Relief - Atlantic 75 Rotaract I On a bright November Saturday afternoon nearly 80 Rotaractors with a sprinkling of Rotarians gathered at the Poole Depot Quay for the naming ceremony of a new Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B718.

It was the culmination of four years of fundraising activities by the Rotaract Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of Rotaract in 1993. Rotaract, an acronym of Rotary in Action, was formed by Rotary in 1969 and a number of Rotary Clubs also supported the appeal to raise funds for a new lifeboat.

Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fundraising and marketing, opened the proceedings and welcomed all present before Andy Steggall, past Rotaract District 1210 Chairman, handed over the new lifeboat to the RNLI. He spoke of the many varied fundraising events that had raised money for the appeal.

Jeffery Mankertz, staff officer operations, received the new lifeboat and described its future role before the Reverend Stanley Holbrooke-Jones, Rector of Poole conducted the service of dedication.

Past District Governor, Gerry Powell, Rotary International, District 1210 in proposing a vote of thanks, paid credit to those who had conceived the idea of 'Rotaboat' as the project was known, namely Andy Keeling, Andy Steggall, Steve Powell and Tim Careless. The whole venture had been a great success.

Finally, Andy Keeling, Rotaboat Coordinator on behalf of all Rotaract Clubs named the lifeboat Rotaract IThe Poole Atlantic 75 was present throughout the ceremony and gave a demonstration on the capabilities of the lifeboat much to the delight of everyone present.Alderney's new lifeboat was officially named and dedicated at a ceremony held at the station on 18 September. The new lifeboat replaced the prototype Trent, allocated to the relief fleet, which had been on station temporarily between Spring 1994 and the arrival of the new lifeboat in July 1995.

Roy Barker I was funded from the proceeds of the RNLI's biggest ever legacy from Mr Roy Barker. Mr Barker, who had made his money from farming and livestock, retired to the Channel Island of Jersey and was a keen seafarer and great supporter of the RNLI. He left the Institution £6.5m in 1993 and the legacy is invested in anendowment trust, the interest on which should be sufficient to fund a new lifeboat carrying Mr Barker's name every three or four years.

During the ceremony, held in Alderney's small inner harbour, Mr Barker's personal assistant and companion Jane Spears officially handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI, and the naming was then carried out by HRH The Duchess of Kent.Relief Fleet - D class Cetrek Cetrek presented its D class lifeboat to the RNLI at this years London boat show where TV and stage personality Jim Davidson christened the boat Cetrek with the customary bottle of champagne. The event took place alongside the main pool at Earls Court and attracted a large crowd of press and TV crews.

Jim took much delight in the opportunity to spray the champagne over the gathered tabloid press.

Cetrek devoted 1995 to raising money for the purchase of the lifeboat in celebration of their 25th anniversary. Each time a boxed Cetrek product was purchased, a proportion of the sale price was set aside towards the cost of the lifeboat and its equipment.

Cetrek managing director, Geoff Warde presented a cheque for £11,750, covering the purchase of the boat, to Ian Ventham RNLI head of fundraising and marketing. Geoff commented, 'It is important for us as a company that our twenty fifth year didn't go by without celebration. We thought that it was particularly appropriate for us to set up a charity fund to provide a vessel for the RNLI, who like us, are based in Poole and perform an invaluable service to the boating public. We are sure Cetrek will be put to good use by the RNLI and will follow her progress over the next few years. I just hope that I don't have to call upon her services!'Relief - D Class Eleanor and Catherine Morecambe lifeboat station was tscene of the naming ceremony of relief D class lifeboat D486 on 16 September 1995.

This proved to be a quiet and intimate ceremony attended by the donors Mr and Mrs J More, Morecambe lifeboat crew and families, the Reverend G Vicars and deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the North, Guy Flatten.

Keith Willacy, Morecambe lifeboat station honorary secretary, started proceedings and welcomed everyone before Mr James More officially handed the lifeboat over to the RNLI. Guy Flatten Relief - D class Laivnflite E. P. Barrus, suppliers of Mariner outboard engines for the RNLI's D class lifeboats, know that the need for new equipment is a continuing one and therefore felt it was time to purchase their own lifeboat.

An appeal to raise funds for a D class lifeboat was initially made by the lawn and garden machinery division of Barrus, through the sales of secateurs at major gardening shows such as the RHS Chelsea flower show and BBC Gardeners world at the NEC. The balance was contributed by Barrus to ensure that the lifeboat would be in service for 1996.

At the handover of Lawn/lite, at theaccepted the lifeboat on behalf of the committee of management and invited Reverend Vicars to conduct the service of dedication.

After the service Mrs Eleanor More named the lifeboat Eleanor and Catherine and christened her with a bottle of champagne. Morecambe lifeboat station branch and crew then presented Mr and Mrs More with a beautifully inscribed glass vase as a memento of the day.

Finally, the lifeboat was launched and put through her paces in order to show Mr and Mrs More her capabilities.

London international boat show in January, Lt Cdr Brian Miles, director of the RNLI, thanked Robert Glen, managing director of E. P. Barrus for the lifeboat.

Commander Miles also said The RNLI is very grateful for Barrus' continuing commitment. The RNLI has to maintain very high standards and I may say that you and your team have contributed greatly to us maintaining these high standards. May our association continue for many more years.'Rhyl - D class Stafford with Rugeley The final chapter in the large number of September naming ceremonies saw Rhyl's new D class lifeboat officially handed over and dedicated at a ceremony at the lifeboat station on 10 September 1995.

An appeal by the RNLI's Stafford and Rugeley branch raised the £11,000 cost of the 4.9m inflatable, as well as funding equipment for Rhyl's Mersey class all-weather lifeboat.

The lifeboat was handed over to Lt Cdr Brian Miles CBE, director of the RNLI by Alan Leedham, chairman of the Stafford and Rugeley branch. Don Archer-Jones, station honorary secretary, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of Rhyl lifeboat station. Following a service of dedication conducted by the Vicar of Rhyl, Mrs Christine Hill JP named the lifeboat Stafford with Rugeley. The former Mayoress of Stafford and joint souvenir secretary of the branch, Mrs Hill was the successful entrant in a draw to choose the person to perform the naming..