Thanks to Alderney...

The RNLI has always been our favourite charity. During a Channel crossing on 19 June in our 29ft yacht we had good reason to be grateful for the support we and countless others have given the Institution.

Conditions for the crossing from Salcombe to the Channel Islands were close to ideal. What we had not bargained for and could not have predicted was the fouling of our propeller, mid-Channel, and the subsequent disappearance of the forecast Force 4 wind. We were left with no means of propulsion in a potentially dangerous situation near the Casquets TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme, the commercial shipping 'lanes'- ED) into which we were subsequently swept by the tide.

Following radio exchanges with St Peter Port and Alderney harbour radio we were safely towed in to Braye harbour by Alderney's Trent class lifeboat Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma. The courtesy and consideration shown by the lifeboat crew did not end there. They contacted an amateur diving group operating in the harbour and within 30 minutes of mooring up, our propeller had been cleared of a large quantity of fishing net and line. The divers, who had interrupted their holiday activities to help us, refused to accept any payment.

It was hard to feel, at the time, that we were in serious danger. The sun was shining, the sea was calm and no-one had been hurt. But danger there was. I knew very well that we had no hope of making any safe port before nightfall and no chance of avoiding eastbound shipping in the TSS. We owe our safe arrival in Alderney (and quite possibly much more) to the RNLI and we shall be forever grateful.

A copy of this letter, together with a cheque as a small token of that gratitude, goes to the Alderney lifeboat station. Thank you.

David King, Cheltenham.

Skipper of yacht Legere.... to Sheerness...

I am writing to you to commend the actions of the coxswain and crews of the Sheerness lifeboat and inshore lifeboat on the afternoon of Friday 19 May in response to an emergency situation following a fire aboard my sailing yacht Romilda south of the Medway approach channel.

The situation was potentially lifethreatening with the fire in danger of becoming out of control and always the risk of explosion from inflammable material or liquid.

I will always remember the feeling of relief on seeing both lifeboats approaching at speed and I cannot overstate how impressed I was with the efficiency, professionalism and good seamanship of both crews. They displayed considerable courage also in fighting the fire and I would ask that you pass on my thanks and deep appreciation for what they did.

My yacht was saved, albeit badly damaged, and myself and my crew were safely landed ashore. I am sincerely grateful for the parts played by your crews which were in the best traditions of the RNLI.

J. Ohlson, Sidcup, Kent.

... and St Davids I have recently returned from a short holiday in St Davids, Pembrokeshire and stayed, as I have done for many years, at the Old Cross Hotel.

The bar manager turned out to be Malcolm Gray, coxswain of the St Davids lifeboat at nearby St Justinians.

On learning (through my RNLI polo shirt) that I was a member, he suggested that we went down to St Justinians.

We duly arrived and met the chief mechanic, John Bateman, to whom we chatted (and listened!) for about an hour. He was most interesting and made our visit to the lifeboat more than worthwhile.

On returning to the hotel for a prelunch drink we met several members of the crew and had a very pleasant sojourn! I thought that I should like to record our appreciation and thanks for the excellent way we were received and treated and how much we learned about the service, the vessels used and so much more.

Good luck to the future of the RNLI and many thanks.

R.G.R. Denman, Westbury on Trym, Bristol...and to Swanage Thank you for rescuing myself and others aboard the yacht Rumpus west of St Alban's Head during a Poole yacht club race from Poole to Weymouth on 20 May. We were on the rocks as a result of the skipper's absentmindedness, with an unusable rudder and the yacht was in danger.

The speed, professionalism and sensitivity of the RNLI's response to our need was truly awesome. We had a helicopter, the Swanage lifeboat and an inshore lifeboat with us in what seemed like no time at all. We were towed back to Swanage and I was given a lift to the local bus station, a sympathetic and generous gesture.

Please convey my sincerest gratitude to the Swanage crew and others involved. All four of us aboard the yacht are members of the RNLI and doubtless will not forget that Saturday.

P.S. I am told that an ancestral relation designed an early lifeboat, if not the first, in Yorkshire. The Masterman family were shipbuilders in Whitby.

S.F. Masterman, Maida Vale, London.

Unexpected bonus! Following Bob O'Brien's letter in the Summer issue, I may be able to shed light on the arrival date of our landing in Ramsgate from the Dutch collier.

At Ramsgate I was given a stamped postcard by the VWS to address to my parents informing them of my survival.

They received this postcard, and it is now in my hands, the date - 31 May.

Two days later I met a young lady who was to be my wife for almost 50 years. So to the Ramsgate lifeboat and crew my sincere thanks, without them this would not have happened.

Ken Baker, Exmouth, Devon.

On the cards I am a collector of old lifeboat postcards and will be pleased to hear from any fellow readers who might have such cards for sale.

R. Peters, 90 Halsdon Avenue, Exmouth, Devon EX8 3DHThe missing years I have just finished reading the Spring 1995 issue of THE LIFEBOAT which, I hasten to add, I always enjoy. However, there is one omission which I should like to correct on page 318 under the heading ...and in New Zealand.

The article written by Dave Jeeves of Exmouth branch describes meeting up with an ex-RNLI Liverpool class lifeboat, now converted to carrying passengers at New Plymouth in New Zealand. After describing how the lifeboat served at Bridlington between 1953 -1967, there was a serious omission. This lifeboat was purchased by my Institution in 1969, shipped to New Zealand and put into full service in 1970 at Sumner, being re-named Rescue III. She served with distinction for 22 years before being sold to a private buyer in New Plymouth in 1992.

I was coxswain when Rescue III retired from active lifeboat service. Its successor is a Rother class from Sennen Cove and is proving very popular with our volunteer crew. The SLBI enjoys very close association with the RNLI and it is always a pleasure to welcome enthusiasts from other parts of the world - particularly from the UK.

THE LIFEBOAT is eagerly read by all our crew and is very popular with all our members.

W.J. Baguley, honorary secretary, Sumner Lifeboat Institution, Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Letters from readers are always welcome. Address them to The Editor, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ and mark clearly 'for publication'The reasons why While staying in Mousehole last November/December, my husband and I walked to Land's End from Sennen Cove. At Land's End I bought a fascinating book about the tragedy of the Penlee lifeboat and on our return to Sennen Cove we visited the lifeboat station.

This book and our visit prompted positive action and we became members of the RNLI. Perhaps it is visits to lifeboat stations that prompt most members to join, but I also had another reason. I used to be a surf lifesaver in Australia and felt that both 'jobs' had a lot in common.

If we lived by the coast I would have endeavoured to do something constructive for either the nearest lifeboat or lifesaving club, but as we do not then being a member of the RNLI is the next best thing._ . , , Pound for pound To all souvenir secretaries: do you have any of the round (not cylindrical) £1 coin holders in stock? I am looking for a supply for a very valued, long standing supporter and they have been discontinued by RNLI Sales.

Does anyone know of an alternative source or supply? Susan Flack, Chairman, Brentwood branch, Little Garnetts, Bishops Green, Dunmow, Essex CM6 INT.Building history Recently I re-read the Spring issue of The Lifeboat and was particularly interested in the letter on page 305 from David Herriott referring to boat houses on Holy Island. You have added notes regarding three boat houses on the island. The one built in 1908 was by Messrs J. Shewell and Co of Darlington and was of oak construction with oak pins at all joints. My father was the foreman joiner, his name being W. H. Thompson. He often later told me about his work on Holy Island and also on various other remote islands in the north. I hope this information might be of some interest to you.

H. L. Thompsom Hull Following the correspondence about Holy Island's lifeboat houses a letter from a member of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society reminded us that the society exists to further all kinds of historical research and has comprehensive records and archives.

Full details can be obtained from the Honorary Secretary, John Francis, at 13 West Way, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent BR5 1LN.Rhyme for a reason 'Poetry Now', a publishing company in Peterborough, feels it is high time that we heard from the people who drive the ambulance, put out the fire, rescue the sinking boat and enforce our laws. Editor of the project, Kerrie Pateman, wants to know how their job affects them, both socially and mentally.

How do they get up for their shift and do it all over again, day in day out? What makes them go back for more? If you work for any of the emergency services or are involved with someone who does, Kerrie would love to hear from you for a new anthology about the people who do these jobs. Readers are invited to submit up to two poems (max. 30 lines each) for consideration. Royalties will be paid to all those who have work published.

Entries must reach 'Poetry Now', Emergency!, 1 Wainman Road, Woodstone, Peterborough PE2 7BU no later than 30 November 1995.

Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope - unused work will be returned.

Trudi Ramm Project Coordinator, 'Poetry Now'.