Naming and dedication Ceremonies - Wells-Next-The-Sea- Mersey Class Doris M Mann of Ampthill It was obvious as dawn broke on a cloudless and sunny summer's day on 17 July that everyone at Wells-next-the-Sea had pulled out all the stops to ensure that the naming of their new Mersey class lifeboat, Doris M.

Mann ofAmpthill, would be remembered for many years to come.

As the waiting chairs began to fill the Fakenham Town Band turned up and Sheringham's Oakley class lifeboat made fast at the quay, soon to be joined by Wells' new Mersey.

Visitors for the ceremony came from far and wide, including Miss Mann's home town of Ampthill in Bedfordshire, branch and guild members from East Anglia and further afield, lifeboatmen representing all the Norfolk stations, a whole crew from Aideburgh and even some from Port St Mary on the Isle of Man.

The guest of honour was HRH the Duchess of Kent, who, after initial introductions, took her seat on the platform ready for the ceremony.

Derek Styman, station branch chairman, opened the proceedings with pleasure at welcoming so many people to Wells on such a special occasion. Executor Anthony Northey then handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI on behalf of the late donor and spoke of Miss Mann' s 60-year association with the RNLI and her ambition to have a lifeboat named after her.

How proud and pleased she would have been, he said, to see the magnificent new Mersey bearing her name at her beloved Wells.

Accepting the lifeboat, Mr Michael Vernon, RNLI chairman, paid tribute to the dedication and enthusiasm of Miss Mann and also thanked the Duchess of Kent for the consistent support she and the Duke give to the Institution.

Station honorary secretary, David Case, gratefully received the lifeboat for use at Wells, offering special thanks for the generosity of Doris Mann, who had been well known in the town.

Peggy Gerken, chairman of the ladies' guild, followed with a bright and comprehensive vote of thanks to the many individuals and organisations who had given time, energy and equipment to make the day so momentous.

The service of dedication was led by the Reverend William Sayer, Rector of St Nicholas Parish Church and lifeboat chaplain, ably assisted by the Reverend John Weaver and Pastor 'Bill' Barton.

At the close of the service, the Duchess of Kent spoke of her pleasure at being back in Norfolk to name a lifeboat funded by an RNLI volunteer and to be manned by the famous Wells crew. With these words, the Duchess named the lifeboat Doris M. Mann of Ampthill and threw the switch to send champagne over the bow.

As the Duchess moved towards the lifeboat a helicopter from RAF Coltishall clattered into view, flying the RNLI flag in salute. Boarding the lifeboat the Duchess met Coxswain Graham Walker and the crew, before taking the helm during a trip up the harbour channel. Afternoon tea and a chance of invited guests to meet the Duchess informally rounded off one of the days of a lifetime for Wells.

RS Withernsea - D class Banks staff n A plague of small corn flies could not dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of Withernsea lifeboat station and their guests for the naming ceremony of their new D class lifeboat Banks Staff II on 28 July 1990.

The lifeboat had been funded from a general appeal to the staff of banks throughout the United Kingdom. Since 1982 the fund has provided three other D class lifeboats, two are stationed at Rhyl and Dunbar and the third is in the relief fleet.

Doctor Tony Fouracre, chairman of Withernsea station branch, opened the proceedings and Mr Richard Barclay, representing the banks' staff, handed over the lifeboat to Mr Gilbert Gray QC, a member of the committee of management.

He in turn passed it into the safekeeping of Mr Barry Brigham. station honorary secretary.

The service of dedication which followed was conducted by the Reverend Philip Addison, assisted by the Reverend Father Peter Egan and Reverend Robert Wakefield.

At the close of the service Mrs Jane Fouracre, president of the Withernsea Ladies' guild, proposed a vote of thanks and Mr Barclay was then invited to name the lifeboat. BS Port Talbot - D class Warwick The new D class lifeboat at Port Talbot was dedicated and named Warwick at a boathouse ceremony on 2 September 1990.

The lifeboat was funded from a special appeal run by the Warwick Ladies' lifeboat guild and was raised by a variety of fund raising events in their own area, many miles from the sea.

Mr Douglas Scott, president of the Port Talbot station opened the proceedings and Mrs Jane Terry, chairman of the Warwick Ladies' lifeboat guild handed the boat to the RNLI on behalf of the guild.

The Institution was represented by Mrs Fay Cori. a member of the RNLI's public relations committee, who passed the boat to the station, represented by the honorary secretary Mr David Aubrey.

The service of dedication followed, led by the Reverend Stephen Barnes, vicar of Aberafan and assisted by the Reverend Alfred Austin of the Methodist Church, and the Right Reverend Monsignor David Bottrill, parish priest of Our Lady of Margam.

After the service the lifeboat was named by Mrs Ann Ainscow, president of the Warwick Ladies' lifeboat guild. Helensburgh-Atlantic 21 Andrew Mason Helensburgh's new Atlantic 21 class lifeboat Andrew Mason was named at a ceremony at Rhu Marina on 27 May 1990.

Dr Peter Campbell, the chairman of the station opened the proceedings by introducing Mrs Janet W. Smith, the donor of the lifeboat, who then handed her over to the RNLI, represented by Mr Archibald MacKenzie, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Scottish LifeboatCouncil. Mr MacKenzie in turn passed her into the care of the station, on whose behalf she was accepted by John Gome, the honorary secretary.

Mrs Muriel Mason then named the lifeboat Andrew Mason before she was launched to give a demonstration. Sunderland - Waveney class Wavy Line A fine drizzle and overcast sky greeted the RNLI's director, Lt Cdr Brian Miles, for the handing over and re-dedication of Wavy Line as the new Sunderland station lifeboat on 7 July 1990.

The Director received a truly warm north-east welcome from Geoff Snowball, chairman of the station, and prior to handing the lifeboat to the station the Director told of the changes and plans the RNLI have in the constant endeavour to give our crews the right boats and equipment. He then passed the boat into the care of Mr Gerry Finn, station honorary secretary.

The Sunderland and Washington Schools' Wind Band, sheltering under umbrellas, accompanied the hymns to the service of rededication led by Reverend Ian McLeod.

Chairman of the Sunderland Ladies' guild, Mrs Irene Snowball, then thanked all who had helped in the organisation of the day. BS Relief - Mersey class Royal Shipwright The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, provided a unique and splendid setting for the naming of the new Mersey class relief lifeboat, Royal Shipwright, by the RNLI's President, HRH The Duke of Kent, on Tuesday, 19 June.

The new lifeboat was funded largely by the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights' Charitable Fund, together with gifts from the Sir John Fisher Foundation, the Moorgate Trust and the generosity of the Company's Liverymen.

Lt Cdr Brian Miles, the RNLI's director, welcomed the President and everyone present including guests representing the donors and voluntary workers in the south London area, who rarely have the chance of attending a lifeboat naming ceremony.

Dr Ewan Corlett, Prime Warden of The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, was to have introduced Graham Newman, instigator of the lifeboat appeal when past Prime Warden (and also chairman of the RNLI's search and rescue committee) who was to have presented the new lifeboat to the Institution.

Sadly, Mr Newman was ill and unable to attend the ceremony, '...without his drive and enthusiasm we would not be here today,' said DrCorlett. However, Mr Michael Eward, another past Prime Warden who had raised £6,000 towards the appeal by running in the London Marathon, stood in for Mr Newman and read out the speech, '...as Graham wrote it'.

'It was two years ago in April, in the Painted Hall,' Mr Newman had written, 'that I declared my intention of starting the appeal.

The Mersey is the latest lifeboat design.

Our lifeboat will relieve all round the coast, and will be seen by more people than a station boat. It is with great pride, on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, that I present this lifeboat to the RNLI'.

Mr Raymond Cory, deputy chairman of the RNLI, accepted the lifeboat with grateful thanks and a short service of dedication followed, led by the Reverend Anthony Ross, Chaplain of the Royal Naval College, and the Reverend Basil Watson, Honorary Chaplain of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent, then named the lifeboat, saying: 'The entire nation owes its gratitude to lifeboat crews and to the fund raisers. The RNLI as a voluntary organisation is almost unique world-wide and can only exist when great organisations like yours support us.' The President then went aboard the lifeboat to meet the crew and take a short trip afloat. HD Redcar - Atlantic 21 Leicester Challenge Preparations on the promenade for greeting the 250 guests for the naming of Redcar's new Atlantic 21 Leicester Challenge were brought to an end as heavy rain swept the east coast on 24 June 1990.

The boathouse however proved the ideal alternative with a viewing balcony and floor space accommodating all guests and interested members of the public.

Mr Arthur Edwards, for the Redcar branch, welcomed everyone and invited Mr John Sutton, chairman of the Leicester branch, to hand over the boat to the RNLI. In doing so Mr Sutton explained how the money had been raised to fund the lifeboat, mostly by involving local schools in sponsored swims and other events.

Accepting the boat on behalf of the Institution, Mr Gilbert Gray QC, a member of the committee of management, thanked all concerned and entertained the guests with a fund of stories on the history of smuggling, wrecking and lifeboat events before passing the boat into the care of Ian Readman, honorary secretary of Redcar lifeboat station.

The station chaplain, Reverend James Robertson, conducted the service of re-dedication and Mrs Margaret Ireland, chairman of Redcar Ladies' guild proposed the vote of thanks.

The lifeboat was then named Leicester Challenge by Mrs Sheila Harrison, honorary secretary of Leicester branch and with the formalities concluded, the boat was launched and put through her paces. BS Abersoch - Atlantic 21 Borough ofSolihull A new Atlantic 21 lifeboat funded by a special appeal launched by the Mayor of the Borough of Solihull, West Midlands, was named and blessed in a special ceremony at Abersoch lifeboat house on 15 September 1990. The full cost of the £42,000 lifeboat was met from donations, money raised from various events and from legacies.

The proceedings were opened by Mr John Gwilym Jones, chairman of the station branch,who introduced Mr George Rawlinson, deputy inspector of lifeboats for the western division who described the lifeboat and the work she performs.

The lifeboat was then presented to the RNLI by Mr Clive Buckley, chairman of the Borough of Solihull lifeboat appeal.

Mr Harry Mounsey, a vice-president of the RNLI, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the Institution and handed it into the care of the station honorary secretary, Captain Pat Grimason.

A service of blessing followed,led by the Reverend William Lloyd Jones, Rector of Llanengan and Lllangian and Rural Dean of Lleyn, assisted by the Reverend Morgan Davies, Presbyterian Minister.

At the close of the service Mrs Doreen Roberts, chairman of the Solihull branch named the lifeboat Borough ofSolihull.

The new lifeboat will maintain Abersoch's link with the Midlands, since the previous lifeboat was funded by the citizens of Wolverhampton. Clacton-Atlantic 21 Institute of London Underwriters Clacton's new Atlantic 21 was dedicated and named at a ceremony held at the boathouse on 16 June 1990.

The cost of the lifeboat had been met by the Institute of London Underwriters, to celebrate 100 years of representing the international company of marine and aviation insurance markets, and the Atlantic carries their name.

The proceedings were opened by Capt J. L.

Dunkley, president of the Clacton-on-Sea branch, who introduced Mr Declan McMahon, chairman of the Institute of London Underwriters.

On behalf of the Institute Mr McMahon handed the Atlantic 21 over to the RNLI, which was represented on this occasion by Mr A. K. S. Franks, a vice president of the Institution and a member of the committee of management. Mr Franks, having gratefully accepted the new lifeboat, then passed her into the care of the Clacton lifeboat station on whose behalf she was received by Mr R. D. Smith the honorary secretary. Following a short service of dedication led by the Reverend A. I. Paget, who is both chairman and chaplain of the station and vicar of St Bartholomews, the lifeboat was named by Mrs Avril McMahon and then launched for a short demonstration. Margate D class rtgger A new D class inshore lifeboat generously provided by Mr John Davenport from Surrey was presented to the RNLI at Margate on 6 July 1990.

Mr Frederick Howland, chairman of the Margate station branch welcomed guests and introduced Mr Davenport who formally presented the lifeboat to Mr Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fund raising and marketing.

He in turn delivered the boat into the care of Mr Alan Wear, the station honorary secretary.

The service of dedication which followed was conducted by the Reverend Canon Norman Baldock, Vicar of St Mary's Church, Margate. At the close of the service Mr Davenport named the lifeboat after his dog Tigger and the guests at the ceremony were then able to inspect the lifeboat. Relief Fleet - D class A new D class inflatable for the relief fleet funded by the Marlborough Club of Didcot was handed over and dedicated at the RNLI's Poole Depot on 22 August 1990.

The club raised the money by a variety of fund raising events, including a sponsored coach pull. Some 50 members of the club visited RNLI headquarters for the ceremony.

Anthony Oliver, the Institution's deputy head of fund raising and marketing, opened the proceedings and introduced Trevor Coles who handed over the inflatable on behalf of the Marlborough club.

Cdr Michael Woodroffe, RNLI assistant chief of operations, then described the lifeboat and the role which she will play in the relief fleet and the Reverend Stanley Holbrooke- Jones, Rector of Poole, conducted a short service of dedication. Torbay Re-opening of refurbished lifeboat house Torbay lifeboat station's refurbished boathouse at Berry Head Road, Brixham, was officially re-opened on 7 June 1990 by Mr Raymond Baxter, a vice-president of the RNLI and chairman of the Institution's public relations committee.

Inshore lifeboats have been stationed at Torbay since 1963 and there is currently a D class inshore lifeboat on station. The new layout of the boathouse will allow the lifeboat and all its equipment to be accommodated under one roof. Relief Fleet-D class Phyl Clare A new D class lifeboat provided by the generosity of Mrs Phyl Cleare was formally handed over to the RNLI at ceremony which took place at the Poole depot on 4 September 1990.

Accompanied by her husband and few close friends, Mrs Cleare presented the lifeboat to Mr Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fund raising and marketing.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Stanley Holbrooke- Jones, Rector of St James'Church in Poole, and Mrs Cleare was then invited to name the lifeboat Phvl Clare..