Overseas greetings RNLI Deputy Director, Ray Kipling, recently received a letter and some photographs from Fernando Andrade, secretary of the Uruguayan lifeboat service ADES. The picture above shows the Montevideo station lifeboat ADES 14, formerly RNLI Solent class lifeboat City of Birmingham, going to the aid of a sinking vessel.

The ADES, founded in 1955, has a small number of part time paid staff and receives some money from the government.

The volunteer crews currently operate three ex-RNLI lifeboats from three stations around the coast.Anthony's last lot NATIONAL LOTTERY DRAW Anthony is presented with a memento of his 14 years as RNLI lottery promoter by Ian Ventham, head of fundraising and marketing - a mini lottery drum and plaque! Anthony Oliver, RNLI deputy head of fundraising and marketing, gathered staff representing all departments of the Institution's headquarters to draw his final lottery before he retired at the end of 1996.

Anthony, promoter of the lottery for the past 14 years, has worked for the Institution as a staff member since 1966 and has been a supporter since 1959.

The 75th lifeboat lottery raised over £96,000 - the cash prize winners were: £2,000 Dr C. A. Higgins, Buxton, Derbyshire £1,000 Mrs M. Ferrier, Bognor Regis, West Sussex £750 Mrs M. Gibbs, Exeter, Devon; Mrs V. Fraser, Erdington, Birmingham £500 Mr D. L. Ratcliffe, Braintree, Essex £250 Mr R. J. Gibbs, Bilston, West Midlands £100 Mrs C. J. Burt, Bridport, Dorset; Mrs M. A.

D. J. Harry, Penzance, Cornwall; Mrs V. Duligal, Stafford; Mr P. Kirkaldy, Bradford, West Yorkshire; Mr I. Perry ARPS ABIPP, Maylandsea, Essex £50 Mrs C. Moss, Marcham, Oxon; Mrs R. Gilfillan, Paisley, Renfrewshire; Mr I.

Werry-Easterbrook, Plymouth, Devon; Mr C. J.

Rafe, Brough, East Yorkshire; Mr E. Thewlis, Bishopton, Renfrewshire.

On Station The following lifeboats have taken up duty: ALL-WEATHER Achill Island - Waveney class 44-009 (ON 1027) Helen Turnbull on 28 August 1996 Harwich - Severn class 17- 03 (ON 1202) Albert Brown on 2 October 1996 Fowey - Trent class 14-18 (ON 1222) Maurice and Joyce Hardy on 10 October 1996 INSHORE Holyhead - D507 Spirit of Bedworth and Nuneaton on 21 August 1996 Torbay - D504 Spirit of RFC on 26 September 1996 Burnham-on-Crouch - B700 Susan Peacock on 1 October 1996 Llandudno - D508 John Saunderson on 2 October 1996 Lytham St Annes - D509 John Kennedy on 3 October 1996 Kilrush - B729 Rose West on 9 October 1996 Wells-D512 Jane and Ann lion 13 November 1996Pulling a fast one? There is no truth whatsoever in the rumour that the RNLI trials team are looking for an alternative means of lifeboat propulsion and asked the Director to acheive 25 knots under oar! Brian Miles, right, is actually sampling life as a pulling and sailing lifeboatman in the Norfolk and Suffolk type lifeboat, James Leath at the National Collection of lifeboats at Chatham's historic dockyard.

Double thanks Two RNLI voluntary workers were recently presented with awards to mark their work on behalf of Stornoway lifeboat station.

Station administration officer, Jacques Mesleard, was presented with a statuette and honorary medical adviser. Dr.

Nigel Berisford, was presented with a silver badge.North East Fife MP Menzies Campbell officially opened an extension to Anstruther lifeboat station in September 1996.

The new two storey development which includes crew changing facilites, operations and committee rooms and a downstairs souvenir giftshop, was funded by a legacy of £68,000 from the estate of Dorothy Young of Crail, along with other donations.

Goodbye and good luck Dave! Retiring Port Talbot station honorary secretary, Dave Aubrey (pictured left) hands the reins over to his successor Robert Harris. Dave has served the Institution for over 30 years, 24 of them as station honorary secretary. New man Robert is no stranger to maritme rescue services having been a lifeboat crew member since 1983 and also an auxiliary in charge of the local Coastguard rescue team.

Dave would like to thank all staff and his many friends in the service for their help and support over the years.West country celebrations RNLI West Country Marketing Group, co-ordinator and distributor of the Royal Marine band recordings, has two reasons to celebrate at the moment - despatching the4,500th tape to a customer and recently becoming an official division of the RNLI sales company.

The volunteer group was formed some three years ago, commissioning the first ever RNLI march The lifeboatmen' which was recorded by the Royal Marines Plymouth under the title of 'Marches of the sea'. The following success resulted in two further recordings, 'For those in peril on the sea' and The big band sound', the sales from which have raised some £20,000 for Institution funds.

The warm relationship formed between the Royal Marines band and the RNLI has also allowed three other recordings to be made available to the Institution, including 'Ashokan Farewell' currently one of the most requested works by Classic FM listeners.

Details of the availability of the recordings are given in the advertisement in this issue of The Lifeboat.