Memorial memories I have been commissioned to write a book on the Maritime Memorials and Mementoes of Great Britain which will be published by Patrick Stephens about the end of 1994.

To supplement the information which I have collected over the past fifteen years I am asking whether readers of THE LIFEBOAT can add to my list by sending details of maritime memorials for inclusion in my book.

There is a marvellous story concerning the naval history of this country and the deeds of our seafarers recorded in the monuments and memorials within our churches and elsewhere.

David Saunders, Woosung, Pointf ields, Hakin, Milf ord Haven, Pembrokeshire SA73 3EBRecollections from Gorleston While visiting RNLI headquarters to look around and buy Christmas presents, I went into the museum and saw pictures and a model of Coxswain Henry Blogg.

This was a man I knew well from my days as a volunteer at the Gorleston lifeboat house in 1933. After launching the boat it was my task to light the boiler to provide hot water to allow the crew and survivors to take a bath when the boat returned. I was also responsible for arranging hot drinks and dry clothing.

Although Coxswain Blogg was in charge of the Cromer lifeboat, if the weather was too rough he would bring his boat into Gorleston. I think it was in the December of 1933 when the Cromer crew saved the lives of the skipper and his mate from the Sepoy. It was for this rescue that Henry was awarded one of his gold medals. On this occasion the crew of the Sepoy tied themselves to the rigging to stop the storm blowing them away. How I remember the relief for these poor men once they were back on dry land.

My friend and I used to sit and talk to Coxswain Joe Johnson who was also the landlord of The Lifeboat Tavern. He would relate his lifeboat stories to the summer visitors which always helped to fill the collecting box on his counter.

A neighbour of mine in Gorleston was Second Coxswain Halfnight who would let us go out on fundraising trips in the reserve boat Elizabeth Simpson. We would go to the Scroby Sands about four miles off Gorleston pier to see the colony of grey seals. Another of my memories at Gorleston was the sight of 35 steam cargo boatsanchored in the Yarmouth Roads riding out the severe gale which lasted eight days.

George Bracey, Bournemouth, DorsetThe Reasons Why...

I have just read the Winter 1993/4 issue of THE LIFEBOAT and saw that the Institution's membership scheme, now known as Shoreline, started 25 years ago.

Have you ever wondered why people who do not own boats and have no connection with the sea join Shoreline? My interest in the RNLI started 31 years ago during a week's holiday on the Isle of Wight with my school from London. I was 11 years old and we had an afternoon trip to Bembridge lifeboat station. Since then my favourite charity has always been the RNLI.

Twenty years ago I left London and moved to the Isle of Wight. Apart from being surrounded by it, my only connection with the sea is two or three return crossings a year on one of the Isle of Wight ferries. Ten years ago I joined Shoreline after seeing an advertisment in a national daily paper.

As long as the brave men and women of the RNLI risk their lives going out in all weathers to rescue those in peril on the sea, I shall continue to support the RNLI and Shoreline - paying with a deed of covenant of course.

C. Williams, Shanklin, Isle of Wight.The Rye Disaster It was most interesting to me to read the letter from Mrs Reynolds of Winchester on the Rye lifeboat disaster (The Lifeboat Winter 1993/4).

I, too, was a small girl at that time living in Eastbourne where my father (Lt Simmons) was stationed as district officer of HM Coastguard. I well remember that night, as my father and the crew of Eastbourne Coastguard station were on duty all night and the weather was atrocious. Such a strong _ wind that a large wall near us in Addingham Road was blown down.

It was, as Mr Hutchinson states in his book, the delay in communication that was the cause of the failure to cancel the launch of the Mary Stanford. In those days the telephone was the only means of communication between coastguard and lifeboat stations. No two-way radio then.

There is a beautiful memorial to the Mary Stanford and crew in Winchelsea Church and the people of Rye are proud of their memory.

My father regarded the disaster as a terrible and unnecessary tragedy.

Mrs P. Matthews, Hastings.Essential Holiday Companions! Well, that's two issues of The Lifeboat which won't be following the rest to the doctor's waiting room! The Autumn 1993 edition with The Lifeboat Spotter's Guide' and the Winter 1993/4 with The Lifeboat Fleet' will need to be taken along on all seaside holidays in future - unless, that is, the RNLI decide to publish this information as a small booklet - perhaps amplified with GA line drawings of the boats as well as photographs.

There would surely be a considerable demand for this among Shoreline and Storm Force members.

It would be interesting to learn what other members think of this idea - and what the RNLI thinks too, of course! L. Trotman, Olton, Solihull.

Editor's Note: A new series of RNLI leaflets will be available shortly - one of which includes a version of the 'Spotters' Guide'. We hope to repeat the lifeboat fleet listing annually, but in the meantime 'On Station' in each issue of the journal will enable readers to keep their information up-to-date.History of the Number Steamers For many years, up to the opening of the Humber bridge, the Royal Naval Association chartered one of the paddle steamers which operated the Hull-New Holland ferry for a memorial service at Spurn.

During this annual event the paddle steamer, usually Lincoln Castle, would drop anchor in sight of the Spurn lighthouse and after a service wreaths would be cast on the waters from the car deck.

I am trying to piece together the last fifty years of the Humber paddle steamers and wonder if anyone has any photographs taken at the service, or any other excursions towards the mouth of the Humber.

The ferry service ceased over ten years ago and the Lincoln Castle is now preserved in Grimsby.

Any help would be appreciated and all letters will be answered. I took a few slides myself but unfortunately they do not copy very well. There were many photographers on board and maybe some ashore who have pictures I could borrow.

Barry Beadle, Flat 6, Ferensway House, 54 Prospect Street, Hull HU2 8NRPort Yarrock relatives sought I write to ask if you would kindly bring to the notice of your readers a local project of maritime interest.

On 29 January 1894, the 3-masted barque Port Yarrock was wrecked on the shores of Brandon Bay, West Kerry, with the loss of all 20 on board.

The master was Thomas Forbes, first mate C.H. Royal (or Royle), second mate G. O'Keeffe, crew members T. McCulloch, R. Grant, H.

Harrison, H.J. Kanshilt, Paterson, Hansen, Pellefero, Homberg, Mase, O.Berman, Olsen, ]. Carnie, J. Evans.Apprentices W.T. Baines, C.J. Gardiner, G.H. Deswell, B.T.

Eaton, H. Everett, A.F. Wells. I have copied these names from a contemporary newspaper article so some may be misspelled.

The tragic event left a profound impression on the people of this area. We now wish to commemorate the centenary in a suitable manner. It would be wonderful if we could trace relatives of the crew.

I should also mention a Mr (or Captain) Ensor who came here about 1911 to salvage the cargo of copper ore and lived here for a couple of years with his wife and three daughters.

I myself grew up and still live in the house originally built for him.

Mrs S. Mulcahy, Cloghane, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.Thanks to the crews We were on holiday on our favourite island, Arran, in our favourite cottage tucked away on a hillside with a fine view of the Firth of Clyde.

Our youngest daughter, then sixteen, decided to go out on the Clyde in a small boat we had on the shore.

It was a lovely evening and I needed very little persuasion, the water was as still as a mill pond and very inviting so we took the boat out and had a pleasant row round the headland and back. Julia wanted to stay out and rowed out to the headland and back again, but instead of pulling in she rowed past the cove in the other direction. I tried to keep calm, telling myself that she would soon turn round and come back, but the boat got smaller and smaller. The wavesalso were getting choppier, the sun was beginning to sink, as was my heart.

I had to act, and fast. I ran up to the house, dialled 999 and asked for the lifeboat service. They asked exactly where I was, which direction the boat had disappeared and what type of boat. They were marvellous, told me to stay calm and promised to get the lifeboat launched immediately.

'Stay near the phone and we will keep in touch' said the calm voice.

After what seemed an eternity the lifeboat came into view and then that too disappeared. Dusk was falling in earnest, the chill night air was making me shiver and apprehension began to grow when, at last, I spotted a large boat dragging a smaller one behind.

I tore down to the beach to see the crew pull the little boat in and lift out a bedraggled Julia.

She had lost an oar overboard and the current had carried her out into the wider waters of the Clyde. The lifeboatmen were superb and waved my apologies away. Only later, when we were listening to the news, did we realise that there had been three lifeboats out looking for our daughter, two from the mainland and one from the island.

We were glad to send a donation in thanks to the RNLI to whom we will always be in debt and we will certainly never, ever underestimate the sea again. Clare Pierson, Starbeck, Harrogate..