Donations sewn up I was interested to read the letter in the Summer issue, 'Donations in lieu of reward.' This is a scheme I have operated for some time now, I have been involved with sewing machines most of my life and operated a mobile sewing machine servicing and instruction service before retirement. Friends were asking me 'just have a look at my machine' when things went wrong. On being offered payment, I suggest they give me whatever they can afford, and hence I have been able to hand over several cheques to my local Hayling Island RNLI.

This has also included payment received for talks given to organisations on my sewing machine collection, which to date is over 50 - I hope to continue this practice.

My husband and I are both yachtsmen and I am a shoreline memberwe both appreciate the work done by the RNLI.

Marie Whitworth Hayling Island Hants Scouting in Southend I have just come back from Southendon- Sea having taken 24 cub scouts to visit the lifeboat station there, and am writing to tell you what a wonderful time we had.

Mr Ware gave a very informative talk all about the history of the RNLI, the Southend lifeboats and the very up to date information on the latest call outs which of course the cubs have to know about.

It was well worth the effort of taking the boys to Southend by British Rail and going up the pier on their train.

Peggie King, 'Akela' 8th Basildon Scout Group Radio-controlled request Do any readers know of anyone who produces a kit or plans for a lifeboat of wooden construction which would be suitable for radio control? David Craggs 7 Horncastle View Havercroft Wakefield West Yorks WF4 2EQKeeping history preserved I read the feature on the National lifeboat Collection at Chatham with great interest, unfortunately the collection does not include the 'jewel in the crown', the oldest existing lifeboat in the world - the Zetland.

Built in 1802 by Henry Greathead, she served at Redcar from 1802 to 1864, saving over 500 lives. She was commissioned by Lord Dundas from Greathead when he was trying to drum up business at Whitby, and cost £200 (some £20,000 today). Zetland is the old name for the Shetland Islands and when Lord Dundas was elevated in the peerage he took the name.

As a group we have been nurturing the Zetland museum since 1980 on a voluntary basis. We are open every day from 1 May to 30 September, 11am to 4pm or parties by appointment. As well as RNLI souvenirs, we sell our own unique gifts.

G Smith Souvenir secretary Zetland museum RedcarSpare a thought for Bristol I was delighted to read the article 'Bringing history alive' about the collection of lifeboats, however, I felt that I needed to add a little to the story to give a truer perspective.

As a former lifeboat enthusiast, volunteer and boat restorer at the original Bristol lifeboat museum, I must take issue with the comment 'for the first time anywhere in the world...' The National Lifeboat Museum at Bristol, existed for many years as the first collection of lifeboats and provided the first interpretation of their history, along with stories of their crews, artefacts, archives, a library and on-site restoration.

A dedicated team of skilled volunteers gave up countless hours during evenings and weekends, working in sometimes sub-zero temperatures, to cut out rotten wood, replace decking, reconstruct rudders, strip paint, polish brass, paint the museum and give tours to the public. Funds were raised to restore first one side, then the other and then the carriage of the Lizzie Porter. Every week BASF had a team lovingly working upon her, whilst other boats like James Leath, were checked for deterioration and the engines of North Foreland were run without fail to keep them in working order.

I am delighted that the 'old ladies' are at last given the attention they have so rightly deserved, and that Chatham is able to carry out all the plans that we once had but with proper financial support. It would be appropriate, however, to spare a thought for those of us who went before - but for our groundwork, the present collection may not have been quite so 'shipshape and Bristol fashion'.

Jenny Peck Former National Lifeboat Museum volunteerIn days gone by. . .

I thought readers may be interested to see this old photograph, taken around 1916, of girls collecting for the lifeboats.

My mother, Lillian (nee) Bosworth, is the girl on the right and believes the picture was taken when she was fourteen - we do not know who the other girls were but the background scene is Rugby market.

Elizabeth Kerr Redhill SurreyGrateful thanks As a shoreline member who sails, I hoped never to be a user of the RNLI.

Paying my dues proved not to be a successful preventative measure but it did contribute in a small way to the superb service my crew and I received from the Mallaig lifeboat.

When the stern gland failed and we needed assistance, we received nothing less than we might have expected from a professional voluntary service - but to leave it at that would be to undervalue the quality of the help received. After a tow we were welcomed at the station and put in touch with all the support we needed. We were back underway in less than two hours. The recommended engineer refused to take anything for his time (it was his day off) and it was even difficult to leave him a 'liquid thank you' for him to find later on.

From now on, apart from my renewed membership, I shall be asking all my crew to make a donation to the RNLI as part of the trip.

Thank you Mallaig.

Chris Loynes Happy holidays I have just returned from a relaxing holiday in North Norfolk. It's an area of the country that I love a great deal and that I have been visiting for almost ten years.

This year I was lucky that my visit coincided with Happisburgh lifeboat Rescued memories station open day. It was beautifully sunny afternoon and, as a Shoreline member of the RNLI, I was pleased to see a large group of holiday makers and local people had turned out to support the lifeboat crew.

Can I take this opportunity to thank them for the two excellent rescue demonstrations that were watched by hundreds of people, who I hope contributed towards a very successful fundraising event - I hope find out exactly how much was raised during the afternoon.

Thanks again for a very enjoyable afternoon and my best wishes to the crew and everyone else connected with the Happisburgh lifeboat.

Steve Lee Rugby WarwickshireRescued memories It was in 1953 when the Clacton on Sea lifeboat in the capable hands of the then coxswain, George Ellis saved myself and a friend, George Harnett off the coast of Clacton.

As far as I can remember it was 23 December 1953 we decided to go fishing, we had an old row boat with one pair of oars, plus a crate of ale and a load of sandwiches. The day was fair, tide ideal and we had a compass in case of mist, and a fair amount of lugworm for we were after anything we could hook.

We rowed a couple of miles or so to the sandbanks, I was at the sharp end and we had the banks ideally covered. I heaved out anchor and, having previously made sure by our landmarks, discovered that the line was too short. I hauled the anchor in and as I was joining it up with some spare cable, George unshipped the oars, in no time the wind sprang up, we became broadside on and overboard slid an oar. I tried to use the remaining oar in the U of the transom which was so worn that it was useless - by this time the tide was on the ebb and we were heading out to sea, not a bit funny as it was becoming cold.

However, the Coastguard had seen us, two huge bangs were heard and out came George Ellis in the lifeboat. We asked for a line, but having in mind survivors rum, George hauled us on board and out came the spirits. There was of course the usual sightseers and our respective relatives, one irate wife of mine and an equally irate Mr Harnett who met us at the pierhead.

What annoyed us was we never wet a hook, nor sampled the beer and sandwiches! My wife and I ran The Angles Hotel on the seafront and we did a lot of entertaining for the lifeboat crew and with running various fundraising events we managed to raise enough money to equip the crew with pullovers, a direction finder and at Christmas provided goodies for the two lightships Barrow Deep and Mid Barrow.

Capt. (R) Arthur Brookes MBE SurreyShoreline pride I felt I had to write about my wonderful day at Chatham's Historic Dockyard to see the National Collection of lifeboats.

My camera was clicking regularly at the individual exhibits, so I would have my own photographic reminder. This was my first visit to Chatham Dockyard and the other exhibits, sights and sounds in the Wooden Walls Gallery and the vessels in the dry dock, made it a memorable day.

When on holiday, I always go to a coastal resort and have to see the lifeboat. Lifeboats are not always in view of course, some are in the stations, but a tour on board is sometimes available with a donation in the box or for buying souvenirs at the gift shop. On holiday in Littlehampton, I saw Blue Peter /coming in after a call out - again the camera was at the ready.

Some of the old lifeboatmen who no longer go out, are ready with a story and a chat, especially when I mention, which I am proud to do, that I am a Shoreline member.

Victor J Martin London.