Selling gifts and souvenirs is an excellent way of raising both funds and the profile of the lifeboat service. RNLI (Sales) provides a range of products for the wide variety of shops and events run by volunteers. In 2001 its turnover was £4m - up over £1/4m on 2000.

The Lifeboat speaks to Angela Rook and David Rendell, of the retail operations team, to get an update on developments.How much money does the RNLI actually receive from a turnover of £4m? Angela: Last year we made net profit of 22% - this is extremely good compared with other retailers. Our branches, guilds and shops can be extremely proud.

We give all our profits to the RNLI as Gift Aid which means we do not pay tax. As a result, the whole business, including mail order, gave £1.4m to the RNLI last year.

How else does RNLI (Sales) plan to support the RNLI's future developments? Angela: We are encouraging more young people to get involved with the RNLI. We have recently developed eye-catching units for shops and events that will hold the new range of Storm Force products. We hope this will sell more goods and raise awareness.

Can you extend the RNLI's volunteer spirit in other ways through the shops? Angela: Yes. As responsible retailers, health and safety for volunteers and shop visitors is very important. We have developed a volunteer team who have professional grounding in this work. Each looks after an area of shops and works with volunteers from each sales outlet, and the retail operations team, to improve safety. This has been so successful that we are looking to expand the idea.

How can you help volunteers to increase shop sales? David: We have recently overhauled our shop design to make it more exciting and interesting. It was first installed at Southend last August and we've seen sales rocket there ever since. We have just opened the Eastbourne museum using the new design and are hoping to get the same results.

It is not just about finding better ways to display stock though. Shop volunteers are often asked about their local lifeboats so we made sure that the new design includes lifeboat information. It is nice for people to make links with the lifeboats they can see and the products they can buy. This works alongside new lifeboat station designs that often include viewing windows and galleries.

Isn't this expensive? David: Shop fitting is a long-term investment.

Whenever a shop is fitted out we aim to cover the costs within three years from extra profit. Very often the new fittings are paid for in a matter of months, thanks to the support of our volunteers, and the added bonus of being able to display a wider range of goods in an attractive way. This is fantastic when you consider that the fittings last more than 10 years.

Volunteers are great at selling goods but how else can your team support them in the future? Angela: Last year we introduced three shop supervisors in three of our highest turnover shops.

They have spent the first 12 months building up their shop's sales and are now looking to support other nearby shops and local branch events. The supervisors, based at Whitby, Filey and Sheringham, are delighted to help local volunteers who need help or advice with sales matters.Winning fundraising friendsThe Connah's Quay connection An excellent way for branches and guilds to raise money within their community is to ask groups, clubs, businesses and individuals to do a fundraising event for their branch or guild.

One example of how this is working is the fundraising friendships forged by Connah's Quay and Sholton branch in Flintshire, Wales.

Committee members noticed that their fundraising was affected when many local businesses closed down due to new shopping parks and a large supermarket opening just outside the area. Based on the banks of the River Dee, once a thriving ship building and heavy industrial area, the branch wasn't going to give in easily.

'We had received an invitation from our regional office to attend a winning fundraising friends seminar,' said secretary, Eddie Sargeant. 'We went along and listened to what was said. We discussed it at our next meeting and decided to give it a go.' Eddie had lots of contacts from working at Corus in Shotton (formerly British Steel). So first stop was Kath Tellet at the Corus sports and social club. She was more than pleased to help and organised a 60s night at the club that raised £675. Kath followed this up with race and cabaret nights, helping to raise over £2,000 in total. One of Kath's many friends is Mark Evans, area manager of Carlsberg Tetley, who sponsors the events and provides raffle prizes. Corus makes gifts to the branch from its charity fund and its sailing club organises sponsored events.Branch chairman Ainsley Popplewell made contact with the Deeside Naval Club. Three of the club's committee members, including chairman Gilbert Butler, agreed to help the branch. The club put on a buffet following the RNLI's 175th anniversary and, more recently, it organised a dance which raised £325.

The branch has been busy making many other friends including Beverley Fraser, who ran in the Great North Run to raise sponsorship, and Jeanette O'Shea, who sells secondhand books from her roadside diner to raise cash for the branch.

Fundraising friends plans are well in hand for 2002 - regional draw tickets are on order ready for friends to sell and Kath is organising another function at the Corus club.

'Our friends are fantastic,' said Eddie.Family connection David Welton and his sister Paris worked together to help the RNLI get some free state-of-the-art communications equipment in May.

David (right) works on the RNLI IT helpdesk, where wearing a telephone headset is part of the job. Paris works for international company Rantronics, whose headsets are used all around the world and have been featured in many high-profile events, including Neil Armstrong's historic 'One small step for man...' transmission from the moon in 1969.

When David mentioned to Paris that the IT team needed some more headset equipment she was sure her company could help. Sure enough, ntronics were happy to help and generously donated 10 headsets and two amplifiers.Lifeboat-related reading Douglas lifeboats - 200 years of gallantry The story of the Penmon and Beaumaris lifeboats by Jeff Morris Both priced at £3.50 each including p&p Jeff continues his unstinting research into local lifeboat history with two more books covering the lifeboats at Douglas, on the Isle of Man, and Penmon and Beaumaris on Anglesey.

The first book is available from Mr R Oram, 8 Royal Avenue, Onchan, Isle of Man IMS 1HA. The second is available from Mr JM Broughton, The Orchard, Rosemary Lane, Beaumaris LL58 8ED. Cheques should be made payable to RNLI.

Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society handbook 2002 by Tony Denton Price £5 including p&p (or free to society members) This first edition of the handbook contains a comprehensive listing of RNLI lifeboats, including the current fleet, ex-fleet and those on display or sold out of service.

Copies are available from Tony Denton, Dawn, Upper Battlefield, Shrewsbury SY4 4AA - cheques payable to RNLI/Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society.

Lifeboat listening Fisherman's Friends are home from the sea by Fisherman's Friends They that go down to the sea...

by the Ely Cathedral Choir Both priced at £12 each plus £1 p&p Available early July from RNLI Sales - tel 0870 6001824.

Two new CDs have been produced in support of the lifeboat service by the RNLI's music division.

Fisherman's Friends are home from the sea is a collection of sea shanties performed by a crew of fisherman and, funnily enough, their friends and some of the Port Isaac lifeboat crew (above). They that go down to the sea... is a collection of choral songs performed by Ely Cathedral Choir - a follow up to the choir's widely acclaimed Will your anchor hold?97th lottery A brand new Suzuki Ignis was the first prize in the spring Lifeboat Lottery, thanks to Britannia Rescue who kindly donated the car. The winning tickets were picked by lifeboat crew members and representatives of Suzuki and Britannia Rescue on 30 April at the RNU's Poole depot. The car was snapped up by JA Taylor of Warwickshire and second prize of £1,000 went to L Mann of Birmingham. The other prize winners were; £500 Mr J Hocken, Brixham £250 Chris Snook, Brighton £100 Alan Meredith, Loughborough; Godfrey and Maxine Kent, Nottingham; Mr W Gilbertson, East Lothian; FJ Minter, Cranbrook and Mrs K Page. Ipswich The draw raised £230,000 for the lifeboat service - enough to buy two Atlantic 75 lifeboats, their launching trailers and introductory inshore lifeboat training for 10 crew members.

Gambling forthe greater good A nice shock - David Farr Heft) of Aire-Serv and Paul Topham of Mr Electric hand over £2,400 to Bromsgrove RNLt branch chairman Mary Hampton.

During its recent UK convention Mr Electric, a Bromsgrove-based electrical contractors company, decided to liven things up a bit and held a charity casino evening that raised £2,400 for the lifeboats.

The company has a special connection with the RNLI as Robert Rabiotti, who runs a leading franchise, is a crew member of Penarth lifeboat. Robert's brother, Andrew, also happens to be the station's secretary. During the evening staff, guests and employees from the company's associate business, Aire-Serv, placed bets and watched the roulette wheel spin as they lost their money to charity.

Mary Hampton of Bromsgrove branch, who accepted the evening's takings on behalf of the RNLI, said: 'Raising £2,400 in one evening was a superb effort...' £2,400 - enough to buy a propeller for a Severn class lifeboatKeep on running Lymington lifeboat had a very successful Sunday morning on 7 April, thanks to the efforts of crew member James Brookes and everyone else at the station who organised a sponsored fun run.

Town Mayor, Mrs Vernon Jackson, and station secretary Michael Webb officially started the race which saw 120 competitors of all ages and experience tackle the 10km course.

James is a keen runner and has taken part in the London marathon three times to raise cash for the lifeboat service.

Event organiser and lifeboat crew member James Brook (left) with two happy looking competitors.

This event raised £3,000 for the RNLI - enough to send four all-weather lifeboat coxswains on a command search and rescue training course.

Win a signed handbook The new RNLI handbook is now available to all members through RNLI Sales - and the first three people to place orders will be the lucky winners of a copy personally signed by intrepid yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur (above).

Priced at £19.50, the A5 binder is full of expert advice and practical information in an easy-to-use format. Essential in an emergency, and full of training tips and reference material for every day use, the handbook will be a benefit to all sea users. To secure your copy call RNLI Sales on 0870 600 1824 and quote code M104.

Terms and conditions: The RNLI has three copies of the handbook signed by Ellen MacArthur. The first three orders received by RNLI Sales will receive a signed copy. Alt subsequent orders will be processed in the usual manner and these purchasers will receive an unsigned copy. The handbook can only be purchased by RNLI members (Shoreline, Offshore, Governor). Purchase is necessary to be eligible to receive a handbook, signed or unsigned- The RNLI's decisi&n is final and no correspondence will be entered into.New motor cover for 2002 Britannia Rescue offers up to 15% discount on its road rescue rates to RNLI members and donates 2.5% of all premiums and renewals to the lifeboat service.

The company offers four levels of cover to suit every need and pocket - from the basic roadside assistance, to a hire car or help with overnight accommodation. This year Britannia Rescue's personal cover, that allows the policy holder and their partner to drive any privately owned car, has been extended to cover travelling as a passenger in any car. This extra cover costs £28 a year or just £3.50 a month.

For more information see the advertisement on the inside back cover of this issue.

Thrills, spills and women drivers Nearly 50 women drivers proved they were just as good as the boys when they competed in a off-road driving day in May that raised £4,000 for the lifeboats. The challenging event.

organised by RNLI North West office and Evans Halshow Land Rovers of Hadley, took place at Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire and saw ladies tackle the off-road trek through the demanding terrain of an old gravel quarry.

Steep slopes, difficult descents and mires of mud tested the nerves of all entrants who put state-of-the-art Land Rovers through their paces.

A thrill-packed trials section complemented the course where drivers pushed themselves and the Land Rovers to their limits.

All competitors thoroughly enjoyed the day and were complimented on their driving skills by the instructors.Flamborough branch presented its first traditional Christmas pantomime, Cinderella, in the Village Hall on three consecutive nights in December 2001. Written by local vicar, the Reverend Michael Cartwright, the show filled the hall to capacity on all three nights. The panto appealed to all age groups and everyone thoroughly enjoyed and participated in the lively show.

The Reverend took part in the panto as Slender Glenda (wearing a green wig in photo) and was joined by several members of the guild and lifeboat crew. Guild chairman, Jean Cross (pink wig in photo) will long be remembered for her performance as Cinderella's stepmother. The show raised £1,632 and plans are already underway for a second pantomime this year.Guys and molls Gangsters and molls packed the St Kew Inn near Wadebridge, Devon on 8 February but, fortunately, there was no trouble - it was all in aid of the RNLI.

The prohibition fun night was organised by landlord and landlady Des and Ginny Weston together with Port Isaac branch.

The fancy dress night raised £1.200 and included a prize for the best dressed, lots of games and challenges, a raffle and one or two surprises..