Olive Laura Deare Mrs Olive Deare A naming ceremony for the E class lifeboat at Gravesend station, on the Thames, took place on Saturday, 26 April at the Fort Gardens. The O Ve Laura Deare is the first E class lifeboat to be improved and modified especially for use on the Thames.

The new lifeboat has been funded by the generous bequest of the late Mrs Olive Laura Deare, with the balance being used towards the cost of the shoreworks at Gravesend. Mrs Deare lived in the area all her life and her grandparents had fishing boats that operated from Gravesend.

Reverend Andrew Huckett performed the blessing ceremony and Mr Martyn Smith proposed the vote of thanks.New lifeboat house opened at Dunmore Eas Mr Terence Johnson, RNLIVice President and member of the Trustee Committee, officially opened the new lifeboat house on Saturday, 26 April 2003.

The modem lifeboat house includes essential training facilities, meeting rooms, washing and changing rooms and provides drying and storage facilities for the crew's protective clothing and equipment. There is also an opportunity for visitors to support the Lifeboats by visiting the souvenir gift shop. The shop will also display archive material, which will highlight the history of the Dunmore East lifeboats.The latest addition to the RNLI's relief fleet of lifeboats was officially named on Monday, 24 March 2003 in Poole. The Severn class lifeboat has been principally funded from the legacy of Mrs Beth Sell, nee Mima Elizabeth Scott. Originally from Scotland, Mrs Sell last resided in Bath.

The generous bequest from Mrs Sell stems from her wish to continue the Scott family tradition of respect and admiration for the crews who man the lifeboats. Mrs Sell's mother, Mrs Elizabeth Scott, had funded the inshore lifeboat George Urie Scott Junior, in memory of her son, who died in 1959. She also funded an all-weather lifeboat George Urie Scott, in memory of her husband, who died in 1961.

David Brann, the RNLI's fundraising and communications director, opened the ceremony. Mrs Dorothy Lowy, long-time friend of both Mr and Mrs Sell, officially named the boat Beth Sell.Baptism on the water at Berwick upon Tweed The christening of Saskia Laing took place on board the all-weather lifeboat joy and Charles Beeby in April 2003. Saskia is the daughter of Alisdair and Shona Laing; Alisdair, deputy coxswain, has been with the lifeboat crew for 15 years and Shona, inshore crew member joined four years ago.

The lifeboat padre, Rev Jim Shewan, carried out the ceremony with formalities taking place at Berwick lifeboat station.On station ALL-WEATHER Relief fleet ON-1263 7-34) Osier on 11 October 2002 ON-1266 (14-35)JohnNevilleTayior on 19 November 2002 Plymouth ON-1264 (17-35) Sybil Mullen Glover on 15 February 2003 ON-1103 (52-31) was returned to the relief fleet Penlee ON-1265 (17-36) Ivan £(len on 15 March 2003 ON-1085 (52-24) has been withdrawn from service Donaghadee ON-1267 (14-36) Saxon on 17 April 2003 ON-1107 (52-33) has been withdrawn to the relief fleet INSHORE Relief fleet B-792 Joseph and Mary Hiley on 18 December 2002 Harwich B-789 Sure and Steadfast on 15 October 2002 B-571 has been withdrawn from service Abersoch B-790 Margaret Bench on 20 November 2002 B-582 has been withdrawn from service Helensburgh B-791 Gladys Winifred Tiffney on 12 December 2002 B-581 has been withdrawn from serviceAppointments The following new appointments have been made: Kalanne O'leary - Skerries deputy launching authority Captain P Devitt - Kinsale station honorary secretary Lizzie Brown - Burnham-on-Crouch crew Commander B Wheeler - Lyme Regis deputy launching authority Alastair Clague - Ramsey second mechanic Maclver Callum - Stromness mechanic R Coltman - Rhyl station honorary secretary Retirements The following people have retired from duty: Peter L Jones - Porthdinllaen coxswain William (Bill) Hibbs - St Helier coxswain William Cargill - Montrose coxswain Geoff Needham - Hunstanton deputy launching authority Robert White - Humber superintendent coxswain D H Archer-Jones - Rhyl honorary secretary.