Peep into the past Fascinating excerpts from the Lifeboat archives … 100 years ago The Winter 1906 Life-boat Journal featured a letter of thanks to the Broadstairs lifeboat crew, Kent, after they had launched into a south westerly gale and heavy seas in June that year: ‘Dear Sir, I wish to express my gratitude to the members of the Broadstairs Life-boat for their promptitude in putting off yesterday and rescuing my friends and self, who were out in my boat fishing and were carried away to sea by the wind and tide.

I am, yours faithfully, R Burtleton.’ Including the three lives saved in that rescue, the Journal reported that a total of 595 lives were saved in 1906 by the RNLI. … 50 years ago Under ‘Notes for the Quarter’, the December 1956 issue reported that the RNLI had experienced its busiest year so far, with the previous record figure (668 launches in 1954) having been passed in November. This, the article added, was despite the increased use of helicopters in sea rescues: ‘It is perhaps significant that this huge increase in work has come at a time when a helicopter service is already well established around our coasts. The figures for 1956 offer the most conclusive answer to those who believe that helicopters are beginning substantially to reduce the work of life-boats.’ The service had also experienced its busiest ever day when, between the late evening of Saturday 28 July and the following day, there were 52 launches in 24 hours. Selsey lifeboat saved 18 people, going to the aid of three vessels in one service between 11.56am and 4.45pm on 29 July (the 18 survivors are pictured being landed, left).

Photo: Evening News and Hampshire Telegraph … 25 years ago The front cover of The Lifeboat showed the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) lifeboat, Joy and John Wade, on her traditional journey to the Needles lighthouse with Christmas goodies for the occupants.

Inside, the magazine featured an interview with Charlie Bowry, Coxswain/Mechanic of the Portpatrick lifeboat and proud owner of a Bronze Medal and a Silver Medal for Gallantry. Charlie spoke about what went through his mind when he was called to the rescue: Before you get to a job, you are always a jump ahead of yourself.When you are driving down to the boat you are not thinking about going down the slip or getting under way, you are thinking about the conditions five miles out …Then, as we are approaching a job,maybe two miles off, I work out what I think will be the plan of action and I get all the lads into the wheelhouse and say “Right. This is what we will do.”’ The RNLI had a high profile at the 1981 Earls Court Motor Show thanks to radio DJ Dave Lee Travis.

Dave was on hand to make the charity’s car lottery draw from the boot of the first prize: a Renault 5. Photo: Mr MR Cooke.