/n the 7 74 /ears of the RNLI's existence, only 1 19 gold medals for gallantry have been awarded. That in itself is a measure of how jealously the Institution guards the honour, reserving it for acts of bravery in circumstances beyond the worst nightmares of most seafarers. If anything, too, it is becoming more difficult to win gold - until the recent Lerwick award, the last time a Scottish crew received gold was 56 years ago. . .

E arly in the morning of Friday 23 January two Whitby steamers, the Runswick and the Saltwick, collided off the Aberdeenshire coast in strong winds; under the guidance of Peterhead lifeboat, Julia Park Barn/ of Glasgow, they made hastily for the shelter of Peterhead Bay. A third refugee from the rapidly worsening weather, the SS Fidra of Glasgow, was soon to join the two damaged ships at their anchorage.

Twelve hours later news reached the lifeboat station that the Runswick had been driven onto the rocks by the now gale force winds. In spite of darkness, a blinding snowstorm and high seas, Coxswain John Mclean located the stricken ship and bought the lifeboat close enough for lines to be secured between the two vessels. The steamer's entire crew of 44 were thus taken off.

In the next 24 hours the storm grew to a hurricane, with IQSmph gusts blowing right into the bay. It meant the end for the other two ships at anchor; by 4pm on the Sunday both were aground. At 2am on the Monday the lifeboat was back at sea, attending the most urgent case, the Fidra, which was about to break up in the mountainous seas. She lay head on to the weather, providing no lee for the lifeboat. Coxswain McLean risked all as he turned head to sea and ran alongside the casualty. Only because of his extraordinary seamanship was he able to keep the boat there for 50 minutes while 26 men chose their moment to leap to safety. They were scarcely ashore when the plight of the men on the Saltwick became desperate.

Their ship was now lying over on her starboard side on the beach with sea breaking right over her.

This time his only approach to the casualty was between her and the shore. First a wave deposited the lifeboat upon some rocks, then another nearly washed every lifeboatman overboard.

But he made it to the sheltered side of the wreck in spite of a severely damaged boat, and 36 survivors were helped on board. Coxswain McLean was rightly awarded the gold medal for these rescues.

Today's Facts and Figures Provisional figures for 1997 (as at 13 February 1997) Launches: 6,754 Lives saved: 1.424 People landed: 1.138 People brought ashore: 4.120 Total people assisted: 6,682 Figures for 1996 Launches: 6.466 Lives saved: 1,307 People landed: 946 People brought ashore: 4,316 Total people assisted: 6.569 Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboats have saved 131,270 lives.

Costs The cost of running the RNLI in 1998 is around £72m.

The approximate current cost of building a lifeboat is: 4.9m D class inflatable: £11,850 7.3m Atlantic rigid inflatable: £66.185 14m Trent: £1,190,000 17m Severn: £1,725,000.