This masterpiece of chocolate confectionery floating on a sea of blue icing and donated by Thorntons, was just one of many prizes in a 'short odds' raffle held during the 1989 Lifeboat and Mermaid Ball which was held at the London Hilton last December.

Among the other prizes were a luxury holiday for two in New York, which had been donated by Cooksons America, and a Flyer 5 powerboat donated by Beneteau UK with a Mariner outboard donated by E. P. Barrus and a trailer donated by Bramber The chairman of the ball, Miss Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, said afterwards that the event, which raised some £90,000, 'fully achieved its dual objectives of fund raising and fun raising'! The evening began with a fanfare from the Trumpeters of the Lifeguards and continued with dancing to the Tony Charles Steel Band and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Among the 850 guests were Mr Michael Vernon, Chairman of the RNLI, and Colin Moynihan MP, Minister of Sport.

• Four tickets to the ball were the first prize in the RNLI/MacMillan caption competition, won by David Sharp. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the 1990 MacMillan Nautical Almanac will fund the purchase of a D class inflatable lifeboat..