ONE of the most remarkable family records in the history of the Life-boat Service is that of the Aindows of Formby, in Lancashire, who for nearly 60 years provided the greater part of the Crew of the Life-boat at Formby, a very isolated place on the coast between Liverpool and Southport. This Station, together with the Stations at Point of Air, Hilbre Island and Hoylake, was taken over by the Institution in 1894, from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.

The first of the family to be con- nected with this Station was Henry Aindow, who became a member of the Crew in 1836. In 1862 the Life-boat was capsized in a terrible gale, and all but three of the Crew were drowned.

One of the three was Henry Aindow, who next day was found, almost dead, lying under the Life-boat, which had been washed ashore.

A new Crew was formed, Henry Aindow being appointed Coxswain. He : had under him in the boat six of his sons and two grandsons—nine Aindows in all. He served as Coxswain until 1885. In that year he retired, after 49 years' service, and was presented by the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society with a Certificate, a purse of money, and a Silver Medal.

Henry Aindow was succeeded as Cox- swain by his son John, then aged 45, who had under him in the Crew, four brothers, of whom one was Second Coxswain, five sons, and thre« nephews— * Previous articles in this series appeared in The Lifeboat for May and November, 1925.

thirteen Aindows in all. Another Aindow, who was no relation, was also a member of the Crew during his term of service. When the Institution took ; over the Station in 1894, John Aindow continued to act as Coxswain, his son '• John became Second Coxswain, and the Crew also included two of his brothers, four other sons and two nephews—ten of the family in all. There was also two other Aindows in the Crew who were not : relations.

John Aiudow served as Coxswain, until 1910, when he retired, having then been Coxswain for 25 years.

His son, the Second Coxswain, John Aindow, junior, succeeded him, and was Coxswain until 1919, when the Station was closed. He, too, had a Crew com- posed for the greater part of his own ; family. His Second Coxswain was his brother Charles, and three other brothers and two cousins were in the Crew—eight Aindows in all. During this period of nine years, five other Aindows also served in the Life-boat, who were not relations.

Thus, from 1836 to 1919, a period of 83 years, there was always a member of the Aindow family in the Formby Life-boat; for 57 years an Aindow was Coxswain, three generations holding the post in succession, and during those 57 years the greater part of the Crew was composed of members of the family, altogether fifteen of them serv- ing in the Life-boat. For length of , service and numbers, this is, we think, a family record which can hardly be ! equalled anywhere round our coasts. ;.