Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum,1950's Poem by Roy Ballard

Put a penny in the slot
if a penny you have got
but I have to wait a while
till a stranger with a lot
of pennies slots one with a smile.

Then the lights begin to glow
in the dioramic show.
Lightning strikes with jagged spears.
Soon a sailing ship appears
and a storm begins to blow.

She is drifting helplessly
to the rocks upon the lee
waiting in the raging sea,
slavering with hungry grin
till the ship is driven in.

Like a spider down a spout
now the lifeboat scuttles out.
When her rocket-line is shot
all the crew are swung about
each depicted by a knot.

Waves subside and that's the lot.
Put a penny in the slot.