In appreciation...

Back in September 1992 Andrew McDonald was sailing his father's yacht Whisky Mac when she ran into trouble near the Channel Islands - see The Lifeboat, Winter 1992/3 - and the Alderney lifeboat was launched to her aid.

Andrew is a talented artist, with maritime subjects his speciality, and after being brought safely ashore promised the crew of the Waveney class Louis Marches! of Round Table that he would paint a picture of the rescue and give it to the station as a token of his appreciation.

When Andrew had completed the work there remained one problem -transporting a 40in by 28in painting safely to the island! By good fortune the station's crew were at Poole during February to train on the new Trent class boat which is to be their temporary station lifeboat.

Andrew was therefore able to hand the painting over in person to the coxswain of the Alderney lifeboat, Steve Shaw.Long Service Badges The Long Service Badge for crew members and shore helpers who have given active service for 20 years or more has been awarded to: Bangor - Crew member J. Mullan Beaumaris - Crew member J.G.L. Parry Kinghorn - Crew member W.J.

Mclntosh Lowestoft - Coxswain J.W. Catchpole Rhyl - Crew member D. Simmons, shore helper J.H. Vickers Southwold - Crew member J.P.A.

Adnams St Bees - Crew member C. Patterson St Ives - Second coxswain mechanic T.

Cocking Tynemouth - Assistant mechanic G.

Cowan On Station The following lifeboats have taken up station duties: ALL-WEATHER Aldeburgh - Mersey 12-34 (ON 1193) Freddie Cooper on 19 December 1993.

INSHORE Criccieth - B531 Foresters on 4 December 1993.

Sheringham - B702 Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows on 29 January 1994. Note: B702 is the first of the new Atlantic 75 class to be placed on station.

Flamborough - B703 Jason Logg on 16 February 1994.

Relief - D444 Sharpe's Classic All Seasons on 9 February 1994.The winning touch Actress Wendy Craig, a keen supporter of the lifeboat service, drew the winning tickets of the RNLI's 64th national lottery on 31 January. The first prize was a Volvo 460Li car donated by Volvo Car UK and the draw took place at the company's headquarters in Marlow.

Volvo has supported the Institution for a number of years, helping to fund two all-weather lifeboats and shoreworks. The draw was made at Marlow to give Volvo staff a chance to participate and see the results of their efforts.

In charge of proceedings were Charles Hunter-Pease, managing director of Volvo Car UK and a member of the Institution's fundraising committee, and Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fundraising and marketing.

The draw raised over £160,000 and the prize winners were: Volvo 460LI car - Mrs M. Hullah, Wetherby, West Yorkshire.

£1000 - L. McCarton, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.£500 - C.J. Holland, Northolt, Middlesex.

£250 - Mr & Mrs W. Stewart, Gillingham, Kent.

£100 - P.E. Evans, Llnwrda, Dyfed; Miss Elliott, Canvey Island, Essex; Major J. Showell-Rogers, Poole, Dorset; R.F. Lyddon, Bideford, Devon; Ticket No. 137387Q(name and address illegible, please submit a claim) £50 - Mrs J.R. Crooks, Bath, Avon; P.

The Other parts The RNLI is renowned for never saying no to those requiring assistance on water - but a recent call to Barnham stretched the interpretation a little - as it is 15 miles by road from Selsey and 8 miles inland! Two people were marooned in a car by flash floods and a complex of homes for the elderly, which housed 200 people, was also giving cause for concern.

Sussex Fire Services asked Solent Coastguard for assistance and they in turn alerted Selsey and Shoreham lifeboat stations. Selsey's honorary secretary, Clive Cockayne, and Coxswain Mike Grant mustered the crew and loaded the D class lifeboat onto a lorry, having made sure that a full crew was left to man the all-weather lifeboat.

On arrival at Barnham they ferried 40 elderly people to safety, plus other civilians - although the lifeboat was 'stranded' for a while on top of a street bollard.

When checking a coach for casualties, with water almost up to the top of its windows, the lifeboat bumped into a car which had been swept down by the flood, crashing into the coach which had been swung sideways across the road.

During its searching one of the lifeboat's sponsor compartments was punctured - by a keep left sign under the railway bridge - but with everyone accounted for the lifeboat was released after three hours.

What was that about 'reaching the parts that other...' Thomas, Lower Langford, Avon; C.

Cooper, Little Horsted, East Sussex; K.J. Jarman, Ottershaw, Surrey; W.A.

Dunlop, Doonfoot, Ayr.

New Years Honours Her Majesty the Queen has honoured the following for their services to the RNLI in this year's New Year Honours list: Lt Cdr Brian Miles CBE, director, RNLI James Budge MBE, coxswain of Longhope lifeboat Archibald Henley MBE, coxswain of Bembridge lifeboat Robert Kemp MBE, coxswain of Walton and Frinton lifeboat Peter Murray MBE, coxswain of Anstruther lifeboat Mrs Theltna Dowding MBE, president of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston ladies' guild Mrs Louie Rigby MBE, president of Silloth and District branch Another award with RNLI connections, but not for services to the Institution, was made to: William Morrison CBE, Chief Scout, (The Scout Waveney class lifeboat is stationed at Hartlepool).A Special Relationship Tim James is a sergeant in the American Air Force, based at RAF Edzell,and became involved with Montrose lifeboat station about 18 months ago, eventually becoming an enrolled crew member on the station's Tyne class lifeboat Moonbeam. As Tim is probably the only American serviceman in a lifeboat crew we asked him for his background and his reasons for joining the crew: I had to think quite a bit about what I could say, deciding in the end to just describe what one might call the 'special relationship' I have come to have with Great Britain.

I arrived in Great Britain in 1982, a young American serviceman with high expectations of what life 'over the sea' would be like. After a total of seven years here my wife Sherry and I still feel a special affection for Britain and almost consider it home.

Today, I am still an American serviceman, currently attached to the US Air Force detachment at RAF Edzell in Angus, Scotland, but I am also a crew member on the Montrose lifeboat Moonbeam.

My interest in the RNLI goes back to 1982 when I first became aware of the lifeboat service. I remember seeing a television documentary on the RNLI and was full of respect for the service it provided.

After my first tour in Suffolk, I was reassigned back to America in 1985. My new assignment was in Colorado Springs and while there I became certified as an emergency medical technician. Wanting to put my training to use I joined the local mountain rescue team and came to enjoy the satisfaction and comraderie associated with volunteering to help others in need.

When I returned to Britain I really missed the opportunities I had in Colorado and searched for some way to become involved in the community. Sherry and I always try to take advantage of the opportunity we have been given to associate with local communities in an overseas area.

By becoming involved in our community we have the chance to give something back for the hospitality we receive.

After another 21/2 years in Suffolk we decided to make the move to Scotland, and it was here that I had the opportunity of becoming involved with the RNLI. My experience with the lifeboat is something I will always treasure. The first day I showed up at the lifeboat to ask if I could become involved the coxswain, Bill Cargill, looked me in the eye and asked if I was sure.

When I said yes he handed me some kit and began the process of training me. After a year with the crew I can say this really is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The way the crew accepted me and showed me immense patience as I learned the ropes is a testament to their true professionalism. I look forward to the next couple of years I will have with Moonbeam and will truly miss her when I leave..