Berwick - Mersey class Joy and Charles Beeby Berwick might be in England - just - but when the day dawned for the town's new Mersey class lifeboat to be named, on 23 March 1993, it was as braw a morning as any in Scotland. The preparations for the afternoon ceremony at Carr Rock Pier were made in snow, sleet then rain accompanied by a biting wind which later blew hats away and threatened to send flags and bunting into the harbour.

However, nothing could deter the hundreds who turned out for the ceremony and to welcome HRH The Duchess of Kent who was to name the lifeboat.

A posy of flowers was presented to the Duchess by Caroline Ross and Lynsay McColl, daughters of crew members, before Berwick station chairman Philip Hayle opened proceedings.

The lifeboat and a substantial proportion of boathouse conversion costs were funded from the bequest of Charles Beeby and the lifeboat is named in memory of him and his wife. Don Elyth, a friend of the Beeby family, officially presented the lifeboat to the RNLI. Mr Beeby had no maritime connections, but admired the work of lifeboat crews andsaw the gift of a lifeboat as a worthy way of perpetuating his wife's memory.

Raymond Cory, an RNLI deputy chairman, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the Institution before passing it into the care of Captain Jim Jenkinson, honorary secretary for the Berwick station - who declared that the crew were delighted with their new lifeboat.

A service of dedication was led by the Reverend Jim Sherwan, vicar of Spittal, assisted by other local clergy, with the choir of Holy TrinityandStMary church, accompanied by the band of The Duke of Kent's Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. A vote of thanks was delivered by Heather Morrison, chairman of Berwick-upon-Tweed ladies' guild.

The Duchess spoke in a strong and deliberate voice, determined to triumph over the noise of the wind and the flapping of the awning and bunting.

She spoke of the honour of being asked to name the lifeboat and explained how she had come to appreciate the pride each community feels for its station.

Finally, the Duchess paid tribute to the generosity of the provider of the lifeboat, pushed the lever to send champagne splashing and named the lifeboat Joy and Charles Beeby.

The Duchess then met the crew and donned protective clothing before going aboard for a demonstration exercise.

Later, the Duchess joined friends of the Beeby's, families of crew and station officials, supporters and other invited guests for tea and refreshments to round off a very special day for Berwick.Worklngton - Tyne class Sir John FisherWorkington has long awaited the naming ceremony for its lifeboat Sir John Fisher but the day finally came on 24 April 1993 - dawning bright and clear and remaining dry throughout the ceremony in spite of threatening rain clouds.

Guests were welcomed by Captain David Thomas, chairman of Workington station branch. The boat was handed over to Mr Michael Vernon, chairman of the RNLI by Mr Brian Robinson, chairman of the trustees of the Sir John Fisher Foundation. Captain Steve Worthington, station honorary secretary then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of Workington branch.

After Mrs D. Cowling, chairman of Workington ladies' guild had proposed a vote of thanks, a service of dedication was conducted by clergy representing the churches of Workington, led by the Venerable John Packer, Archdeacon of West Cumberland and assisted by Father Gregory Carroll, Canon TerenceSampson and Captain Jim Curran.

Mrs Diane Meacock, trustee of the Sir John Fisher Foundation named the lifeboat Sir John Fisher before the boat was launched from the unique gantry crane.Kilkeel - Atlantic 21 Valerie Hull Kilkeel in Northern Ireland was the setting for the presentation and naming of a new lifeboat and the opening of a new lifeboat house on 8 May 1993.

Mervyn Hanna, chairman of Kilkeel branch, opened the proceedings and invited Cecil Baxter, president of the branch to declare the boathouse open.

Acceptance of the boathouse was made by Wilson Ervin CBE, member of the Institution's committee of management.

The lifeboat and its capabilities were then described to the audience by Richard Perks, staff officer operations (general duties) and then Derek Hull, nephew of the donor Mrs M.C. Hull, delivered the Atlantic 21 into the care of Robert Grimason, honorary secretary for • Kilkeel station.

At the close of the service of dedication Clayton Love Jnr, a vice-president of the RNLI, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Hull and invited TV personality Miss Wendy Austin to name the lifeboat Valerie Hull.CullerCOatS-Atlantic21 BarmOUth - Mersey class Moira Barrie Edmund and Joan White More than 200 guests attended the handing over ceremony and service of dedication for the new Atlantic 21 at Cullercoats lifeboat station on 17 April 1993.

The lifeboat has been funded from a bequest by the late Mr Edmund White who lived in South Shields.

Doctor Tose, honorary medical adviser and chairman of Cullercoats lifeboat station branch welcomed everyone to the proceedings.

Mr Peter Stacey handed over the lifeboat on behalf of the donor to Gilbert Gray QC who accepted it on behalf of the committee of management of the Institution.

Mr Raymond Taylor, honorary secretary of Cullercoats station then accepted the lifeboat into the safekeeping of the station.

The service of dedication which followed was conducted by Reverend Graham Revett, assisted by Reverend Peter Graves and Reverend Father Aidan Pickering. The music was provided by The Brown Ale Band.

At the close of the service Mrs Pat Stracey named the lifeboat Edmund and Joan White.

The cold, wet and windy weather did not dampen the enthusiasm and excitement of the invited guests and watching crowds gathered on the quay for the naming of Barmouth's new Mersey class lifeboat on 14 May 1993.

A substantial part of the cost of the lifeboat has been met from a bequest to the RNLI by the late Miss Moira Barrie of Broadway, Worcestershire and the lifeboat is named in her memory.

Miss Barrie was a staunch lifeboat supporter who served as honorary secretary for the Broadway ladies' guild between 1978 and 1989. She was awarded the silver badge in 1987 in recognition of all her hard work. With her sister Sheila, Moira Barrie also funded the D class lifeboat Charlie B which until recently was stationed at Tenby.

Other contributions which make up the balance of the cost of the lifeboat include legacies from the late Sylvia Roberts, Joan Wheeler and Marjorie Barber, together with gifts from the Civil Service Motoring Association, Frizzells Financial Services and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Following the national anthems Emma, daughter of second coxswain Keith Allday, presented Miss Sheila Barrie with a bouquet. After welcoming everyone Lt Cdr Nicky Richards, president of the Barmouth station, opened proceedings and George Rawlinson, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats (west) described the lifeboat and her future role. Miss Barrie then handed over the lifeboat to Mr Michael Vernon, chairman of the RNLI, who in turn passed her into the care of Lt Colonel Colin Walker RM, honorary secretary for Barmouth station.

The service of dedication which followed was conducted by the Reverend Paul Flavell, Rector of Barmouth, assisted by the Reverend Robert Jones, Presbyterian Minister of Christchurch and Caersalem and the Reverend Roger Spencer, Roman Catholic Priest of St Tudwals, Barmouth.

At the close of the service Mr Glyn Williams, chairman of Barmouth lifeboat station, invited Miss Sheila Barrie to name the lifeboat. 'I am frightfully proud,' she said, 'to have my sister's name on the lifeboat, she never dreamt it would be possible'.

The crew later presented Miss Barrie with a painting of Moira Barrie which they had commissioned from Derek Scott, ex coxswain of The Mumbles.Quay - Mersey class Mary Margaret Kilmore Quay's new Mersey class lifeboat was named Mary Margaret by Mrs Ann Miles, wife of the Director, at a special ceremony held in Kilmore Quay on 17 April 1993.

The newly reconstructed lifeboat house was opened by His Excellency Nickolai Ivanovich Kozyrev, Ambassador of Russia.

Following the national anthem by the Band of the Garda Siochana, Mr John Sutton welcomed the many guests.

In handing over the first Mersey class lifeboat to be stationed in Ireland, the chairman of the RNLI, Mr Michael Vernon, praised the long tradition of voluntary service by lifeboat crew members at Kilmore Quay. He paid special tribute to Mr Denis Williams and Mary Margaret Williams whose legacy met a substantial proportion of the cost of the £680,000 lifeboat.

The cost of the reconstructed lifeboat house was met from a legacy to the RNLI by Mrs Eugenie Boucher who was a native of Penza in Russia. His excellency the Ambassador of Russia was a particularly welcome guest on this occasion.

The new lifeboat was accepted into the care of the station by Mr Michael Kinneen.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Father James Cogley CC and Reverend Henry Keogh.

Following a vote of thanks proposed by Mrs Ann Kehoe, Mrs Ann Miles, wife of the director, named the new lifeboat Mary Margaret.

The lifeboat then launched for a demonstration of her capabilities with Coxswain John Devereux at the helm..