Hunter before proceeding to Clacton.

There he was told of the launching arrangements for the station's Atlantic 21 lifeboat, with particular reference to the tipping cradle.

On arrival at West Mersea the Duke was shown the station's Atlantic 21 lifeboat. After lunch he departed for Burnham.

Here the president viewed the launching arrangements for the station's D class inflatable lifeboat.

Whilst in Southend the Duke boarded the pier train to visit the pier extension during which time Mr Colin Sedgwick, the station honorary secretary, described details of the accident to the pier and boathouse in 1986. After meeting crew members manning the D class lifeboat, the president then proceeded to the Atlantic 21 lifeboat launching area where the crew manned the boat and demonstrated the launching derrick..