'There is another type of courage...

...the stoic acceptance of wives, husbands, partners and parents who never know whether their loved ones will return from a shout.'Another special kind of courage The courage of our lifeboat crews is beyond question. Their many deeds in appalling conditions make each and every one of them a special kind of person. This is unarguable and is widely appreciated.

However, there is another type of courage that normally goes unrecognised. I have no wish to be melodramatic but feel that I must refer to the stoic acceptance of wives, husbands, partners and parents who never know whether their loved ones will return from a shout. Many callouts bring the possibility of death. The support given to crews is of enormous value to individuals and the RNLI as a whole.

Clearly, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to single out anyone for an award but surely there must be some way of acknowledging the enduring courage of the individuals and families who are left on shore when a lifeboat is launched. They also serve, who only stand and wait.' Colin Westwood, Stamford, Lines Letter of the quarter wins a bottle of Old Pulteney whisky.

Heroes all As a lifelong landlubber I have always had the greatest respect and admiration for lifeboat crews. It is hard enough to be on a large ship in rough seas but to be in a small boat in storm conditions is quite something else and to do it for no reward, save the satisfaction of saving lives, is totally admirable.

We see so many instances of people's selfishness and callous cruelty in the news these days - the selfless bravery of lifeboat crews restores one's faith in human nature. They should all get gold medals in my opinion.

Alan Cox, Rhuddlan, DenbighshireName connection I was very interested to read 'Stormy Stan's sea tales' in th Winter 2000/1 issue of '•i Lifeboat and the mention of the Wicklow lifeboat mechanic James Bonus.

My husband's father, Thoma Bonass, came from County Cor to live in Jersey over 60 years ago, with his sister Alice and brothers Kevin, Niall and Dermc The surnames are quite unusua and we were wondering if the spelling had been changed over time.

It would be interesting if any readers know the family of Jarr Bonus and we could maybe ma contact.

Elizabeth Bon.

Pancrebar, New Zealand Aven Claremont Ro St Saviour, Jersey, JEZ 7Can anyone help? We are a voluntary organisation restoring the old Hartlepool lifeboat, The Princess Royal (Civil Service No.7), back to her original condition.

She is a 46ft Watson class, ON-828, and a gold medal-winning lifeboe There are a number of fittings we desperately require in order to restore the vessel. For example, we are looking for an auxiliary watercooled generator (type No. MA11W 24 volts), stanchions, ventilators and any deck fittings etc.

We would be grateful to hear if readers have, or know of anyone who has, any of the articles we are looking for and would be willing t donate them to our restoration fund or sell them at a reasonable price We thank you for your help and look forward to hearing any news.

Brian Stringer, c/o Heerema Security Office, Victoria Harbour S Bond Street, The Headland, Hartlepool, TS24 0Hover history With regard to the RNLI hovercraft trials, I thought the following might be of interest to readers.

The Canadian Coast Guard first considered air cushion vehicles in 1965 and chartered a Bell SK5 (a modified British Hovercraft Corporation SRN5) for trials on Lake Ontario. As a result, a SRN5 was purchased and modified for search and rescue.

In December 1968, a request was received for assistance to a vessel on the rocks of Stuart Island, some 40 miles away. Conditions were severe, with high wind and seas, poor visibility and pan ice. A helicopter had taken off one person but had to abandon further efforts due to high winds and nearby cliffs.

The hovercraft crossed 10 miles of ice and ran into very rough water. At the small cove where the casualty was aground, the wind speed was 35 knots with 3m waves. The hovercraft was taken into the cove, passing over protruding rocks. Seas were bursting over the stranded vessel and the rescue craft.

In spite of these appalling conditions, the rescue was carried out successfully The operation involved a total distance of 80 nautical miles ano*50 minutes were spent at the scene.

The one occasion on which the Vancouver hovercraft was seriously damaged happened during a search along the shore on a warm summer night. The searchlight was switched on suddenly and fully illuminated a girl about to enter the water, delightfully nude. At this moment the craft commander reported that he experienced a sudden 'rudder overbalance' and the hovercraft hit a concrete post! All in all I think you will agree that hovercraft would make a welcome addition to the RNLI fleet.

Peter Crofts, Southport, Lancashire Ed's note: The above information was taken from the book, Lifeboats of the World by E W Middleton.

Watson at Whitby Readers may be interested to see this photograph the ex-Whitby lifeboat, Mary Ann Hepwonh, taken Whitby regatta. The old Watson lifeboat is now used for trips out to sea for holidaymakers and the picture shows her taking part in a parade as part of the regatta festivities, together with the station's present Trent class lifeboat, George and Mary Webb.

Unfortunately the station's D class was elsewhere in the parade (well, everywhere!) so it was not possible to capture all three lifeboats at once.

David Utting. Whitstable, Kent A short rescue theLifeboat usually contains stories of launches in foul weather, often with a search for the casualty - how different from my only experience of a rescue.

My father and I, staying at Sheringham in the early 70s, were just about to go to dinner when the maroons sounded. We left the hotel and stood in the calm of a June evening at the cliff edge above the lifeboathouse. The casualty was a small cutter aground on the shingle bank, some 10m from the lifeboat slipway, with its master lying slumped on deck. There was no choice for the coxswain but to go seaward and return for the rescue. After getting the man to hospital, the boat was pulled off the bank and taken to safety.

I should think that 10m is some sort of record for a lifeboat rescue! JR Craven, Nottingham Fall in If any readers are, or have been, Sea Scouts and would like to share reminiscences or information to be included in a book on the history of Sea Scouts from 1909 to date, 1 would be grateful if they would contact me at 44 Ketting Street, Streatham, London, SW16 6PZ. All contributions will be acknowledged.

Roy Masini District CommisionerWin a bottle! Inver House Distillers, the makers of Old Pulteney whisky, have kindly agreed to give away a bottle of the genuine maritime malt to our 'Letter of the quarter'. So if you've got any burning issues to get off your chest about lifeboats or a related subject, put your pen to paper and send your letter to: Your Letters, • Lifeboat, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH151 HZ or email us at [email protected] All letters intended for consideration should be clearly marked 'For Publication'..