RNLB Shoreline New members of Shoreline may not be aware that a lifeboat bearing the name of the organisation is stationed at Arbroath.

Built in 1979, RNLB Shoreline is a 37ft 6in Rother class lifeboat with a wooden hull and aluminium superstructure.

She was named on Saturday, October 20, 1979 by Sir Alec Rose, lone roundthe- world yachtsman and founder member of Shoreline.

The boat was funded by an appeal to the then 60,000 members (a figure since more than doubled) of Shoreline and was stationed first at Blyth, Northumberland, where she launched a dozen times.

In January 1983, Shoreline transferred to her present station, where she has launched an average of four times a year. Arbroath also has a D class inflatable lifeboat.Secret out Many years ago, when I took out life subscription to Shoreline as insurance policy, I did not anticipate the close attention received by my wife and myself over the August Bank holiday.

Apparently on the Monday afternoon a report was received of a diver giving "distress signal" off Chesil Beach, Portland, which I understand turned out to be a false alarm.

Completely unaware of this, we slipped into the water for an evening dive.

Ostensibly our purpose was to take photographs, although I had developed more than a passing interest in a chunk of brass discovered amongst some wreckage a few days earlier.

For that reason we were hoping keep our location secret from other divers. However, Weymouth lifeboat and a SAR helicopter stationed above our bubbles seemed to attract a spectators! The underwater sound effects when they arrived had fortunately persuaded us to shorten our dive and explain innocence to the Coastguard when landed. (We headed back to the beach rather than surface, which is a dangerous place when you can hear a boat overhead!). I hope that the crew were not delayed too long on a false trail.

The brass? We dived again next morning, with less distraction.—COLIN GRAY, Fareham, Hants.Competition boost A painting competition sponsored by the Nationwide Building Society last summer helped to promote the work of the RNLI and added another 150 recruits to the junior membership club, Storm Force.

Membership count At the time of going to press, there are 127,514 members of Shoreline.Sheffield Shoreline Club Miss Ann Kisby, of Sheffield Shoreline Club committee, has written to let us know of some of their activities during recent months: "We have had a variety of speakers for our meetings, ranging from Sheffield Assay Office, Far Eastern Travels and HM Coastguards, to a past Lord Mayor of Sheffield." Several day trips for members were run during 1987 and the club also managed to squeeze in a visit to the lifeboat museum at Bristol.

New members are welcome and those interested should contact the chairman, Miss Rita Baker, at 439 Walkley Road, Sheffield S6 5AQ (tel. 345058) for details.Insignia available (to Shoreline members only) Description Price 5" Dinghy Burgee £4.00 Sterling Silver Marcasite Brooch in gift box £21.00 Silkscrcened Gilt Cuff Links in gift box £5.60 All Metal Car Badge £4.80 12" Hoist Rag £3.80 8" Hoist Flag £2.80 Gilt and Enamel Stick Pin £1.00 Gilt and Enamel Gents Lapel Badge £1.15 Gilt and Enamel Ladies Brooch £1.00 Gilt and Enamel Tie Tack £1.30 3" Diameter Anorak Badge £0.65 Terylene Tie—blue, green, brown, maroon* £3.95 Navy Blue Sweat Shirt (36. 38, 40, 42, 44*) £9.95 Navy Blue Acrylic V-Neck Sweater (36, 38, 40. 42. 44*) £10.00 Cream or Maroon Pure Wool Sleeveless Sweater (XL, L,M,S*) £14.25 Shoreline Member's Replacement Windscreen Sticker £0.20 * Delete as necessary I enclose cheque/P.O.* — (Made payable to RNLI) To: The Director, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ.

I wish to join Shoreline. Here is my subscription. Member £6 p.a. D Family Membership £9 p.a. D Governor £20 or more p.a. D Life Governor £200 or more D.

And/or: please send me the following insignia: Name: Address: IJW 87/8.