Eastbourne- Mersey Royal Thames Monday 6 September 1993 dawned fair over the Sovereign Harbour where Eastbourne's new Mersey class was to be named and dedicated by HRH Princess Michael of Kent.

The Princess was greeted by local and county dignitaries, RNLI officials and other special guests following which the lifeboat crew was presented to her and she received a posy from 13-yearold Nichola Metcalfe, daughter of the assistant mechanic.

HRH Prince Andrew had originally agreed to be present, but navy duties had prevented this so Princess Michael had willingly taken his place for her first lifeboat naming ceremony.

Eastbourne station president, the Marquess of Hartington, welcomed those present, after which station chairman Richard Jenkyns explained how the new £680,000 lifeboat had beenfunded - the largest proportion from the generous efforts of members of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. A further £110,000had been raised locally and the station was indebted to a large gift from an anonymous lady, whom he believed to be in attendance. Legacies and other donations made up the balance, and Mr Jenkyns thanked all contributors warmly.

John Vernon, vice commodore of the RTYC spoke of the pride felt by members that a fourth lifeboat since 1856 was to bear the name of the club, and of the pleasure and reassurance in being associated with the RNLI in such a tangible way.

In response, the Institution's Chairman, Michael Vernon, declared that there could be no finer expression of appreciation than the provision of a lifeboat, a sentiment with which station honorary secretary Brian Chessell concurred, with gratitude.

A service of dedication was conducted by Eastbourne lifeboat chaplain the Reverend Robert Butler, with music from the local Salvation Army band and the Forest Row Lifeboat Choir.

In her speech, the Princess paid tribute to Eastbourne lifeboatmen who have been responsible for saving over 600 lives since 1862. With obvious enjoyment she named the lifeboat Royal Thames and pressed the switch to send champagne rushing over the bows. Her pleasure turned to mock trepidation when told she was to go afloat for a short trip round the harbour, claiming, to the delight of the crowd, to suffer from seasickness in the bath. However, she returned to dry land in excellent spirits to take tea in a marquee erected on the quayside.Relief - D classes AXA Life Inshorer The full cost of the new D class inshore lifeboat AXA Life Inshorer which was named and dedicated at the Institution's depot on 15 June 1993, has been met from various fundraising activities carried out by members of the Equity and Law Social Club, based in High Wycombe, Bucks.

John Gurney, secretary of the club, officially handed over the lifeboat to Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fundraising and marketing, and Michael Pennell, an Institution staff officer described the lifeboat and her future role in the relief fleet.

The service of dedication which followed was led by the Reverend Stanley Holbrooke- Jones, Rector of Poole and at the close of the service Mrs Jacqueline Gurney named the lifeboat.

Sea Ranger A new D class lifeboat provided by the generosity of Miss Sylvia Clarke was formally handed over to the RNLI at a ceremony at the Poole depot on 8 September 1993.

Miss Clarke presented the lifeboat to Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fundraising and marketing, after which Richard Perks, a staff officer, described the lifeboat and the role she will play in the relief fleet.

. The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Reg Rodda, former rector of Corfe Mullen, and Miss Clarke was then invited to name the lifeboat Sea Ranger, chosen to reflect her lifelong association with the Sea Rangers.Clogherhead - Mersey class Doris Bleasdale Clogherhead's new Mersey class lifeboat was named Doris Bleasdale by Mrs Jane Vernon, wife of the chairman of the RNLI, at a ceremony held in Clogherhead on Saturday 4 September 1993. The Mersey class lifeboat was substantially fundedby the legacy of Miss Doris Bleasdale.

The new lifeboat house was officially opened prior to the ceremony.

In handing over the new lifeboat Mr Clayton Love Jnr, deputy chairman of the RNLI, said that in looking back over the 80s and 90s the lifeboat service in Ireland has undoubtedly undergone the greatest period of change in its long history. Lifeboats have been replaced by faster, more modern boats at every station.

Mr Paddy Hodgins, station honorary secretary, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Very Reverend Father William Murtagh PP and Precentor Godfrey Bevan.

Following a vote of thanks by Mrs Deirdre Delaney, honorary secretary of the ladies' guild, the new lifeboat 'was named Doris Bleasdale by Mrs Jane Vernon.

The lifeboat then launched for a demonstration of her capabilities under the command of Coxswain Fergal Sharkey.Bridlington - D class Lords Feoffees II Hundreds of guests and onlookers gathered on Bridlington seafront for the naming ceremony of the new inshore lifeboat and dedication of the new inshore boathouse when the proceedings were opened by Iain Bryce, chairman of Bridlington station.

The full cost of the lifeboat has been met from a grant to the Institution from the Lords Feoffees of the Manor of Bridlington and is the second D class for Bridlington funded in this way. She was handed over to the RNLI by Brian Rodgers, Chief Lord of the Manor of Bridlington who also officially named the boat.

The new £68,000 boathouse was dedicated in a ceremony conducted by the Reverend John Meek. Mr Gilbert Gray QC, a member of the Institution's committee of management, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI and Tony Edwards, honorary secretary of Bridlington station accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station.

A vote of thanks was given by Miss June Chippindale, chairman of Bridlington ladies' guild and the lifeboat was launched.

PS Amble - D class Thomas Campbell The naming of Amble's new D class lifeboat took place on 25 September 1993.

Mrs Barbara Clarke, niece of the legator, Edwin Ramsden, named the lifeboat Thomas Campbell in memory of his grandfather. It was his wish that his bequest be used to fund a lifeboat in the north east of England.

The chairman of Amble lifeboat station, Dr Paul Creighton, welcomed everyone and took charge of proceedings. The honorary secretary, Malcolm Pritchard, was officially given the lifeboat by Dr Donald Clarke, and Guy Flatten, deputy divisional inspector for the north division, described the lifeboat and its role at the station. Mrs Dot Connell, chairman of Amble ladies' guild, gave a vote of thanks and the service of dedication which followed was led by the Reverend Graham Newman.

Mrs Clarke was then invited to name the lifeboat Thomas Campbell after which five-yearold Mary Sim, daughter of crew member Keith, presented her with a bouquet.

LDRefurbished lifeboat houses Great Yarmouth and Gorleston The recently refurbished lifeboat house for Great Yarmouth and Gorleston was officially opened and dedicated in a ceremony on Sunday 4 July 1993.

The boathouse has been refurbished and a new pen built for the Waveney class lifeboat Barham, partly funded from a legacy, a donation from the Pipeline Industries Guild, and a gift from the Civil Service Motoring Association and Frizzell Financial Services The rejuvenated boathouse provides improved amenities for the crew, launchers and shoreworkers and a gift shop and display area, including the restored former Gorleston lifeboat John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood.

Dr Ian Anderson, chairman of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston branch, welcomed those present and the station honorary secretary, Neal Duffield, outlined the history of the boathouse. He added that the station was now equipped to house an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat which would eventually replace the present smaller Atlantic 21.

The service of dedication was conducted by the station chaplain the Reverend Albert Cadmore.

Mrs Thelma Dowding, president of the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston ladies' guild, invited John Stephens, chairman of the Pipeline Industries Guild to unveil a plaque and Commandant Vonla McBride, an RNLI vice president and a member of the committee of management, then un veilec a commemorative tablet and cut the ribbon tc officially open the boathouse.

Criccieth The re-dedication of Criccieth lifeboat station, with its extended crew facilities and area for the sale of souvenirs and gifts, was held on Saturday 17 July 1993.

Those officiating were Dr E. Tudor Jones, station branch chairman, Mike Myerson, representing the Boucher estate, Lt Cdr Brian Miles, RNLI Director, Lt Cdr Peter Williams, station honorary secretary and Dafydd Wigley MP who performed the opening ceremony.

A short service was led by The Bishop of Bangor, The Right Reverend Dr Barry Morgan, assisted by The Very Reverend Canon Michael Tomkins and The Reverend W. Stanley Owen.

A final vote of thanks was given by station branch president Tysilid Jones, after which the lifeboat launched on exercise with a helicopter from RAF Valley - which was curtailed when both lifeboat and helicopter were diverted to an incident.

The boathouse extension was funded from a legacy by Mrs Eugenie Boucher, to be used to build or renovate lifeboat houses.

Criccieth is the third station to benefit so far, and all buildings are to be known as 'Penza' boathouses, after the Russian town which was Mrs Boucher's home until the 1920s. RPFiley - D class Holme Team On the warm summer evening of 6 August 1993 many supporters had travelled from West Yorkshire to witness the naming ceremony and service of dedication of Filey's D class lifeboat Holme Team, funded by the patrons of the Fleece Inn, Holme.

Mr Ronald Wilson, chairman of Filey station branch, opened proceedings by welcoming everyone present and invited Geoff Atkinson, landlord of The Fleece Inn to hand the lifeboat over to Mrs Alison Saunders, a member of the Institution's committee of management.

Mrs Saunders congratulated the Holme fundraisers on the success of their venture and wished them luck with their continuing efforts. Mr Ian Ross, honorary secretary of Filey station branch accepted the lifeboat onbehalf of the station and an interdenominational service of dedication followed, led by The Reverend Christopher Humphries, Vicar of Filey, assisted by The Very Reverend Canon Joseph O'Mahony, Captain S. Truffet and The Reverend John Girling. Mrs Eileen Hodgson, chairman of Filey ladies' guild proposed a vote of thanks.

Finally, Ann Atkinson named the lifeboat Holme Team to loud applause from the regulars of The Fleece Inn. The boat was then launched.

VPScarborough - D class ]ohn Wesley Hillard A sunny but chilly day on 11 September 1993 greeted friends and supporters for the naming of the D class lifeboat John Wesley Hillani.

The lifeboat was generously donated by the Gay and Peter Harley's Hillards charitable trust, and Gay and Peter Harley themselves were able to attend the ceremony.

Mr Sydney Carson, chairman of Scarborough station branch, opened the proceedings before Guy Flatten, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats, spoke about the inshore lifeboat and its capabilities.

Mr Simon Hartley, the son of Gay and Peter Hartley, and a trustee of the charitable trust, handed the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI. Mr Gilbert Gray QC accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI and placed it in the care of Scarborough lifeboat station, saying how grateful theRNLI was to Gay and Peter Hartley for their generosity.

After accepting the lifeboat on behalf of the station, George Exley, honorary secretary, invited the Reverend Bob Jackson, Vicar of Scarborough, to conduct the service of dedication. Mrs Kathleen Smith, chairman of Scarborough ladies' guild proposed a vote of thanks and Mrs Joanne Hartley then named the lifeboat John Wesley Hillnrd in memory of her husband's grandfather.

Simon Hartley and his wife Joanne were then kitted out in waterproofs and the crew of the D class took them out into the harbour to put the boat through her paces.

CGTenby - D class The Stanley Taylor Despite atrocious weather conditions a large crowd assembled at Tenby's inshore lifeboat house for the naming ceremony of the new D class lifeboat on Sunday 12 September 1993.

Chairman of Tenby station, Howard Griffiths, opened the proceedings with an informative speech which told of the Tenby crew's long family tradition of service. George Rawlinson, deputy inspector of lifeboats for the west division then gave a description of the history of the D class lifeboats, their performance and structure and outlined their role for the future.

The funds for the new lifeboat were donated by Mrs Georgina Stanley Taylor from Wiltshire in memory of her late husband. Her representative, Ian Gethin, recounted how, after her husband's ashes were scattered on the sea around the Scilly Isles, Mrs Stanley Taylor's ambition was to one day donate the cost of a lifeboat in his memory. He then handed the lifeboat over to Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fundraising and marketing, who accepted it on behalf of the Institution.

After a brief narration of how Mrs Stanley Taylor had approached the RNLI with her request, Mr Oliver thanked her for her generosity and handed the lifeboat over to Eric Bancroft, honorary secretary of Tenby lifeboat station.

The service of dedication, conducted by the Reverend Simon Leyshon, assisted by Captain Ray Hobbins of the Salvation Army, was followed by Mrs Stanley Taylor naming the lifeboat The Stanley Taylor..