Far and wide I thought you might be interested in the enclosed photograph which was sent to me by a friend who lives in Edmondton, Canada.

She and her husband were driving along a highway when she spotted an RNLI advertisement on a bus. Unfortunately they were unable to enquire as to why or what it was doing there as they were on their way to catch a plane and time was short.

I feel sure all members would be interested and delighted that we are thought of and that they advertise the RNLI so far away.

Laurie Capewell Chairman Redditch Real life heros I no longer read fiction, real life is so interesting, especially the daring work of your lifeboatmen of all ranks. They must give up so much social life to help those in trouble upon the sea as well as taking great risks to their own lives, I am very grateful to them.

I was a seaman for over forty years on merchant ships and ocean research ships but, thanks to good luck, never had need of rescue services. Even when my ship was torpedoed off Holyhead in April 1945, she didn't sink and we beached her with no loss of life - but the ship's cat and dinner bell disappeared! Robert G Munns East Falmouth.

Copycut It is my usual practice to pass my complete copy of The Lifeboat on to my doctor's waiting room when I have finished with it.

This will not be happening with the Winter '97/98 edition. Two items have got to be removed. The printout from LINCS will be kept for future reference and the centrefold drawing of the Atlantic 75 is to be framed.

Congratulations to all concerned, the best edition yet.

F G Corduroy Stockport Relatively far . . .

The Solent The Three Sisters pictured in your Spring 1998 issue was, as you say, sold to David Scott Cowper, but not on his fourth circumnavigation - that was his epic voyage through the NW passage in Mabel. His intention was to take The Three Sisters round the north of Russia, but when he failed to obtain the necessary clearances he sold the boat on to the underbidder - me! Not sharing David's crazy masochism (or his courage!), I had a more limited ambition for The Three Sisters, but at least we completed the circumnavigation of Britain in her, starting and finishing at her old station at Thurso, as well as cruising in the Orkneys, Hebrides, Scilly Isles and Southern Ireland.

Robin Morgan-Giles Gwynedd Postcard Discovery I recently found a postcard among many cards collected by my late father.

Since nothing is written on the reverse of the card, I can add nothing of interest except to say that it is possible the card dates from the early part of the century.

The original must be a very fine painting, perhaps your readers may be able to shed some light on the subject.

K R Jolley Market Harborough Letters from readers are always welcome. Address them to: The Editor, The Lifeboat RNLI, West Quay Road.

Poole. Dorset BH15 1HZ and mark clearly 'for publication'.

Bygone days Going through some old postcards, I came across this one which might be of interest to The Lifeboat readers.

With a magnifying glass the name appears to be the Charles ArkculP D Wright Romford Editor replies: There were two lifeboats named Charles Arkcull, stationed at Hastings. The first, a pulling and sailing 34ft self-righter was on station from 1881-1901 and launched 5 times. The second a 35ft lifeboat of the same type, took up station in 1901 until 1931, launched 25 times and saved 28 lives.

Well, well . . .

In your Autumn isse an enquiry from Henry W West, Newport, refers to an ex-lifeboat R A Colby Cubbin.

Mr West may like to know that a well by the river Creed near the Lewis Castle, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, bears the words - 'Erected to the memory of Robert Alfred Colby Cubbin owner of the steam yacht Glen Strathallan.' D MacKenzie Edinburgh Keyring help A friend of mine has, over many years, been collecting various RNLI keyrings.

Now she is only one short and, although she has visited many stations and functions, cannot find the 'propeller keyring', which is apparently out of production - or so we believe.

1 wonder if I could put out a 'mayday' on her behalf through your excellent magazine, if anyone has a spare that they would part with, suitably reimbursed, I know she would be more than grateful.

Mike Sanger Honorary Treasurer Sheerness Manning the radio Now the sailing season has ended I am getting round to catching up on some of my reading and read with interest 'The Coxswain's View' on page 13 of the Spring 1997 issue.

I was interested to learn that the primary location system used by the RNLI for fibreglass boats is VHF-DF and the vital importance of keeping the boat's radio manned.

Some years ago when I installed the VHP radio in my 25' sailing boat I fitted a remote speaker in the companionway as the radio was fitted well away from the dangers of potential spray and rain.

Because of the problems raised by Coxswain Hayes and the fact that I often sail single handed I have more recently added a remote microphone so that I can carry out all my radio communications either standing in the cockpit or in the companionway under the shelter of the spray hood. I only have to go below to change channels which takes a matter of seconds.

Perhaps yacht manufacturers should consider such installation which is cheap and easy to do and would make manning the radio in an emergency much easier.

P W T Rosevere Somerset Thank you lifeboat crews As a result of a superbly executed tow by the Sheerness lifeboat from South Whitaker off the Foulness Sands in a northeasterly gale, we found ourselves at Burnham Yacht Harbour sorting ourselves out on the day of the launching ceremony for the new Atlantic 75 Brandy Hole and the D class Ernest and Rose Chapman.

With thoughts of our rescue vividly in mind, it was a privilege to be present at this well attended ceremony. It was particularly moving to see the lifeboatmen with their families, many with young children, which really brought home to me what they put at risk in their readiness to help all of us who find ourselves in difficulties at sea, whatever the reason may be. Thank you lifeboat crews! Sheila Rhodes London Trips on former lifeboat I thought this photograph may be of interest to readers of The Lifeboat.

This was taken in Scarborough harbour and is the restored Liverpool class lifeboat William Cantrell Ashley. ON871, formerly stationed at Clovelly, North Devon.

The boat is now running sea trips during the season from Scarborough harbour, having been bought by the coxswain/mechanic and second coxswain of the Scarborough lifeboat, Richard Constantine and Claude Sharp.

M D Bointon Scarborough.