Sennen Cove Mersey class The Four Boys Eighteen years on from the visit of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent to name the previous Sennen Cove lifeboat, history was repeated on Wednesday 22 April as the town, bedecked in flags and sunshine, prepared to greet the Duke again.

This time to name a new Mersey class, the latest design of lifeboat, equipped with the most efficient and modern technology.

It would be a day of memories too for the parents and friends of four schoolboys, pupils of Stoke Poges middle school, who were drowned off Land's End during a school trip in 1985 and after whom the lifeboat was to be named.

The lifeboat gleamed from her position at the top of the slipway as guests arrived. Such being the location of the Sennen Cove station on the extreme tip of the south west coast, a unique structure of scaffolding was built up from the beach to accommodate guests.

The Duke arrived promptly at 9.30am and was introduced to the coxswain/mechanic Terry George and his crew before taking his place on the platform. Joanne Shannon, daughter of crew member Philip Shannon, presented a souvenir programme to the Duke and then Pendeen silver band and the St Buryan male voice choir led the singing of the National Anthem. Mr Keeble, chairman of the local branch,then welcomed The Duke' of Kent and guests.

Mrs Christine Ankers, mother of one of the drowned boys and representing the many donors, handed the lifeboat over to Mr Michael Vernon, Chairman of the RNLI, who in turn placed the lifeboat into the care of Captain James Summerlee, honorary secretary of the Sennen Cove station.

In his speech of thanks Captain Summerlee paid tribute to Sennen Cove residents who had patiently suffered a great deal of noise and disruption as the boathouse was adapted for the new boat and improved with the addition of modern crew facilities and a souvenir shop.

The reverend, Dr Richard Legg, rector of St Buryan, St Levan and Sennen led the service of prayersand dedication and Mr Keeble invited the Duke to name the lifeboat.

Before doing so the Duke made a moving speech which epitomised the feelings of those present. He said, '...Sennen Cove now has a lifeboat to be proud of, and there are many people here today who will be sharing in that pride...

'...We have heard how the funding represents a combination of individual generosity, dedicated local support and a passionate desire for good to come out of tragedy. While this must be a happy day for you all, for the parents and families of Nicky Hurst, Jamie Holloway, Ricky Lamden and Robert Ankers, it will also bring bitter memories.

'You have shown great courage to confront your personal grief in such a positive and purposeful way.

I can only assure you that in the Sennen Cove lifeboat crew you have the best possible men to ensure lives continue to be saved from these treacherous waters.' The Duke named the new lifeboat The Four Boys in memory of the schoolboys whose lives were lost at Land's End and the champagne splashed across the bows of the new boat. After three cheers for the crew the Duke helped launch the lifeboat into the sea.

She was put through her paces under the command of Coxswain Terry George, as a helicopter from RN AS Culdrose flew above, streaming the RNLI flag. The Duke then moved on to the Old Success Inn where he met the families of the crew and launchers, station and branch officials, the families of the lost boys and other guests.Courtown Lifeboat house re-opened Mr Clayton Love Jnr, deputy chairman and a vice-president of the RNLI, officially opened the reconstructed lifeboat house at Courtown Harbour, County Wexford on Saturday 9 May 1992.

In his speech Mr Love said, The tradition of life-saving in Courtown Harbour goes back to 1865 when the residents requested the RNLI to establish a lifeboat station here. The station operated for 60 years when it closed in 1925. Some two years ago history began to repeat itself. The community lifeboat service requested that the RNLI re-establish the lifeboat station at Courtown.' The new D class inshore lifeboat BP Service, which has been funded by BP Oil, was handed over to the care of the station branch by Ronnie Delany on behalf of the Institution.

The service of dedication was conducted by The Reverend Joseph Jacobs and Reverend Father Aidan Jones.Relief fleet - D class John Edmonds The lifeboat John Edmonds was named and dedicated in a ceremony at the RNLI's Poole Depot in the afternoon of a sunny April day.

Mrs Elsie Edmonds handed the D class lifeboat to the care of the Institution on 8 April and it was accepted on the RNLI's behalf by Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fundraising and marketing.

The new lifeboat and its future role in the relief fleet was described by Richard Perks, staff officer, and a service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Stanley Holbrooke- Jones, rector of Poole.

In the presence of her brother Eric Kincaid and nephew David Kincaid, Mrs Elsie Edmonds then named the new lifeboat John Edmonds in memory of her late husband.Relief fleet D class and Atlantic 21 class St Vincent Amazon and Spix's Macaw Two inshore lifeboats were named after parrots at a special ceremony held at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at East Cowes on Tuesday 14 April.

The lifeboats - a new D class and an Atlantic 21, which had been rehulled at a cost of £30,000 - were named St Vincent Amazon and Spix's Macaw respectively and will now take up their position in the Institution's relief fleet.

Naming the boats after parrots was the wish of the donor Mr John Anstey, a chartered surveyor in the City of London.

Wearing his other hat, Mr Anstey is also the director of the musical group 'Parlour Performers', who sing a variety of Victorian and Edward- ian music and who have performed a number of concerts in aid of the RNLI.

Proceedings were opened by Alan Tate, superintendent of the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes.

Mr Anstey handed the D class and Atlantic 21 class lifeboats into the care of the Institution, and they were accepted by Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fundraising and marketing.

Richard Perks, the Institution's staff officer, then described the lifeboats and their future role and a short service of dedication was conducted by Reverend Stuart Cleaver, priest in charge, Whippingham and East Cowes.

The D class lifeboat was named St Vincent Amazon by Mr Anstey's mother, Mrs Leo Anstey, and his wife Rosemary named the Atlantic 21 Spix's Macaw.Teignmouth - Atlantic 21 Frank and Dorothy Saturday 9 May was a special date in the calendar of Teignmouth lifeboat station in Devon.

It was the day that the town's new Atlantic 21 lifeboat, funded from the bequest of Mrs Dorothy North of Purley, was to be named Frank and Dorothy and dedicated in a special ceremony taking place that morning at the Point.

As the last notes of the National Anthem faded away, Mr D.J. Spencer, chairman of the Teignmouth station branch, opened the morning's proceedings.

Captain A.G. McCrum, a vice president of the RNLI, passed the lifeboat into the care of Mr R.G.

Matthews, honorary secretary for the Teignmouth lifeboat station.

Captain Hugh Fogarty, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the south west, then outlined the history and development of the Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

Senior superintendent S.P Jarrett of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen conducted a short service of dedication and Mrs Angela McCrum was invited to name the lifeboat Frank and Dorothy on behalf of the trustees of the late Mrs Dorothy North.

Music was provided for the occasion by the Newton Abbot Salvation Army Corps under the direction of bandmaster Mr J. Hales.Oban New shore facilities Oban's new lifeboat house - a splendid hundred-year-old listed building on the town's South Pier next to the lifeboat's new berth - was officially opened on 7 December 1991.

Branch chairman Lake Falconer welcomed some 50 guests including the Director, Lt Cdr Brian Miles, and his wife, together with Bob McCleary and Alastair Wright of Strathclyde regional council estates department, who had been largely instrumental in bringing about the lease of the facilities to the Institution.

After a brief speech, during which he thanked all concerned with the project, the Director declared the new building formally open.

Oban station is justifiably proud of the new lifeboat house and berth which replace the very basic facilities which served the station from its foundation in 1972.

Gone is the tin shed which provided crew room, office and workshop - in its place a trim, twin-turreted, whitewashed building comprising office, workshop, gear store, sitting room, shower room and ladies guild room.

Adjacent to it, the lifeboat now lies in a newly-constructed sheltered berth providing easy and safe boarding and landing for crew and casualties alike - a far cry from the dinghy trip to and from an exposed mooring!Margate - Mersey class Leonard Kent What a difference the day makes! The last time Margate played host to a royal naming ceremony, in November 1979, it was a chilly day and the fog rolled in from the sea. And the royal guest of honour, HRH Princess Alexandra, had been prevented by illness from carrying out the naming.

This time, on 21 May 1992, the sun shone steadily and the shirtsleeved, summer-frocked crowd were delighted when the Princess embarked on an active and extended walkabout following the ceremony.

Some aspects, however, remained the same as the previous occasion, 13 years before. Margate honorary secretary Alan Wear again warmly welcomed all those present and the service of dedication was once more most ably conducted by the Reverend Canon Norman Baldock, vicar of St John's church.

In keeping with tradition, master baker and crew member Neil Addington made a magnificent cake, just as his father Bert had done in 1979. Neil had spent an hour each day since February meticulously decorating the 1 OOlb cake, which was cut ceremonially in the boathouse by the Princess.

The new Mersey class lifeboat has been funded from a substantial bequest by the late Leonard Kent, a long-time resident of St Helier, Jersey, the legacy of the late Cyril Moore of Canvey Island, Essex in memory of his wife Gladys, together with the proceeds of a local appeal and othergifts and RNLI general funds.

Representing all the donors, Leonard Kent's brother Sidney spoke of his pride in being asked to hand the boat over to the RNLI and referred to his brother's love of the sea and his admiration for the lifeboat service.

In reply, RNLI Chairman Michael Vernon paid tribute to the generosity of those who had demonstrated their support for the RNLI in such practical and exceptional terms.

Princess Alexandra expressed her pleasure at being invited to name the new lifeboat, especially after her disappointment when previously prevented from taking part. She praised the selflessness of those who had contributed to the cost of the boat and the crew who sacrificed time, comfort and safety to aid those in distress at sea.

The Princess also voiced her ad-miration for the crew's families and the dedication of the vital shore helpers. With words of appreciation for the gleaming lifeboat and encouragement for the station, she named the new craft Leonard Kent.

As the coxswain/mechanic Peter Barker led the cheers for Her Royal Highness, the heady aroma of champagne, dashed on the bows, floated on the warm, afternoon air.llfracombe - D class Alec Dykes Alec Dykes, Ilfracombe's new 'summer- only' D class lifeboat, was named and dedicated in a ceremony that took place at the pier lifeboat house in the early evening of 7 May.

Funds for the lifeboat had been provided by Mrs Christina Dykes in memory of her late husband Alec.

Following the National Anthem, the proceedings were officially opened by Mr Tony Reed, president of the llfracombe station branch. Mrs Christina Dykes officially handed over the lifeboat to the Institution's deputy head of fundraising and marketing Anthony Oliver, who in turn passed the lifeboat into the care of Colin Knill, honorary secretary for the llfracombe station.

The history and development of the D class lifeboat was then outlined by Captain Hugh Fogarty, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the South West.

A short service of dedication followed, led by the Reverend Cyril Tennant, honorary chaplain to the llfracombe lifeboat station. Mrs Christina Dykes then named the lifeboat Alec Dykes. Music for the occasion was provided by llfracombe and District youth band, directed by Mr Leslie Perrin.Down to business! The ceremony over, Margate's crew launch the station's D class lifeboat to tow a dinghy to safety.

...As the last cake crumbs were being brushed away and the bunting untied after the Margate ceremony, there came a reminder of the lifeboat's simple purpose.

A dinghy with a defective engine was drifting a few hundred yards from the shore. With no radio, no flares, no anchor and no lifejackets, the two occupants waved energetically to draw attention to their plight.

Within minutes, the station's D class was being launched with cakebaker Neil Addington at the helm and the casualty was soon under tow to safety. Business as usual!.