The RNLI's Director, Brian Miles, looks back at 1997 and at the Institution's plans for 1998 Although one of our principle challenges must be for the RNLI to be administered in a modern, businesslike and efficient way we should never forget the traditions and values which have made us what we are.

We have a history of which we should be proud, and the need to acknowledge our past was demonstrated perfectly this time last year when the Chairman and I visited Douglas, on the Isle of Man, to attend a service of Thanksgiving on the 150th anniversary of the death of our founder, Sir William Hillary.

Following the ceremony, which was broadcast nation-wide, wreaths were laid on Sir William's tomb by the chairman and by the present Douglas coxswain.

It was heart warming that so many people, particularly those from Douglas, the birthplace of Sir William, wanted to honour the memory of our founder and acknowledge the debt we all owe him.

Later in the year I was privileged to participate in another dignified and moving act of remembrance. In April I attended a church service in Mumbles to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the loss of The Mumbles lifeboat and her crew in their heroic but unavailing attempt to rescue the crew of the cargo vesel Samtampa, who also perished in the disaster of 23 April 1947. Many members of the families of those lost from both the lifeboat and Samtampa, supported by a packed congregation, came together to honour the memory of those brave lifeboatmen of half a century ago, whose courage and personal sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Enough of the past. Now to the future, which continues to be as challenging as at any time in our history. The Severn and Trent building programme is now well under way with ten Severns and 24 Trents in service as I write. Feedback from the coxswains and crews about the new lifeboats has been positive and encouraging, and already several services have been carried out in severe weather at considerable distances out to sea - demonstrating perfectly the increased capability these new lifeboats provide.

In planning terms we have now defined even more specifically our intended levels of cover for the future. Not only are we committed, by the year 2000, to reach virtually any point up to 50 miles from the coast within two-and-a-half hours from launching in fair weather, but also to reach 95% of casualties within 12 miles in less than 30 minutes from launching. Together these definitions demonstrate what a comprehensive rescue service the RNLI will be providing around our 7,000 miles of coastline. Our current building programme keeps us well on course to achieve those targets.

We can never afford to stand still and we are currently reassessing potential demands on the lifeboat service, and considering a strategy to provide the most effective lifeboats to meet these needs well into the future.

We have a project team working on this task and it is making excellent use of the wealth of information now available on past lifeboat services as well as examining predictions of the type and distribution of incidents which we anticipate in the future.

We hope to have made real progress with this project by next year as it will have a very substantial impact on the work of the Institution well into the next century.

We have been very encouraged by the results so far of the RNLI's initiatives in Sea Safety. The first survey we conducted this year showed that the message of the campaign is getting through. In 1998 we hope to expand the campaign for both fishermen and pleasure boat users with the use of seminars around the coast.

The efforts of our fundraisers and the response to appeals and other initiatives in fundraising continue to be an inspiration. During the year I attended naming ceremonies at Guernsey and Humber - the new lifeboats being funded in both cases by local appeals.

At each ceremony large numbers of people involved with the appeals were present and their pride in the new lifeboat representing the results of all their efforts was very evident.

Another new fundraising initiative during 1997 was the launch of the 'Offshore' membership scheme. The challenge was set to achieve a membership of 10,000 in the first year - but the target was met during Cowes Week in August! Once again so little space remains to say thank you to those of you who have made me so welcome on lifeboat occasions all through the year. Let me use this annual message to thank each one of you for all you do for the RNLI in such a host of different ways and, on behalf of everyone at RNLI headquarters, wish you all the very best for the new year..