Hammering away...

The RNLI's appeal for autographed items which can be auctioned to raise funds has already attracted an enthusiastic response.

Several hundred autographs have been received at headquarters, ranging from those of lesser known personalities to those of Rudyard Kipling, Lord Byron and even a Christmas card sent by Queen Mary in 1929 and cricket bats signed by the MCC, West Indies and New Zealand teams in 1980.

A Nottinghamshire firm of Chartered Auctioneers will be selling the material on the RNLI's behalf and it is anticipated that the proceeds will already run into four figures.

Trevor Vennett-Smith of the auctioneers took a look at the collection recently and was impressed by the variety.

He said: 'There are so many autographs out there that people have just tucked away in a drawer, almost everyone has something. They may not think it is particularly valuable, and perhaps it isn't on its own, but if we can get enough together we can raise some useful money for the RNLI.' Any autographed material can be sent to the Fund Raising Department, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ where it will be sorted and the proceeds used to help build and maintain the Institution's lifeboats. Round-the-world lifeboat returns David Scott-Cowper brought the ex-lifeboat Mabel E.

Holland back to his base on the Tyne in late September to complete a second round-the world voyage.

Scott-Cowper's 26,000 mile trip had taken four years and included the first singlehanded navigation of the 2,000-mile North West Passage.

Of Mabel E. Holland he said: 'I have grown very fond of her.

She has looked after me all these thousands of miles. There have been many times when the seas were extremely rough and she has proved its match.' Although Scott-Cowper is planning another expedition it will almost certainly not include the lifeboat on which he has now spent some six years. A home is being sought for her in a museum. 'I think she's done enough now,' he said, 'she deserves a rest.' (Mabel E. Holland, a 42ft Watson class lifeboat, was stationed at Dungeness from 1957 until 1979 when she was transferred to the relief fleet. She was sold out of service in 1983, by which time she had launched 230 times and saved 74 lives.) More Inshore lifeboats at existing stations As part of a long-term strategy stations which operate only an All-weather lifeboat are being examined to see whether the addition of an Inshore lifeboat would lead to an improved response time for some services.

The examination will be part of the normal, and regular Coast Reviews, except where major shoreworks are planned and where an early decision could avoid later alterations.

Although there are some 75 stations operating only an Allweather lifeboat many would be unsuitable because of operating conditions, remote locations or proximity to existing Inshore lifeboats and it is estimated that just over SO stations will be considered for an additional Inshore lifeboat.

The first station to he allocated an Inshore lifeboat under this procedure is Ilfracombe, which will operate a D class inflatable for evaluation during the 1991 summer season in addition to its Mersey class. Following the construction of a new boathouse the previous tractor house is now empty, and is to be used to house the Inshore lifeboat.

Atlantic 21 class rigid inflatables are to replace C class inflatables over a period of time at stations where this is practical. The first C class station to receive an Atlantic 21 is St Catherine, Jersey, which took deliveiy of its rigid inflatable in October 1990.

Crew members from the station had already attended an Atlantic 21 training course at Cowes.

Walmer has been established officially as an Atlantic 21 station, following successful trials after the Rather class was withdrawn in May 1990. The station's summer-only D class will remain for the 1991 season and be reviewed later. VAT and zero-rating Many supporters have written to the government and their member of parliament seeking support for the continuance of VAT zero rating for charities after European harmnnisation in 1992, for which the Institution is most grateful.

However the answers received have not been entirely satisfactory.

The government says it is seeking to retain its own freedom to zero-rate, and sees no reason for matters to change after 1992, but is unwilling to give specific assurances.

The European Commission is basically opposed to zero rating and, as a compromise will have to be found, charities are right to be concerned and vigilant until the future position is secure. The Institution will continue its campaign and will be most grateful for any assistance lent by supporters and the media. r Newspoint— ! Voluntary - by choice j A recent survey carried out : for the RNLI highlighted an I interesting fact: 53% of j people questioned said it was wrong that the RNLI should have to rely on voluntary contributions.

From this it would seem that the Institution's position on its voluntary status is not as well-recognised as may have been thought.

The RNLI is funded voluntarily and its boats manned by largely volunj teer crews for the simple i reason that it feels this is the best way to operate the lifeboat service. Government finance is not sought, nor wanted.

The RNLI is held in high esteem by lifeboat organisations word-wide, and many are modelled on it.

The service it offers is second to none, and no satisfactory case can be made for change.

While it is important that the RNLI should be appreciated as a voluntaryfunded service, it is also important to emphasise that this is entirely by choice. Silk Cut Awards Coxswain Alan Thomas and the crew of the Tenby lifeboat were among those honoured at the Silk Cut Nautical Awards in London on 20 November.

Coxswain Thomas and his crew received the National Rescue Award from Dame Naomi James for their service to three fishing vessels in difficulty off Worms Head in September 1989. Alan Thomas has already received the RNLI's Silver medal for the rescue, which was reported in the Spring 1990 issue of THE LIFEBOAT.

There were links with the Institution in two further awards made at the same luncheon.

An award was presented to the Glasgow-based equipment manufacturers Simpson-Lawrence for their stockless Delta anchor. The RNLI has been closely involved with trials of this anchor, and is at present conducting tests to see whether it can become standard equipment on lifeboats.

The Individual Rescue award was presented to merchant navy officer Tony Hogg from Newcastle- upon-Tyne. Tony's father John was the coxswain of the Tynemouth lifeboat crew which won the Rescue award in 1986 but died before he could collect it.

Tony Hogg was the first mate aboard a 7,000-ton cargo vessel when her cargo shifted and she began to list badly. As preparations were being made to abandon ship the wife of the second engineer was swept overboard by a wave. Despite being injured by the same wave Tony jumped overboard and was able to save the woman, reaching a liferaft after battling for 30 minutes in the cold of the Atlantic.

The nine judges for the Nautical Awards included the RNLI's Lt A/an Tate, previously Staff Officer (Training) and Superintendent Cowes Base since I January 1990, and were chaired by Chay Blyth. Seafaring colours Lifeboatmen from Teesmouth and Poole formed the RNLFs colour party at the Annual National Service for Seafarers at St Paul's Cathedral on 10 October.

Coxswain Peter Race from Teesmouth lifeboat station, the colour bearer, with Assistant Mechanic Tony Bebbington and crew member Geoffrey Barfoot from Poole lifeboat station as escorts, represented the 5,000 men and women who serve at the Institution's 200-plus stations around the coast.

The annual service at the Cathedral is attended by men and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Merchant Navy, commercial shipping and fishing companies and sea-training schools. A good job The producer and cameraman of the RNLI's latest film, 'A Good Job Well Done' has won a top award from the Royal Television Society.

Malory Maltby, from Freetime Television on the Isle of Wight, won the award for Best Regional Programme in the East of England for 'Sailaway', a sailing series for Anglia TV.

Malory, who has helped the RNLI in many ways in the past, was presented with a bronze statuette by the Society during October. The RNLI's 1991 Annual Meetings The 1991 annual meetings of not receiving a form should the RNLI will be held on Tuesday 14 May at the South Bank, London.

The meetings will follow the format of recent years, with the governors' annual general meeting taking place at 1130 in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and the annual presentation of awards to lifeboatmen and honorary workers following in the afternoon. The presentation starts at 1430 in the nearby Royal Festival Hall.

All governors of the RNLI should find an application form for both meetings enclosed with this issue of THE LIFEBOAT, but any governor write to The Director, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ.

There is no need to return the form if you will not be attending the meetings, or if you do not wish to receive a copy of the annual report and accounts.

Branches and guilds will receive details of how to apply for tickets to the presentation of awards from their regional office.

Other supporters who would like to attend the presentation should write to the Director at the address given above. Golden opportunity for the USA The RNLI's Gold medal has been awarded to the United States Coastguard in its bicentennial year for its outstanding contribution to rescue at sea.

The Gold medal, the highest award the Institution can confer, was presented to Admiral J. William Kime, Commandant of the USCG by Michael Vernon, the Chairman of the RNLI, at a ceremony held at the Institution's London office in Lambeth on 21 November 1990. Admiral Kime was accompanied by Captain Dana Starkweather, the Commander of Coast Guard Activities, Europe.

The USCG was formed in 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service (founded in 1790) and the Life Saving Service were amalgamated.

Unlike the RNLI the Coast Guard is a government department and in addition to running a sea-rescue service is responsible for maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, maintaining aids to navigation and has a commitment to national defence.

The USCG was also closely involved with the RNLI when the Institution's first fast lifeboats were developed in the mid 1960s. The USCG's 44ft boat became the RNLI's Waveney class after development and modification.

There is also a fund raising link between Britain and America. After the American bi-centenary celebrations in 1976 US citizens in Britain set about raising funds for a lifeboat. Thanks to the efforts of the American-based Association For Rescue at Sea (APRAS) the US Navy League and the RNLI American Branch three Atlantic 21 rigid inflatables are now in service at Atlantic College in Wales, Hunstanton in Norfolk and the relief fleet.

Their names reflect their donors being, respectively, American Ambassador, Spirit of America and US Navy League. Important tax concessions on gifts A tax concession which could be extremely valuable to the RNLI. and other charities, has been in operation since October 1990. From that date the RNLI has been able to reclaim tax from the Inland Revenue on single gifts of between £600 and £5m from individuals or companies. Previously tax could only be recovered on 'covenanted' gifts, which meant a commitment by the donor extending over at least four years.

Under the new scheme, known as 'Gift Aid', any £600 gift can be worth £800 to the RNLI with income tax at the current 25 per cent, provided certain simple conditions are met, and it is obviously in the best interests of the Institution that full benefit is taken of the concession.

Any individual, company or branch and guild that is involved with a single gift of more than £600 could increase substantially its value to the RNLI, and the regional offices and headquarters fund raising department will be happy to advise how the value of the gift can be maximised.

Full details can he obtained from the fund raising department at RNLI headquarters, but to simplify: • The gift must be a single sum of more than £600 • It must be from taxed income • The donor must he a UK resident • The donor must complete a simple certificate (available from regional offices and headquarters • Higher-rate taxpavers can claim hack the extra tax With the big guns...

The Imperial War Museum at Duxford near Cambridge, a former Battle of Britain Air Station which now houses an impressive collection of military aircraft and vehicles, may not seem the most obvious place to find a lifeboat.

However Jesse Lumb, a Watson class lifeboat built in 1939, is perfectly at home there and has been obtained by the museum because of her role in the Second World War. Like many of her sister ships Jesse Lumb rescued many shot-down airmen and other victims of enemy attack.

The lifeboat was stationed at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight from 1939 to 1970 and then served for a further 10 years in the relief fleet.

Now, after two years of painstaking research and restoration.

Jesse Lumb has been returned to her original condition for display at the museum, thanks to the efforts of the museum staff, sponsors Crescent Marine and the work ofRoyston's RNLI branch.

Appropriately Jesse Lumb was unveiled during September 1990, the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain with Fred Wills, her mechanic for 15 years, and Martin Woodward, second coxswain of the present lifeboat, in attendance. On the technical front..

• The trials with a twin engined D class inflatable have been discontinued. Although maximum speed and acceleration were slightly improved over a single engine the manoeuvrability was compromised and the complexity of the installation in such a small boat was considered too great.

• The prototype 'Atlantic 22' is now afloat for preliminary trials. The new boat's rigid hull is 12in longer and 6in wider than the Atlantic 21 and the 'flat' at the keel has been reduced. This gives a finer entry at the expense of slightly deeper draft. The '22' weighs some 4001b to SOOlb more than the smaller boat.

• The possibility of a high speed Inshore lifeboat is to be investigated.

Preliminary enquiries have shown a number of commercial boats with potential as a basis for a 35-40 knot lifeboat. (The Atlantic 21 is the fastest RNLI lifeboat at present, with a maximum speed of 29 knots.) • Mersey class lifeboats are now being fitted with logs and fluxgate compasses, interfaced with the radar to extend the capabilities of the set.

• Electronic plotters are being installed for trials aboard the lifeboats at St Peter Port, St Helier, Plymouth and Troon.

• A GPS satellite navigation receiver is to be fitted to the Newhaven lifeboat for trials.

The FAB 3 prototype will also be fitted with a GPS receiver.

• Trials are continuing with the stockless Delta anchor.

• An electronics workshop is being constructed at the Poole depot. The existing facility at Littlehampton will be transferred to the new workshop early in 1991.

•The hull of the 17m FAB 3 prototype has been completed and is now being fitted out. Lifeboat Heroes A Thames TV dinner to mark the 500th anniversary of 'This is Your Life' brought together five past and present lifeboatmen who have all been subjects of the programme.

The men, who between them have saved 1,589 lives, won 21 medals and given nearly 200 years service, were Coxswain Brian Bevan of I lumber lifeboat, and retired Coxswains Derek Scott, Mumbles lifeboat (1947-1987), Matt Lethridge, St Mary's, Isle of Scilly lifeboat (1946-1985), Alf Pavey, Weymouth lifeboat (1947-1976) and Henry 'Shrimp' Davies, Cromer lifeboat (1931-1976)..