NEWS POINT HURRICANE HEROES For those who lived through it, the hurricane which hit the south and south east coasts of England during the early hours of October 16 last will forever be imprinted on their memories.

None more so than the lifeboatmen who braved the most severe conditions to go to the help of vessels and individuals in distress during that horrendous storm.

The heroism of the crews who braved winds of hurricane force 16-plus to complete successful services at Dover, Weymouth and Sheerness has been recognised by the RNLI's Committee of Management in the award to them of medals for gallantry, details of which can be found elsewhere in THE LIFEBOAT.

In each case the point was amply demonstrated that however highly developed lifeboats become and whatever the degree of sophistication of the equipment they carry, in such extreme circumstances the factor which really counts is above all other still the willpower, determination to succeed and courage of the men who take them to sea.Named after founder The new Douglas, Isle of Man, 47ft Tyne class lifeboat, due to arrive onstation later this summer, is to be named after the Institution's founder, Sir William Hillary.

Douglas was Sir William's home and it is there that he wrote his "Appeal to the British Nation" in 1823, after witnessing many shipwrecks off the Isle of Man. His publication came to the notice of Thomas Wilson, MP for the City of London and other influential people and at a subsequent meeting held in the City of London Tavern, on March 4, 1824, the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck—30 years later to become the RNLI—was formed.

Sir William Hillary was awarded the Institution's gold medal for being its founder. As a lifeboatman at Douglas he saved more than 300 lives and was awarded a further three gold medals for his bravery.

Mermaid Ball The annual RNLI Lifeboat and Mermaid Ball held last December at the London Hilton raised a record sum of approximately £55,000. The ball, which was organised by an independent Mermaid Ball committee, chaired by Mrs Robert Dean, in conjunction with the Central London Committee, was attended by 880 people. Amongst those IConlimieil on page 2601(Continued from page 258) attending were Peter de Savary and Rear Admiral W J Graham, the then director of the RNLI.

The first prize in the raffle was a holiday in Barbados and there were £8,500 worth of tombola prizes, plus lucky programme prizes.

The ball has been an annual event for many years and has raised thousands of pounds for the lifeboat service.

RHS Awards Three members of Anstruther lifeboat crew have received Royal Humane Society Certificates of Commendation for their part in rescuing a local schoolboy who was swept into the sea while playing at the water's edge close to Anstruther's East Pier last July.

Coxswain Peter Innes Murray, Assistant Mechanic George Milne and Crew Member Peter Duncan Murray helped 26-year-old Colin Andrew Baird after he had dived into the harbour and brought the boy to safety, placing him in his car, which he had earlier parked 40ft from the end of the pier.

Milne and Innes Murray arrived as a large wave washed over the pier and car, dragging the vehicle along so that its front wheels hung over the pier's edge. They both held on to the car to prevent it falling over the edge. Milne slipped and would have fallen into the harbour if Duncan Murray had not caught hold of him. Mr Baird, his niece and the schoolboy got out of the car, which was eventually towed to safety.

Royal meeting Guest of honour at this year's annual presentation of awards at the Royal Festival Hall will be Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Mrs Angus Ogilvy, GCVO. The ceremony takes place at 2.30 on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 10, 1988, when the Princess will be presenting bravery medals to lifeboatmen and other awards to long-serving voluntary workers.

Seafarers' service Three lifeboatmen attended the annual national service for seafarers in St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday October 21, 1987. Martin Woodrow, crew member of Bude lifeboat, was the Institution's colour bearer at the service, escorted by fellow crew members Terence Archer and Paul Westaway.The committee of management was represented by deputy chairman Mr Michael Vernon. Rear Admiral W J Graham, the then director, also attended the service.New RNLI film "Beside the Seaside", a new film commissioned by the RNLI to celebrate the 25th anniversary of inflatable lifeboats, was launched in London on March 4, 1988, the 164th birthday of the Institution.

A review of the film, together with details of how to obtain a copy, can be found on page 278.LIFEBOAT RESCUES A superb new collection of Fine Art Prints depicting reconstructions of famous rescues by Mick Bensley.

Image size approx. 320 x 225mm - £6.50 each.

Special Introductory Offer - Set of 6 for £30.00 (incl. of P&P) Also available mounted and framed. Send for our Free Full-Colour Brochure detailing each rescue to 'In The Picture' Unit 36, Shermgham Industrial Estate, Shermgham, Norfolk, England NR26 8HF. Tel: (0263) 822265.

There will be a major exhibition of Mick Bensley's Lifeboat Rescue Paintings at Holt, Norfolk from 28th May - 2nd June 1988. More details from 'In The Picture'..