Each year, as supporters of the RNLI make their way home from the Institution's annual meeting and presentation of awards, there is a feeling that surely the achievements of that year cannot be bettered.

Yet, each year the Institution moves forward and at each annual meeting the chairman, the Duke of Atholl, is able to report on 12 months of progress on all fronts—seaborne activities, fund raising, new lifeboat developments and cost-saving measures by the RNLI's administrators.

The 1988 annual meeting proved to be no exception. The well attended meeting of governors in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank on the morning of Tuesday, May 10 heard the chairman report that lifeboats had launched 3,706 times in 1987, saving 1,474 lives.

More than ever before was spent on new lifeboats and equipment, fund raisers' efforts produced a 13 per cent increase in receipts over the previous year while administration and fundraising costs had once again fallen as a proportion of the whole. Legacy income had increased by £5 million, he revealed to the governors.

The Chairman's Speech "/ would like you to imagine for a moment, that the Institution was not the third largest charity in the country, but an important, publicly quoted company of which you were shareholders.

You would, in those circumstances, be expecting me to say something about our company's achievements in the past year, to comment on our annual turnover and to explain our investment plans for the future. I should probably have some remarks to make about the Stock Exchange's Black Monday, some observations on the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget decisions and I might even allude to the great storm which swept the south east of England last October— particularly if our company included insurance among its interests.

On all these topics, as chairman of the RNLI, I will indeed have something to say. However, if any of you here this morning are expecting me to announce some lucrative dividend on your share of the Institution's fortunes, then I recommend you to look elsewhere. The only return I can offer you on your investment, and it is not a bad one at that, is that 1,474 people are alive today because of what the lifeboat service achieved in 1987.

If the lifeboat crews did not, year in, year out, live up to the high standards they set themselves, all else he would have to report would have a hollow ring to it, said the chairman.

Hurricane "On a night in the south east when scarcely a man dared set foot outside his front door during the infamous October hurricane, 13 lifeboat crews were putting to sea on service. This afternoon, we will hear exactly how Dover, Sheerness and Weymouth lifeboats, not only came through their encounter with the great storm, but also brought back survivors. I am delighted, too, that in this, the 25th year of the inflatable lifeboat, two D class helmsmen from Blackpool will be receiving recognition. Their search for survivors in ten foot seas on the edge of the surf line demonstrated admirably the worth of these small lifeboats and the skill and determination of their crews. Since 1963, over 15,000 people have had the RNLl's inflatable and rigid inflatable lifeboats to thank for their survival. While we are in the realm of statistics, you will be interested to hear that our lifeboats launched 3,706 times on service last year. This was our third busiest peacetime year. It is worth noting that 1987 saw a 27 per cent increase in lifeboat services rendered to the commercial sector compared to 1986, and an 80 per cent increase compared to the figure of ten years ago." Although lifeboats responded most frequently to pleasure craft in 1987, the figures showed that the RNLI continues to give valuable service to those who earn their living from the sea, as well as those who use it for recreation, he said.

Launches to windsurfers were down for the second successive year, suggesting that possibly the sport was beginning to come to terms with the business of self-preservation.

"The growing complexities of running modern lifeboats and our modern service are experienced no more keenly than at lifeboat stations themselves. Our operations staff recognise that there is now so much with which to become acquainted and to this end they have extended the training available to personnel." New Lifeboat The chairman stressed the importance of close co-operation between headquarters and the coast, particularly in the development of a new class of lifeboat and said he was delighted to announce that the prototype fast carriage boat had now proved herself as a lifeboat to the satisfaction of the Institution's technicians, operational staff and, most importantly, those lifeboatmen who have taken her to sea during her trials.

She has toured the east and west coasts of England and Wales and has performed admirably in extreme weather, including an outing in seas whipped by last October's hurricane, he said.

Her next assignment would be a period of extensive evaluation in a station role at Hastings. Meanwhile, another aluminium hulled version, modified from the prototype, together with a third boat of the class, built with a fibre reinforced plastic hull, are in the water and undergoing parallel trials.

During the year four Arun and nine Tyne class lifeboats were completed and entered service, providing a substantial amount of work for British and Irish boatyards. Orders for ten new allweather lifeboats were placed in the year to maintain the momentum of the current boat building programme, which will be further boosted once the FCB goes into full production.

Inflatable Lifeboats "Building figures are just as impressive for inflatable and rigid inflatable lifeboats.

Three new Atlantic 21s, two C class and twenty-one D class were completed last year and work began on twenty-nine more lifeboats of these three classes. And, of course, research and development is constantly in progress in the field of lifeboats under ten metres. With a view to providing better crew protection and more equipment, the staff at our Cowes base have been looking into a second generation of larger rigid inflatable lifeboats.

Our design team are also now in a position to re-direct their attention to the Medina project. With the emergence of the fast carriage lifeboat, we are able more precisely to pinpoint our requirements for a large rigid hulled inflatable. In the light of earlier lessons learned and through collaboration with our Dutch and Canadian colleagues, a conceptual study is now under way on the revised design of an all-weather Medina to suit our future requirements. " Three new launching tractors were allocated during 1987, two slipway stations were installed with hydraulic winches and work began on the construction of a prototype watertight wheeled towing vehicle for launching and recovering lifeboats under ten metres.The RNLI's lifeboat fleet of boats over ten metres is being fitted with multichannel VHF equipment and 60 such sets were installed during the year.

In addition, 130 stations have now been equipped with bleeper call-out systems.

"/ hope you can begin to see rhat the hardware of the RNLl is nor exclusively lifeboats. Donors and fund raisers who are able to fund whole lifeboats are, of course, of extreme value to the Institution.

Rut so, too, are those who make other items of equipment their goal. Paying for a launching tractor or a radar set or an item of lifeboatman 's protective clothing is providing something just as essential. " During 1987 the RNLI's capital spend was £10.7 million, which represents over 36 per cent of total expenditure, the highest proportion ever shown.

Costs contained "This is a very healthy sign. It means, so long as we continue to spend our money judiciously on equipment which is put to good use, that we are doing our unnosi to use contributors' monev on keeping the lifeboat service bang up to date . . . It is encouraging that for yet another year, administration and fund raising costs, the two slices of the fund raising cake upon which everyone keeps a weather eye, have yet further diminished as a percentage of the whole." Despite the post Black Monday vagaries of the Stock Exchange, the RNLI's investment income once again more than covered the Institution's administration expenditure and, overall, another successful year in 1987 allowed income to exceed expenditure with £3.7 million being transferred to the free reserves, currently representing 40 weeks" running costs of the service.

"The direct results of our fund raisers' efforts have shown an encouraging increase of 13 per cent over the previous year, but it is legacies, the more delayed fruits of their labours, which have once again guaranteed our financial welt being.

I should here introduce a note of caution, however. Although legacy income rose from £17 million in 1986 to nearly £22 million in 1987, the actual number of wills including the RNLl remained the same as the previous year. This levelling out follows a period of years when the quantity of wills in our favour increased steadily. I ought also to point out that 1987 saw our largest ever single bequest of almost £4 million.

We are also very grateful for the legacy which has helped to fund the Tyne class lifeboat soon to go on station at Douglas, Isle of Man, enabling the Institution to name the boat after the RNLl's founder, Sir William Hillary, one of Douglas's most famous inhabitants. And while on the subject of historic names, may I take this opportunity to remind you that we are currently campaigning to raise money for a new lifeboat at North Sunderland to bear the name Grace Darling in this, the /50th anniversary of her famous rescue." New directorate Reporting on the success of the 15th International Lifeboat Conference at La Coruna, Spain last June, the chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr Ole Friele, chairman and Admiral Gustav Steimler, director of the Norwegian lifeboat service, which will be hosting the 1991 conference.

The Duke referred with sadness to the death in February of his predecessor as chairman. Major General Ralph Farrant and asked those present also to remember Lieutenant Commander the Honourable Greville Howard, a life vice-president, who died in September 1987.

New members of the committee of management were welcomed, together with the Institution's new director and deputy director. Lt Cmdr Brian Miles and Mr Ray Kipling, whose appointments followed the retirement in December last year of Rear Admiral W J Graham, director for more than eight years.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS The usual air of expectancy filled the Royal Festival Hall for the afternoon presentation of awards, when HRH Princess Alexandra was the guest of honour.

With 11 lifeboatmen waiting to receive medals for acts of gallantry during 1987, it was appropriate that the chairman of the RNLl, the Duke of Atholl, should stress in his opening address the importance of the Institution's principal purpose, the saving of life at sea.

~T sometimes view the RNLl as a pyramid. Its broad base represents you the branches and guilds who raised the funds so effectively. Then as the structure narrows towards the top we see the 203 lifeboat stations and all the people associated with them. Finally, at the tip we have the single aim towards which we all work: the saving of life at sea. If the ancient pyramids of Egypt are anything to go by.

it is a very sound structure and one which will rake some shifting.

The hurricane which hit the south coast last October had a fair attempt at providing the force required. When the Dover lifeboat slipped her mooring that night, 50 ton stone blocks were being lorn from the harbour breakwaters and winds of force 16 and 17 were being recorded. We are privileged to have with us this afternoon the crew of thai lifeboat together with the coxswains of Sheerness and Weymouth lifeboats who also braved the great storm and came back with survivors.

Two other men are shortly to receive gallantry medals. They are Helmsman Keith Horrocks and Philip Denham of Blackpool who took command of the town's two D class inflatable lifeboats in January this year to search for sun-ivors in ten foot waves off the beach. This service was an exceptional example of the work our inflatable lifeboats have been undertaking since they were first introduced 25 years ago. In that time over 15,000 lives have been saved by these craft or, to put it another way, the equivalent of five times the number of people in this hall." The 1,474 lives saved during 1987 represented four lives saved daily throughout the year, he said."Four people who would otherwise be dead, leaving families, friends and workmates to grieve. It is the most important figure I can give you this afternoon, the most heartening and a wonderful tribute to every lifeboat crew member." The programme of new lifeboat building outlined at the annual meeting together with the untiring efforts of fund raisers and the marvellous support from trusts, individual donors and legacies, which had helped to achieve an income of more than £34 million for the year, meant that the RNLl remained in good shape, he said. However, the chairman did add a note of caution.

"We are heavily dependent on legacies and indeed, last year, received our largest ever single bequest of almost £4 million.

However, the number of legacies received bv the RNLJ has levelled out and we must redouble our efforts in other fields of fund raising to ensure a healthy future." During 1987 the Institution had been able to maintain its high level of expenditure on new lifeboats and new equipment, largely due to supporters' generosity and the hard work of volunteer fund raisers.

"One new Tyne class lifeboat which is currently under construction and destined for our relief fleet is, I hope, going to be of particular interest to the majority of people here today. She is the boat towards which the remarkable £287,000 raised by the Volvo car draws will go and which will bear the name Voluntary Worker. The name is in honour of our volunteers, particularly the fund raisers on whom the lifeboat service depends. As you follow her fortunes round the coast, I hope you will be reminded of how much your efforts are appreciated." The chairman reminded those present that as well as 1988 being the 25th anniversary of inflatable lifeboats, it also marked the 150th year since GraceDarling's famous rescue off the Northumberland coast.

"We are hoping thai her siory will inspire many people all over the country.

particularly young people, 10 raise extra funds for a new lifeboat for North Sunderland, close to the Farne Islands where her rescue look place.

One way of finding out how far we have come since Grace Darling's lime is to pay a visit to the RNLI hedquarters during this year's open days on July 29 and 30. A further opportunity presents itself a week earlier on July 23 when the base at Cowes on the Isle of Wight opens its doors to the public for the first time. I know that our new director. Cdr Brian Miles and his staff will do their utmost to make you welcome on both occasions." Finally, in welcoming the Institution's guest of honour, the Duke commented: "I do not believe we could have a more welcome member of the Royal Family to present the awards. Although this is the first lime you have joined us in the Royal Festival Hall, your Highness, you are no stranger to the RNLl. We are delighted to have you as our guest." Before presenting the awards. Princess Alexandra commented on how pleased she was to join this annual gathering . . .

". . . when it is customary lo pay special tribute to those members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution whose achievements during the year have been particularly outstanding.

Our country has very good cause to be proud of the work of the RNLI, and everyone applauds the bravery and selfless devotion to duty of the gallant lifeboat crews who never fail to answer a call for help from a ship in distress. Nonetheless, it should never be forgotten that it is only because of the tireless efforts of a great band of loyal supporters that they can continue to carry out their vital humanitarian work.

The RNLI is indeed a unique institution, made up of so many people, each playing a different role, but all working with the single aim of saving life at sea." She then made the following presentations: Coxswain/Mechanic Robin Castle, Sheerness. bronze medal During the infamous hurricane which hit southern England on October 16, 1987, the Sheerness Waveney class lifeboat Helen Turnbull rescued two anglers. The coxswain steered the lifeboat through 25 foot waves and 90 knot winds to reach the anglers' boat which was anchored and slowly sinking in shallow water. The survivors were hauled aboard and as the lifeboat manoeuvred clear a strong gust caught her and her stern was driven aground. For nearly II hours the lifeboat remained stranded until the next tide refloated her and she was able to return to station. (Full report, page 225, THE LIFEBOAT, Winter 1987/88.) Coxswain/Mechanic Derek Sargent, Weymouth, bronze medal On October 16, 1987, the radio operator on board the catamaran Sunbeam Chaser requested that five members of the crew be taken off. The 54ft Arun class lifeboat Tony Vandervell forged through a storm force 10 to reach the catamaran, suffering minor damage on the way. Coxswain Sargent made two runs alongside the corkscrewing catamaran to rescue the five crew. The skipper, who would not acknowledge the lifeboat, veered away every time she approached but the lifeboat finally succeeded in taking off the crew. (Full report, page 263, THE LIFEBOAT, Spring 1988.)Helmsman Keith Horrocks, Blackpool, bronze medal; Helmsman Philip Denham, Blackpool, bronze medal On January 6, 1988. Blackpool's two 16ft D class inflatable lifeboats were called out to assist a small vessel which had fired a flare and another which had capsized in violently broken seas. Conditions were at the limit of both lifeboats" operating capability and one man. found floating face down, was resuscitated but was dead on arrival at hospital. Another was rescued from the craft which was about to capsize in the surf and both lifeboats searched in atrocious conditions for a third man.

(Full report, page 297, in this issue.) Acting Coxswain Roy Couzens, Dover, silver medal; Acting Assistant Mechanic/ Emergency Coxswain Michael Abbott, Crew Members Geoffrey Buckland, Dominic McHugh, Christopher Ryan, Robert Bruce, Eric Tanner, bronze medals On October 16, 1987, the 50ft Thames class lifeboat Rotary Service launched into 20ft waves and winds registering force 16-17 to rescue three crew members from the sinking cargo ship Sumnia. which had been driven against the Admiralty Pier and was pinned against the western end of the southern breakwater. Acting Coxswain Roy Couzens took the lifeboat very close to the breakwater to rescue two men who had been washed overboard.

The vessel began to sink and the lifeboat searched for the other four crew members with huge seas engulfing her.

At one stage the lifeboat fell off a 60ft wave and the acting coxswain was thrown heavily against the controls. A further survivor was rescued from the water and resuscitated. The acting coxswain became ill, later suffering a a heart attack and the emergency coxswain took over. (Full report, page 261, THE LIFEBOAT, Spring 1988.) Honorary Life Governor Mr F C Seager, MBE Founder member of Reigale and Redhill branch 1953, chairman 1957 to 1982, president since 1982: awarded statuette 1968, silver badge 1973, gold badge 1982.

Bar to Gold Badge Colonel G A Jackson, OBE. TD, DL Honorary treasurer Angle branch 1956 to 1987, chairman since 1986; awarded silver badge 1969. gold badge 1981.

Gold Badge Mrs E Meadowcroft Honorary secretary Havdock branch since 1962; awarded silver badge 1974.

Mrs J R MacArthur Honorary secretary Upton Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1961, collector since 1952; awarded silver badge 1976.

Mrs C W M Wright Honorary secretary West Derby Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1962; awarded silver badge 1973.Mrs D Kirksop Chairman Cullercoats and Whitley Bay Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1964; awarded silver badge 1977.

Mrs M J Cochrane Honorary treasurer Selby Ladies' Lifeboat Guild since 1963; awarded silver badge 1976.

Mrs M Joice Honorary secretary Old Fakenham branch 1955 to 1979, honorary secretary Dereham and District branch 1979 to 1980, president since 1980; awarded silver badge 1966.

Mrs M Berry Committee member Falmouth Ladies' Lifeboat Guild 1959 to 1961, honorary secretary 1961 to 1973, chairman since 1973; awarded silver badge 1973.

Mrs J Daniel Committee member St Ives Ladies' Lifeboat Guild 1948 to 1967, honorary secretary 1967 to 1982, chairman since 1982; awarded silver badge 1974.

Lt Col G P D Pease, RM, (Rtd) Chairman Slough branch 1962 to 1973, chairman and flag week organiser Pangbourne branch since 1974; awarded silver badge 1977.

Lady Tollemache Honorary secretary Petersfield branch 1968 to 1971, chairman 1971 to 1974, president since 1974; awarded statuette 1977.

Mrs A Smart Lifeboat week organiser and public relations officer Crouch End branch 1963 to 1969, committee member Hornsey branch 1963 to 1969, honorary secretary 1969 to 1979, honorary secretary Totteridge branch 1979 to 1983, committee member Tenterden branch 1984 to 1985, honorary secretary Biddenden, Headcorn and district branch since 1985; awarded silver badge 1976.

Mr R Hayes Chairman of Seaford branch since 1962; awarded silver badge 1976.

Mrs M Wood Souvenir and gift secretary Selsey and District branch since 1956; awarded silver badge 1972.

Mrs J Kenney Chairman of Hornsey branch 1967 to 1976, honorary treasurer Totteridge branch since 1978; awarded silver badge 1976.

Mr G G P Gardiner Honorary treasurer Helensburgh guild and financial branch 1952 to 1965, honorary treasurer guild and station branch 1965 to 1986; awarded statuette 1968, silver badge 1982.

Dr R M Yule Chairman of Silloth branch since 1963, honorary medical advisor 1967 to 1986.

Dr R Carr MB, BS, oobst, RCOC, DCH, FRCGP Honorary secretary Blyth station branch since 1967, honorary medical advisor since 1965; awarded barometer 1979.

Mr W D Stoney Honorary secretary Mablethorpe station branch since 1965; awarded binoculars 1980.

Mr K Middlemiss Honorary secretary Tynemouth station branch since 1964; awarded binoculars 1978.

Mr A G L Hardy Assistant honorary secretary Swanage branch 1959 to 1971, deputy launching authority 1971 to 1986, station honorary secretary since 1986; awarded silver badge 1978.

The following awardees were unable to attend at the Royal Festival Hall, but will receive their awards locally: Honorary Life Governor Miss V Hooper Committee member Barmouth Ladies' Lifeboat Guild 1948 to 1952 and 1968 to 1972, assistant honorary secretary 1952 to 1955, honorary secretary 1955 to 1968, president since 1972; awarded silver badge 1963, gold badge 1976, bar to gold badge 1982.

Bar to Gold Badge Mrs I Griffiths Vice president of St David's Ladies' Lifeboat Guild 1957 to 1980, president since 1980; awarded silver badge 1965, gold badge 1983.

Gold Badge Captain J F Kersley Honorary secretary Queensferry station branch since 1967; awarded binoculars 1978.

In proposing a vote of thanks to the Princess, broadcaster Mr Raymond Baxter, a vice president of the Institution and chairman of the public relations committee, recalled an incident earlier in the afternoon when the public address system had relayed the noise of an electronic bleeper during the Duke of Atholl's address.

"Life, they say, is full of its little uncertainties and that is as true of life in the RNLI as it is anywhere, as you chairman were reminded at the start of these proceedings when you were interrupted by a bleeper. You are by no means the first person in this hall. Sir, to have been interrupted by a bleeper, and I have no doubt that you will not be the last. I can imagine no accident more relevant to the uncertainties of life in the RNLI.The station honorary secretary, for example, can never be certain when he authorises a launch, just how long the boat will be at sea, and therefore the coxswain's wife can never be certain whether to put his abandoned lunch back into the oven or give it to the cat!The chief technical officer, even, can never be certain just how fast a new lifeboat will go until she has been timed at sea. And even the chairman of the finance committee cannot be certain just what the Stock Exchange will be up to next week, although if you look at our investment figures you will agree that his guess is better than most.

Indeed, the only person in the whole of the RNLI who at this moment can be absolutely certain of something is myself.

And I say that in all humility because the certainty of which I am so confident is that the motion which it is my privilege to put to this meeting will be carried nem con and with acclaim. Quite simply, it is something which everybody here would like to say for themselves and that is, thank you, Your Royal Highness, for gracing us with your presence here this afternoon.

I know I speak for us all when I assure you how much the Institution appreciates the continuous and unfailing support of members of the Royal Family which we have enjoyed since the granting of our first Royal Charter more than 160 years ago.

But even that is something which we must never ever take for granted. Today, as you have heard, we can look back on a year of which the RNLI as a whole may be proud.

Your presence, your delightful address and the charming manner with which you presented our awards have crowned that year and we are truly grateful. But let no one take for granted the automatic continuation of that successful year. We live in times of dramatic change, not only in technology and the economy, but in policies and attitudes, and a vast range of aspects, all of which are relevant to our RNLI affairs.

New challenges must be met and difficult decisions made as we were reminded at the govenors meeting this morning.

Whether we like it or not an element of keen professional competition has entered the realms of charity and since, to use the time honoured phrase, we are supported entirely by voluntary contribution, we must ensure our ability and renew our determination to retain our proud and unique position, and to be worthy of it in every way. And that is why, Your Royal Highness, your support and that of so many members of your family is to us, as it always has been, quite simply and quite literally beyond price.".