Three Alderney lifeboat volunteers received top honours at the Daily Express Vodafone Life Savers Awards in October for their rescue of three people swept out to seaLifeboat Operations Manager David McAllister and Lifeboatmen Phil Murray and Mark Caudion joined a Downing Street reception hosted by Tony and Cherie Blair. They then went on to the ceremony at The Savoy Hotel where they received their award before a star-studded audience.

The awards recognise Britain's unsung heroes and the distinguished panel of judges, including Falklands veteran Simon Weston and Major General Christopher Tyler of the Royal Humane Society, received hundreds of nominations.

The Alderney trio was recognised for saving the lives of two teenage girts and a man in dark, gale force conditions in August 2002. A 13-year-old girl was knocked off her feet and swept away when playing on the causeway at Fort Clonque on Alderney. Her 16-year-old friend and a passer-by also got washed away trying to save her. Despite the horrendous weather and a damaged propeller Phil, the D class's helmsman, battled through the rocks and saved the man who was suffering from shock and hypothermia. Meanwhile, David and Mark had waded out from the shore using a lifeline and hoisted one of the girls to safety, while the other was pulled to safety nearby.

Gavin Darby, UK Chief Executive Officer for Vodafone said:'This incredible rescue is a fitting reminder that there are men and women who are prepared to risk their lives every day to save the life of another.' There was a great deal of media interest in the award and David, Phil and Mark were interviewed live on national TV for This Morning, hosted by Fern Britton and Philip Schofield. A full account of the rescue and the subsequent award of Bronze Medals to the three, was featured in the spring 2003 issue of the Lifeboat.MOELFRE TO HONOUR BRAVE HERO The late Die Evans MBE, winner of two RNLI Gold Medals, is to be commemorated with a statue outside Moelfre lifeboat station. As Chairman of the Die Evans Memorial Sculpture Appeal, Lord Stanley of Alderley is helping to raise funds for a statue of the local hero to celebrate his life and achievements.

Lord Stanley emphasises that the statue will commemorate all lifeboatmen and women, not only Die Evans. He describes him as: 'A wonderful representative of the 'best' of the human spirit - bravery, devotion to duty and self sacrifice.1 The sculpture by local artist Sam Holland will depict Die Evans at the wheel of a lifeboat and will be erected outside Moelfre station, overlooking the sea. The estimated cost of the larger-than-life statue is £40,000 and it is hoped that it will be unveiled in the summer this year.

The appeal committee is well aware that the constitution of the RNLI does not allow its funds to be used for this purpose. Lord Stanley comments: 'The cost of the sculpture cannot be taken, indeed should not be taken out of RNLI funds, but we are hoping that all who realise the debt we owe to lifeboatmen, wherever they serve, might help.' For more information or to make a contribution to the appeal, please contact: Alun Gruffydd, Secretary: Die Evans Memorial Sculpture Appeal, Oriel Ynys M6n, Llangefni, Anglesey, North Wales, LL77 7TQ.Mary Stanford disaster rememberedIn 1928 all 17 crew members of the May Stanford lifeboat were drowned when trying to rescue the Latvian steamer Alice in a gale.

Disaster struck when the lifeboat capsized in the heavy seas. The lifeboat crew were tragically unaware that she had been recalled - the casualty having already been rescued by another boat.

The effects of the 1928 tragedy on the small Rye Harbour community are still felt deeply today. On 15 November 2003, 75 years to the day after the disaster, the village hosted a private service of remembrance at the old lifeboat house at Rye Harbour. Eight close relatives of those that were lost attended the service. Lifeboats from Rye Harbour, Dungeness and Hastings scattered rose petals near the old boathouse, paying tribute to the men who gave their lives to save others. Relatives and their guests watched from the shore.

During the Annual Service of Remembrance on 16 November, 17 direct family members each lit a candle at the alter in memory of their relative and read out their name. The service was followed by a wreathlaying ceremony, where 17 lifeboat crew members from the local stations laid individual posies on each name tablet of the crew that were lost.Philip Theaker has been a regular contributor to the letters page of the lifeboat magazine. In December 2002 he wrote to us about the new National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, north of Birmingham. The Arboretum commemorates the 80 million people who were killed in wars during the twentieth century and those who gave their lives in service to others. South Staffordshire branches had felt that RNLI crew members who had given their lives should be represented with a plot but Mr Theaker was aware that the RNLI's constitution does not allow for funds to be used for this purpose. His letter therefore told of the local branches' plans to raise funds for a plot at the site and asked for support to raise £5,000.

Through MrTheaker's updates we were delighted to hear that the appeal was a success.

On 17 September 2003 a service at the Arboretum chapel was followed by a dedication and tree planting ceremony at the site. Mr Theaker dedicated the memorial plot to the RNLI, officially handing it over to RNLI Chairman Peter Nicholson. Chief Executive Andrew Freemantle planted the commemorative tree. The event was attended by over 100 guests representing the branches and guilds that had made generous donations to the funding of the memorial.

Sculptor Andrew Fitchett of Burtonon- Trent donated his time in the creation of the lifeboatman who looks out to the river.

More than the original target of £5,000 was collected. Additional funds raised were used for wooden benches, plaques and a flagpole. Remaining funds will be used for ongoing maintenance undertaken by Arboretum staff and RNLI branch volunteers.AbFab star presents RNLI with top award Actress Joanna Lumley presented the RNLI with a special accolade at the National Training Awards in London on 18 November 2003. The award is in recognition of the high quality of training given to lifeboat crew members.

The RNLI's new competence-based training strategy ensured success at an earlier national final in Plymouth, making it one of only 43 national winners to attend the winners' gala ceremony. The judges were so impressed that they gave the RNLI an additional award for its invaluable contribution to training in the voluntary sector and for training 4,500 crew members to such high standards.

Sue Hennessy, the RNLI's Head of Training, said: 'I was extremely proud that the RNLI won at the national finals.

So to be singled out with just 14 other organisations for a special award is thrilling.

Winning at this year's awards is a culmination of all the hard work by everyone in the RNLI operations training team.'A dangerous career Recent research suggests that British fishermen remain 50 times more likely to have a fatal accident at work than the average worker. As a lifesaving organisation, the RNLI believes that as well as providing a first-class lifeboat service, it should be doing all it can to help reduce the 300 deaths that occur at sea every year. Fishermen feature more highly in this list of casualties than any other group of sea user.

As a result of the significant hazards faced by fishermen, RNLI Sea Safety now includes a dedicated team of fishing safety coordinators, who give regular safety advice and practical demonstrations around the country's main fishing ports, primarily in Scotland and the South West.

The RNLI's Fishing Safety Manager, Ian Benham explains: 'As a lifesaving organisation, we have only one interest - the saving of lives - and the fact that we have no hidden agenda is recognised by fishermen. We offer the hand of assistance in the provision of safety advice, just as we offer the hand of assistance in a rescue situation.'Volunteers from Newbiggin lifeboat station worked with members of other local emergency services on 27 September 2003 to give youngsters an introduction into their work.

The Inter Services Trophy event was organised by Newbigginby- the-Sea sailing club, Northumberland, to give its youth squad an opportunity to work alongside members of local public services white taking part in a series of boat races.

Youngsters were assigned to RNLI, Police and Coastguard teams as 'pit crew' and trainers, as well as making up the numbers for the racing teams. It was a very successful first event (even though the Coastguard won!) and the club hope to develop the scheme further to give youngsters life skills and an insight into the opportunities available to them in the future. The event has already generated considerable public interest, resulting in enquiries from the Ambulance service and a local hospital who want to be included in this year's battle for the trophy.Busiest summer ever In 2003, the RNLI had the busiest summer in its history, with preliminary figures showing a record 3,667 launches in June, July and August, 418 more than in summer 2002.

Lifeboat crews faced thick fog and heavy storms in northern and eastern areas, but the hot sun on the south coast meant that they were kept busy with calls for help from swimmers, surfers and sailors. Michael Vlasto, Operations Director, said: 'This demonstrates the huge range of conditions that our lifeboat crews have to deal with.

They can face storms and gale force winds one day, and blazing sunshine the next.' The record-breaking temperatures also meant that beaches were jampacked throughout the summer. RNLI lifeguards saved 27 lives and dealt with 7,226 incidents.News Honour for Eastbourne Silver Medallist Coxswain Mark Sawyer of Eastbourne lifeboat station received the Shipwrecked Mariners Association's Emile Robin Award during a glittering ceremony on 7 October 2003 at Fishmongers' Hall, London Bridge. The award, for an 'outstanding rescue by a British ship' was given to Mark for the attempted salvage and subsequent rescue of two crew members from the yacht Paperchase in October 2002. As reported in the summer 2003 issue of the Lifeboat the Eastbourne coxswain and crew carried out the rescue in gale force onshore winds, in darkness at low tide, in the confined approach channel to the harbour.royal visito RNLI President The Duke of Kent visited Torbay lifeboat station in October 2003 to meet crew members and their families. He was greeted on the waterfront by Brixham Branch Chairman and former Coxswain Arthur Curnow, together with Torbay Mayor Nick Bye and Mayoress Christine Weston.

Despite the cold day The Duke was given a warm reception from the whole team at the station and was introduced to fundraisers from local branches in Torbay, Brixham, Paignton.Totnes and Newton Abbot.

The Duke then went aboard the station's Severn class lifeboat -4/ec and Christina Dykes and watched a rescue demonstration by the station's D class Spirit of the RPC, before unveiling a commemorative plaque of his visit.PRESS The Lifeboat would like say a big 'thank you' to all who took part in our 2003 readership survey - we had a great response. We are planning to bring you the findings in the spring 2004 issue.

This will allow us time to analyse the information fully but we couldn't resist letting you know some initial results...

The majority of readers are aged 45 and above, with over 60% saying that they read the magazine from cover to cover. A further 29% of readers said that they preferred to glance through for articles of interest. Most readers were happy with the content of the Lifeboat but some said that they would be also be interested in seeing articles on travel and reading. It was also clear from the survey that readers were very enthusiastic supporters, with nearly half saying that they already displayed an RNLI sticker in their car.

Sorry! Thank you to the eagle-eyed readers who spotted two errors in the autumn 2003 issue of the Lifeboat. On page 5 in the News section, we carried the story 'Saving more lives' about a new lifeboat station at Burnham-on-Sea. Please note that the new station is in Somerset, not Southend as stated. The station near Southend is at Bumham-on-Crouch.

Also, on page 9 in the Letters section we published two lifeboat rescue photographs from a reader under the headline 'Mayday, mayday... job well donel'The lifeboat involved in the rescue was from Swanage, not Poole as stated..