The RNLI's Annual Meetings for 1995, held on 18 May, took place at a new venue in London - the Barbican Centre in the City.

The move from the South Bank Centre was a break with the tradition of the past few years and the new venue, chosen for the facilities it was able to provide, proved almost ideal with a great deal more space for the Institution to set up displays illustrating many aspects of its work.

During the course of the day the Chairman was able to report yet another successful year for the Institution, but he also sounded a note of caution - legacy income, which provides such a substantial part of the RNLI's income, had fallen during 1994 and the trend had continued into 1995. With a major capital programme under way this would need to be watched closely.

Medals for Gallantry presented at the Barbican Centre on 18 May 1995 Helmsman Stuart Roberts Silver Medal issue of THE LIFEBOAT.

Coxswain Hewitt Clark Silver Medal Coxswain Hewitt Clark and the crew of Lerwick's Arun rescued 67 seamen from a stranded factory ship in appalling weather conditions on 31 October 1994. The lifeboat had to go into a narrow opening between the ship and a rocky shore more than 70 times in total darkness to rescue them. The remainder of the crew were awarded Thanks on Vellum. A full report of the service appeared in the Spring 1995 Helmsman Stuart Roberts of Porthcawl's D class inflatable rescued a surfer in very rough seas and weather conditions outside the normal limits for this class of inshore lifeboat. Despite the short duration the service was superbly executed in severe surf, wind and tidal conditions which demanded excellent boathandling and seamanship as well as a high degree of bravery to launch in such conditions. A full report of the service appears in this issue of THE LIFEBOAT.

Coxswain/Mechanic Michael Bowden Bronze Medal Coxswain/Mechanic Michael Bowden of Appledore's Tyne class lifeboat went to the aid of a fishing vessel which had lostpoweron one engine near Appledore's infamous Bar. The lifeboat reached the casualty quickly, despite the worst, conditions ever seen on the bar, but could not tow her back in because of the seas. A long tow to llfracombe was the only alternative in the prevailing weather conditions and so llfracombe lifeboat launched to stand by and later played a part in the tow. Her coxswain was awarded the Institution's Thanks on Vellum. A full report of the service appears in this issue of THE LIFEBOAT.

Cox/Mech Cox/Mech Neil Brockman Terry George Bronze Medal Bronze Medal Coxswain/Mechanic Neil Brockman of Penlee's Arun class lifeboat and Coxswain/ Mechanic Terry George of Sennen Cove's Mersey class were awarded their medals for the same service - a joint one to a fishing vessel in Force 9 winds and appalling sea conditions. Sennen Cove lifeboat was the first to be called but the weather was so bad that Penlee was also called out and at one stage both lifeboats were needed to make any progress with the tow.

The service lasted more than nine hours, mostly in complete darkness and with winds gusting to 82mph. Both crews suffered badly from sea-sickness but both coxswains showed skill and coolness in establishing their tows and co-operated fully with each other during the service.A full report appears in this issue of THE LIFEBOAT.More people helped than in any year before More lifeboat launches than ever before Total income up nearly 5% Legacy income down 4% Expenditure up 19%As usual events began in the morning, with the Annual General Meeting for Governors of the RNLI. Some 356 Governors attended to hear the Chairman, Sir Michael Vernon, outline the high points of a busy year for the lifeboats.

As an illustration of the way the RNLI was using the financial resources of those present in the most effective way Sir Michael took the two Silver Medals for Gallantry which were to be presented that afternoon as an example of the Institution's flexibility.

He contrasted the way in which Lerwick's coxswain, Hewitt Clark, was able to use his 52ft all-weather Arun to take no less than 67 seamen off a stricken commercial vessel in Storm Force winds with the way in which Stuart Roberts, the helmsman of Porthcawl's D class inflatable, was able to snatch a lone surfer to safety in conditions well outside the normal limits for that class of lifeboat. The other award-winning services during the year also illustrated the wide variety of lifeboat work, with the casualties including fishing vessels, yachts and four services to people in the water.

This not only shows the versatility of the lifeboat service,' said the Chairman, 'it is also a reminder that the RNLI is there for everyone, even those who must never have expected to need our help.' The statistics for 1994 showed the lifeboat service to be busier than ever with 1,624 lives saved by RNLI crews and nearly a thousand more brought ashore from potentially dangerous situations - the highest total ever for a single year. Lifeboat services were also at an all-time high, with 6,119 launches.

One interesting aspect highlighted by the Chairman was that while in ten years the number of launches had risen by some 70% the average length of a service by an all-weather boat had fallen by 20% to around two hours. This fall - as well as indicating a faster response to the casualty - was also welcomed by the lifeboat crews, added Sir Michael.

With some crews answering more than 100 calls a year plus training and exercises the amount of time they were being asked to commit to the lifeboat service was considerable.

As a result of the human and financial resources available to the RNLI it was able to respond to the ever-increasing activity around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

During 1994 alone 10 new inshore lifeboats were added around the coasts - representing a 7% expansion in inshore lifeboat operation.

This additional need had been particularly marked in Ireland where Larne in the north and Bundoran, Galway and Kilrush in the Republic have either received or are soon to receive inshore lifeboat cover for the first time. At Fenit in County Kerry an all-weather station has been re-established as a result of the Institution's constant monitoring of casualty potential.

Although the Institution could be proud of its achievements in responding to emergencies Sir Michael remarked that it was a cause for concern that so many people were finding themselves in need of such help, and explained how the RNLI was making progress in trying to prevent these situations in the first place.

'Safety first has always been the motto in lifeboat operation and design,' he said, 'and we have begun to do our utmost to persuade all sea users to adopt a similar prudence.' The Sea Safety initiative which had begun in 1993 was beginning to bear fruit, with close links forged with other sea safety organisations and four of a series of helpful booklets now available. A general booklet was backed up by three others aimed at preventing the most common cause of a lifeboat service - machinery failure - in pleasure boats, fishing vessels and divers' support boats. The Institution's extensive database has identified this as the most common cause of failure, and the better it is able to identify exactly why the machinery has failed the better it will be able to address ways of prevention.

'But,' the Chairman continued, 'when accidents do happen our primary task is still to be on the scene as quickly as humanly and technically possible,' pointing out that all the RNLI's capital projects are geared to that purpose.

Expenditure on new 25-knot lifeboats and improved equipment doubled in 1994 and although engine transmission problems on the first of the production Trents caused a frustrating delay they will be back on schedule before the end of the year.

The first production 17m Severn will be on station duty at Stornoway this summer and, with seven 32-knot Atlantic 75s already on the coast, the RNLI has begun to establish an even faster lifeboat fleet fit for the 21st century.

Electronics have also helped to improve performance in the field of navigation. Charts are now available on laser disc and, with the new systems fitted to every Severn and Trent, crews will be able to track their passage on a visual display and record the detail for future reference.

Another new item of equipment has also proved its worth. The new automatically inflating lifejacket for use aboard all-weather boats is not only popular among crews for its greater comfort, it has already saved the life of a crew member from Appledore who was swept overboard in darkness and heavy seas.

Although in the water for 35 minutes his lifejacket functioned perfectly Along with new technology must come the shore facilities to match, giving crews every chance to save time during launching as well as at sea. Forty-six new shoreworks projects were completed during 1994 with many other stations and slipways undergoing major renovation or repairs.It is never easy to reconcile the needs of a modern lifeboat station with the planning concerns of a picturesque seaside town, but nevertheless two projects finished last year, at St Ives and Aldeburgh, shows that the Institution can provide buildings of which the community and the RNLI can be equally proud.

Maintaining complex modern lifeboats has required the RNLI to review its methods of servicing and a new network of divisional workshops which also control planned maintenance programmes is fully established.

So, too, are the new facilities at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes to handle the maintenance and renewal of a 260- strong inshore fleet.

The RNLI is not unique among those who provide an essential public service and who, partly because of the opportunity to use increasingly sophisticated equipment, are faced with a growing demand. The universal problem, said Sir Michael, is finding the money, not just for immediate needs but to guarantee an adequate service well into the future.

26 countries, including the RNLI, attended the 17th International Lifeboat Conference in Montevideo in February, and the Institution's voluntary method of achieving these financial goals was the envy of many lifeboat organisations. Much was learned at that conference; the Estonia disaster was fully aired, the loss of two men from a German rescue cruiser which capsized was discussed and many innovations in lifeboat design and rescue techniques addressed.

Turning to the 1994 accounts the Chairman remarked that they illustrated how the RNLFs voluntary methods set such a good example to the world. Overall income had increased by 5% to £64.6m, covering the much increased expenditure of £56.8m - up by 19% on 1993 due largely to building more new lifeboats and improving shore facilities.

However, legacy income - for so long the largest contribution to RNLI funding - fell by 4% and this decline has continued into 1995. This was, Sir Michael pointed out, a cause for concern and although it might be a temporary situation other large charities had experienced similar falls. Increased competition between charities and the decline of property values are obvious factors, but the Institution was researching the problem and if it is a tide it would do all it could to stem it.

In the short term, the Chairman emphasised, the only reason that the RNLI could guarantee to implement its substantial capital spending plan in the next five years was because it had built up sufficient reserves to underwrite it.

However during 1994 the fall in legacy income had been compensated for by some very successful direct fundraising, not least the BBC 'Blue Peter' appeal, which brought in £1.4m, and the branches and guilds which once again outperformed their previous best Successful regional campaigns for new boats, equipment and buildings played their part, including the City of London, Humber, Guernsey and the City of Birmingham appeals.

There were, said Sir Michael, now nearly 38,000 governors and life governors of the RNLI and in 1994 30,000 new individual supporters were recruited. The junior Club, Storm Force, had increased to over 22,000 members and the RNLI's aims to involve yet more children had taken a further step forward with a new education resource pack for primary schools.

The Chairman finished his report of the year with his thanks to the Governors present, and all of those who worked so hard in support of the lifeboat service.

The meeting then dealt with the official business of the day, re-electing the Committee of Management and auditors and dealt with questions from the floor.Later that day, at 1430, the Chairman opened the annual presentations of the awards which had been made both to voluntary workers and lifeboatmen during 1994.

Some 1,450 people were present to hear Sir Michael open the proceedings with his account of the RNLI's year.

The events of the recent VE day anniversary commemorations, he said, had brought Sir Winston Churchill to mind, and with them the famous words of his famous 1924 speech for the RNLI's 100th anniversary.

Presenting the figures announced at the morning meeting the Chairman referred to the fall in legacy income, and also made the point that there would be more casualties needing assistance Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent addresses the meeting before presenting the awards.

next year, and more still the year after. Today's fundraisers, he insisted, were working not only for today's lifeboats and their crews but also those of the future.

Rounding off his address with Sir Winston's rousing 1924 words Sir Michael finished by introducing the guest of honour, HRH The Duchess of Kent, whose husband had received a Gold medal at the same ceremony the year before to mark his 25-year association with the Institution. The Chairman remarked that the honour had also reflected the RNLI's feelings for the Duchess and the work which she too carried out so often on its behalf.

Her Royal Highness began on a light note, recalling that on her previous visit to the Barbican she had been left virtually alone on the stage when a suspicious package had led to a hurried evacuation. She was sure, she added, that Sir Michael and the lifeboat coxswains and crews would not leave her in such a predicament! The Duchess went on to say how much of a symbol the lifeboat has become - so much so that she used the service as an example when addressing other bodies with which she was involved. It was, she said, a symbol of courage, of respect for others, comradeship and perhaps above all, trust.

The VE day commemorations, she added, had made us all aware of the courage shown 50 years ago. That courage is alive today, the Duchess said, and it is illustrated by those about to receive their medals for gallantry.

That courage also extended to the families of the lifeboatmen, and she recalled a sad occasion over 13 years ago when she had spoken with the families bereaved by the Penlee disaster.

Among them was a 17-year-old whose father had been the coxswain of the lifeboat. He was among the first to volunteer for the crew of the new Penlee boat, had become the coxswain and was now here to receive a Bronze Medal for Gallantry. What better example, she asked, could there be of the spirit of the RNLI? Having proposed the resolution recognising the gallantry of the lifeboat crews and the dedication of all voluntary workers the Duchess remarked how proud she was to be present before presenting the awards to fundraisers and the gallantry Medals.

Brief details of the services leading to the Gallantry Medals are given on page 3 and a full list of awards presented to voluntary workers appears on page 31 of this issue..