Naming ceremoniesAlec and Christina Dykes atTorbay More than 350 guests attended the ceremony for Devon's first Severn class lifeboat. The lifeboat was received on behalf of the RNLI by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE RD and named by Torbay mayor Mrs Heather Buckpitt. 18/08/02Chelsea Pensioner at Chiswick The second Thames E class lifeboat was named at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. It was funded by Dr Patricia Baguley, but has been named Chelsea Pensioners recognition of the valuable support the In- Pensioners have given to the RNLI over more than 25 years. The lifeboat was named by 90 year old Bert Spurdin, who has collected at the London Boat Show since 1979. Chelsea Pensioner is designated for use mainly at the Chiswick Lifeboat Station, 19/07/02 Fred Clarke at Littlestone-on-Sea The Atlantic 75 lifeboat was provided by Mr and Mrs Roy Glossop of Worthing, in memory of Mrs Glossop's late husband Fred Clarke. Mr Glossop has previously funded an Atlantic 75, Thelma Glossop at Brighton, in memory of his first wife. 31/08/02 Ken and Mary at Portrush The D class lifeboat is named in memory of Ken and Mary Stansfield and was handed over by their grandson Toby Stansfield.

Also present were the Stansfield's two sons, who had flown in from Dorset and Maryland, USA, to be at the ceremony. 27/04/02Vic & Billie Whiffen at Southend-on-SeaThe Atlantic 75 lifeboat was funded by the legacy of Stella 'Billie' Whiffen of Bridport, who died in 1997 aged 91.

The lifeboat is named after her late husband and herself.

Her original request was for a lifeboat at Lyme Regis, in Dorset, as she and herhusband used to run a caravan park nearby. Lyme Regis, however, had just received a new lifeboat and so the executors agreed to fund the Southend lifeboat. Commemorative plaques will be erected at Lyme Regis and Southend. 29/06/02/WeteafatPoole Metcat is the prototype of the new class of inshore lifeboat, a new and improved version of the D class. Funding for the new boat came from the catering branch of the Metropolitan Police, in memory of colleague Paul Brown's wife, who died, leaving him with four sons. The D class lifeboat Deborah Brown has already been provided for llfracombe lifeboat station in Devon by Mr Brown's appeal. 30/08/02 Leicester Fox II at Skegness The RNLI's Leicester branch was the main fundraiser for this lifeboat. It was officially named by Rosemary Nash-Smith, souvenir secretary of the Leicester branch. 07/09/02 Regina /WaryatLooe The naming of the D Class lifeboat took place during the town's Festival of the Sea. The threeday event is held every two years and has a strong RNLI flavour. As well as the naming ceremony, the Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the station on the Friday, and on the Sunday a service of rededication was held for the fully restored lifeboat Ryder, which served at Looe from 1902 until the station closed in 1930. The lifeboat was funded by Laurence Allen and is named after his sister.Appointments The following new appointments have been made Captain John Bantield Eastbourne station honorary secretary Paul Butler Fishguard coxswain (designate) Brian Hill Harwich mechanic Mike Judge WhitstabTe station honorary secretary Tom Manse 11 Deputy divisional inspector south Samuel McCreery Enniskillen station honorary secretary Niall McGrotty Skerries station honorary secretary Tony McNamara Balfyglass station honorary secretary Sean O'Kane Plymouth mechanic Kim Roberts Kilrush station honorary secretary B Tuplin Mabiethorpe station honorary secretary David Tumbull Swanage mechanic Retirements The following people have retired from duty Captain J Hart Eastbourne station honorary secretary RH Jones West Kirby station honorary secretary Paddy Leach Ballyglass station honorary secretary ER Stones Mablethorpe station honorary secretaryRetraction In the spring issue of the Lifeboat magazine, an article on the rescue of Mr Rowe by the Filey lifeboat (Man overboard, p20) stated that Mr Rowe was 'in a poor state' as a result of the bad weather conditions. Mr Rowe would like to state that he considers this to be untrue and that he was fit and active in dealing with the yacht's situation and rescue. The Lifeboat magazine in no way intended to imply any criticism of Mr Rowe's actions during the rescue.