Barra Island Arun class Ann Lewis Fraser Barra Island lies at the southern tip of the Western Isles, and the community of Castle Bay is the home of the lifeboat and also the terminal for the ferry which, with the daily air flight, is the lifeline to the mainland for the 4,000 inhabitants - weather conditions permitting.

It was in this remote region that the new Arun class lifeboat had arrived, and which was the scene of her naming and dedication ceremony in the early evening of Wednesday 7 September 1988.

In the shelter of the pier and overlooked by the imposing Kismul Castle Father MacLellan, chairman of the branch, opened the proceedings in the company of a good number of residents, and a delighted party of visitors who had been touring the islands by coach.

Dr K. G. Chrystie, representing the trustees of the Hugh Fraser Foundation which funded the boat, paid tribute to the late Hugh Fraser, and his sister, who instigated the gift and handed the boat over to Sir Charles McGrigor, convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council.

Sir Charles then passed the lifeboat into the care of the Barra Island Branch, on whose behalf she was accepted by George MacLeod, the station honorary secretary. A vote of thanks was given by Mrs MacNeil.

The Islands' strong Gaelic connection was upheld during the service of dedication, conducted by Father MacLellan, with a hymn and the dedication in the traditional language of the islands.

Mrs Mary Chrystie named Ann Lewis Fraser in the usual style before the lifeboat put to sea for a short demonstration.WlCK - Tyne class Norman SalvesenThe North Pier in Wick Harbour suffered from severe traffic congestion on Friday 16 September when some 900 guests from all coiners of Caithness and the neighbouring area arrived for the naming and dedication ceremony of the station's new lifeboat Norman Salvesen.

With Longhope's Tyne class Lord Saltoun (named just two months previously) and Wick's departing Oakley Princess Marina also on hand the ceremony started with the branch chairman, Mr Noss Clyne, inviting Mrs Bright Gordon MBE, niece of the lateNorman Salvesen, to hand the new lifeboat over to His Grace the Duke of Atholl, the chairman of the RNLI.

In turn the Duke of Atholl handed Norman Salvesen into the care of the Wick branch, represented at the ceremony by Bill Stewart, the station honorary secretary.

The service of dedication was then led by the Reverend W. Wallice, with support of the Wick Salvation Army, and the guild president Mrs Gilmour expressed a vote of thanks.

Wick's latest Tyne is the first of three new boats funded by a bequest from the late Mrs Mary ('Mickie') Salvesen, described by Mrs Bright Gordon as 'a very private lady'.

'This afternoon,' she said 'culminates the dream of my Aunt Mickie, the donor of the Norman Salvesen lifeboat.' In the six years after her husband Norman died Mickie Salvesen became almost a recluse and was extremely careful about money matters, to the bewilderment of her family.

'Then when the will was published the jigsaw pieces fitted together' said Mrs Gordon.

'For the six years she had been a widow she had been quietly deciding not to whom, but for what, and why she would bequeath her money. How delighted she would be that her saving ways had donated not one, but three lifeboats.' To commemorate the occasion the renowned Caithness glass company had produced engraved bowls which they presented to the namer of the lifeboat and the trustees, and engraved paperweights for the crew of the new boat.Baltimore - Tyne class Hilda Jarrett Baltimore's latest lifeboat, the 47ft Tyne class Hilda Jarrett was officially named and dedicated at a service in the small West Cork village on Saturday, 17 September 1988.

The proceedings were opened by the Very Reverend Father Owen Cashmore, chairman of the station branch, who welcomed the assembled guests and introduced Ray Kipling, the deputy director of the RNLI.

The deputy director handed the new lifeboat into the care of the Baltimore branch, and she was accepted by Richard Bushe, the station honorary secretary, before The Very Reverend Father Owen Cashman of Baltimore, the Reverend R.

E. Bantry-White, the rector of Skibbereen and Baltimore, and the Reverend Father Michael Gargan of Cape Clear conducted the service of dedication and blessing.

After the service Brian O'Flynn, honorary treasurer of the fund raising committee, proposed a vote of thanks, and Mrs Elizabeth Love, wife of Clayton Love Jnr, chairman of the RNLI Ireland Committee, named the lifeboat before Hilda Jarrett slipped her moorings for a short demonstration.Relief Fleet Tyne class Owen and Anne Aisher To say that the weather could have been kinder at the naming and dedication ceremony of Owen and Anne Aisher is to understate the case. Rain was always in the offing, but as the vicious squall, which heralded the onset of torrential rain, swept the RNLI's Poole depot in the middle of the the ceremony it served to remind everyone of real 'lifeboat weather'.

The new Tyne had been funded by Sir Owen Aisher, a well-known yachtsman and for many years the chairman of the Marley Tile Company, and was alongside the depot quay for the ceremony.

Lt Cdr Brian Miles, the director of the RNLI welcomed Sir Owen and Lady Anne Aisher before Sir Owen officially handed the boat over to the Institution.

Deputy chairman of the RNLI Mr Michael Vemon accepted the lifeboat, which joins the relief fleet to serve stations whose lifeboats are undergoing survey or refit.

A service of dedication was led by the Reverend Stanley Holbrooke-Jones, rector of St James' church, Poole, after which Lady Anne released the champagne bottle to bestow the name Owen and Anne Aisher on the new boat.

Despite the appalling conditions several members of Sir Owen and Lady Anne's family were later able to board the new boat for a short trip in the harbour.A new lifeboat joined the relief fleet in Poole on Friday 23 September when the Tyne class Voluntary Worker was named by Mrs Jessie Brown, the honorary secretary of Portaferry ladies lifeboat guild in County Down - representing all those who voluntarily give their time and efforts for the RNLI.

The lifeboat was funded partly from the proceeds of the first part of the two-year Volvo appeal, in which nine Volvo 340DLs were raffled throughout the country, partly from the funds raised by the RNLI's 2,000 branches and guilds (including the special Tesco collections) with the remainder coming from other gifts including one from Mr and Mrs Frank Atkinson who met the cost of the engines.

Mrs Jessie Brown's name was'drawn from a hat' which contained the names of a large number of voluntary workers nominated by branches and guilds throughout the UK and Ireland, to be a representative of the army of hard-working volunteers who had made this lifeboat possible.

On a bright and very blustery day the guests, sheltered by a marquee thoughtfully provided by Volvo, heard Lt Cdr Brian Miles, the director of the RNLI open the proceedings, and Mr Charles Hunter Pease, Sales and Marketing Director of Volvo Concessionaires, hand the new lifeboat over to the RNLI, which was represented by Mr Maldwin Drummond, an RNLI vice president.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend David Price, rector of Wimborne Minster, assisted by the Reverend Father John Mordaunt, parish priest of St Joseph's, Parkstone and the Reverend D.

H. Wrenn, Methodist Minister, Poole.Port Isaac's latest D class inflatable was dedicated and handed over to the station branch in a ceremony which filled the harbour area of the village in fine weather on the afternoon of Sunday 4 September.

The lifeboat was provided by Peter and Mollie Tabor, and after the proceedings had been opened by Surgeon Captain F.

W. Baskerville, president of the station branch. Peter Tabor presented the new boat to the RNLI, which was represented on this occasion by Lt Cdr Jeremy Tetley, a vice president of the Institution.

David Castle, honorary secretary of the Port Isaac station accepted the lifeboat into the station's care, and a service of dedication was led by Father Hugh Fryer, Port Isaac's honorary chaplain, assisted by Methodist minister the Reverend John Young.Kirkwall Arun class Mickie Salvesen The second of three lifeboats funded by the late Mrs Mary ('Mickie') Salvesen was named at Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, on Saturday 20 August by Mickie Salvesen's elder sister Mrs Doris Sutcliffe.

With 500 guests in attendance the ceremony was held on a wet and misty day which relented somewhat as the platform party approached.

Despite the gloom Kirkwall Harbour presented a splendid setting, enhanced by the Orkney Islands Council's total support in providing and presenting the arena.

With Brigadier Robertson,chairman of Kirkwall station branch, in the chair and young Caroline Foulis having presented a posy to Mrs Sutcliffe, Sir Charles McGrigor, Convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council acknowledged the donor's generosity and formally handed the lifeboat over to the station which was represented by the honorary secretary, Captain Bill Spence.

Mrs Macrae, president of Orkney Mainland Ladies' Lifeboat Guild proposed a vote of thanks.

The service of dedication was led by the Reverend Cant, minister of St Magnus Cathedral, with the cathedral's choir and master of music in attendance.

Among the guests were Rear-Admiral Gustav Steimler, Secretary General of Norsk SelskabTill Skibbrudes Redning, the crew of the Norwegian lifeboat Dagflnn Paustsmd members of the Christian Salvesen company and the donor's family.ExmOUth - D class Exmouth's new D class inflatable lifeboat was officially handed over and dedicated at a ceremony held on the slipway near the lifeboat station on Saturday 10 September 1988.

The lifeboat had been provided by the River Exe Watersports Clubs which were represented by Mr Gordon Mortimer, president of the Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club.

Mr Mortimer officially handed over the new boat to the RNLI, represented on this occasion by Captain A. G. McCrum, a member of the Institution's committee of management.

Captain McCrum then gave the boat into the care of Mr Derek Sargeant the station's honorary secretary before the service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Mike Vincer who is the honorary chaplain of the station.West Kirby - D class West Kirby's new D class inflatable was dedicated at the station's lifeboat house at South Parade on Wednesday 18 May 1988.

The lifeboat was funded by a special Crewe Branch appeal, together with a gift in memory of Mr Francis McGrath - and 98-year-old Miss McGrath was among the guests who heard chairman of the Crewe branch Peter Bowman, hand over the lifeboat to the RNLI.

Receiving the new boat on behalf on the Institution Mr H. C. Mounsey TD FCA, a vice president and member of the committee of management, in turn handed the inflatable over to the safekeeping of the West Kirby lifeboat station, represented by honorary secretary Lt Cdr R. H. Jones RNR MBE.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Peris L. Williams, the vicar of Hoylake and lifeboat chaplain, and a vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs Sally Tavener, President of Hoylake ladies lifeboat guild.

Redcar-o class Redcar's new D class lifeboat was officially handed over and dedicated at a ceremony at the lifeboat house on Sunday 11 September.

The boat was funded entirely by Marks and Spencer pic to mark the 25th anniversary of inflatable lifeboats.

The chairman of the station, Mr T. C. Walker, opened the proceedings before Mr T. Mole, manager of the Redcar and Hartlepool Marks and Spencers, officially handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI.

Mr Gilbert Gray QC, a member of the Institution's Committee of Management, accepted the boat on behalf of the RNLI before turning it over to the care of the Redcar station branch, represented by Ian Redman the station honorary secretary.A service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend James Robertson chaplain of Redcar lifeboat station.

Some 40 members of staff from the local Marks and Spencer stores attended the ceremony, and the oldest member of staff at the shops, 70-yearold Rene Hockney, opened a bottle of champagne to wish the new lifeboat and crew good luck.

Llandudno - D class 41 ciub i While much of the rest of the country was suffering from atrocious weather on 17 July 1988, Llandudno was able to welcome representatives from the 41 Club, which had funded the town's new D class lifeboat, in brilliant sunshine.

During a gathering immediately before the ceremony news filtered through that the boat was on stand-by for launching, but in the event all was well and the dedication went ahead as planned on the promenade.

Councillor Russell Gradwell, chairman of the station branch welcomed the guests, and pastpresident of the 41 Club Andy Wallace formally handed over the new inflatable to the RNLI - represented by Peter Williams, the area organiser and instigator of the appeal.

When the lifeboat had been passed into the care of the Llandudno station the Reverend Derek Richards, rector of the parish of Llandudno, conducted a short service of dedication and the lifeboat was launched to give members of the 41 Club an opportunity of sampling a fast inflatable in a choppy sea.Whitby - D class Despite the fog and drizzle rolling down from the Yorkshire Moors, Whitby remained suitably picturesque for the handing over and dedication ceremony of the town's new D class lifeboat on Sunday 23 October.

Mr John Wilson, son of the late Jack Wilson whose bequest funded the lifeboat in memory of his wife Hilda Mary, and all the other guests received a warm welcome from Mr Jim Hall, chairman of the Whitby station.

Gilbert Gray QC accepted the boat from Mr Wilson on behalf of the RNLI and passed her into the care of the Whitby station which was represented by Mr Les Heath, the honorary secretary.

Les Heath was able to recount the services already undertaken by the new lifeboat since her arrival at Whitby before the service of dedication was conducted by the Rector of Whitby, the Reverend Ben Hopkinson. Music was provided by the Marske Fishermen's Choir.

After a vote of thanks from Mrs Rita White, chairman of Whitby's Ladies guild the new boat was launched into an unusually calm harbour.

Torbay-D class The latest D class inflatable to go on station at Torbay was officially handed over and dedicated at a ceremony held at the lifeboat house on Breakwater Hard, Brixham on 8 October 1988.

The cost of the new boat had been met by a bequest of Mrs Dorothy Martin, in memory of her husband Alfred Martin.

Captain Barry Anderson, chairman of the Torbay station branch opened the proceedings and Captain A. G. McCrum, a member of the RNLI committee of management then handed the new lifeboat into the care of Tony Smith, the honorary secretary of the Torbay station.

A short service of dedication was led by the Reverend Edwin Clements, until recently vicar of All Saints, Brixham, assisted by Mr Paul Jarrett, superintendent of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.The handing over and dedication ceremony of the new Sheerness D class inflatable took place at the lifeboat house in Sheerness Docks on Sunday 11 September 1988.

Mr David Carey, Sub Officer of Kensington Fire Station, which had funded the boat, presented her to the RNLI, and Mr Anthony Oliver, head of the fund raising department, formally acceptedthe D class inflatable on behalf of the Institution.

William Patterson, station honorary secretary, then accepted the boat into the station's care and she was dedicated by the Reverend Peter Hapgood Strickland, curate of the parish of Sheerness, before being christened by actress Nerys Hughes.- D class Braemar Pouring rain on the morning of 31 August 1988 did not dampen the enthusiasm of Mablethorpe' s lifeboat supporters as they decorated the lifeboat station and the surrounding area in readiness for the afternoon's dedication of the new D class inflatable, and the official opening of a new extension to the lifeboat house.

Opening the proceedings the chairman of the station, Mr E. R. Stones, welcomed all the guests, and in particular Mr A. Marsh, a director of Braemar Shipbuilders on the Isle of Wight, which had played a large part in the funding of the new boat.

In handing over the boat to the RNLI Mr Marsh reflected that the funding had started as a sponsored slim on his part, which had created so much interest among his friends and colleagues that at the end of the day a donation from his fellow directors at Braemar Shipbuilders had brought the amount up to the total cost of the lifeboat.

Lt Cdr Brian Miles, director of the RNLI, gratefully accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the Institution, before passing her into the care of station honorary secretary Mr W. D. Stoney. Mr Stoney then invited Lt Cdr Miles to open the new extension to the lifeboat house. The boathouse had started life as a beach hut, but after alteration and extensions had become the present very serviceable building.

The dedication ceremony was led by the Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Reverend Robert Hardy, and the new inflatable was then named by Mr Marsh's two young daughters..