Operational changes in North East EnglandEvery five years each stretch of the UK and Irish coastlines undergoes a Coast Review. Senior RNLI operational personnel and trustees visit the lifeboat stations and assess whether the right class, balance and capability of Lifeboats are in the best locations to respond to emergencies at sea in that area, in an effort to meet both current and future operational requirements.In March this year, the maritime rescue cover at the 12 lifeboat stations along the 80-mile stretch of the coast between Berwick-Upon-Tweed and Redcar was reviewed in this way and, at a Trustee Committee meeting in July, it was resolved to change the lifeboat deployment in the area, as follows, Blyth lifeboat station Blyth is in close proximity to four other lifeboat stations in the area, providing six lifeboats within a 14-mile radius. Because of this, and due to there being insufficient demand to justify an all weather lifeboat (ALB) at Blyth, the decision was made to withdraw the Trent class. The station continues to operate a D class inshore lifeboat. On 17 July the Trent left Blyth to take up duties in the relief fleet.

Sunderland lifeboat station The Trent class is to be withdrawn here too because of insufficient demand for an ALB. The casualty trend has changed too, so the area will be better served by a B class, Atlantic 75, inshore lifeboat working alongside the existing D class inshore lifeboat. These will be complemented by the ALBs at Tynemouth (7 miles) and Hartlepool (16 miles away).

Hartlepool lifeboat station In contrast, to improve the ALB cover in this area, a 25 knot Trent class will replace the 18 knot Arun class lifeboat currently at the station. A further review of the coverage of Tees Bay will be carried out once the Trent has completed 12 months of operational service.

Changing needs Over the years the traditional pattern of sea use has changed and one of the responsibilities of the Coast Review delegation is to make recommendations to the Trustees to ensure that lifeboat cover meets these changing needs. Such decisions are not new: they have taken place throughout the Institution's history and are never taken in isolation nor lightly. They are not driven by financial considerations, although there will be an estimated saving of £255,000 per annum in this case.

Given that the RNLI is a charity dependent upon the public, it has a duty to make the very best use of its resources on the coast to maximise its effectiveness.Appointments The following new appointments have been made: Sir Jock Slater - RNLI Chairman (see page 36) Mr Michael Guy - Morecambe lifeboat station Lifeboat Operations manager Captain HJ Le Comu - St Helier lifeboat station Lifeboat Operations manager Retirements The following people have retired from duty: Bill Ludlow - Weymouth lifeboat station Chairman Peter Nicholson CBE - RNLI Chairman since July 2000 (see page 37) Robert (Bob) Bolt - Fenit lifeboat station MechanicSwing low...

PhilVickery MBE, a member of England's rugby world cup winning side, opened the new lifeboat station at Bude recently.

The England prop forward, who was born in Kilkhampton near Bude, returned to his roots in July. This was his way of putting something back into the community that had done so much for him as a boy.

The boathouse was funded by Bridget Blundell QBE and provides room for the lifeboat, carriage and launching tractor and includes a workshop and storage space. There is a crew training area, changing and other facilities and a souvenir shop run by the local fundraising guild.

At the same ceremony, a new (IB1) D class inshore lifeboat was named Henry Philip. This is the third lifeboat funded by the same person, Mr Underdown. The first two, Elsie Francis I and Elsie Francis II were named after his late mother and the Henry Philip is so called after his father.

The new lifeboat and boathouse will allow the volunteers at Bude to continue their crucial role of saving lives at sea on the north Cornish coast..