Letter of the quarter Memorial arboretum goes ahead Following on from the appeal in the letters page of the winter issue of the Lifeboat, I am pteased to announce that we have reached our target of £5,000. We have secured a plot at the National Memorial Arboretum in honour of lifeboatmen and women.

We have also received additional funds, donated specifically to provide wooden benches and a flagpole for the house flag. Block Stone Ltd of Chesterfield have donated a large block of stone on which a local sculptor is now working, on site, to produce a fitting centrepiece for the plot.

Tree planting will take place this autumn. We hope to hold an official handover and dedication of the plot to the RNLI in September 2003.

We are leaving the appeal open for the time being because we wish to raise a little more money if possible, to cover the cost of additional items such as a bronze memorial tablet for the site.

The fundraising committee would like to thank all those who have contributed to the appeal and made this memorial possible.

Philip Theaker Chairman, Burton St Mowden branch 01283 713942 Congratulations to all the fundraising committee, who have worked so hard to make this memorial plot a reality. Perhaps a bottle of Old Pulteney whisky would help you to celebrate your success.Norwegian cruising Recently my wife and I had the privilege of taking the Norwegian coastal voyage - a round trip from Bergen to Kirknes, near the Russian border with Norway, and back. This was a truly wonderful experience and one that I could recommend to anyone.

On the trip I came across two lifeboats of the Norwegian fleet.

The larger vessel was based in the fishing village of Stamsund, towards the southern end of the Lofoten Islands, north of the arctic circle. The smaller vessel is based on the mainland in the town of Kristiansund, which is situated south of the city of Trondheim.

Keep up the good work.

Eric Brooks Cannock, Staffs Sub support I am the submarine marine and nuclear engineering drafting officer at NMA Gosport, but my voluntary and self-appointed job is the 'heads liaison officer'. Being an old and bold submariner, I have always maintained that the heads (that's the toilet to any land-lubbers out there - Edl must be an attractive and welcoming room.

To this end the heads have been festooned with indoor plants and pictures. Prior to entering, you are confronted by the following sign: 'Once you have completed your ablutions please spare a few pence for the RNLI' And there among the flowers and talking fish is the lifeboat collection box, which is emptied every year by the local box collection man. If we had a bottle of Old Pulteney whisky, then it would be glued to a shelf and raffled off for Christmas. The money raised would then be added to the annual box collection.

Lt Cdr Dave Hubbard NMA Gosport, Hampshire Sorry Dave, no whisky this time. But keep up your great work. It just goes to show that collection boxes get into the strangest places.

Chasing the Chavasses While on holiday in Cornwall, my daughter noticed a small boathouse (now a private dwelling) at Chirch Cove to the east of Lizard Point. It had an inscription to the effect that the boathouse was erected and presented to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1887 in loving memory of Thomas and Miriam Chavasse and the Reverend Horace and Margaret Chavasse.

I wonder if anyone can tell me how it came about that these people were commemorated at this particular spot, and why. The youngest son of Thomas and Miriam was Francis Chavasse, a well-loved former Bishop of Liverpool (my home city), who had a particularly distinguished family, some of whom were known to my father.

Ruth Lambert Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex If any reader knows the story behind the boathouse inscription, please write to the Lifeboat magazine. We will pass the information on to Mrs Lambert and may include it in a future issue.Early learning so valuable I regularly read the Lifeboat magazine and am often filled with anger and amazement about people both on shore and in the water, who put their own lives and that of others at risk through ignorance and lack of respect for the sea and then subsequently have to be rescued by the lifeboat.

The dedication and bravery of the men and women of the lifeboat crews is always appreciated by those who are rescued (and their loved ones), but wouldn't it be better if in some cases they didn't have to put their lives on the line in the first place? I was therefore delighted to read in the summer issue about the Storm Force new members pack for children. I fully intend to enroll my three young grandsons now, in the hope that they will develop a lifelong interest in the RNLI and, at the same time, learn about the joys and the dangers of the seaside environment.

Sue Allsworth Fowlmere, Nr Royston, Herts / am sure you will be please to see the enthusiastic reply to the new pack from Bonnie Pascoe (below).

Storm Force success Dear Stormy Stan Thank you for my official member's pack. Its really wicked and cool. I drew this picture of you with your lifejacket on.

I am now an official member of the RNLI crew. I am really pleased. I live by the seaside so this pack is very useful to me.

Bonnie Pascoe Storm Force member Thank you Bonnie. Stormy Stan and Eric are delighted that you like your new pack.Jubilee support I thought you might enjoy seeing this rather different picture of the Dungeness lifeboat.

I took it during the Parade of the Services that was part of the Queen's jubilee celebrations on 4 June. A great day and it was wonderful to see the RNLI taking part.

I used to live about half a mile from the Shoreham-by-Sea station and was only too aware of the terrible conditions that the crew had to endure. I'm now well and truly land-locked, but whenever possible I always visit the nearest lifeboat station, just to keep in touch.

Valerie Blackburn Harrogate, North Yorkshire Inland support for sea rescue I have so much admiration for the lads and lassies of the RNLI. It started from childhood visiting the east coast of Yorkshire, on happy day trips with my parents. Dad always showed an interest in boats and the lifeboat visit was always a must.

Now in my fifties, I am an avid supporter, although I must admit I have a phobia of water, never daring to board rowing boats or barges. This proves in fact that your supporters come from all walks of life - born and bred 70 miles from the nearest coastline - I am proud to be a very small part of the team.

G Workman Wheatley Hills, DoncasterInver 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, The 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'..