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Around and about the RNLI A swarm of Flying Bs The names of the prize winners in the 49th national lottery were pulled from the drum at the Poole headquarters on 30 April by members of the Bentley Drivers' Club.

The 2,000 members of the Club throughout the world share a love of 'the marque', both in driving and in many cases lovingly restoring the older cars. Between 30 and 40 Bentleys were in Poole on the day of the draw, spanning the years from 1925 to the latest 1990 model.

The visit to RNLI headquarters had been organised by Bentley Drivers Club member Robert Warner, who is also a dedicated lifeboat supporter.

The draw was supervised by Mr Anthony Oliver, national fund raising co-ordinator, and the prize winners were: £2,000 - B. Masters, Reading, Berkshire.

£1,000 - R.E. Duncan, Bangor, Co Down.

£500 - H. Robertson, Glasgow, Scotland.

£250 - Mrs M Bwye, Sandy, Beds.

£100 - J. Dugdale, Newtown, Powys; W..D. Patrick, Isle of Cumbrae, Ayrshire; Ms E.P. Brown, Cramlington, Northum-berland; Mrs S. Woodford, Sawbridgeworth, Herts; Mr & Mrs A.S.M. Rendall, Alton, Hants; Mrs L. Vidot, Eastwood, Notts; L. Floyd, Dorking, Surrey; P. Lynch, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.

£50 - J.C. Fleck, Slough, Berks; B.E.N. Parker, Broadstone, Dorset; J.R. Allan, Harrogate, North Yorkshire; Mrs V. Gascoine, Ashford, Kent; P.S. Butler, Hall Green, Birmingham; A.G. Thomas, Crosskeys, Gwent; J.E. Lewis, Rufforth, York; J.T.

Woolnough, Wokingham, Berkshire. The train took the strain - again For the second year running British Rail generously provided free travel by train for the medallists and their wives who attended the annual presentation of awards ceremony in London on 22 May.

Free travel was also provided for the winner of the Storm Force competition and her family who attended the meetings. Long Service Awards The Long Service Badge for crew members and shore helpers who have given active service for 20 years or more has been awarded to: Arklow - Coxswain S. Dixon, Mechanic C. Gaffney, Emergency Mechanic G.

White, Crew Member B. Riley, Crew Member T. O'Leary Barrow - Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic A. Moore, Crew Member P.

Cochrane Harwich - Assistant Mechanic R.

Ramplin Largs - Crew Member D. Hewitt, Crew Member S. Smith Minehead - Crew Member C. Rundle Mudeford - Shore Helper J. Graham Ramsgate - Emergency Mechanic D.

Cooper, Crew Member M.J. Pett Sennen Cove - Crew Member P. Shannon Silloth - Shore Helper J. Graham St Agnes - Crew Member P.O. Bliss Tenby - Second Coxswain R.S. Young, Mechanic C.H. Crockford, Crew Member S. Lewis, Crew Member W.R. James Wells - Shore Attendant S.A. Parsons, Shore Helper S.A. Frary Whitby - Crew Member B. Hodgson Author of pilot books dies Malcolm Robson, the author of many pilot books well-known to yachtsmen and other seafarers, died on 22 March 1990.

Long connected with the sea and yachts, and the only non Sark-born licenced pilot for Sark waters he always had the RNLI close to his heart and had donated the royalties from early editions of his Channel Islands Pilot to the Institution. He was also a Life Governor of the RNLI.

He was buried at sea from the St Peter Port lifeboat by his own wish. President visits Barrow lifeboat station HRH The Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI visited Barrow lifeboat station, Roa Island, on 4 April.

The Duke was met by the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Major Sir Charles Graham who presented the local MP and RNLI chief of operations Commodore George Cooper.

Inside the boat house His Royal Highness met officials at the station, including chairman Mr K. Braithwaite, honorary secretary Captain A. Acourt and deputy launching authority and former coxswain Mr A. Benson.

Mr and Mrs J. Bibby the donors of Barrow's current lifeboat, the Tyne class James Bibby, were also introduced to the Duke.

Following the visit to the boat house the Duke of Kent was able to meet informally the lifeboat crew and their families, shore helpers and fundraisers at tea in the nearby Boat Club.

On Station The following lifeboats have taken up station and relief fleet duties: OVER 10 METRES Sunderland - Waveney 44-017 (ON 1043) Wavy Line on 17 April 1990.

Ramsgate - Tyne 47-036 (ON 1154) Kenneth Thelwall II on 27 April 1990.

UNDER 10 METRES Helensburgh - B581 Andrew Mason on 26 February 1990.

Marazion - D292 (relief) on 28 April 1990 for one season's operational evaluation.

Abersoch - B582 Borough ofSolihull on 30 April 1990.

Courtown - D333 (relief) on 15 May 1990 on a summer-only basis. Death of donor of three lifeboats Mrs Ann Ritchie, one of the RNLI's major benefactors, died at her home on the Isle of Man on 16 April aged 84.

Mrs Ritchie had funded three lifeboats since 1970, two on her adopted Isle of Man and a third in Scotland where she and her late husband had often enjoyed sailing.

At the time of her death she was President of Ramsey station branch and had been made an Honourary Life Governor of the RNLI in 1980.

Born in Wales the daughter of a coal miner she went to the Isle of Man in the late 1930s and became interested in the work of the RNLI in 1968 on the death of her husband who had planned to purchase a lifeboat but died before he could see his plans brought to fruition.

The first lifeboat to be funded by Mrs Ritchie was named James Ball Ritchie after her husband and went on station at Ramsey.

Ramsey's new lifeboat is due in early 1991 and will be named James and Ann Ritchie in honour of Mrs Ritchie and her husband..