Quay, Bembridge Harbour on Thursday, September 10, 1987.

The Foundation has also provided two Arun class boats, one stationed at Stornoway and the other in the RNLI's relief fleet.

Sir Max Aitken had his home on the Isle of Wight and it is therefore most appropriate that the lifeboat provided by the Foundation should be stationed at Bembridge.

The occasion was blessed with fine weather, if a little windy and, in a charming prelude to the formalities, a bouquet was presented to Lady Beaverbrook by Miss Kirsty Dwyer, daughter of one of the crew members.

Rear Admiral W J Graham, director of the RNLI, opened proceedings and Mr Michael Pennell, divisional inspector of lifeboats for the south east, described the new boat before Lord Beaverbrook handed her over to the Institution.

The Duke of Atholl, chairman of the RNLI, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the Institution and delivered her into the care of Bembridge station branch, represented by Mr J Birnie, station honorary secretary.

The naming by Lady Beaverbrook followed a service of dedication conducted by the Rev Matthew Lynn, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge, assisted by the Rev David Low, vicar of St Helens.

A large crowd from all over the island attended the ceremony and service and among those present were Lord and Lady Beaverbrook's four children.

Immediately following the naming, an RAF helicopter flying the Institution's flag from its winch wire, passed overhead.

Angle, August 6, 1987 British summers can normally be relied upon to produce a range of climatic extremes, but for the naming ceremony of Angle's new 47ft Tyne class lifeboat on Thursday, August 6, 1987, the variation in temperature was remarkably localised.

Correspondents report that those gathered at the seaward end of Angle Pier shivered in the strong wind blowing across Milford Haven, while at the landward end of the same pier, three people fainted in the heat.

All were recovered in time to hear the Hon Mrs Shelagh Cowen name the new lifeboat The Lady Rank. Earlier her husband, Mr Robin Cowen MBE, chairman of donors The Rank Foundation, had handed the boat into the care of the RNLI.

Col George Jackson, chairman of Angle lifeboat station, had earlier opened proceedings and welcomed the Cowens and other guests, includingSkegness, August 9, 1987: Mr Phillip R Lill, chairman of Skegness lifeboat station, welcomed guests of the Wolvers family, who had travelled from all over Great Britain, with some coming from the Netherlands, to witness the handing over and service of dedication of the new D class inflatable lifeboat at Skegness on Sunday, August 9 last year. The family donated this boat in memory of Michel Philippe Wolvers who was lost at sea.

His twin brother Ian handed the boat over to the RNLI and the Institution's assistant director, Mr Ray Kipling accepted it, expressing great appreciation for the gift, suggesting that no better memorial could be provided. Mr Terry Smart, station honorary secretary, receiving the boat on behalf of Skegness lifeboat station, said that already it had saved four lives. Following the service of dedication, conducted by the Rev Ernest Adley, Rector of Skegness and the Rev Eric Foster, Methodist minister and chaplain to the current Mayor of Skegness, Mrs B Sleaford, chairman of Skegness ladies' lifeboat guild, proposed a vote of thanks and invited the family guests to a light buffet at the boathouse, following a short walk to the beach to witness the launching of the lifeboat and a display of its qualities in the surf. The photograph shows Ian Wolvers shaking hands with Ian Johnson. Also in the boat are Ray Chapman, senior helmsman and Richard Foye.—BUS Bude, October 3, 1987: The handover ceremony and service of dedication for Bude's new 16ft D class inflatable lifeboat took place at the headquarters of Bude Surf Life-Saving Club, Crooklet's Beach. Bude.

The £9,000 boat was funded through the generosity of many organisations and individuals in the locality, represented by Mr Jonathan Ball, of the Bude Lifeboat Singers.

He handed the lifeboat over to the Institution, for which Lt Cmdr Brian Miles, deputy director, accepted her and delivered her into the care of Bude station branch and its honorary secretary. Mr Paddy Frost. A description of the new lifeboat was given by Mr Peter Bradley, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the south west. Fr Jim Vincent, the station's honorary chaplain, conducted a short service of dedication before the boat was launched and put through her paces.Mr Michael Vernon, a deputy chairman of the RNLI, who accepted The Lady Rank on behalf of the Institution before passing her into the care of Angle lifeboat station and Mr John Allen- Mirehouse, its honorary secretary.

A service of dedication was conducted by the Rev. David Leak, Rector of Angle, assisted by the Rev. Robert James, Baptist minister of Pembroke and Father William Daly, Roman Catholic priest of Pembroke and Pembroke Dock.

The lifeboat, which had been described at the start of the ceremony by Mr Michael Vlasto, divisional inspector of lifeboats for the west, was then named by the Hon. Mrs Cowen, before launching for a demonstration of her capabilities.

Amble, June 27, 1987: Three into one does go, as Amble station proved by having the handing over and dedication of the new D class lifeboat, the re-dedication of the station lifeboat Margaret Graham, and the official opening of the lifeboathouse. The drizzly weather did not deter anyone and Dr Paul Arnison-Newgass welcomed a large gathering and introduced Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland who passed the D class into the care of the station. Mr Ken Shawcross, station honorary secretary, received the boat, giving a short history of lifeboat activity in the area. The Rev Anthony E Buglass, assisted by Father Kevin Cummins and Rev Terry McCarthy conducted the service of dedication for the two lifeboats and lifeboathouse. Mrs C E Crook, representing the donors, the late Rev and Mrs Airton, explained why her aunt and uncle made the gift and then invited the Duchess to open the boathouse. The drizzle stopped and a pleasant wine reception was enjoyed by all.— BHS photograph by courtesy of Northumberland Gazelle Shoreham Harbour, May 2, 1987: Among those attending the handing over ceremony and service of dedication of Shoreham Harbour's new D class inflatable lifeboat on Saturday, May 2, 1987 were the president and members of the Rotary Club of Sutton.

donors of the new boat. Rotarian Gordon Lambert, the club's president and Rotarian Ian Davies, immediate past president, handed the boat over to the RNLI after Mr John Harrison MBE, chairman of the Shoreham Harbour station branch, had opened proceedings by welcoming the large gathering. Mr Harrison, who is also a member of the Institution's committee of management, formally accepted the lifeboat before delivering it to the care of the branch, as represented by Mr Ron Curtis, MBE, its honorary secretary.

The Rev W A G Buxton, Rector of Kingston Buci, conducted the service of dedication before the boat was launched and put through her paces. Later, Mrs Doris Lambert unveiled a commemorative plaque. photograph hy courtesy of the Brighton and Hove Leader West Mersea, July 19, 1987: Funding for West Mersea's new Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat Himley Hall, was shared by the people of West Mersea and Himley Hall Sailing Club, Dudley, West Midlands, whose members have for the past 10 years organised a 24-hour sailing race in aid of the RNLI. Despite the rain and wind, there was a good attendance at West Mersea lifeboathouse for the naming ceremony and service of dedication on Sunday, July 19, 1987. Mr D P Haward, station branch chairman, welcomed all present before Mrs Dorothea Willets, Commodore of Himley Hall Sailing Club, handed the new boat over to the RNLI. Accepting the boat. Mr Colin Williams, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the south east, then handed it into the care of the station and Mr Rodney Hill, the station honorary secretary. The Rev John Swallow, Rector of West Mersea, assisted by Mr Peter French, conducted the service of dedication, which preceded the naming by Mrs Willets. The sun broke through briefly as the Band of the 1st Battalion the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders played during the ceremony, but the rain and strong wind persisted for the garden party which followed and at which the band also played. " was typical lifeboat weather, but all went very well," commented Mr Hill afterwards.

photograph hy courtesy of Colchester ExpressStornoway, Wednesday, August 26, 1987: In commemoration of the centenary year of the Stornoway lifeboat station, some 300 people gathered together on Cromwell Street Quay on a cold wet morning to the music provided by the Lewis Pipe Band and had the opportunity to view a collection of photographs recording the station's history. Branch chairman Mr Iain Maclean presided at the ceremony. Underlining the total community involvement with the lifeboat, Mr Alexander Matheson, Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean, himself a station branch committee member, recalled the history and achievements of the station before officially opening the new crew facility Sir Max Aitken House.

As with the present lifeboat at Stornaway Sir Max Aitken 11, the boathouse has been funded through the influence and generosity of a man whose memory is held in high regard by everyone associated with the RNLI.

To mark the achievement of a century of service at Stornoway, Sir Charles McGrigor, convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council and a member of the committee of management of the RNLI, expressed the appreciation and congratulations of the Institution and presented a centenary vellum which was accepted on behalf of the station by Captain Angus MacLeod, honorary secretary. Captain MacLeod responded on behalf of all those who had served over the years and those who would continue to serve into the future. Following a service of thanksgiving conducted by Mr Ian Wiseman, Superintendent of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, and thanks expressed to all participants by Mrs Kate Hardy, president of Stornoway Ladies' Lifeboat Guild, the civilian helicopter recently based in the area paid its own and the Coastguard's tribute to the occasion.—KTBurnham-on-Crouch, April 21, 1987: This was the day chosen for the service of dedication for the new 16ft D class inflatable lifeboat stationed at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. The boat had officially been handed over in December, 1986 by the Coopers Company and Coburn School, of Upminster, Essex, who had raised the money to pay for it in memory of Tylden Mills, a deputy head boy, who died tragically while on holiday in Hong Kong. There were 80 people at the dedication service, despite it being a cold, wet day. Pictured here are crew members Ian Simons and Dave Nicholls, together with Tylden Mills' parents and other members of his family.

New Quay, Dyfed, September 16, 1987: Music was much to the fore at the handing over and service of dedication of New Quay's new 16ft inflatable lifeboat at the station on Wednesday, September 16, 1987. The Welsh and British national anthems were sung to start the ceremony, other music was provided by New Quay Primary School and the new lifeboat itself was provided from the £9,892.72 proceeds of an RNLI concert, featuring the Morriston Orpheus Choir, soprano Suzanne Murphy, tenor Arthur Davies and pianist Ingrid Surgenor, which took place at the St David's Hall, Cardiff in March, 1987, sponsored by Barclays Bank and compered by Richard Baker. Captain Wyndham Bowen, chairman of New Quay lifeboat station, opened proceedings at the handover ceremony, the lifeboat was described by Captain Hugh Fogarty, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the west and handed into the care of the New Quay lifeboat station by Mr Raymond Cory, a deputy chairman of the RNLI. Mr Dennis Leworthy, station honorary secretary, accepted the lifeboat before the Rev David Lloyd, Rector of New Quay and chaplain of the lifeboat station, conducted the service of dedication.

Burry Port, July 11, 1987: The handing over ceremony for Burry Port's new 16ft D class inflatable lifeboat, Dorothy Way, on Saturday, July 11, 1987, coincided with the station's centenary celebrations. After Mr Tom Francis, chairman of Burry Port lifeboat station, had opened proceedings, Miss Hilary Way (who donated the lifeboat in memory of her mother) delivered the boat into the care of the RNLI. Having accepted the new craft, Mrs Alison Saunders, a member of the Institution's committee of management and deputy chairman of its fund raising committee, placed it into the care of Burry Port lifeboat station and, in particular, Mr Leslie Williams, the station's honorary secretary. Following a service of dedication for the lifeboat and re-dedication of the lifeboathouse, conducted by the Rev W Roberts, curate of Pwllheli and Burry Port, Mr Williams invited Miss Way and Mrs Saunders to inspect the lifeboat and meet the crew, led by Helmsman Dave Peek. Although opened in 1887, Burry Port lifeboat station has not been in continuous operation, having closed from 1914 to 1973.

Poole, July 31 , 1987: A hot summer's day marked the naming ceremony at the RNLI's depot, Poole in July of the Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat US Navy League. The quayside service of dedication was conducted by the Rev. Canon John Potter, before Vice-Admiral Edward H Martin, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the US Navy Forces and Europe Commander of the US Fleet Eastern Atlantic, named the lifeboat, which joins the Institution's relief fleet. The new lifeboat, costing more than £31,000 was provided by the British American Lifeboat Appeal and was received on behalf of the RNLI by the chairman of this appeal and a vice president of the Institution, Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Compston KBE. The boat was described by Rear Admiral W J Graham, director of the RNLI, who thanked the US Navy League for the great support it has provided to the lifeboat service over many years. Vice-Admiral Martin, in turn, praised the work of the Institution, commenting: The perils of the sea bring out the best in men and bring the best men and women together. The RNLI epitomises the best in Britain, a seafaring nation that lives by the sea and respects the sea. After the ceremony US Navy League was launched to give the large number of visitors, supporters and head office staff in attendance a demonstration of her capabilities and, later, the American Vice-Admiral was invited to take the helm of the new lifeboat for a trip around Holes Bay.

photograph by courtesy of Peter Sheriff.