Thurso- Arun class The Queen Mother On Wednesday 9 August Thurso's new Arun class lifeboat The Queen Mother was overshadowed by the presence at Scrabster Harbour of her namesake, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who had so graciously granted her approval to the name of the lifeboat and who was on hand officially to bestow that name on her.

Gusty winds and showers of rain which had threatened the ladies' finery had given way to calmer, drier conditions as the fleet of buses ferried guests from neighbouring Thurso to witness and participate in the unique occasion.

The Salvation Army and Bettyhill and District Pipe Bands' music added to the air of expectancy and excitement as representatives of youth organisations, dignitaries, a piper and the platform party took up their positions before the Royal Standard was unfurled and the broadest possible canvas of the lifeboat family completed with the arrival of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the guest of honour.

Her Majesty was welcomed formally by Mr Hugh Shaw, chairman of Thurso station branch, and the donor of the lifeboat was represented by Sir Charles McGrigor, Convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council and a deputy chairman of the RNLI.

Mr Michael Vernon, chairman of the RNLI, then delivered the lifeboat into the care of Thurso station, on whose behalf it was accepted by Mr George Gibson, the station's honorary secretary.

Following the service of dedication, conducted by the Reverend Johnstone and assisted by Mr Dickie, Superintendent of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, Her Majesty was invited to name the lifeboat.

The pleasure of the RNLI's Royal patron in naming the lifeboat was brought to the gathering's attention, as was another sadder anniversary, when, 19 years ago to the day, she had unveiled the memorial to the Longhope lifeboatmen who had tragically lost their lives. With a tribute to lifeboat crews, their wives and all voluntary supporters Her Majesty came to the climax of the occasion, when the bottle dropped to the foredeck of the lifeboat, champagne drenched her bow and three hearty cheers echoed around Scrabster.

The formal proceedings at the harbour completed, Her Majesty boarded the lifeboat for a short trip in a choppy Pentland Firth, followed closely by Longhope's Tyne classlifeboat, which was also present.

The remainder of the invited guests returned to Thurso where they were later joined by Her Majesty to enjoy light refreshments.

The christening cake was cut and a presentation of lobsters made to Her Majesty by Coxswain Farquhar. A paperweight was presented to Mrs Farquhar by the company secretary of Caithness Glass, part of a special set produced for members of the lifeboat crew to commemorate the occasion, and finally Her Majesty met many of those assembled in the hall before returning to her Caithness home at the end of a memorable day for the RNLI and for Thurso lifeboat station in particular.

St Davids -Tyne class Garside There can be few finer locations for a lifeboat naming ceremony than the natural theatre of St Justinian, Dyfed, and it was here on a warm 2 June that His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent was to name the St Davids 47ft Tyne class lifeboat Garside.

More than 1,000 guests, residents and visitors lined the cliffside overlooking the lifeboat station and narrow cove. From the moment the Duke arrived the ceremony moved like clockwork, making it a day to remember in the long history of St Davids and its 120-year-old lifeboat station.

The royal visitor was greeted by a guard of honour formed by local youth groups, before being welcomed by officials at the steps leading down to the boathouse and, after meeting Coxswain David Chant, his crew and launchers, the Duke took his place on the platform.

The sun shone as the last notes of the national anthem echoed through Ramsey Sound and Dr George Middleton, president of the St Davids station, stepped forward to welcome all the guests to what THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL of 1877 had described as 'a wild and woolly part of the coast'.

He introduced Mr Bryan Holmes, executor of the wills of the late Thomas Harold and Miss Dorothy Garside, whose generous bequests had funded the new lifeboat. Although the brother and sister had lived for 70 years more than 700ft above sea-level at Elland, Yorkshire, they had long admired the courage and fortitude of lifeboat crews.

Accepting the lifeboat for the Institution, Mr Raymond Cory, deputy chairman of the RNLI, paid tribute to the donors and stressed the importance of public generosity and goodwill and the support of lifeboat wives and families.

The lifeboat was passed into the safe-keeping of Mr Des Hampson, honorary secretary of the station, who spoke of the proud traditionof sea rescue on a treacherous coast and pledged that such a tradition would now continue into the 21st century, thanks to the provision of the new lifeboat.

A service of dedication followed, led by The Most Reverend George Noakes, Dean of St Davids, assisted by other local clergy.

Commander Bart Groves, station chairman, invited the Duke of Kent to name the lifeboat, and the Duke spoke of the special pleasure it gave him to be in St Davids, almost 25 years to the day after his mother, Princess Marina, had come to name an earlier lifeboat. There could be no better way, he said, of repaying the Garside family for their gift than by naming the lifeboat Garside after them.

As champagne cascaded over the bow, the 'pin' was knocked out by Dewi Roylands, a launcher for 35 years, brought out of retirement especially for the occasion. Garside slid into the water and was put through her paces as a helicopter from RAF Brawdy swept into view, dipping an RNLI flag in salute.Whltby - Tyne class City of SheffieldThe sunniest and hottest July for decades came to an end on 28 July 1989, the day of the naming of Whitby's new Tyne class by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.

Although the clouds seemed threatening at times, they all cleared to give a bright, sunny afternoon.

The day was a true Yorkshire occasion, involving a Yorkshire city and a Yorkshire lifeboat station and town coming together to greet Her Royal Highness, who had spent many happy days as a child holidaying in the area, her family's home being not too far away across the moors.

In welcoming everyone, Mr Jim Hall, station chairman, expressed delight at the large contingent from Sheffield which included Mr Arthur Thompson, chairman of the Sheffield Appeal Committee. Presenting the lifeboat to the RNLI Mr Thompson said the appeal illustrated the hard work undertaken so willingly by the young and old, by pubs and clubs, by large and small groups, plus many individual efforts and projects which had resulted in raising more than £435,000 to fund the new lifeboat.

The chairman of the RNLI, Mr Michael Vernon, in accepting the lifeboat, paid tribute to all who had contributed and in passing the lifeboat into the care of Whitby station touched on the proud tradition of Whitby crews, and that this tradition was in safe hands with the present crew.

Mr Les Heath, station honorary secretary, accepted the lifeboat and told the gathering of the 24 services already carried out, which had resulted in 11 lives being saved.

Mrs Rita White, chairman of Whitby Ladies' guild, thanked everyone concerned in helping to make the day a success, and the Rector of Whitby, and Lifeboat Chaplain, Reverend Ben Hopkinson, led the service of dedication assisted by The Very Reverend Monsignor Anthony Bickerstaff, representing the Roman Catholic Church and The Reverend Alan Niel, chairman of the Free Church Federal Council. During the service the Bishop of Whitby, the Right Reverend Gordon Bates, dedicated the lifeboat and her crew.

The Marquis of Normandy, life vice-president of the RNLI and president of Whitby station, then invited Her Royal Highness to name the lifeboat. Her Royal Highness made reference to her happy memories of the area and to her visit 15 years ago to name the previous lifeboat. In naming the lifeboat City of Sheffield Her Royal Highness thanked the people of Sheffield and hoped the bond between the city and Whitby would grow even stronger.

A short trip to sea followed, with Coxswain Peter Thomson introducing his crew while Her Royal Highness steered the lifeboat towards the area of her childhood visits.

A reception concluded a magnificent day, with crew families, Whitby station and guild officials, members of the Sheffield Appeal Committee and other branches and guilds in Yorkshire joining Her Royal Highness for an informal tea.

BS- Arun class Murray Lornie The small but busy fishing port of Lochinver, in the far north west of Scotland was the destination of a broad cross-section of lifeboat friends and supporters on Friday 25 August 1989, including some from the Channel Islands who had been associated with the funding of the new Arun class lifeboat which was formally to be named.

The involvement of the whole community and support from a 30-mile wide area resulted in a colourful and spectacular occasion.

Chairs came from far afield, bands gathered from distant parts to augment the residential pipe band, households gave up their tubs of flowers to decorate the site for the day, and well-wishers and benefactors ensured that Sutherland's traditional hospitality would not be found wanting.

Rain clouds were banished for the day as the massed band of pipers welcomed invited guests, who took their seats in the transformed fishmarket where the Inverness Corps of the Salvation Army Band waited to provide the music for the service of dedication.

A lone piper, William McLeod, led the platform party to their places for the chairman of Lochinver station branch, Mr Alex Strachan, to open the proceedings.

Mr Richard Falle, representing the Ben Vorlich Trust which had substantially funded the lifeboat, delivered her to the RNLI, with Sir Charles McGrigor accepting the lifeboaton behalf of the Institution and delivering her in to the care of the station honorary secretary, Captain Campbell.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Hurst, assisted by the Reverend Tamata, and was entered into with total commitment by all present.

In keeping with the family atmosphere, Mr Maurice Thomas, a son of the donor spoke briefly before pressing the switch to bathe the bow of the lifeboat in champagne as he bestowed her name on her.

Following the traditional courtesy trip afloat, the principal guests joined in light refreshments and witnessed the cutting of the christening cake by Mrs Gudgeon, wife of the coxswain, assisted by Mrs Thomas and Mrs Falle.

The thanks of the station and the RNLI in Scotland go to those good friends whose generosity ensured that a perfect day and a memorable occasion will be long remembered by all present.

KT- Tyne class The All the ingredients for a perfect naming ceremony were present at Salcombe on Monday 12 June as the town's new Tyne class lifeboat gleamed on her mooring in the estuary below the Cliff House Gardens.

The sun shone from a cloudless blue sky, flags decorated the streets and music and goodwill greeted guests arriving from far and wide.

At the start of the ceremony a surprise presentation was made to James Wallbridge, a member of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society, when Mr Graham Newman, a member oft he RNLI's Committee of Management called him forward to receive a framed certificate marking his 100th attendance at a lifeboat christening.

Helen Smith, daughter of coxswain/ mechanic Frank Smith then presented a bouquet to Mrs David Frame, wife of the chairman of the Baltic Exchange, who would later name the lifeboat.

Baltic Exchange II Mr Bill Budgett, chairman and honorary secretary of the Salcombe and Hope Cove branch gave an address, referring to the close association between the station and the Baltic Exchange. Next, Mr David Frame handed the lifeboat over to the RNLI 'with pride and pleasure'.

Mr Newman accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the Institution before delivering her into the care of the Salcombe and Hope Cove station branch, represented by Mr Budgett. A short service of dedication followed, led by Reverend Peter Nock, Methodist Minister (Salcombe and Kingsbridge).

Mr Frame moved forward to name the lifeboat The Baltic Exchange II, and amidst three hearty cheers led by Mr Budgett, the lifeboat sailed past, accompanied by a flotilla of small craft and a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose streaming the RNLI flag.

HD- Mersey class The naming of the RNLI's first Mersey class lifeboat took place at Bridlington in the middle of the June heatwave, with not even an east coast sea fret in sight.

A truly local affair, the boat was funded by a bequest from the late Miss M. Caird of Hull, and many of her friends were present to see Mr Cyril Fincham pass the lifeboat over to the RNLI represented by the director, Lt Cdr Brian Miles, who in turn placed the boat into the care of the Bridlington lifeboat station and its honorary secretary, Tony Edwards - who gave a brief resume of services already carried out.

The service of dedication was led by the Rector of Bridlington, the Reverend John Meek, assisted by the Scarborough Salvation Army Band who also provided music during the proceedings.

Proposing a vote of thanks Miss June Chippindale, chairman and secretary of the Bridlington ladies' guild, paid tribute to many people who helped to make the day a success. Dr Terry Wilson, chairman of the Peggy and Alex Caird station committee, who had chaired the ceremony, then introduced the president of the ladies' guild, Lady Macdonald of Sleat, who named the lifeboat Peggy and Alex Caird.

The bottle of champagne used for the naming was over 100 years old, having been in the family of Mr Tony Ellis, district staff officer HM Coastguard, Humber. The family had been looking for a suitable use for many years and considered this was the most appropriate ocassion. The bottle was left over from a banquet associated with the construction of the Goathland Whitby Railway held at a hotel in Goathland which had been run by the great grandmother of Mr Ellis.

Following the naming, Coxswain Fred Walkington and his crew took Peggy and AlexCaird to sea with the principal guests on board, returning to join all the guests at a reception in the Spa Royal Hall.

A glorious day in June in every sense, closed by an evening disco organised by the- Tyne class Sir William Hillary The name Sir William Hillary and his adopted town of Douglas in the Isle of Man are both dear to the RNLI and its supporters. 21 July 1989 was therefore a very special day, the memory of which will live long for those who were in Douglas to see the naming and dedication of the station's new Tyne class Sir William Hillary, funded by a very generous donation from the Wolfenden Foundation and Mr G.W. Sargeant.

Over five hundred people, headed by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, many distinguished guests, members of the Judiciary and many guests from the Manx lifeboat stations were present and the appreciative crowd joined enthusiastically in the hymn singing, accompanied by the Onchan Silver Band and the Manx Fishermen's Choir.

The ceremony was presided over by the Island's new Bishop, the Right Reverend Noel Jones, who, having spent 28 years as a naval chaplain, remarked that he had' blessed many a boat' in his time, but that it was a pleasure to now dedicate his first lifeboat.

The RNLI's new chairman, Mr Michael Vernon accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the Institution, and the recently retired chairman, His Grace the Duke of Atholl named the boat in the traditional way.

The Sir William Hillary, under the command of Coxswain Robert Corran and his crew, looked magnificent dressed overall in front of the main platform, and immediately after the ceremony a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Valley arrived on cue to welcome the boat to her very important lifesaving work in the Irish Sea in a moving finale to a lovely occasion. Montrose - Tyne class Moonbeam At 1400 on Saturday 1 July 600 attentive guests heard Mrs Sutton say: 'I name this lifeboat Moonbeam. May God bless her and all who sail in her', and saw her flick a switch to shatter a bottle of champagne over the foredeck of the new Tyne class lifeboat on station at Montrose.

This was the climax of a very special day in the history of Montrose lifeboat station - a day which had seen the culmination of much endeavour by many people to present and participate in a ceremony which befitted both the occasion and the donors, Mr and Mrs Sutton of neighbouring Grampian region.

The day had dawned with a threatening, overcast sky but as the day progressed the skies cleared ready for the influx of the 600 guests who took their seats to music from the Montrose Town Band.

The platform party and the ceremony's principal participants were piped to the platform by Mrs Helen Mcdonald and young Craig Cargill, son of the coxswain, presented Mrs Sutton with a photograph of the lifeboat and a souvenir programme.

With Mr Noel Smart in the chair expressing a vote of thanks to the Royal Bank of Scotland, which was sponsoring the occasion, the proceedings were fittingly under- 'taken and, in response to his invitation, Mr Sutton handed the lifeboat over to Mr Archie MacKenzie, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Lifeboat Council.

He in turn delivered the lifeboat to the station on whose behalf she was accepted by Captain McNab, the station honorary secretary.

A vote of thanks was expressed by the guild chairman, Mrs Scott.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Whitley who called upon the whole audience to join him in the dedication of the lifeboat. The busy harbour was hushed as everyone present spoke the words: 'To the honour and glory of Almighty God and for the noble purpose of rescuing those in peril on the sea, we dedicate this lifeboat'.

A solemn moment for everyone, and one which registered meaningfully with a lifeboat community and its supporters as they watched Mrs Sutton descend from the platform and approach the podium on the quayside to name the lifeboat Moonbeam.

Due to the large number of naming and dedication ceremonies held during the summer some reports have been held over to the Winter issue due to lack of space.

Among these are Aldeburgh (D class), Selsey (D class), Peel (Atlantic 21 and Penarth (D class).