Banking on their support Among the thousands competing in the New York marathon last November was a young lady wearing a Lizard lifeboat Tshirt.

The young lady in question was Elizabeth Foster, born and bred in Mullion, but now living in London where she works for an American bank.

When the bank offered to pay all expenses for her to take part in the New York marathon it was too good an opportunity to miss and Elizabeth agreed to run and raise money for The Lizard lifeboat.

Two weeks before she left for New York Elizabeth returned home to be interviewed on BBC Radio Cornwall and the drive for sponsorship began. She completed the race in 4 hours 9 minutes and raised £1,200.

Berwick gets better Since North Berwick's new boathouse opened in November 1991 takings have soared.

The old boathouse was seldom open to the public and the box set in the wall raised about £300 per season. Now things have changed for the better! The summer of 1992 brought in £1,450, takings doubled in 1993 and the 1994 season realised £3,920.

The station is mentioned in the East Lothian Tourist Board brochure, posters have been distributed to local hotels to encourage people to visit the station and its lifeboat and a TV set (generously donated by Mitsubishi) enables videos to be shown.

As can be seen by the signatures in the visitors book, people from all over the world and nearly every county and region in the UK have been to the station and it is hoped that 1995 will be even better.

Open all hours An idea that started as a station open day, to allow locals to see 'their lifeboat' and meet the crew, was taken on board by the Mudef ord crew and supporters with such enthusiasm that it grew into a very successful public relations and fundraising event, raising over £3,200.

The Mudeford ladies' guild and crew invited branches from Christchurch, New Milton, Highcliffe and Burton to join forces for the event last September, the first attempt at such a joint venture, and proved such a success that it is hoped to repeat the event this year.

The Mayor of Christchurch, Councillor Ed Coope, opened proceedings and was delighted to watch the exercise between the lifeboat and the rescue helicopter from Lee on Solent.

A Fay re deal! With the kind permission of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch a highly successful Victorian Christmas Fayre was held at Bowhill House, their magnificent stately home near Selkirk.

Among the many distinguished visitors were Sir David Steel MP, Ludovic Kennedy, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch (hosts) and Lady Polwarth.

The fayre, sponsored by Middlemas of Kelso and co-ordinated by Sheena Haire of Ha wick, was a joint effort by Eyemouth, Peebles, Coldstream, Galashiels, Melrose, Selkirk and Ha wick branches, supported by St Abbs and Eyemouth lifeboat station branches. Attractions included the Eyemouth fishermen's choir, Rikki the magician, Cuffy Bear, the Embleton Handbell Ringers and many stalls selling homemade crafts and produce.

The setting provided a wonderful Victorian atmosphere, further enhanced by members of the branches involved dressing in a variety of period costumes. The resultant £3,000 was a great boost to lifeboat funds.

Mumbles money A cheque for £25,000 was recently presented to the Institution by the Mumbles Lifeboat Crew Association. The money was the proceeds of the 1993 and 1994 annual raft races organised by the MLC A.

This year will be the 12th race to be run - an estimated 14,000 people turned out to cheer on 55 rafts in the 1994 race.

Mumbles lifeboat station itself recently received £600 for new training equipment from Associated British Ports, owners of the ports of Swansea and Port Talbot.

Captain Roy Griffiths, station honorary secretary, thanked Ray Klinck, port manager, saying 'In-house training is an integral part of RNLI policy. In these days of constant change in electronic and navigational systems it is essential to have the appropriate tools with which to train our crew members. The finance for the new video and television is gratefully appreciated.' Sickbay slim During HMS Ark Royal's Adriatic deployment last year, various fundraising activities were devised in aid of charity.

The sickbay's involvement was aimed towards promoting healthy living and fitness on board, with the RNLI as the chosen charity.

To this end Surgeon Commander A.

Yates instituted a voluntary sponsored weight reduction programme and the sickbay staff held a 24-hour marathon on an exercise bike, resulting in a cheque for £500 being forwarded to the Institution.

Oliver asks for more! 12-year-old Oliver Puckering, son of the secretary of St Albans and District branch took part in Redbourn Methodist Church's pantomime playing the part of Sleepy the dwarf.

The church performs its pantomimes for charity, and Oliver suggested that the RNLI should be one of two charities to benefit. Unaware of this, his grandfather John Cox who is chairman of the branch, went to see Oliver's performance on the final night - and at the end of the show the producer called him on stage to receive a cheque on behalf of the Institution.

Thanks to Oliver's foresight and keenness the lifeboat service received £400.

In Brief DECEMBER saw a carol service with a difference for Cheltenham branch.

Victorian/Edwardian dress was the order of the evening as supporters stepped aboard a steam train at Toddington. Steaming into Winchcombe station passengers were welcomed by the Cheltenham silver band playing carols. Father Christmas and the Pearly King and Queen mingled with the singers and after steaming back to Toddington supporters were welcomed at the Flag and Whistle for hot punch and mince pies.

Thanks to sponsorship from the Gloucester & Worcester railway and the Cheltenham Silver Band plus of course the stalwart band of supporters, a splendid sum of £1,500 was realised from the event. The branch were also the recipients of a cheque for £102 raised by patrons of the Frogmill at Shipton from a Christmas raffle.

THE Lostwithiel and District branch held its second annual dinner dance at the Golf and Country Club. The event was given the title Catherine Rashleigh to commemorate the launching of Fowey's very first lifeboat of that name in 1859, then stationed at Polkerris. Among the guests was Sir Richard Rashleigh whose family were largely instrumental in bringing the lifeboat to Fowey and a raffle, donations and the sale of Christmas cards raised £355.

DURING December the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway operated over 40 Santa Special trains from Hythe to New Romney and back, raising £846 for the Littlestone-on-Sea lifeboat station. The total raised by the Railway for the RNLI in 1994 was £2,627..