St David's Royal visit In May, Her Majesty Queen Mamahato B Seeiso the Queen Mother and her son Prince Seeiso B Seeiso of Lesotho, South Africa, visited St David's lifeboat station. They were in St David's to sign a twinning agreement between the city and the royal home village of Matsieng in the kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa.

The Royal party was welcomed by station secretary, Jeff Davies, before they boarded the station's Tyne class lifeboat, Garside, for a short trip around Ramsey Island. The Prince was invited to take controls by Coxswain Malcolm Gray and an enjoyable trip was had by all. Following the trip the party joined the crew for tea and biscuits and Her Majesty thanked everyone for their welcome.

The love(life)boat On 20 March newly weds Anthony and Cherie Summers of Holyhead got the surprise of their life when they left the church to find that their traditional Rolls Royce had been replaced by Trearddur Bay lifeboat, Dorothy Selina.

Anthony is actually the lifeboat's helmsman but had no idea that his colleagues from the station would be turning up - with air klaxon blaring and whistles blowing - to chauffeur him an his sweetheart from the ceremony.

The happy couple were taken aboard and driven through the village of Trearddur Bay and on to the lifeboat station where they found their car awaiting to take them to the reception.

The route of the lifeboat ensured that it was never more than 100 yards from the sea and needless to say that if there had been a shout, it could have been one for the record books had someone been rescued by a bride and groom! I* *""" ""* ""* ""* """ " *™ ™* ™ ™ ™ Lifeboat Commandos Following a recent combined exercise off Arbroath, Royal Marines Commachio Group decided to give the local lifeboat crew an experience. Arbroath lifeboat crew members Allan Russell, Colin Stewart and Chris Forsyth went for an exhilarating spin in the Marines' rigid racer.

Good neighbours Dumfries branch recently held its local gala, the Dumfries 'Quid Nychburries' which translated means Good neighbours to the Sassenachs! The event included a vehicle parade in which local Sea Cadets from T.S. Douglas volunteered to pull an inshore lifeboat through the streets.

However due to the appalling weather on the day it was decided to use a pick-up and the Cadets, despite their soaking, stayed in good spirits throughout. The photograph, left, shows the parade passing the local council's 'RNLI 175' floral display.

Frazer picks the winners On 30 July actor Frazer Mines (best known as Joe Sugden from TV's Emmerdale) drew the winning tickets for the RNLI's 86th lifeboat lottery at RNLI Headquarters in Poole.

The draw was the most succesful yet, raising over £258,000 for lifeboat coffers - with first prize, a Peugeot 206 kindly sponsored by Peugeot Motor Company, going to Mrs P Hews of Romney Marsh in Kent.

On Station The following lifeboats have taken up duty: All-weather Campbeltown - Severn 17-19 (ON 1241) Ernest and Mary Shaw 30 May 1999 Amble - Mersey 12-19 (ON 1176) The Four Boys on 22 July 1999 Longhope - Arun 52-28 (ON 1098) Sir Max Aitken II on 12 August 1999 Dunbar - D544 The Hastings on 25 May Margate - D545 Jigger Too on 30 May 1999 Port Isaac - D546 (no name) on 3 June 1999 Fenit - D404 Ann Speed on 9 July 1999 Minehead - D549 (no name) on 15 July 1999 Cardigan - D547 (no name) on 16 June 1999 Courtown - D548 (no name) on 28 July 1999 The runner up prizes were: £1,000 • Mr and Mrs A Guest, Bolton £500 • Mr C Kay, Rossendale, Lanes £250 • Mr and Mrs R C Deering, Aylesbury, Bucks £100 • Mrs E Barr, Aberdeen; Mr K M Yorath, Miltonunder- Wychwood, Oxon; Mr and Mrs I Pratt, Crowborough, East Sussex (separate prize winners); Mr Rayner, Bourne End, Bucks.

A pilgrimage we should all make by Sue Denny. RNLI Press and Public Information Manager The Penlee disaster, the most recent in the RNLI's history, happened almost 18 years ago. For many of the present staff and volunteers it is a tragedy that happened long before we became involved with the Institution. Yet, for all of us connected with the RNLI, Penlee is so much more than 'history'. For what happened at Penlee on the night of 19 December 1981, when those eight men from a small Cornish community gave up their lives in their attempt to save others, truly represents what being involved with RNLI is all about.

In Cornwall on other business recently, I felt it important to visit Penlee to pay homage to those who perished that December night. Today's modern lifeboat station is a mile away in Newlyn Harbour, with the Arun class lifeboat Mabel Alice lying afloat among the local fishing boats. But a short drive up the hill towards Mousehole brought me to a well-tended garden ablaze with colour standing above the old lifeboat house which once housed the Solomon Browne and the slipway where she set out on that fateful journey, which has stood deserted since 1981.

After reading the inscription on the memorial stone, I sat quietly in the sweetly rose-scented garden for some time, gazing out towards St Michael's Mount, and somehow feeling the presence of Coxswain Trevelyn Richards and his brave crew, praying we would never experience another tragedy like Penlee, but knowing that there are still 223 crews throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland who are willing, when lives are in danger at sea, to leave the safety of their homes, and put their lives on the line for others. That is something for those of us who spend our days driving computers to keep in mind - for that is what working for the RNLI stands for..