Blue Peter 7 at Littlehampton Littlehampton's new Blue Peterfunded lifeboat Blue Peter 1 has been named and welcomed into the RNLI fleet at a special ceremony of dedication in October. This was a double celebration, as the new £550,000 boathouse was officially opened at the same ceremony.

The new Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat was provided - at a cost of £100,000 - by generous donations from CBBC's Blue Peter viewers. The show's presenter, Konnie Huq, handed over the boat to the RNLI on behalf of Blue Peter viewers saying: This has been the result of a long-running appeal started in 1966. Millions of viewers have organised many fundraising events. We have had a long and happy association with the RNLI since the original Blue Peter 1 lifeboat was stationed here in Littlehampton.

I'm delighted to hand this new lifeboat over into the care of the RNLI, where I'm sure she will help them to continue their lifesaving work.' The new boathouse took 10 months to complete and incorporates enough space for the station's two inshore lifeboats. There is also a dedicated crew room, modern shower facilities, an up-todate workshop and space for storage of equipment and spares.Saturday, 20 September 2003 saw the handing over and dedication of a new inshore lifeboat at Burry Port. The IB1 is the second generation of the D class lifeboat and the first major design change since its introduction in 1963.

This is the fourth lifeboat to be on service at Burry Port since the station was re-opened in 1973.

All iBIs are built for the RNLI by a local Welsh company, Avon Inflatables at Llanelli, and fitted out for lifeboat work by the RNLI at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes, Isle of Wight. The fully kitted out boat costs £20,000.

This new boat. The Young Watsons, donated by Mr and Mrs Bill Bache of Walsall, West Midlands, is named after their four grandchildren. Mr and Mrs Bache's daughters married brothers and hence share the name Watson.

Mr Bache presented the boat to the RNLI and the grandchildren performed the naming ceremony.

The day's event ended with a celebration dinner attended by the Bache family together with committee, crew, retired crew, ladies' guild and friends of the station. During the dinner Mr Bache was presented with gifts as a reminder of the day.Miss Sally Anne (Baggy) for the relief fleet The last ever Atlantic 75 lifeboat to be built for RNLI service was named on 5 November at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The lifeboat is named Miss Sally Anne (Baggy) after the donor who has generously funded the craft.

Miss Sally Odell expressed a wish to make a substantial gift to the RNLI several years ago and was offered the opportunity to purchase the last of the Atlantic 75s.

Miss Odell said: 'I went over to the Isle of Wight in August to see the boat being built - she looked like a fine craft that would serve her crew well I was very impressed by the set up at the RNLI's boat building facility at Cowes. Everyone was so friendly and it was a very enjoyable day. The RNLI does such a good job in helping people in difficulty and saving lives at sea - it's easy to forget sometimes that they rely on donations from the public to continue their work. It's good to know that I've been able to contribute to such a vitally important cause and long may they continue.' Following the naming ceremony, Miss Sally Anne (Baggy) will join the relief fleet and will commence her first relief duty at Kinsale, Co. Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, shortly afterwards. Kinsale lifeboat station has only been in existence since late May 2003 and is currently under evaluation to determine the need for a permanent facility in the area. Should that need be established, Miss Sally Anne (Baggy) will be allocated permanently to Kinsale as their station lifeboat.

Saxon at Donaghadee Donaghadee's new Trent class lifeboat was named at a ceremony in September. The lifeboat was funded by the generous legacy of Ms Freda Rivers and was named in memory of her late husband, who was a keen fisherman.istings A busy year for Penlee station 2003 was a very special year for the Penlee station. Not only has the station celebrated its bicentenary, it has also seen the naming of two new lifeboats, the construction of a new berth for its Severn class lifeboat, plus two of its fundraisers have received Gold awards at the APA at the Barbican in London.

The 200 year celebrations culminated in a three-day festival, held on and around the seafront in Penzance at the end of July.

The celebrations continued into August with a Lifeboat Day and an evening quayside service at which the station was presented with a bicentenary vellum by the RNLI.

The station's new Atlantic 75 lifeboat Paul Alexander was named on Saturday 10 May at a ceremony attended by over 300 guests. The lifeboat was generously provided by Mr and Mrs Archer, in memory of their late son Paul.

The Severn class lifeboat Ivan Ellen was officially named on the 29 September at a ceremony attended by over 500 people. The lifeboat was funded by the generous bequest of Mr Ivan Leech, whose son John served as an RNLI boat mechanic in the south west for many years. The guest list read like a who's who of the RNLI over the last 30 years, with people travelling from as far away as Wales to be at this special occasion.

The final event on 21 October was a simple service of dedication of the new berthing facility, which was provided from the legacy of Mr Harold Cox.

St Peter Port celebrates 200 years of Lifesaving The celebrations began on 2 May 2003 with the award of a bicentenary vellum. In June, the station was fortunate enough to enjoy fine sunny weather for its anniversary weekend. Visitors to the event included two French lifeboats; Alderney's Trent class lifeboat Roy Barker I; the prototype Tamar class lifeboat; and several former lifeboats including the Michael Stephens, which was involved in the rescue of 92 troops from Dunkerque. Events included a flypast by a Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and the Channel Islands Air Search aeroplane Lions Pride. The next morning featured a service of thanksgiving held on the pierheads.

Retirements The following person has retired from duty Martin Woodward Coxswain, BembridgeNew £600,000 lifeboat station unveiled in Mudeford Mudeford's new RNLI lifeboat station was officially opened at a special ceremony of dedication on Saturday, 25 October. The station, built to house an inshore lifeboat plus launching vehicle, became operational at the end of September.

The building work was possible thanks to a combination of fundraising by crew and local supporters and the generosity of four local people: Mrs Mary Avis Bowman of Swanage, Miss Eva Molly Brown of Bournemouth, Mrs Elizabeth Popplestone of Christchurch and Mr Dudley RoyTranfield of Ferndown.The legacy of MrTranfield came via his son, Craig, who represented /•*, the donors at the ceremony.The four legators will be honoured . ' with a special memorial plaque, which will be given pride of place at the station.

Victor Derham, lifeboat operations manager at Mudeford station, said: 'I am really over the moon with the new station.

The crew are particularly pleased to have somewhere warm and dry to change and there's even a dedicated training room.1 Lytham St Annes boathouse opening On Saturday, 16 August, in glorious sunny weather, Helen Vlasto, wife of RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto, officially opened the new Lytham St Annes all weather lifeboat house.

She was presented at the start with a bouquet by Simone Crogan (aged 8), daughter of crew member Toby Grogan.

Branch Chairman Allan Williams opened the proceedings and introduced Mr Vlasto, who accepted the station on behalf of the RNLI. He then handed the boathouse into the care of Lifeboat Operations Manager Frank Kilroy.

This is the first time the station has had an all weather , lifeboat in a boathouse. The boats were moored afloat from 1931 to 1999 in an exposed estuary and for the last four years have been parked on a wind-swept car park totally in the open.

Following a vote of thanks and service of dedication, Mrs Vlasto unveiled a plaque and declared the boathouse officially open.

On station ALL WEATHER Relief fleet Trent class ON-1274 Betty Huntbatch on 16 September INSHORE Burry Port D-611 The Four Watsons on 17 September 2003 Looe B-793 Alan & Margaret on 2 October 2003 Happisburgh D-607 Spirit of Berkhampstead on 21 October 2003 Salcombe B-794 Joan Bate on 7 November 2003.