First launch The townspeople of Swanage proudly look on as their new 12m Mersey class lifeboat Robert Charles Brown is launched for the first time along the station slipway on 12 June. The event marked the culmination of many years hard fundraising work in the town.

The naming ceremony of the Robert Charles Brown on 3 September will be reported in the next issue of THE LIFEBOAT.

Photo Evening Echo, Bournemouth.