North Sunderland Mersey class Grace Darling Despite forecasts of heavy rain, the morning of Tuesday 24 September dawned bright.

However, there was also a Force 8/9 gale which caused the naming ceremony site at North Sunderland Harbour. Seahouses to be moved to a more sheltered area where seats were just blown down and not blown away! The confined nature of the site nevertheless led to a wonderful atmosphere. HRH The Duchess of Kent received a warm Northumbrian welcome from the chairman of the North Sunderland branch Mr Bill Weeks.

Mr Maldwin Drummond. vice president of the RNL1 and member of the committee of management, expressed thanks to the supporters of the Grace Darling Appeal. It had been launched in 1988. the 150th anniversary of Grace Darling's rescue, and had substantially funded the new Mersey class lifeboat. Donors included members of Warwick ladies' lifeboat guild who raised £16,616 to meet the cost of providing v i t a l radar, radio and navigation equipment.

Handing the lifeboat into the care of the North Sunderland station. Mr Drummond paid tribute to station and crew. Honorary secretary Mr Bob Reay then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the North Sunderland station, complimenting the technical staff of the RNLI on designing such a fine lifeboat.

The service of dedication was led by Reverend David Rogerson, chaplain to the station, assisted by local clergy, and hymn singing was led by Seahouses Fishermen's Choir. A vote of thanks to all who had helped with the organisat ion of the ceremony was proposed by Mrs Brenda Calderwood, chairman of the North Sunderland ladies' lifeboat guild.

In naming the lifeboat. Her Royal Highness paid tribute to the heroism of Grace Darling so many years ago and to the tradition of rescue at sea on the Northumberland coast, highlighting the part ladies play in the RNLI by fund raising and increasingly by operational service in lifeboats.

It was not possible to go to sea but coxswain Robert Douglas guided the Duchess around the harbour, manoeuvring the lifeboat among the fishing craft taking shelter. On her return to shore, the Duchess was greeted by guild members and the public. Chatting with many of the crowd on her walk to the new lifeboat house, she joined donors and special guests gathered to witness the official opening.

The £250,000 boathouse was completed earlier in 1991 to accommodate Grace Darling, an inshore lifeboat and to provide improved facilities for the crew.

The official opening was followed by an afternoon tea reception where Her Royal Highness met the crew and their families, station, guild and museum committees and those who have given long service to the RNLI locally. The Duchess also enjoyed a grand view of the Fame Islands where 153 years ago the first Grace Darling performed her epic rescue.

Filey - Mersey Class Keep Fit Association The stirring strains of music by the Cleveland Constabulary Band drew people to the cliff bank above Filey Promenade. It proved a natural grandstand for over 1 .(XX) members of the Keep Fit Association who, together with over6(X) guests, witnessed the naming of the new Mersey class lifeboat after the Association on Saturday 31 August 1991.

After a welcome to all by Ron Wilson, chairman of the Filey station branch and a special presentation by councillor David Murton, mayor of Filey, Mrs Brenda Simmons, chairman of the Keep Fit Association, told the assembled company of methods used to raise their donation. Mr Gilbert Gray QC. member of the RNLI's committee of management, in thanking the Association, paid tribute to the local appeal that had raised the remaining 50 per cent of funds required.

Mr Ian Ross, station honorary secretary, receiving the lifeboat on behalf of Filey station, made reference to the big difference between the Oakley and the Mersey class lifeboat and advised of the pleasure and pride the crew already had for their new boat.

A moving service of dedication led by the vicar of Filey, the Reverend Chris Humphries.

assisted by local clergy and supported by Filey Fishermen's Choir, was followed by a vote of thanks proposed by Mrs Eileen Hodgson, chairman of Filey ladies' lifeboat guild. The naming of the lifeboat was performed by Mrs Brenda Bond, vice president of the Keep Fit Association, who stood in for (he president Baroness Phillips, who was sadly indisposed.

Following the launching, the Keep Fit As- MK inlinn showed her manoeuvring ability at sea. while members of the Keep Fit Association ashore showed their agility in a demonstration of exercises.

The new lifeboat became operational at the station on 2 June 1991.

Peel - foundation stone laid The foundation stone of Peel's new lifeboat house was laid on Saturday 12 October by Hughie Dow, the 87-year-old former mechanic of Helena Harris, the last traditional lifeboat to be stationed at Peel.

Since 1972, Peel has operated first McLachlan and then Atlantic 21 lifeboats.

Now a 12m all-weather Mersey class lifeboat is being built for Peel, funded from the legacy of Ruby Clery, great great grand-daughter of Sir William Hillary, founder of the RNLI.

The lifeboat will also be named after her.

A large crowd gathered for the foundation stone ceremony on the sunny Saturday afternoon.

John Hall, vice chairman of Peel branch committee, spoke of the station's history and the reason why the new boathouse was necessary: the original boathouse was too low and too narrow to house the new Mersey, expected on station next spring.

Mr Hall then invited Mr Dow to lay the stone, and Mr Dow, almost totally blind and now confined to a wheelchair, performed his task to loud cheers from the crowd.

Before the stone was put into position, Mr Hall's grandson, Alexander, helped him place a time capsule in a cavity beneath the foundation stone. The capsule contained a brass key which once opened the original boathouse, a ladies guild badge, a copy of the book 'The Lifeboats of Peel', a set of present day coins, a set of postage stamps depicting the island's lifeboats, and the local daily newspaper.

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a delicious buffet, prepared by the ladies guild at the Sailing Club.

Relief Fleet D class F airlands Lady Fairland Lakes, Stevenage was the setting for the naming ceremony on 2 June 1991 of a D class lifeboat funded by Stevenage Sailing and Canoeing Association and Stevenage Model Boat Club.

The lakes form a small sailing facility opened by the late Sir Alec Rose towards the end of the 1970s, and the funds were raised by both groups over a number of years from 24-hour sponsored marathon sails held at the site, one of which was actually completed on the day of the ceremony! Against the backdrop of the lake, Mr George Gibson, chairman of the recently re-formed Stevenage and District branch, welcomed all those in attendance to the ceremony. Councillor Bob Fowler, mayor of Stevenage, then presented the prizes for this year's marathon.

On behalf of the 24-hour marathon committee, Mr Peter Flint handed the lifeboat over to Richard Mann, regions manager forthe RNLI. Tim Harrison, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats (East), described the craft and its future role.

A service of dedication was conducted by Father Tony Convery, Reverend David Curran and Reverend Alistair Stewart-Sykes. Mrs Mary Wood, wife of local MP Mr Tim Wood, then named the lifeboat F airlands Lady. A remarkable day for the people of Stevenage ended with light refreshments at the local Sea Cadet Headquarters.

Relief Fleet D class Douglas Hurndall Royalties from the sale of the lOth-anniversary edition of the Macmillan and Silk Cut Almanac funded the purchase of a 16ft D class lifeboat forthe RNLI which was named and dedicated at a special ceremony held at the Southampton Boat Show on Friday 20 September. The lifeboat will now take its place in the relief fleet.

Proceedings were opened by Peter Holness, RNLI corporate fund raising manager. Emma Pownall, Silk Cut assistant board manager, then handed the lifeboat into the care of the Institution, represented by head of fund raising and marketing Ian Ventham.

Staff officer Richard Perks described the lifeboat's future role and a service of dedication was led by the Reverend Richard Wheeler, rector of Southampton.

Mrs Sarah Hurndall was then invited to name the new D class Douglas Hurndall after her late husband, formerly director of the Royal Yachting Association Seamanship Foundation and Silk Cut representative on the Nautical Awards Committee.

0 On page 124 of the autumn issue of THE LIFEBOAT, it was stated that the naming ceremony of the new Kirkcudbright lifeboat Peter and Grace Ewing was performed by Lady McGrigor. In fact, due to the indisposition of Lady McGrigor at short notice, the naming ceremony was performed by Lady Henderson, president of the Stewartry ladies guild.

Ramsey - Mersey class Ann and James Ritchie Monday 14 October dawned with sunshine and blue skies, and a cold wind did not deter a large crowd from gathering on the shore at Ramsey for the naming ceremony of the new lifeboat.

The Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI, received a warm welcome when he arrived and was introduced to the crew and official guests. James, son of second coxswain Raymond Stanfield, presented the Duke with a newly published book 'The Ramsey Lifeboats' by Captain W. Seybold and then the two national anthems were played and sung.

'We are all brand new and squeaky clean,' said the Reverend Dr Ewan Corlett, chairman of the branch, as he opened the proceedings.

Reverend Corlett was referring to the new tractor and trailer and the recently opened new boathouse, as well as the lifeboat. He went on to say that everyone was proud and delighted at this new phase in the station's history - 'but one thing that would not change was the service and dedication provided by crew members and all the other people involved with the lifeboat'.

The full cost of the £455,000 lifeboat was met from the legacy of Mrs Ann Ritchie, president of the Ramsey ladies lifeboat guild.

During her lifetime, Mrs Ritchie provided three other lifeboats, including Ramsey's previous ifeboalJamesBallRitchie. Mr Neil Crowe, executor and trustee to the estate of Mrs Ritchie, handed over the new lifeboat to Mr Michael Vernon, Chairman of the RNLI.

He, in turn, passed it into the care of captain Michael Brew, honorary secretary of Ramsey station. A service of dedication followed, led by the Right Reverend Noel Jones, Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man with music by the Ramsey Town Band conducted by Reverend Raymond Gillis.

Reverend Corlett then invited the Duke of Kent to name the lifeboat. In a short address, the Duke paid tribute to the lifeboat crew and to their wives and families.

He referred to Sir William Hillary, founder of the RNLI, who lived at Douglas and said it was appropriate that Ramsey was now prepared forthe nineties with a modern boathouse and lifeboat. The Duke of Kent then named the lifeboat Ann and James Ritchie and as he pressed the button, the bottle of champagne broke across her bows.

Before leaving to meet the crew's families and other guests at the Grand Island Hotel, the Duke took a short trip on the new lifeboat, with coxswain James Kinnin at the helm.

Hoylake - Mersey class Lady of Hilbre November is rather late in the season for a naming ceremony, but in order to fit into the Duke of Kent's busy schedule, it had to be.

Everything had been meticulously planned for months, except the weather. Tentatively described as 'blustery', the wind was icy and gusting to Gale force, bringing squalls of rain and white-topped waves to the Mersey.

The ceremony took place in Liverpool Marina, Coburg Dock rather than in Hoylake itself. The reason was that the new Mersey class lifeboat had been funded by a special appeal which ran throughout Merseyside.

In a little over 12 months, over half a million pounds was raised, with £100,000 collected in the Hoylake area alone and a substantial legacy coming from former West Kirby resident Mrs Barbara Dixon.

Liverpool Marina proved the perfect theatre, the lifeboat laying afloat. Those assembled sat doggedly beneath umbrellas, their spirits lifted, perhaps, by the police band who played 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head".

Captain Tony Wood, Hoylake branch chairman, welcomed all on this very special day.

In brisk but dignified fashion, Sir Kenneth Oxford, chairman of the Mersey Appeal committee, spoke of his delight and pride in presenting the lifeboat to Mr Raymond Cory, a deputy chairman of the RNLI.

Accepting the lifeboat from Mr Cory, the Hoylake branch treasurer, Mr Stanley Frith, referred to the long tradition of service to Hoylake lifeboat by local families, beginning in 1803 when the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board ran the station. That tradition continues and he asserted, 'this wonderful boat is in good hands'. The service of dedication was led by station chaplain the Reverend Peris Williams. The familiar lines of the hymn 'Eternal Father Strong To Save' seemed even more poignant in the prevailing conditions.

The Duke of Kent congratulated the people of Merseyside on responding so generously to the appeal, especially during a time of economic difficulties. He expressed his delight that 'Mersey' had been chosen as the class name for lifeboats of the latest design, now .taking up station throughout the British Isles.

Paying tribute to the personal sacrifices made by crews, station personnel, fund raisers and their families in maintaining the lifeboat tradition, the Duke declared 'technology may have changed, but the spirit has not'. Without further ado, champagne was broken over the bow and the lifeboat named Lady of Hilbre.

The inclement conditions could not detract from the excitement and pleasure of the day.

In fact, it merely served to underline just why lifeboats are needed and just how special those who volunteer to crew them are.

Relief fleet - Mersey class Margaret Jean The new Mersey class relief lifeboat Margare? Jean was named in a quiet ceremony at FBM Marine, Cowes on Tuesday 12 November.

Funds for the Margaret Jean have been donated by Mr Peter Bath and his late wife, after whom the lifeboat is named and who was president of Huntingdon guild at the time of her death.

Anthony Oliver, the RNLI's deputy head of fund raising and marketing, opened the proceedings, and Tony and Andrew Bath handed over the boat to the care of the Institution.

It was accepted by vice admiral 'Tubby' Squires, member of the RNLI's committee of management.

The future role of the lifeboat was described by staff officer Richard Perks, and the lifeboat was then dedicated by the Reverend Stuart Cleaver.

Elizabeth Grant, sister of the late Mrs Jean Bath, named the lifeboat Margaret Jean.

At the express wish of the donor, the cer- emony was attended only by close family, representatives from FBM Marine and Royal National Lifeboat Institution officials.

Portsmouth new boathouse Rear admiral Wilfred Graham, former captain of HMS Ark Royal and past director of the RNLI, officially opened the new boathouse for Portsmouth lifeboats in a special ceremony and service of dedication which took place at the boathouse in Ferry Road, Eastney on Sunday 27 October.

The new boathouse, which cost over £90,000 to build and equip and which has been financed following a local appeal and from RNLI general funds, will house the station's 16ft D class lifeboat and the Atlantic 21 lifeboat Q'ry of Portsmouth.

Welcoming all those present to the ceremony, station chairman Owen Pearce invited station treasurer Lt Cdr Alan Jackson to say a few words about the appeal. Rear admiral Graham then passed the boathouse into the care of station president honorary Alderman Wyn Sutcliffe who accepted it on behalf of the Portsmouth branch. Admiral Graham unveiled a commemorative plaque, and a service of dedication was conducted by Father John Humphreys.

Facilities and conditions for the crew and shore helpers have been much improved with this new boathouse.

Lymington - extension to boathouse That same day, 27 October, the extension of the lifeboat house at Lymington was officially opened by Mrs Mary Atkinson at a short ceremony held at the lifeboat house.

The new storey, which cost £45,000 to build, will provide much needed facilities for the crew. It has been funded by Mr Frank Atkinson, who has also donated two lifeboats to the RNLI, one of which is the Atlantic 21 currently stationed at Lymington and bearing the name Frank and Mary Atkinson.

Following an address by station honorary secretary Mr Graham Webb, captain Michael Joint, vicar of Lymington, led the prayers and gave the blessing.

Mrs Atkinson, who celebrated her birthday on that same day, then unveiled a commemorative plaque. A special birthday tea followed..