68 years ago — From THE LIFEBOAT of 1928 With the recent success of the RNLI resource packs 'Launch!' and 'Lifeboats' (see feature below) as part of the youth promotion campaign, it is interesting to look back and see what methods the Institution used to gain the interest of young people years ago. . .

Duke of Northumberland's Prize Life-boat Essay Competition, 1928.

THE subject set for the eighth Lifeboat Essay Competition in Elementary Schools was "Describe the kind of man that a good Life-boatman should be." The Winning Essays.

There were no essays of outstanding merit, and few were poor. The most noticeable feature of the competition in fact, was the evenness of the essays, the great majority reaching about the same level. This made judging difficult, particularly when it came to selecting the best of all from among the six winners of the Challenge Shields. In the end it was decided that the special prize for the best essay of all had been won by Cyril Palmer, of Clint Road Council School, Liverpool, for a well-balanced and well-written essay. It is only right to say that Harold Mills, of Drayton Road Boys' School, Portsmouth was only just behind him, and the other four winners of the Challenge Shields were very close. Special mention should also be made to Reginald Disney, of New King's School, Fulham. He is only eleven years old, and with the handicap given for his age, his essay second in the London District. It had the merit of saying a good deal in a few words.

Phrases of the year.

The Phrase of the year comes from a London essayist, "The sea is called the Briton's Birthright, but it often proves to be his grave." Another London essayist gives, as a good motto for Life-boatmen, "God first, other people second, self last." The Qualities of the Life-boatman One essayist wrote that the Lifeboatman "must be perfect, both mentally and physically, and also have the dexterity of an athlete." After that there does not seem much more to be said; but even those essayists who did not ask for perfection set a very high standard. Strict temperance was demanded by a large number of the competitors. Others, again, touched on the question of diet, and the laws of health generally, pointing out the life-boatman's need for regular and simple meals, no drinking between them, plenty of exercise, and house in which, as one essayist wrote, "there should be plenty of fresh air and as much sunlight as the climate we enjoy (or have to put up with) admits." The question of diet brings us naturally to the question of physique.

Should the Life-boatman be a heavyweight? On the whole, the children of the British Isles think that he should be. As one writes, "He must be very heavy and healthy to keep his place In the Boat." Another describes the "average Life-boatman" as "an old bunch of bone and muscle"; another says that he is usually "very fat." Others again are for the happy mean. One writes that he must have "a cool, steady head on a pair of sturdy shoulders.

He need not be a heavy junk, but a middle weight." Another gives excellent reasons for a moderate figure: " A Life-boatman must not be too fat and not too thin; too much flesh is a burden, and his weight would smash fragile things if he trod on them; but a little flesh helps to keep him warm on a cold night." It must not be thought that the competitors have discussed the physical to the neglect of the moral and spiritual side of the Life-boatman. A fair balance is between the two. What is most noticeable is the number of writers who have felt that the ability to turn out in the middle of the night is the best proof of the courage, good health and unselfishness of the Life-boatman.

As one writer excellently puts it: "A Life-boatman should always be prepared to give his beauty sleep for others." But it is not sufficient that he should get up.

"He must not be awkward with those who have called him." A lot seems to lie behind that adjective.

To be cheerful and good tempered, "and have a jolly face," is, in the opinion of several competitors, essential, "In his weather-beaten face you should find a smile which brave men always possess." Should a Life-boatman be a Married Man? THAT is a question which has exercised the thought of a number of writers. Some are quite certain that he should be a bachelor. "Among little things a Lifeboatman should not have are wives or a child." Others are equally convinced that a wife is an advantage to him. but she must be "a cheery wife, not one who moans and groans, as it makes him miserable." Another goes so far as to say that "a good wife is the most important of all the qualifications," but you would never guess why: "Because she can make hot tea for the rescued." Other Quaint Phrases.

Here are some more quaint and original reflections on the character of the Life-boatman:- "A life-boatman should not grumble, for the harder his life is, the brighter will sparkle his crown in heaven." "Before the Life-boat service was established millions of people yearly went to a watery grave, unknelled, uncoffined and unknown." "The Life-boatman should never be brutal to his wife and children, but he himself will get knocked about plenty of times whilst at sea." "A Life-boatman is a monstrous specimen of humanity and therefore has no difficulty in passing the doctor and becoming a trained member of the crew." "The Life-boatmen are mostly drawn from the fishing population, not some grandly dressed fops." "No person knows who dear life is until it is lost." "For men must work and women must weep, and these gallant men do all this for nothing." "Their hard, brown and horny hands have been set to take tasks that the very thought of which have made a 'land-lubber' quail." "A Life-boatman should be a sea-dog to his last hair." "The sea and all it vicissitudes must be as familiar to him as the kitchen is to the cook." "He must not be selfish and grab the best seats." "He must know the front of the boat from the back." "Life-boatmen have very red faces and red noses because they get the very best fresh air." "A Life-boatman must be a tall man and have the courage of a lion when caught in a pinch." "He must have good teeth. What use would a Lifeboatman be with toothache?" "He must be strong and muscular, possess great courage, a spirit of self-sacrifice and a waterproof hat." "Courage and wit are another two official things which must be in a Life-boatman's spirit." oOo ...and for today's young people… LIFEBOATS, is a cross-curricular resource pack for 5-7 year-olds, covering the key themes of lifeboats, the crew and teamwork, weather, hazard recognition and the history of the RNLI.

The pack comprises an A1 poster, frieze, photocards, photocopiable activities and a comprehensive teachers' book. Leading the children through a rescue is Stormy Stan the lifeboatman, who is the hero of the RNLI's junior membership club, Storm Force.

LAUNCH!, for the 7-11 year age group, provides a range of curriculum opportunities. Exciting projects include rescue simulation, historical investigation, design and science activities, navigation, drama and geography. A teachers' guide, an attractive set of posters, dramatic audio tape, marine chart and pupil activity sheets are all included in this colourful pack.

Two videos have also been specially produced to accompany the packs. For further information on all resources available please contact the Youth Promotion Co-ordinator, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ..