around and about the RNLI Lionel 'steps in' and saves the day… Lionel Blair, showbiz personality and dancer, stepped in to draw the lifeboat lottery at RNLI Open Days at 1200 on Saturday 2 August. Comedian, Jim Davidson, who was originally due to draw the winning tickets, unfortunately had to withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances but asked Lionel, a long standing supporter of the RNLI, if he would take his place.

Lionel, who was starring at his show at Bournemouth Pier, entertained the crowd and drew the winning tickets joined by David Brann, lottery promoter and Director Brian Miles, aided and assisted by Stormy Stan and the lottery team who had been selling the tickets at Open Days.

The draw 78th draw raised some £181,000 and the cash prize winners were:- £2,000 Mr L Sutcliffe, Birmingham £1,000 Mrs T Blackley, Hertfordshire £500 Mr P M Fletcher, Canterbury £250 Mr W D Salter, Middlesex £100 Mr N Campbell, London; Ms J Breeze, Darlington; Mrs C Shutt, Halifax; Mrs E Rogers, Poole; Mrs I B Pitcher, Manchester £50 Mrs Gordon, East Lothian; Miss S Haworth, Blackburn; Ms A Preston, Stafford; Miss A C Lee, Berwick-upon-Tweed; Miss P M Lee, Maidenhead.

Thanks to the lottery team - Sarah Houlton, Shelly Pearce, Georgina Tooley, Helen Smith, Pauline Miller, Jo Hobday and Beckie Rose - and everone else who helped on the day.

On Station The following lifeboats have taken up duty: ALL-WEATHER Oban - Trent class 14-23 (ON 1227) Mora Edith MacDonaldon 17 July 1997 Hartlepool - Tyne class 47-023 (ON 1131) City of Sheffield on 24 July 1997 INSHORE Aldeburgh - D520 Bob Savage on 30 June 1997 Brighton - B737 Thelma Glossopon 1 July 1997 Alderney - D410 Bacchus on 11 July 1997 Redcar - D523 Peterborough Beer Festival 1 on 23 July 1997 Whitby-D521 on 23 July 1997 Pwllheli - D522 on 5 August 1997 Specs savers While inspecting a display lifeboat at RNLI open days, one visitor lost his glasses over the side of the boat and into the harbour. Eagle-eyed crew members managed to fish them out and return them to the relieved gentlemen.

The very next day, headquarters received a kind donation and this letter of thanks: Birthday Honours The following have been honoured by Her Majesty The Queen in the recent Birthday Honours for their services to the RNLI: MBE: Mrs Marion Appleby-Matthews President of Tamworth Ladies lifeboat guild James Kinnin. Coxswain of Ramsey lifeboat station Patrick Maclean. Coxswain/Mechanic of Oban lifeboat station.

John Williams. Porthcawl lifeboat station honorary secretary.

Other awards of interest, for achievements not directly connected with the Institution's work have been made to: Knight Bachelor: Alderman Roger Cork The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London for services to the City of London and public service, (ex-officio member of the Committee of Management) KCVO: John 'Jimmy' James Retiring Secretary and Keeper of the Records of the Duchy of Cornwall. (Treasurer of the RNLI) LVO: Michael Chamberlayne Chairman, Baring Private Investment Management Limited, for personal services, (member of the Finance Committee) CBE: Dr Robert Hawley Chief Executive, British Energy for services to the energy industry and engineering, (former member of the Boat and Shoreworks Committee) QBE: John Norman For services to the community, especially the RNLI in Jersey, (chairman of the station branch) MBE: Mrs Sue Batten. For services to the community, particularly the RNLI in Sherborne. (chairman of the Sherborne branch) Captain Roy Bullen. Former Harbourmaster, Jersey for services to the community, (station honorary secretary and member of the Search and Rescue committee) Dr F. S. MacKenna With regret we report the death of Dr F. Severne MacKenna, an honorary life governor of the RNLI. Dr MacKenna first became involved with the RNLI as a lifeboat crew member, later being appointed the Scottish executive committee where he embarked on a full schedule of fundraising lectures and film shows. He was appointed an honorary life governor in 1980.

Crew members go sail training The Corporation of Trinity House announced in December 1996 that it would sponsor six young lifeboat crew members for a two week voyage aboard one of the Sail Training Association's topsail schooners. Applications were invited for two voyages - one aboard Malcolm Miller, joining and leaving at Santa Cruz, Canary Islands on 18 and 28 March respectively; and a voyage aboard Sir Winston Churchill, joining at Fowey on 21 April and leaving at Birkenhead on 3 May.

Two of the successful applicants, Richardson Johnson, a crew member at Filey; and Andrew Spindler, a crew member at Weston-Super-Mare; both joined Sir Winston Churchilliof two weeks and kept diaries of their experiences which were later presented to the Institution's chief of operations.

The crew of 55 was divided into watches - Fore, Main and Mizzen - and taking in stops to the Scilly Isles, Cobh (Cork), Waterford, Fishguard, Dublin and Anglesey, they covered 689 nautical miles, of which 456 were sailed, 155 motor sailed and 78 by motor only.

Although both Richardson and Andrew enjoyed their trip, it involved at lot of hard work, including rising at unpleasant hours in the morning to take their watch and getting to grips with setting various sails.

Richardson reported that he awoke at 0230 on 24 April feeling ill as the weather was so bad. He said, There wasn't a good place to be on the ship, most trainees felt the same...' Andrew wrote about the first time he went 'up and over' which involved climbing up 80ft of rigging - which was swaying from side to side - to the crow's nest and back down the other side. He said, 'For me, going aloft was mentally the hardest thing on board ship, but it did become easier as the voyage went on. By the end of the voyage I felt quite happy up there...' In summary Andrew wrote, This trip was very enjoyable and valuable ...' and Richarson added, 'very challenging and rewarding - not at all what I expected.' The route o/Sir Winston Churchill Symington MacDonald With regret we report the death of Symington MacDonald, former RNLI chief technical officer since 1972.

Mr MacDonald was responsible for the design, building, fitting-out and maintenance of the RNLI's lifeboat fleets at a time of change for the Institution during which it moved its headquarters to Poole. He oversaw the development of Arun and Thames class lifeboats, and the early development of the Brede class. He was also instrumental in the development of the Atlantic 21.

Visitors from far and wide Tenby lifeboat station has always been a popular tourist attraction, but now it has achieved world wide fame! Recently, when reading the visitors book for last year, Arthur Squibbs, Tenby station honorary secretary, saw that visitors from 19 different countries had signed in.

In addition to the usual visits from our European cousins, people came from countries including, Russia, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Venezuela, Canada and USA..