Mr. W. J. Oliver, who died on 4th March, had been Honorary Secretary of the Sunderland Branch for twenty-five years, and for nearly fifty years had been actively connected with the work of saving life from shipwreck. When he was appointed in May, 1900, there were three Pulling and Sailing Life- boats at the Station (a Motor Life-boat was placed there in 1918), and it was no light duty to be responsible for the efficient maintenance of all three. There was no more devoted and indefatigable Honorary Secretary on the coast. He brought the same ability and enthusiasm to the work of raising funds as to the work of administration, so that, for a number of years the Branch has not only maintained the Station, but made a substantial contribution each year to the general funds of the Institution.

But he was much more than a skilful administrator. He was also an able and courageous Life-boatman, and proved his skill and courage on many services, taking part in the rescue of over 300 lives.

He was a man of many activities and great energy—a successful business man who found time also for much valuable public service, and he received many marks of gratitude and esteem. The Board of Trade on several occasions thanked him for his services, and presented him with its Long Service I Medal. The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society frequently expressed its grati- tude for his care of the shipwrecked, a work which he organized during the War with great energy and success.

The Institution also showed, in every way that it could, its appreciation of his many services. In 1905 he was awarded a Mounted Aneroid in recognition of the work which he did when one of the Sunderland Boat- houses caught fire. In 1912 he received a Pair of Binoculars ; in 1915 the Gold Pendant, and in 1916 the Institution's Thanks inscribed on Vellum, a very rare award to an Honorary Secretary still in office. In 1920 he was invited to speak at the Annual General Meeting of the Governors in London, and gave a most interesting account of his experi- ences in life-saving work. Finally, in 1924, he received the highest honour which the Institution could confer by being elected one of the first of its Honorary Life Governors.

Mr. Oliver had the help of his family in his work for the Service. In 1909 Mrs. Oliver was presented with a Framed Photograph of a Life-boat rescue, in recognition of her services, and since j 1920 his son, Captain W. J. Oliver, M.C., has acted as joint Honorary Secretary..