Two Gold Medals Readers may remember mention in the winter 2003/04 issue of the Lifeboat of an appeal to provide a statue to the late Die Evans MBE. Thanks to the generosity of many, the dream became a reality in November 2004 when HRH Prince Charles unveiled the statue at Moelfre.The Prince met RNLI crews from Beaumaris. Trearddur Bay, Holyhead and Moelfre and heard all about the RNLI of today and the life of volunteering.

Die Evans became a crew member in 1921 and Coxswain in 1954. He was awarded an RNLI Cold Medal for Gallantry in 1959 and, remarkably, another in 1966. He retired in 1970, but continued to promote the RNLI until he died, aged 96, in 2001.

The bronze statue, from a sculpture by Sam Holland, now provides a lasting tribute to the bravery and commitment of volunteer crews around the country. 3 lives saved. With the summer fast approaching, RNLI Beach Lifeguards are poised for another busy season. In the five months of May to September 2004, they were active at 57 beaches in eight local authority areas of south west England, 15 of the beaches in North Cornwall for the first time.

They saved 53 lives, compared with 27 in 2003.

Trained as first responders for the ambulance service, RNLI lifeguards gave 303 people major first aid, including using oxygen and heart defibrillators. In all, they responded to 8,010 incidents, aiding 9,041 people.

Despite these impressive statistics, the Beach Lifeguards service comprises far more prevention work than active rescue. Indeed, for every 'reactive' incident dealt with, the lifeguards carry out about 50 preventative actions. Their advice is not always appreciated, though.

RNLI Area Lifeguard Manager in North Cornwall, Bobby Renaud says: 'I can't believe how many people ignore the advice of lifeguards. We are highly trained to react to incidents but equally we are trained to give advice so as to prevent an accident. In just five minutes we can give you information that could save your life - and we like being asked!' This year, selected beaches had an extended lifeguard service during the Easter holiday and will again in the post-season autumn half term. The service is also expanding its core service to two more beaches, in the Torridge District Council area: Westward Ho! and Sandymere. Councillor Hugh Bone from Torridge says: 'I am looking forward to the Council joining forces with such a prestigious charity as the RNLI. This new partnership, with our new beach management plan, will ensure the highest possible standards.'In November 2004, maroons were fired in Rosslare Harbour to mark the 50th anniversary of a rescue to the 20,125-ton tanker World Concord.

On 27 November 1954, lifeboats from Rosslare and St Davids went to save the 42 crew of the stricken tanker that, due to the hurricane force winds gusting to over 115 mph, had broken in two.

The St Davids lifeboat, Swn-y-Mor, made 36 runs alongside the casualty to pluck 35 crew to safety. Rosslare's Douglas Hyde rescued seven crew from the fore part of the tanker, battling 6m waves.

Coxswains William Watts Williams (St Davids) and Dickie Walshe (Rosslare Harbour) were both awarded RNLI Silver Gallantry Medals. Bronze Medals and the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum were awarded to crew members.

To coincide with the anniversary, an exhibition of memorabilia about this rescue and others was displayed in the Great Southern Hotel, Rosslare and included in a piece on RTE news and Seascapes Radio 1.

I Fireworks not flares At a time when many people were at home with family and friends, lifeboat crews were still responding to calls for help. The period from 25 December 2004 to 5 January 2005 saw RNLI lifeboats launch on service 82 times.

An increasing problem is the use of flares in place of fireworks. Hayling Island crew launched on Christmas Day in response to just such a flare. RNLI Staff Officer (Operations) Peter Bradley said: 'When a red flare goes up it is universally recognised as a distress signal, so it's no surprise to find concerned members of the public dialing 999 when they see one - and they should continue to do so. Our volunteer crews are always ready to answer the call, but it frustrating for them when a flare has been fired for the wrong reasons. Not only are they called away from their own families but they are also risking their lives each time they put to sea, needlessly searching in often very dangerous conditions.':test for Tamar The first of the new Tamar class of lifeboat was given her first major test in November 2004. The pre-production model was capsized at DHL's Plymouth boatyard to test her self-righting capability. She was turned upside down by a crane and then released, allowing her to right herself again in seconds.

RNLI Principal Naval Architect Neil Chaplin explains: 'Although we design our lifeboats to be very stable, it is possible that extreme conditions could capsize the boat, so we need to be very sure that the boat can right herself.

Computer-aided design and analysis allow us to investigate this before the boat is built, but the self-righting trial provides proof that we have got it right, and that crews can place their confidence in the lifeboat at all times.' This is the latest design of RNLI all weather lifeboat and will gradually replace the Tyne class, which was introduced in 1982. Slipway trials will be held in the next few months and the first production lifeboats are due to go to Tenby, Peterhead and into the relief fleet later in the year.An admiral and a princess Some rather special visitors made it to the RNLI's stand at the 2005 London Boat Show.

Wednesday 12 January began with Admiral Nelson and Lady Hamilton (see page 32) while at noon, show goers flocked to see Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq name a new lifeboat (see Listings). In the afternoon, volunteers from Cornwall's St Agnes and Northern Ireland's Portrush lifeboat stations met The Princess Royal. On the following day, the lucky winners of an RNLI/Pract/'ca/float Owner sea safety equipment competition gathered to accept their prizes (provided by McMurdo, Monk Optics, Barrus and Compass Watersports).

As ever, the Boat Show provided an excellent opportunity to recruit new supporters.

Despite attendance being 30% down on last year, 772 people joined up, bringing in more than £36,000. Thanks go especially to suppliers McMurdo, Raymarine, Marine Trader Media and Crewsaver, who allowed RNLI membership recruiters to work from their stands.Tall Ship adventures Challenge, teamwork, and friendship are all ingredients of a lifeboat crew but some are keen to add to the recipe. An invitation arrived at all 233 RNLI stations for young crew to 'take the helm of a vast Tall Ship, and climb its awesome masts ...'And so, in October 2004, eight of the most intrepid found themselves on an adventure.

Boarding the Stavros S Niarchos at Dartmouth for a voyage to Falmouth via Jersey and St Malo, they learnt to climb the rigging, set and handle the sails, take the helm, keep a proper lookout and all the other tasks that keep a Tall Ship sailing.

Several of the crew kept diaries and here are just a couple of excerpts.

'This was the day I conquered my fear of going aloft - nearly 40m up the mast. A day I will never forget, being up there with my new friends. This is the most exciting, exhilarating and life-changing trip that I have ever done in my life.' Steven Ruysch, Rye Harbour 'Back up the rigging again, this time onto the yard arms to learn how to put the sails into their gear... 9am is cleaning time and I had the lucky job of cleaning the heads (toilets) throughout the ship... During our watch we crossed the shipping lanes, which seemed as busy as rush hour on the motorway. I was using the radar and the lanes were clearly visible as two near-solid lines of targets ...Just as we were about to go ashore we were hit by force 70 winds.' Nicole Mallet, Fleetwood The skills that the eight crew gained from this voyage - increased confidence; navigation; rope work; and working towards their Competent Crew and Yachtmaster qualifications - will undoubtedly transfer to their lifeboat stations. Yvette Deacon of Courtown spoke for all: Thank you to the RNLI for giving me this opportunity.'The Annual General Meeting of the RNLI will be held at the Barbican, London, on 19 May 2005.

All welcome! (Governors have voting rights and should shortly have their papers.)New Year Honours The following have been honoured by HM The Queen.

Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) For service to the RNLI: Malcolm Cray St Davids lifeboat station Coxswain Merwyn Hanna Kilkeel branch Chairman and Kilkeel lifeboat station President Peter Huxtable Shoreham lifeboat station Coxswain For charitable work: Liz Arendt Deaf founder of Hearing Dogs for the Deaf in Herts and worker for 40 years with the RNLI and RLSS UK, leading to her rescuing and resuscitating a drowning swimmer For service to the community in Sheringham, Norfolk: Mary Blyth Sheringham guild founder member Officer, Order of the British Empire (OBE) For service to the community in Plymouth: Duncan Codefroy Plymouth lifeboat station former Chairman Knight Bachelor (KB) Alderman Sir Robert Finch City of London branch member and former Lord Mayor of London STOP PRESS Look out for the RNLI's new TV advert on selected cable and satellite channels during April. It portrays a simple but very powerful message about saving lives at sea and invites donations. Cromer collection? The re-development of the Henry Blogg Museum at Cromer is now well underway with an anticipated opening date of September 2005.

Using his lifeboat HF Bailey as a centrepiece, the new museum will tell the story of Henry Blogg, the RNLI's most decorated lifeboatman, alongside the history of lifeboats in Cromer.

(See also Books on page 12.) The RNLI is working with North Norfolk Council as part of a wider seafront regeneration scheme, to enable better access for visitors to the east end of the promenade adjacent to the existing museum.

The current premises will remain open in the meantime and work will begin to convert the HF Bailey's old boathouse to accommodate the operational D class lifeboat Seahorse'lll, currently housed on the promenade.

Maureen La Frenais, Display and Interpretation Manager, says: The core of the exhibition is in place but there are still some areas where we would like some help to enhance the displays. We are looking particularly for personal items associated with Henry Blogg and the lifeboat service in Cromer. We would ideally like a 2-3ft wooden model of a Greathead class lifeboat. Objects would be welcomed as either loans or donations but please contact us first (don't just send it in!) with a description or a photograph.' Readers can contact either Maureen La Frenais on 01202 663369 or email [email protected], or Joanna Archibald, Heritage Trust Manager, on 01202 662228 or email [email protected] operations managers (LOMs), helmsmen, mechanics, coxswains and crew members from all six divisions of the RNLI attended a special Downing Street reception for emergency services in December 2004.

David Manners, LOM at Lyme Regis, says: 'We were among 200 invited guests from all of the emergency services. We were extremely proud to be representing the RNLI and rather bemused to be chatting over a glass of wine with the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Health and Mrs Blair, who clearly remembered her visit to Lyme Regis lifeboat station in 1998.' During the evening the Prime Minister said that such a reception had never been held before but it was appropriate for the country to recognise all of the effort, and at times heroism, of those involved in the emergency services..