The 175th year looking back After a remarkable year the 175th anniversary programme formally ends at the 2000 London Boat Show.

There was more total media coverage of the RNLI's birthday in one day on 4 March than in six normal months! The launches in September 1998 of the anniversary book 'Rain Later, Good1 and of the Celebration Ale gave huge awareness and considerable income which continues to come in. The book is already on its second print run and has to date given over £18,000 in royalties. Sales of 202,000 bottles of beer have so far produced some £16,000 with still more to come in.

The London Taxi has carried over 20,000 passengers in its year of operation and many more Londoners will have seen it drive past. It has been used at major London events including London Lifeboat Day and the Chelsea Flower Show and is being kept on for an extra six months.

The launch of the wet knuckle ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park attracted crowds of all ages with the pop group Steps stealing the limelight. In May and June alone over 150,000 people braved Storm Force 10 with 1p per person riding it being donated to the RNLI.

The Anniversary Roadshow tour is complete with an estimated 100,000 people having either been through it or seen it. Its tour took it from Greenock through every region except Ireland right down to Brighton. The vehicle will now be re-liveried for Sea Safety use during the year 2000.

Both the last-ever Royal Tournament and the Edinburgh Tattoo played to capacity crowds with the RNLI presence at both gaining high levels of acclaim. Over 230,000 people attended the Tattoo and saw the RNLI on 25 separate occasions with many more seeing it on television. A further 20,000 saw the two RNLI performances at the Royal Tournament. Sports commentator Barry Davies gave his services free for the Tournament and the flotilla in June.

Gateshead Borough Council, in partnership with the RNLI, won the coveted gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for their spectacular floral launching lifeboat. The exhibit received further attention at the Gateshead Summer Show and at the Scottish Flower Show.

By far the biggest event was the grand flotilla of 48 lifeboats old and new, UK and overseas at Poole in June with over 10,000 people witnessing the spectacle. These included RNLI supporters from all over the UK and Ireland and 120 delegates and partners from the 40 countries who were at the International Lifeboat Federation Conference in the same week. The huge co-operation of Poole Borough Council, the Police and the Harbourmaster made the day go without a hitch.

Working with The Daily Telegraph produced three good articles, two colour photographs and a 'leader' and some sponsorship.

The hard-hitting cinema commercial went on release across the UK and Ireland as scheduled on 3 September for two non-consecutive weeks. The 60second advert went into 227 cinemas and should have been seen by an estimated one and a half million cinema goers and has also been seen on TV.

There were two surprise and unplanned events which have captured the imagination during the year - the first was the unprecedented media interest in the presentation of the millennium plaque for the Severn class lifeboat by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Every national newspaper attended the photocall resulting in front page pictures on The Times and Telegraph and pictures in every national newspaper.

The second was an initiative from the Mayor of Poole to appoint borough residents as ambassadors to take specially commissioned Poole Pottery bowls to each of our 223 lifeboat stations on his behalf to commemorate the anniversary. The community interest and goodwill that has resulted, along with the press coverage of the handovers, has been quite amazing.Offshore update Offshore, the RNLI's membership grade for sea users, was launched to divers at the recent Dive 99 show at the NEC and received some high-profile endorsement from leading divers.

Michelle Cove, a stunt diver on the new James Bond film, The World is Not Enough', and Tanya Streeter, world number one female diver and world record holder went along to lend their support. A new competition to win an inflatable boat complete with trailer and outboard also helped to attract over 50 new recruits at the show thanks to generous donations and support from Avon, Mariner and Snipe. At the time of going to press it was hoped to have a 'underwater draw' for the lucky winner who will be announced in the Spring issue.New lifeboat named at Port St Mary Port St Mary's new Trent class was named on 17 July at the New Quay, in glorious sunshine.

The boat is the fifth to be funded by the Gough Ritchie Trust which was established in 1990 following the death of Mrs Ann Ritchie, a generous RNLI supporter. Mr W.

Neil Crowe, Chairman of the trust, handed the lifeboat over to RNLI Chairman, David Acland. The lifeboat was then named Gough Ritchie II by Lady Daunt, wife of the Lieutenant Govenor of the Isle of Man.The Lifeboat is published four times a year and is sent free to RNLI Members and Governors.

The next issue will be Spring 2000 and will appear late March 1999.

News items should be received by 31 January, but earlier if possible. All material submitted for possible publication should be addressed to the Editor, The Lifeboat, Royal National Lifeboat I nstitution. West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ.

Photographs intended for return should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope.

Contributions may be held for subsequent issues and to reduce costs receipt will not usually be acknowledged unless requested.

For further information on how to join the Institution as a Member or Governor contact the Membership section at RNLI Headquarters, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ.

Any products or services advertised in The Lifeboat by third parties are not in any way endorsed by the RNLI and the RNLI shall not be responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in such advertisements nor has it investigated or verified any of the information.

The Lifeboat is published by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and printed by The Friary Press, Bndport Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1JL.Gotcha Hewitt! Many readers will have seen famous celebrities singing the praises of Lerwick lifeboat Coxswain, Hewitt Clark, when he was the star of television's This is your Life' in November.

London Weekend Television, contacted the RNLI to consider an exceptional crew member be put forward for the show and Hewitt was selected as the most decorated lifeboatman.

Months of collusion followed with station officials and Hewitt's wife - ever fearful that he would get wind of what was afoot. It was decided the best time catch Hewitt would be when he attended a Royal Garden Party in Edinburgh on 7 July. RNLI Press Officer, Tanya Hall, asked Hewitt if he could take part in a bogus TV interview for BBC Scotland after the garden party. Knowing Hewitt to be a reluctant media star everyone was worried he'd say no, but luckily he agreed and was well and truly 'gotchad'! We are told that the party afterwards was a great celebration and the last person left at 8.00am next day! • AGM/APA dates 1 The 2000 Annual General Meeting of | Governors and Annual Presentation of • Awards will take place on Thursday 18 May • at 1130 and 1430 respectively.

As usual both meetings will be held in • the Barbican Hall Centre, London and the • name of the guest speaker will be an- . nounced as soon as it is known.

Show time again...

Once again the RNLI will be present during the London Boat show at Earl's Court in January - and those who receive this issue of the magazine in time should hurry along to stand 60E to see the latest hi-tech displays and futuristic stand design! As well as all the usual attractions including the membership, souvenirs and static displays, there will a 'storm sensory area' where members of the public can get some idea of what it's like to be out on a rough weather shout. Standing in the half-lit room, visitors are shown the RNLI cinema advert whilst being blasted by wind and fog and experiencing thunder and lightening! There will also be an elegant water feature at the front of the stand to draw the crowds into the Sea Safety area where the focus this year will be on SEA Check - giving visitors the opportunity to sign up for the free safety equipment advisory service.Coxswain, to Cromer design award Cromer lifeboat community and the design team that built the station's new £3m slipway boathouse had a proud day on 16 December when the project won the prestigious Graham Allen Award for Conservation and Design.

The award is given annually to the building which had made the most significant contribution to the built environment within the North Norfolk District Council area. Councillor Henry Cordeaux, chairman of the judging panel said of the boathouse, '...an excellent design, which is impressive without being out of scale, and which retains traditional features while being a fitting and workmanlike base for the lifeboat into the next century.' Pictured above is the Council's Conservation and Design Manager together with Mrs Blanche Allen, widow of Graham Allen, presenting the award plaque to project architect Steve Bond and the design team.

By the time this issue of The Lifeboat reaches you. the excitement of Christmas will have probably long subsided, but we couldn't resist reproducing this cartoon by freelance artist. Tony Parsons who is a crew member of Blackpool lifeboat. We just hope that Santa managed to deliver all his presents on time...New England in Autumn? The lucky winners of the Spring Lottery will enjoy a really splendid prize - a fly/drive holiday, with accommodation, for two people to New England, USA. There they will enjoy the rugged coastline of Maine, the history and charm of Boston, and lush forests with majestic mountain backdrops.

If the winner chooses to holiday in the Autumn, they can marvel at the famous red, russet and gold fall foliage. In addition they will receive £500 spending money to make their holiday even more enjoyable.

Also, there are eight cash runners-up prizes ranging from E100 to £1,000. If you would like the opportunity to win any of these great prizes, remember to return your tickets to RNLI HQ before 14 April 2000. If you would like to receive tickets or if you would like more tickets, please contact Rebekah Rose who will be pleased to help. You can contact Rebekah on (01202) 663219, 8.30am-5pm weekdays.

Campbeltown's lifeboat named Campbeltown's new Severn class lifeboat was named Ernest and Mary Shaw by donor, Mrs Mary Shaw, at a naming ceremony at The Old Quay in Campbeltown on 28 August.

The lifeboat was provided by a generous gift from the estate of the late Ernest Shaw ! _ and his I widow Mary to mark their admiration and respect for lifeboat crew members.

Lottery price changes Recently the RNLI has reviewed various ways of further improving the Lifeboat lottery. One of the areas of research was ticket price and looking at changing the price from 50p to £1, but with a book containing five, £1 tickets rather than ten, 50p tickets.

In effect a book of tickets would stay the same price, but the changes would minimise costs and reduce the number of counterfoils. Please be assured that your chances of winning should stay the same - although you may buy fewer tickets at £1, other purchasers will also be buying fewer tickets.

Furthermore, research on this subject was carried out with a small number of supporters during September. Their overwhelming response was to encourage the introduction of the £1 ticket. Therefore the RNLI will proceed with the £1 ticket for the Summer lottery.

We hope you agree this is a good idea, and that you will continue to support the lifeboat service via the lottery. Should you have any queries regarding the above, please contact Julia Fish at RNLI headquarters on (01202) 663000, between 9am-5pm weekdays.

Another success for Queen Victoria The beautifully restored 1887 pulling and sailing lifeboat, Queen Victoria, was in action again on 30 May when she was hauled overland from Bembridge to Sandown on the Isle of Wight. Queen Victoria is thought to be the oldest surviving RNLI lifeboat in existence and has been used for many events and re-enactments including Lynmouth, Poole and Whitby (see page 6 for details). She was acquired as a derelict by the Bemberidge lifeboat coxswain and, after much fundraising, was restored to her former glory at the Classic Boat Museum.

The Isle of Wight event was a re-enactment of the difficult rescue of the brig John Douse in 1877, when the lifeboat had to be hauled six miles overland to Sandown Bay. The weather was so tempestuous that it was impossible for the lifeboat to launch at Bembridge and get around Culver Cliff to reach the stricken brig, hence the decision to go overland. The lifeboat successfully launched and rescued some of the brig's crew in very difficult conditions.

The re-enactment went extremely well and the six miles were covered in three and a half hours using four shire horses and many volunteer launchers'. The event was organised by the coxswain and crew of the Bembridge lifeboat and further projects with the Queen Victoria are being planned for the near future. The lifeboat is available for other events nationwide and anyone interested should contact Martin Woodward on 01983 873125.South Caper The 1999 RNLI South African Cycle Challenge You would think that choosing to cycle in South Africa in October would be a great idea... sunshine, blue skies and warm seas. Well 23 intrepid cyclists will be happy to contradict you! They cycled more than 400kms from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, along deserted dirt track beach roads and through mountain passes (seven to be precise). They endured rain nearly every day, had no clean or dry clothes, were 'attacked' by baboon and slept ten to a room on some nights. But ask any of them what they thought of the experience and, to a man, they will all agree it was one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences of their lives.

The aim of the challenge was to reach the most southerly tip of South Africa and, in doing so, the most southerly lifeboat station. In fact, whilst en route, the cyclists visited three of South Africa's National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) lifeboat stations and were given the opportunity to meet and chat with the lifeboat crews. Each cyclist was asked to raise a minimum of £2,500 (some have raised two or three times this amount) of which a small percentage is donated to the NSRI in recognition of their help in organising the cycle challenge.

The RNLI's Product Manager, Anne Maton, said, The rain simply added to the challenge. En route, we were rewarded with stunning scenery, heard frogs and weaver birds, and spotted whales and dolphin. The NSRI crews were wonderful and, all in all, it was a highly successful money-raising event - one that I would be delighted to repeat.' If this has whet your appetite, Anne is planning to run two bike rides next year; the first is to Iceland in August and then she will repeat the • South African challenge later in the year. For further information, Anne can be contacted on 01202 663376.

First lifeboat challenge At the beginning of June, 120 teams from all over the UK and Republic of Ireland took part in the first ever RNLI Lifeboat Challenge. Teams of four had just 48 hours in which to visit as many of the RNLI's 223 lifeboat stations as possible. They could travel by any mode of transport they liked - as long as they raised a minimum of £400 in the process.

The event really fired the imagination, with teams participating in the Challenge in a variety of ways: by helicopter, motorcycle, car, boat, horse and foot. The Triumph Stag Owners Club entered teams right around the country. Other teams included the Police force, armed forces, ambulance and fire service, a team of diving instructors and many lifeboat crews.

Trophies were awarded to the UK and Irish teams who visited the most stations (Craster lifeboat crew with 68 and the Black Ravens with 37 respectively). Prizes of top-of-the-range camera equipment were presented to the teams who raised the most money (British Aerospace/CSC helicopter team with a staggering £28,467).

In total almost £100,000 has been raised, with money still coming in.

Due to its success, it has been decided that the Lifeboat Challenge should take place every two years. If you would like further information about it, please contact Anne Maton, Fundraising Product Manager, on (01202) 663376.

Film processing envelopes Many readers may have noticed a distinct absence of film processing envelopes in the past two issues. At the time of going to press we are considering an alternative service.

We should have some news shortly - sorry for the inconvenience.

Model thanks In the Autumn issue, Maureen La Frenais, RNLI Display and Visits Coordinator, announced that she was updating the list of lifeboat model makers and made a plea to budding modellers to supply her with details of any current or past projects and photographs.

Response to the appeal was very encouraging, giving the RNLI a very useful contact base for future displays and events. A big thanks goes out to all who kindly got in touch.V13f£Bf / By Sue Denny, RNLI Press and Public Information Manager I enry Freeman, pictured above, has graced the RNLI's r 175th anniversary publicity material throughout the year.

J But it took until August Bank Holiday weekend before the heroic Whitby coxswain came into his own. For it was Henry Freeman who, in January 1881, led the historic lifeboat pull, six miles overland in a howling blizzard, from Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay to save the crew of the collier The Visiter...

On Bank Holiday Sunday morning thousands of supporters gathered all along the route from the Whitby Lifeboat Museum to Robin Hood's Bay to witness the re-enactment of the area's most famous rescue.

In 1881, the area was blanketed in snow, the bitter cold winds were howling and the only sources of power were men and horses. Surely, 118 years later, on a warm and sunny summer day, it would be a much easier to pull a replica of the Robert Whitworth (in fact the lifeboat used in the pull was the ex-Bembridge lifeboat - the beautifully restored Victoria) over the hilly route. Well, not necessarily! Organiser Ian Hudson wanted the reenactment to stick as closely as possible to the methods used during the original rescue.

Many the participants were current lifeboat crew members and coastguards with a group of local players acting out the key characters. The 'Honorary Secretary1 brought news of the disaster and told the families of those on board the Visiter that it would be impossible to launch at Whitby because of the weather. Coxswain Freeman, played by Peter Thomson, former Whitby lifeboat coxswain and curator of the lifeboat museum, declared that with the help of the townspeople he would take the lifeboat overland to Robin Hood's Bay and launch there.

In 1881, teams of farm horses were used in shifts along the route. But as working horses are few and far between in 1999, just four Bass shire horses were enlisted to help over 100 sponsored volunteers.

Using the original carriage, specially restored for the occasion, the long uphill pull began. Crowds lined the route and supporters followed as the team climbed past the famous Abbey and on to the Hare and Hounds at Hawsker.

The stage from the Hare and Hounds to the top of the moor, was the final one for the horses. Once they were unhitched, it was time for something unavailable in the 1800's, but required today for health and safety reasons - a vehicle was attached for the descent into Robin Hoods Bay - not to do the work, but to be there should the lifeboat run out of control on the steep hill.

,Gi "»9the0,dheavehol r- * It was just as hard, if not harder, to go down hill as to go up and the arrival at the Victoria Hotel, was delayed as the pullers edged their way down through the narrow country lanes.

Now was the time for the big decision - whether to call it a day at the Victoria - which is actually in Ftobin Hoods Bay - or to take the lifeboat down the one in three hill to the beach and launch her.

As the pullers took a much needed break, the coxswain decided it would be too dangerous to carry on with such large crowds, they had achieved their goal by reaching Robin Hoods Bay in five hours.

However, the coastguard team offered to act as marshals and clear everyone off the hill and so at 3pm the process of inching the lifeboat down the hill began. The Victoria's owner, Bembridge coxswain Martin Woodward, went ahead, close to the ground, as the lifeboat was edged forward.

All the team's strength was expended holding the lifeboat back, to prevent her rolling out of control into a house or a shop. Those of us fortunate enough to have secured a vantage point on the sharp bend by the Laurel Inn were certain that was as far as she would go. Surely they would never get her round that corner? Inch by precarious inch she came, passing an outhouse by a whisker on one side and barely missing a shop on the other, until her bow was pointing directly into the window of the Laurel Inn. At times it was one foot forward and four back to get her into position until miraculously she was round the tight bend and on her way to the next obstacle - the bridge.

With the carriage too wide to go across the bridge, the team had to lift the boat off and, using skids, take her over the bridge and down to the water's edge.

But what a sight greeted them when they reached journey's end. Thousands of people had gathered to welcome them. Some had waited all day, unaware of the dramas that had gone before.

The lifeboat finally touched the water just after 6pm, over nine hours after leaving Whitby. The Whitby crew took up the oars and to the great delight of the crowd rowed the lifeboat away.

At the time of going to press it is not yet known how much sponsorship was raised but we do know that over £3,000 was collected on route.

The above water colour by John Freeman, entitled The Pull', shows the lifeboat passing the Hare and Hounds. John is selling a limited edition of unframed prints at £20 each with half the profits going to the RNLI. John can be contacted on (01947) 602799.