Lottery Saturday afternoon shoppers jostled with each other for the best view of the 39th lottery draw. The event took place at 3pm on Saturday, October 31 inside the Poole branch of Tesco's supermarket, by kind permission of branch manager Mr John Taylor. Professional snooker ace John Virgo made the draw, but despite his prowess in potting the colours, picking out a local winner proved to be more difficult. Anthony Oliver, head of fund raising, was on hand to supervise the draw and to receive a cheque for £500, John Virgo's winnings for the RNLI when he played in the Fidelity Unit Trusts Snooker International competition. The eight finalists in the tournament were asked to draw a charity to represent. John picked the RNLI but bowed out in the quarter finals to Steve Davis, the eventual winner. The lottery prizewinners were: £2,000: R. Dabbs, Molesey, Surrey.

£1,000: Mrs J. Higginbotham, Hanworth, Middx.

£500: G. Ford, Launceston, Cornwall £250: A. G. Haley, Tiverton, Devon.

£100: Mrs B. Dillett, Ayrshire, Scotland; H. J. Woolnough, Southcote, Reading; R. W. Fleet, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Brig R. H. Ferguson, Pinhoe, Exeter; D. R. Wheatley, St Albans, Herts; C. Herringshaw, Thurmaston, Leics; V. J.

Varndell, Old Stratford, Bucks;.

J. D. Gibbs, London SW16.

£50: J. P. Mitchell, Bramcote, Nottingham; Mrs S. Pendry, Exmouth, Devon; Mrs R. M.

Dawson, Cheltenham, Glos; A. J. Bell, London W8; M. H.

Bird, Castle Carrock, Carlisle; Mrs J. Varcoe, Hounslow, Middx; C. J. Bates, Solihull, Warwicks; Miss L. Newell, Chichester, Sussex.Fifty years on The 46ft Watson class lifeboat SGE, built by Samuel White of Cowes, Isle of Wight in 1938 is now based in the South Atlantic as the official lifeboat of St Helena Island, where she is known now as the James Button, named after the island's first Governor.

Formerly in the service of the RNLI at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, the SGE was retired in 1963 and bought by the St Helena Government to be put into service there, after modifications to suit local conditions.

In the charge of Coxswain "Smokey" Clingham BEM, a sergeant in the island police force and warden of the local prison, the John Dutton has a crew of five, a regular mechanic in Lionel Yon and is kept in a constant state of readiness.

Monthly exercises are conducted and the boat is used for an average five rescues a year, mainly involving local fishermen, visiting yachts and the transfer of sick or injured seamen from deep sea vessels.

The photograph was taken by Mr Rodney Allen, principal lecturer in marine engineering at the College of Maritime Studies, Warsash, Southampton.

He spotted the lifeboat last summer while he was serving as a relief Second Engineer officer on board the RMS St Helena, the island's only regular scheduled link with the outside world.

The islanders are tremendously proud of the lifeboat and hold the RNLI and its traditions in very high esteem', he said.

Obituaries It is with deep regret that we record the following deaths: March 1987 Miss M Shipley Ellis, QBE JP, a tireless supporter of Peterborough branch for many many years. She succeeded her mother as chairman in 1946 and continued in this post until 1965. In 1966 she was awarded a gold badge and was offered a life presidency in 1972. Miss Shipley Ellis donated an inshore lifeboat to Wells in 1969.

September 1987 Lieutenant Commander the Hon Greville Howard, a life vice-president of the RNLI, who joined the committee of management in 1953. He served as chairman of the Operations Committee until 1968 and was deputy chairman of the Institution from 1968-1970. Lt Cdr Howard was also a serving member of the Public Relations Committee.

Frederick Sadler, a dedicated committee member of Selsey and District branch for 20 years. Mr Sadler was deputy launching authority from 1967 to 1983 and was awarded a statuette in 1986. He was honoured a freeman of the City of London in 1985.

Volvo draw Volvo Concessionaires Ltd and the RNLI joined forces in January 1987, under the slogan "Together We Care", to raise enough funds to buy a new lifeboat. Nine Volvo 340DL cars were offered as prizes in RNLI regional draws throughout the country and in its first year this successful promotion has raised £274,975. A 47ft Tyne class lifeboat has been allocated to the relief fleet next year, to be named RNLB Voluntary Worker, to be paid for from the draw proceeds and RNLI general funds. The promotion continues during 1988 through Volvo's dealer network.

Dedicated to RNLI Miss Mandy Parsons, of Shinfield, near Reading, is confined to a wheelchair, having suffered from spina bifida for many years. She spends her annual holiday in Appledore, North Devon and since 1976 has not once failed to help the ladies' guild there with their collection on flag day. This year she collected £110.15 in two boxes, collecting from 9am to 9.30pm and, during the past 11 years, has raised £600 from her wheelchair.

Another brave lifeboat supporter is six-year-old Michell Turner, who suffers from a bone disease affecting her left leg. She entered the summer fancy dress fair at her school—Weybridge Infants, Rainham—dressed as a lifeboat and won first prize.

On Station The following lifeboats have taken up station and relief fleet duties: Troon: 52ft Arun class lifeboat ON 1134 (52-38), City of Glasgow HI, October 25, 1987.

Courtmacsherry: 48ft 6in Solent class lifeboat ON 1011 (48-008), R Hope Roberts, December 2, 1987.Long Service Awards THE LONG SERVICE BADGE for crew members and shore helpers who have given active service for 20 years or more has been awarded to: Abersoch Crew Member S J Thomas Blyth Coxswain C Hatcher Donaghadee Shore Second T W Simpson Coxswain Mechanic Dunbar Coxswain R N Wight Filey Crew Member M Johnson Assistant Tractor Driver D A Lang Hoylake Crew Member R A Whitelev Kirkcudbright Assistant Mechanic W McKie Assistant Winchman T Thomson Kirkwall Crew Member R M Hall Shore Helper A L Grieve Little & Broad Haven Crew Member J S Llewellin Crew Member I Norman Llandudno Tractor Driver G Short Longhope Winchman A G Heddle Lymington Crew Member J P Pope Lytham St Annes Crew Member G A Smith Crew Member R ThistlethwaitePadstow Winchman P J Poole Rosslare Harbour Second Coxswain J E F Wickham Crew Member B J Wickham Crew Member W J F Wickham Silloth Crew Member C Akitt Teesmouth Crew Member R Copeman The Lizard Shore Helper J C W Harris Tighnabruaich Crew Member A Sim Walmer Second Coxswain D Brophy Appropriate text Members of Selsey lifeboat crew were midway through the Sea Sunday service for the Mission to Seamen at the parish church of St Peter's on Sunday, July 12, 1987 when they were called out, activating their bleepers. Ironically, the Biblical text was being taken from the Book of Exodus! The D class inflatable lifeboat Sealion launched to the assistance of the 14ft speedboat Tenman I (suffering from engine failure), towing her to the West Sands with her four occupants.

The crew of the lifeboat were Helmsman Dave Munday with Crew Members Willie Pledger and Richard Wiseman.

Anonymous Retired Coxswain Derek Scott BEM, formerly of The Mumbles lifeboat station, received an envelope containing £70 from an anonymous donor in Rochdale in October, 1987. Passing it on to Poole headquarters, Mr Scott commented: 'Over the years this must be the seventh or eighth one I have had, ranging between £50 and £100 each time. I have never been to Rochdale, so perhaps the person has seen me on television at some time..