Seahorse III at Cromer The naming ceremony for the new D class lifeboat was held outside the inshore boathouse despite overcast conditions and the forecast of heavy rain. The chairman introduced John Gamble, representing the sponsors of the lifeboat, who said: 'The sponsors are delighted that Seahorse III is being stationed at Cromer and thank the crew and station personnel for such a warm welcome.' Mr Gamble handed over the lifeboat to James Woodhouse of the RNLI, who thanked the sponsors for their hard work in providing four inshore lifeboats in all to be used by the Institution.

A service of dedication was also conducted by Peter Paine, Port chaplain of Great Yarmouth, and Mrs Barbara New named the lifeboat. 20/10/02 Leicester Challenge II at Redcar This lifeboat is the second Atlantic 75 funded by the Leicester branch to be stationed at Redcar, who celebrated their 200th anniversary in 2002.

Mrs Caroline Corley, station honorary secretary, handed over the boat to the RNLI.

The boat was then passed into the safekeeping of Redcar station and accepted by the honorary secretary, Ian Readman. There followed a service of dedication conducted by the lifeboat chaplain and former Vicar of St Peters Church, Reverend Stephen Fisher. The boat was then named by the Leicester RNLI branch chairman, Derrick Young.

27/07/02 Naming ceremonies Ernest and Mable at Weymouth The C1.8m Severn class lifeboat has been named after the parents of the main donor, Miss Beryl Taylor of Surrey. Additional funding has been provided by a bequest from Eileen Cressy, a gift in memory of Chester Balch from his widow and other gifts.

Beryl Taylor, representing the donors, handed the lifeboat over to the RNLI. Weymouth's honorary secretary Derek Sargent accepted the lifeboat on the station's behalf and Miss Taylor named the vessel. 14/09/02Roger and Joy Freeman for the relief fleet A substantial part of the funding for this new Severn class lifeboat has come from the legacy of Hilda Freeman, of Solihull. Mrs Freeman had requested that her legacy be used to purchase three inshore lifeboats, but in view of the substantial sum received, it was agreed with her family that the money would be used towards the cost of an all-weather lifeboat.

The boat is named after Mrs Freeman, known as Joy, and her husband.

Additional funding has come from the legacies of Ivy Carr, Ivy Craton, Arthur Leggett and Louisa Stocker. Jackie Vill, a friend of the late Mrs Freeman, named the lifeboat. 01/10/02Roy Barker III at Howth This is the third all-weather lifeboat to be funded by the legacy of the late Mr Roy Barker.

400 guests attending the naming ceremony were treated to a short dedication service involving local clergy and singers from local choirs. Rupert Jeferas, Howth honorary secretary, accepted the new Trent class boat on behalf of the RNLI and Geraldine Coulter then named the boat Roy Barker III. 24/08/02Joan Mary a Mablethorpe Mablethorpe has received a new Atlantic 75 provided for by the legacy of the late Miss Evelyn Selina Wallace, of Newton Abbot, Devon. Miss Wallace funded the new lifeboat and provided a substantial amount towards the cost of the new station. Miss Wallace's nephew John Wallace handed the boat over to the RNLI.

HRH The Duke of Kent named her Joan Mary in commemoration of Miss Wallace's late sister and unveiled a commemorative plaque.

Mr Wallace's wife, Margaret, cut the ribbon to open the new lifeboat station. 22/04/02Seahorse IVat Great Yarmouth and Gorleston The Surrey Seahorse Ball and the Bisley clay pigeon shooting challenge organised by Simon Crane, chairman of the ball committee, provided funding for a new Atlantic 75 at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston station.

Neil Duffield, lifeboat operations manager at the station, accepted the lifeboat and handed it into the care of the branch. Mrs Pamela Crane named the lifeboat Seahorse /V after a service of dedication.

Seahorse /f replaces the Atlantic 21 Joseph B Press which has served at the station since 1988. 12/09/02New lifeboat house at Bangor Bangor station's new lifeboat house was opened and dedicated on 11 May 2002 in bright sunshine. Mrs Elizabeth Tetley, wife of Air Vice-Marshall John Tetley, deputy chairman of the RNLI, performed the opening ceremony. Local clergy, Reverend Willis Cordner, Father Henry McCann and Mr Colin Duncan, a former District Controller of the Belfast Coastguard, led the service of dedication.

Particular thanks go to North Down Borough Council Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited for the loan of equipment and sponsorship of the day.

New divisional base - Ipswich Work on a new building began in January 2001 and took nine months to complete. The new base accommodates a larger working area for the administrative and engineering staff and provides a training/meeting venue and an improved stores facility.ALL-WEATHER • Relief Fleet ON-1260 Roger and Joy Freeman on 10 September 2002 ON-1263 Osier on 11 October 2002 ON-1266 John Neville Taylor on 19 November 2002 INSHORE • Harwich B-789 Sure and Steadfast on 15 October 2002 B-571 was withdrawn from service • Staithes and Runswick B-788 Pride of Leicester 16 October 2002 B-576 was withdrawn from service • Penlee B-787 Paul Alexander on 12 September 2002 B-753 was withdrawn from service to the ILC • St Abbs B-783 Dorothy & Katharine Barr II on 2 October 2002 B-568(R) has been withdrawn from service • Abersoch B-790 Margaret Bench of Solihull on 20 November 2002 -582 was withdrawn from service to the ILCAppointments The following new appointments have been made Murdo Campbell Stornoway station coxswain Steven Carol! Deputy 2nd coxswain/mechanic Vincent Jones Moelfre mechanic Mike Judge Whitstable station honorary secretary Maitland Miller Aberdeen honorary secretary Retirements The following people have retired from duty DA Lamberton Whitstable station honorary secretary Ian Johnson Troon coxswain Francis George Fishguard coxswain Paul Leleu Mumbles coxswain AJ Butcher Bude deputy launching authority G Booth Aberdeen honorary secretary Michael Currie Mallaig coxswain.