BY the death of Mr. Webster Hoare, of St. Albans, on 20th October, the Institution has lost its oldest collector.

Mr. Hoare was nearly 87, and for nearly 30 years had collected for the Institution.

On these occasions he always wore oilskins and sou'wester. Our Honorary Secretary at St. Albans writes that on Centenary Life-boat Day, " he was one of the first collectors in the field, as keen and active as ever, and worked all day long in complete Life-boat rig, oilskins and all! He was quite exhausted with the weight, but would struggle on." That was three years ago, when Mr. Hoare was 83. Less than a month before his death, he was again collecting on St.

Albans' Life-boat Day. As on earlier occasions, he was in oilskins, and " before breakfast, had collected 3 Ibs.

2 ozs. of coppers ! ".