End of an era...

Whenever a station changes lifeboats there is always a degree of sadness in handing back a trusted boat, tempered by the excitement of receiving a brand new vessel in its place. The Dover station's recent changeover from a 50ft Thames to a newly built Severn however, was made all the more poignant by virtue of the fact that 50-001 Rotary Service is the last of the Thames class to leave service on the coast after completing 18 years as Dover's lifeboat. One of the only two Thames class to be built (the second being based at Islay, see story below), she took up service at Dover in 1979 and served her station and crew with distinction launching over 450 times.

i i • • ...and new beginnings Although Islay's Thames class is no longer an operational station lifeboat (see story above) she is to continue serving the RNLI in another vital role - training lifeboat crews. Training for the increasingly sophisticated equipment used in search and rescue is becoming even more important, but the task has been hampered until now by the lack of suitable vessels.

50-002 and the original proto- type Severn (which has never been an operational lifeboat) are to be fitted out as training vessels and will be based at the Poole training centre.

The coxswain and crew now look forward to the future with the latest Severn, 17-09, which is due to be named City of London II later in the year. Coxthe swain Tony Hawkins remarked, 'We have a great affection for Rotary Service and are sorry to lose her, but the Severn has already won us over. The greater speed and capacity is just what we need for work in the English Channel and the state of the art equipment on board really does set us up for the new millennium.'N E W S P O I NT In the early Spring of this year the RNLI commissioned a survey of sea users, with two main aims in mind.

The first was to establish the effectiveness of its Sea Safety Campaign (mounted in conjunction with many of the organisations involved in safety and use of the sea) and the second was to examine the attitudes of sea users, both to identify areas of concern and to establish how the sea safety message could best be communicated to them.

The results were interesting - so much so that some of the findings made media headlines when they were announced at the RNLI's AGM in May.

Both professional users (fishermen) and leisure users were questioned, with a total sample of some 880 people - which can be taken as statistically reliable - and the survey established that more than a quarter of each category was spontaneously awareof the joint campaign. When shown a list of organisations 74% of everyone interviewed identified the RNLI as being involved.

More worrying were the findings which made the news in May - that nearly one in five of leisure users never consulted a weather forecast before setting out, and that about a quarter had been involved in a life-threatening situation at sea.

Commercial users were more punctilious about consulting the weather, but the inherent hazards of their occupation meant that nearly half of them had been involved in a life-threatening situation. It is hardly surprising that 92% of fishermen agreed that it was important, to varying degrees, that the organisations involved had cooperated to promote the safe use of the sea.

Of course these statistics can be looked at from another viewpoint, which says that four out of five leisure users do consult weather forecasts, which shows a generally responsible attitude, and that three-quarters have not been involved in a life-threatening situation. However, this viewpoint should not be used as any sort of excuse, and the work of the sea safety campaign will continue to try to tip the balance further.

Since 60% of those who had heard of the Sea Safety campaign claimed to be more safety conscious as a result it is obviously on the right lines.

The Lifeboat on audio tape The Lifeboat is also available on audio tape in conjunction with Talking Newspapers.

The audio tape version is free, although recipients may wish to make a donation to cover the additional costs involved.

To receive The Lifeboat on a C90 audio tape please write to The Editor, The Lifeboat, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH151HZ.

RNLI confers in Sweden Bob Cripps, engineering manager and Keith Thatcher, senior naval architect represented the RNLI at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects SURV IV Conference on 13 and 14 May in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Surveillance, Pilot and Rescue Craft conference, which is held at two year intervals, was the first to be held outside the UK.

The conferences always attract wide ranging subject matter, much of it relevant to lifeboat designers, and this year was no exception, with papers presented by the Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish rescue organisations, as well as more general topics. The conference started with a lifeboat development overview presented by David Hudson, recently retired RNLI's chief technical officer. Also presented were two papers covering work commissioned by the RNLI. The first, presented by Newcastle University, but with Bob Cripps as co-author, discussed the generation of a computer model to investigate the use of risk assessment in lifeboat design. The second, presented by the Wolfson Unit, Southampton University, discussed the use of tank tests in the development of the RNLI's Fast Slipway Boat 2 hull design.

The conference venue was on the south bank of the river in an old commercial sector of the city redesigned as a maritime heritage area. A number of papers presented the latest developments in European lifeboats, and the riverside location allowed the subject boats to be moored adjacent to the hotel for viewing by delegates. As a fitting end to the conference, a short sea trip was arranged for the Wednesday afternoon.

Top award for Jim Jim Turreff, crew member and emergency mechanic at Alderney lifeboat station was recently awarded the City and Guilds Bronze Medal for excellence for the 2440 Marine Craft Competences Part two - the only student in the UK and Ireland to receive this top award.

Jim's tutor at the BCA Marine Training Centre, Berkshire said that he was an exceptional student and thoroughly deserved his success.

Fantastic holiday prize in the Autumn lottery First prize in the Autumn lifeboat lottery is a fantastic 14-day Mediterranean holiday for two - kindly donated by Sunworld, in conjunction with Travelworld Direct. The winner will select their holiday from the Sunworld Sailing brochure and can take advantage of the free water sport/cycling facilities and tuition, or can simply relax and explore their destination.

The winner will also receive £1,000 spending money to make their holiday even more enjoyable! In addition there are eight runner-up prizes that range from £100 to £1,000. If you wish to receive, or require more tickets, please ring Rebekah Rose on the lottery hotline: (01202) 663219.

Lord Kitchener named at Walmer Brisk winds did not spoil the sunshine in Walmer on 11 May when 200 guests attended the naming of the station's new D class lifeboat.

Len Stephens, honorary treasurer of the Welling branch handed the lifeboat over to the RNLI and Barbara Hopkins, licensee of the Lord Kitchener public house, named the lifeboat, Lord Kitchener.

The £12,000 lifeboat was funded through the generosity of Bass Tavern and the local licensee, Ms Hopkins who allowed the local branch free use of the function room at the pub for fundraising events, and even met some entertainment costs. Additional funds were raised by the staff of Securicor Custodial Services, who organised a sponsored cellular prison van pull from Bexleyheath to Welling (see page 28 of the Autumn 1996 issue of The Lifeboat The appeal was topped up with donations from Bass Tavern's weekly pub raffle and a lapel badge appeal and individual donations.

Offshore update Following its launch at the London Boat Show Offshore, the new membership grade of the RNLI, has achieved incredible success. The target set for the whole of 1997 was sign up 10,000 members - by March over 5,000 people had joined! This figure includes upgrades from Shoreline as well as over 1,500 new members - with some 500 new applications arriving at headquarters each week.

Offshore has been given excellent support by many companies and the marine press and has a solid base of top marine companies who have sponsored printing, offered incentives and discounts and donated prizes for competitions.

Mr and Mrs Jane from London who upgraded to Offshore in response to the campaign in The Lifeboat, recently won a one-week holiday for two in Barbados. Many other fabulous prizes have been won by Offshore members all around the country, including a Seatalk Autohelm Tridata system, Pains Wessex personal locator beacons, a Varity Perkins on-board marine kit, CAT boots, a Sowester sport Jacket and several hundred pounds worth of Marlow rope.

Back for Summer Now that Summer is upon us, the RNLI's Summer only lifeboats are back in full swing.

Eight lifeboat stations which only operate from March to October and 16 which operate an inshore lifeboat in addition to their all-weather lifeboat during the summer are required to cope with the increasing number of calls during the holiday season.

Directory of solicitors Supporters sometimes ask if the Institution knows a friendly solicitor who could help them make their will. The RNLI has a policy of never recommending professional advisors, however we are compiling a list of members of the RNLI who are solicitors specialising in probate matters.

This list will be made available on request to fellow members of the Institution, on the clear understanding that inclusion in the list does not constitute endorsement.

If you are a solicitor who offers a probate service and you are also a member of the RNLI, you are eligible to be listed. We regret that this offer does not extend to professional will writers who are not qualified solicitors. If you would like to be included, please write to John Marshall, giving your name, address, telephone number and membership number: John Marshall Legacy enquiries officer Royal National Lifeboat Institution West Quay Road Poole BH151HZPortsmouth lifeboat named Blustery showers and dark skies could not spoil the enjoyment of all present at Portsmouth lifeboat station on 26 April 1997 when their new Atlantic 75 lifeboat was named CSMA-Fhzzell, by Mr Colin Frizzell, past chairman of the Frizzell Group.

The Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA) together with Frizzell Financial Services Ltd have raised over £240,000 for lifeboat funds. Mr Tony Richardson, charity co-ordinator for the CSMA, explained that funds were raised thorough a series of competitions in the CSMA's own magazine, 'Motoring and leisure'.

Mr John Herington, chairman of the CSMA presented the lifeboat, which was formally accepted by Rear Admiral Roger Dimmock, representing the Committee of Management of the RNLI. Mr Barry Taylor, honorary secretary of the Portsmouth lifeboat station, received the lifeboat and thanked CSMA and Frizzell to their magnificent donation and continuing support.

All the guests enjoyed refreshments in the marquee and were able to watch the new lifeboat giving an exciting demonstration of her speed and agility.

Spectacular Open Days at Poole! The biennial Open Days at the RNLI's Poole HQ and Depot looks set to be even bigger and better than in previous years.

This year's event is scheduled for Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August from 1000 to 1800 each day, and will follow the same theme as previous events - but with one or two additions, some of them quite spectacular.

There will be the usual displays by the various sections of the RNLI, illustrating the part they play in keeping the lifeboat service running; together with guided tours of the HQ building and inshore lifeboat righting displays.

This year a complete 'Atlantic lifeboat service' is being planned, including a launch, capsize and righting display, and possibly the spectacular 'net recovery' system which is used to retrieve Atlantic rigid inflatables in difficult conditions. This was shown a few years back, and the sight of an Atlantic roaring in to a net at speed and then being whisked rapidly out of the water is certainly a sight not to be missed.

There will also be D class righting displays and helicopters are expected to arrive to carry out winching exercises in full view of visitors.

Another innovation is a display of flares - something which most of us hope we will never see under any other circumstances! The Poole HQ and depot is easy to find - see map - and will be signposted on the day. Limited car parking is available at the headquarters building.

Held up at the Lights...

Transporting a 17m Severn hull from the moulders to the fitting-out yard isn't easy at the best of times - but everyone could have done without this particular problem! With the route planned to the last detail and a police escort the trip should have been plain sailing - but unfortunately someone had decided to plant a new Pelican crossing between approval of the route and the delivery trip! As a result the hull became firmly wedged in place.

County Council engineers were able to re-adjust the lights and allow the Severn to pass - and the massive traffic jams to clear - but it was doubly embarrassing that the new £35,000 crossing had been ceremonially opened by a local councillor just hours before! The RNLI is expected to benefit by some £2m from the will of Miss Mary Lidbury, of Somerset who died recently. The money will be used to provide two all-weather lifeboats named after two family members.

3DILB Mark Coleman (left) of E. P. Barrus presents RNLI Director Brian Miles with one of three detailed commemorative replica model of Lawnflite, the D class inshore lifeboat donated by Barrus to the RNLI during the London Boat Show 1996.

E. P. Barrus, suppliers of Mariner outboard engines to theRNLI'sDandC class lifeboats for nearly 30 years, also presented models of Lawnflite to the RNLI inshore lifeboat museum in Cowes and the Lifeboat! gallery at the historic dockyard in Chatham.

Gold for Storm Force News Our sister publication for the younger generation, Storm Force News, is celebrating its 50th issue this summer.

All members of the RNLI's club for junior members, Storm Force, receive the eightpage full-colour quarterly as part of their membership - which costs just E5 per year.

The club, intended to introduce young people to the RNLI, is going from strength to strength - but there is always a need for new members! Phone Storm Force HQ on (01202) 663000 if you have any relatives or friends under 16 who are not yet members.

Training on dry land? When technical difficulties forced training officer Graham Wagstaff to move a Severn class mechanics training course from the Training Centre at Poole out to Dover, he knew that the course members (comprising crew from Lerwick, Dover and Harwich), might be a little disappointed at missing out on a visit to Headquarters. The Dover station was able, however, to provide not only facilities for the course, but a very unusual way to celebrate its completion.

An evening exercise on Dover's new Severn class turned into a uniquely memorable experience for the visitors when the entire course was landed on the Goodwin Sands, exposed at low tide, and they were able to commemorate the occasion with an alfresco feast of crab sandwiches and a traditional tot.

Around the world Jeremy 'Jez' Fanstone, crew member of Lymington lifeboat, has been chosen as a crew member on Skipper Lawrie Smith's Silk Cut yacht which takes part in the 1997 Whitbread Round the World Race, leaving Southampton on 21 September and returning in May 1998.

Jez, a well-known yachtsman who has been the reserve on the British Olympic team, will be helmsman/trimmer in the crew of 12. Hard work started in May when the boat, which was built in Australia, was flown to Britain.

Initially, she will be based in Hamble and after the launch, the crew will set sail on a 3,000 mile training sail into the Atlantic.

Sadly, Jez will have to leave the lifeboat crew in September because of the race but is hoping there will be a place for him when he returns next year.

Jez will not be the only ex-lifeboatman on the crew of Silk Cut - Jason Carrington who will have overall responsibility for the boat's maintenance was also a crew member on Lymington lifeboat.

D class named at Lytham The proceeds from the second race day at Haydock Park Racecourse last September provided the funds for a new D class lifeboat and equipment at Lytham St Annes. A competition was organised by local newspaper, Lytham St Annes Express, to find a suitable name for the lifeboat. From the many entries received, the judges chose the name John Kennedy, after one of the longest serving honorary secretaries at the station.

A large crowd attended the naming ceremony of the lifeboat on 14 April, including branch representatives and Mr Kennedy's son bob, a former Lytham crew member and now a member of Abersoch crew.

Branch chairman, Allan Williams, opened proceedings and welcomed Mrs Beryl Fenton, winner of the competition and Mrs Doreen Kennedy who, following a service of dedication and the unveiling of a plaque by Mrs Fenton, named the lifeboat in memory of her husband.

The lifeboat, which had already been launched on service eight times, gave a short demonstration before the serving of refreshments.

Double ceremony at Rye Harbour A beautiful day broke the pattern of continuous rain on 19 October for the 250 people attending the naming ceremony of Rye Harbour's new lifeboat and boathouse.

The new Atlantic 75 lifeboat (pictured right), Commander and Mrs Rodney Wells funded by the estate of Mrs Eva Wells, was handed over to the station by Mr Wells' nephew.

The residue of the estate has contributed towards the building costs of the new boathouse together with other legacies and general funds.

The boathouse was officially opened and the lifeboat named by Mrs Eve Robus, widow of the station's late senior helmsman, Keith who died suddenly in 1995.

The day was enjoyed by all and after watching the lifeboat give a demonstration launch, guests were invited for refreshments..