Naming ceremoniesNorah Cadman at Blackpool The D class lifeboat was kindly provided by the generous bequest of Mrs Norah Cadman, in memory of the late Norah and Harry Cadman.

Colonel Alan Niekirk, member of the RNLI Committee of Management, accepted the lifeboat from James Butterfield, representing the executors of the late Mrs Cadman. Following a service of dedication led by the station chaplain. The Reverend Peter Walsh, Mr Butterfield formally named the lifeboat. A short demonstration by the lifeboat and her crew followed the ceremony. 19/09/01 Duckhams 2001 for the relie fleet The Atlantic 75 lifeboat, funded by Duckhams Oils, was formally handed over by Mr Vincent Oddie, business unit director BP Lubricants into the relief fleet on Friday, 2 November 2001.

This lifeboat is the second to be funded by Duckhams, who are longterm supporters of the RNLI. The first was an inshore lifeboat, B-529 Alexander Duckham, and was in service from September 1974 to May 1996. Within days of joining the fleet, Duckhams 2001 went on service at Cardigan. 2/11/01Dignity at West Mersea The official opening and dedication of West Mersea's new lifeboat house took place at the same time as the naming ceremony.

Dignity is named after Dignity Caring Funeral Services, whose employees enthusiastically raised the majority of funds for the £81,600 lifeboat by holding fun days, various raffles and events including 'guess the number of balloons'. Dignity Caring Funeral Services generously supported their efforts to ensure the cost of the lifeboat would be fully met.

West Mersea lifeboat station was established in 1963. Since then its volunteer lifeboat crews have launched over 1,500 times, saving more than 460 lives. The volunteer crews at West Mersea have received several awards for skill, seamanship and devotion to duty, the last being presented in 1993. 14/09/01 On station ALL WEATHER Poole ON-1131 City of Sheffield on 5 September 2001 Torbay ON-12554/ecand Christina Dykes on 31 October 2001 INSHORE Amble D-569 Rosemary Palmer on 10 October 2001 Campbeltown D-571 Three Brothers on 14 October 2001 Eastbourne D-570 Joan and Ted Wiseman 50 on 14 October 2001 Kessock B-709/.ucy Beryl on 18 October 2001 Redcar B-777 Leicester Challenge II on 15 November 2001Retirements David Corke: Eastbourne coxswain/mechanic Appointments Ian Dunkley: Gravesend station manager Janet Kelly: Tower station manager Wayne Bellamy: Chiswick station manager Neil Clark: Lerwick coxswain John Sinclair. Lerwick mechanic Michael Nugent Tynemouth coxswain (designate) Brian bows out Brian Bevan MBE has retired after 26 years as superintendent coxswain of Number lifeboat station.

He is one of The most highly decorated lifeboatmen in the history of the RNLl and. like Dick Evans, has been the subject of This Is Your Life.

Brian joined the RNLl in 1966, moving to Number in 1969 and becoming superintendent coxswain in 1975. In 1979 he became the only man ever to receive the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in one year, following a series of courageous rescues during the winter of 1978-79. He was presented with a bar to his bronze medal in 1982 and in 1996 he received an Honorary Fellowship of the University of Humberside. In 1999 he was awarded an MBE.

'It will be a sad day for me,' said Brian, who reached 55, the retirement age for all-weather lifeboat crew, on 22 November.

'The Humber lifeboat station is extremely isolated and, as you are on call 24 hours a day. 6 days a week, your life revolves around the station. It has been a way of life for the last 27 years.'.