'RNLI day' reader offer National Boat Shows Ltd (NBS) has supported the RNLI for more than 25 years, donating free stand space and berths at both the London and Southampton International Boat Shows. This has enabled the RNLI to build a significant presence at these prestigious events, recruiting approximately 1,500 new members and raising around £45,000 in souvenir sales each year. In recognition of this, Managing Director of NBS Paul Streeter was invited to the RNLI's Annual Presentation of Awards in May to receive one of seven new supporter awards on behalf of the company (see page 2).

The next Southampton Boat Show takes place this September and NBS and the RNLI have teamed up again, this time to create a unique 'RNLI day'. NBS are offering some exclusive deals for RNLI members for the special day, Tuesday 20 September, as follows: • entrance ticket offer - £4 off the usual adult door price of £15 when booking in advance and £1 goes to the RNLI • America's Cup ticket offer - £25 off the normal weekend price of £75 for an America's Cup ticket (while stocks last), which includes a Show entrance ticket and a two-hour sailing experience • Show guide offer - 50p off the price of a Show guide when tickets booked in advance (while stocks last) • RNLI-branded merchandise, welcome host and dedicated entrance on arrival (while stocks last) The RNLI will be highly visible throughout the 10-day Show, under the theme of the Crew Training Campaign (see page 4). Show-goers will be able to visit a Severn class all weather lifeboat and, for the first time, a B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat and see them in action with a Coastguard rescue team. RNLI beach lifeguards will be 'patrolling' the Show's first ever 'beach', where visitors can try various traditional pursuits and enter a sandcastle competition.

Other activities will include the opportunity to take the helm of one of the two America's Cup yachts that will be at the Show and to look around the historic Gypsy Moth, Sir Francis Chichester's famous ketch. Of course, holiday and clothing outlets will also abound. See www.southamptonboatshow.com for more details - and book that RNLI day by calling the ticket hotline on 0870 143 2203 before 10 September.Cheers! UK distributor of premium wine and spirit brands Mentzendorff is the latest RNLI corporate partner. Mentzendorff has kindly offered to support various RNLI activities throughout 2005. Following their donation of Bollinger Champagne and Taylor's Port to an auction for the City of London III Appeal (see the Lifeboat spring 2005), they are now to provide the champagne for some RNLI naming ceremonies. The first of these was a particularly prestigious event, when the Severn class lifeboat The Duke of Kent was named by her namesake at Poole on 12 April.

RNU THE DUKE OF KENT The Sailor Man aves lives Barclays bank and subsidiary the Woolwich are supporting the RNLI's Crew Training Campaign (see page 4) using Popeye, Olive Oyl and Sweet Pea. From 5 July to 9 August, pin badges of these characters will be available in over 2,100 UK branches of Barclays and the Woolwich for a suggested donation of £1. Licensed pin badge characters have a track record of selling well and, with four types of badge to collect, this is an ideal opportunity to support the RNLI's biggest ever fundraising campaign.

OOUKTILLIWHA Master stroke The spring 2004 issue of the Lifeboat announced that the Lifeboats MasterCard, issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was being relaunched. The latest accounts now show that the Lifeboats MasterCard helped raise over £80,000 for the RNLI in 2004. This money will go towards new thermal imaging cameras on all weather lifeboats, to help crews find casualties in the water.

Many thanks to those readers who have helped the RNLI by using their Lifeboats MasterCard over the past year and, for those who don't yet have one, phone the RNLI Supporter Helpdesk on 0845 121 4999 for information.

Cornish rock, pop and pasties Helston-based West Cornwall Pasty Co. raised £3,000 for the RNLI in 2004 and now they hope to eclipse this amount. Their 2005 fundraiser will be on 30 and 31 July 2005 at No. 1 Marketplace, Covent Garden. The event will feature a string of popular Cornish rock and pop bands alongside the Helston Town Band. A real celebration of all things Cornish and of the RNLI.The holiday of a lifetime!' A chance to win ... and little did Judith Harness from York realise that it would be her chance when her husband entered the Virgin Balloon Flights competition in the autumn 2004 issue of the Lifeboat. Judith and her sister Diane took their prize holiday in January and she says: 'We arrived to a welcome reception at the sumptuous hotel in Cuneo and were up at 5.30am the next day for our first balloon flight of four.

'The best weather for ballooning is in the early morning but it was -5°C so we were all well wrapped up. After being given safety and landing instructions the pilot then gave the all clear to cast off. We gripped the sides of the basket as we rose an inch, then two.

Soon we were drifting high above the ground. The views were spectacular: we could see for miles with the marvellous Alps as a backdrop and the farms below looked like toys.' The lucky duo also attended gala dinners and visited a Barolo vineyard, a Monte Carlo casino and Turin Cathedral. Judith added:'On our last flight I was quite happy to soak up the views but was sad to realise that the holiday was nearly over. We agreed that it really had been the holiday of a lifetime!' You too can experience a flight of fancy. To book a flight from any of more than 100 UK launch sites or to purchase a gift voucher, please call Virgin Balloon Flights on 0870 444 2768 quoting'RNLI Lifeboat magazine reader offer'. (Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.) Virgin Balloon Flights will pay £15 to the RNLI* for every UK balloon flight booked at the special price of £130-that's 30% off the normal price of £189. So float away ...

and help to keep the RNLI afloat.

'Payments are made to RNLI (Enterprises) Ltd, which pays all its taxable profits to the RNLI.'Building' support This year sees the beginning of an exciting new partnership between Wolseley UK, the country's largest distributor of construction products and materials, and the RNLI.

Wolseley UK is encouraging staff, customers and suppliers to help support the RNLI. Their target is £125,000, to fund an Atlantic 85 lifeboat (see the Lifeboat spring 2005 for details of this latest addition to the RNLI's fleet). Following a number of fundraising events up and down the UK they are already more than halfway to reaching their target.

Wolseley's outlets include Plumb Center, Build Center, Pipe Center and Hire Center.

WOLSELEY UK'Lost' book success LOST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE RNLI The newly published Lost photographs of the RNLI by former RNLI Director Edward Wake-Walker featured memorably in the autumn 2004 issue of the Lifeboat. With Sutton Publishing kindly donating £1 of the cover price to the RNLI from every book sold, the RNLI has since benefited by over £2,000. The RNLI Sales Company has itself sold 200-plus copies but still has a few available.

To order, call them on 0870 6001824 and quote code 02224. Alternatively go to the Amazon link on the RNLI website and search for ISBN 0750937181 (see page 23 for more details). This interesting and attractive hardback costs £25.Remember them, remember the RNLI «»11 ,4 V Lifeboats IN MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE After the passing of a loved one, many people wish to make a charitable donation in their memory. Robert Holland, Crantham funeral director and RNLI branch president, is very aware of this. He contacted Area Fundraising Manager Mark Spruce to request an RNLI leaflet that could be given to people when they arrange a funeral. As a result, just such a leaflet is now available from all regional offices. Robert says: 'Many local and national charities produce such leaflets and it is very helpful that we now have one. In my 30 years' experience people give no prior thought to "in memoriam" donations and part of my job is to give them helpful information at a difficult time.' The value of in memoriam donations has certainly been proven at Crantham branch where, in 2004, over £3,000 was received. In the last 10 years the RNLI as a whole has benefited by nearly £5M in this way.

If you would like to remember a family member, friend or colleague in this special way then please contact your RNLI regional office or the national supporter helpdesk on 0845 121 4999.Appealing in your area? Alongside its large-scale, national campaigns, the RNLI runs a range of regional fundraising appeals too, which focus on particular local needs such as at Whitby and on the Clyde (see the Lifeboat spring 2004).

This year has seen an expansion to Clacton, Cleethorpes, Forth, Manchester, Morecambe, Porthcawl.Trearddur Bay and Torridge alongside the regular London Lifeboat Week. Aimed at raising funds for various new lifeboats, boathouses and launching vehicles and for training lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards, the appeals range from £25,000 to £250,000 each with a massive total target of £1.25M.

It's not possible to predict when lifeboat crews and lifeguards will be called upon but the success of these appeals will mean that the RNLI's response can be assured. For more information please contact the RNLI supporter helpdesk on 0845 121 4999.

Hidden treasure Do you have any unwanted jewellery? Over the past 19 years the RNLI has raised more than £500,000 from the sale of brooches, bracelets and even broken jewellery. RNLI Appeal Organiser Roy Norgrove says: 'Cold and silver articles are welcome, and war medals and memorabilia, which are very collectable at present. Please send to me at RNLI headquarters, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ.'.