List of New Branches.

THE following new Branches have been formed since the list published in The Lifeboat for February, 1927 :— Branch.

Abergavenny . . . . .

Abertillery . . . . .

Altofts Ardrishaig . . . . .

Barnoldswick . . . . .

Bedlington . . . . .

Bedwas . . . . . .

Billinge . . . . . .

Bishop's Stortford . . . .

Blackrod . . . . . .

Bolton-upon-Dearne and District .

Bredbury . . . . . .

Briercliffe . . . . . .

Brigg . . . . . .

Broughton-in-Furness Burgess Hill . . . . .

Clones . . . . . .

Coppull . . . . . .

Coleraine . . . . . .

Cookstown . . . . .

Croston . . . . . .

Dodworth . . . . .

Dukinfield Ennis . . . . . .

Eton a n d Windsor . . . .

Faversham . . . . .

Honorary Secretary, Miss G. SAVEGAR.

Mrs. E. J. SEELEY.

Mrs. HOWARD.

JAMES LINDSAY, Esq.

Mrs. WHIPP.

Mrs. BULLEHWELL.

Mrs. POWELL (Acting).

Miss J. MAKIN.

Mrs. BOMPAS.

Mrs. HAUGHTON.

Mrs. W. SPENCER.

Mrs. W. A. C. MOUNTAIN.

Miss BHADSHAW Mrs. A. J. RIDING.

Miss MARY BARKER.

Captain STANLEY NORFOLK, R.N Mrs. HBNEY.

Miss TANSLEY.

Miss O'NEnx.

Mrs. EVELYN N. STEWART.

Miss MORRIS.

J. HALFORD, Esq.

Mrs. J. E. WILD.

Mrs. PEARSON.

Mrs. STOKES.

U. H. WESTCOMBB, Esq.

Branch.

Gainsborough Golcar . . . .

Grantham . . . .

Grays . . . .

Greenhithe Hemsworth and District Hertford and District .

Hitchin . . . .

Holbeach . . . .

Holme . . . .

Holmes Chapel, Gooatrey, District . . . .

Honley . . . .

Horley . . . .

Isle of Arran Keswick . . . .

Kidderminster .

Kinsale . . . : Kirkburton Kirkheatou Leamington Little Lever Lochgilphead Maidstone . . . .

Market Deeping .

Meltham . . . .

Milford . . . .

New Mill .

Normanton Orrell . . . .

Petersfield Pinner . . . .

Rainham . . . .

Rickmansworth .

Romiley . . . .

Royston . . . .

Ruabon . . . .

St. Neots Scunthorpe Skelmanthorpe and Scisselt Slaithwaite Sligo . . . .

Southwiok and District Stafford . . . ' .

Stone and Eccleshall Strabane .

Stroud Tarbert Tewkesbury Thetford .

Thirsk Upper Norwood .

Warwick .

Wath-upon-Dearne Wexford .

Woodhall Spa .

Woodstock Worcester .

Worsborough Worsthorne Wragby .

Honorary Secretary.

. C. F. RICHMOND, Esq.

. Mrs. S. THORPE SHAW.

. Mrs. FRANK SWALLOW.

. Mrs. C. WESTWOOD.

. Captain N. B. SAYER, C.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.

. Mrs. W. LINDLEY.

. Mrs. CLEBY.

. Miss BLAIN.

. The Misses TINDALL.

. Miss E. LITTLE.

Chelford and ) Miss HELA STOCKTON.

. J Miss BETTY ABMITAGE.

. Mrs. J. S. GARSIDE.

. E. BLUNDELL, Esq.

. Lady MARY GRAHAM.

. Mrs. RICHARDSON.

Miss DOROTHY M. FINDON.

. Mrs. R. W. HILL.

. Mrs. STEPHENS.

Mrs. BROUGHTON.

. Mrs. B. A. HOLDING.

. A. H. GLOVER, Esq.

. JOHN McALisiER, Esq.

. RUPERT T. W. SMITH, Esq.

. JOHN H. FROMANT, Esq.

. Miss E. THORNTON.

. Miss OSBOHNE.

. Mrs. J. MALLINSON.

Miss MARGARET BUTLER.

. Mrs. J. N. HENDERSON.

. Miss CAVE.

. Mrs. MATHEWS.

. J. T. HAWES, Esq.

. J. H. COOPER, Esq.

Mrs. R. CRERAR.

. Mrs. KEKEWICH.

Mrs. GARRETT.

. ALBERT HARVEY, Esq.

. Miss R. BOUGHTON.

. Miss ROSALIE JACKSON.

f Miss A. SYKES.

' | Miss K. BEAUMONT.

. Captain FRANCIS DEVANEY.

(Major PHILLIPS.

{ Miss MARJORIE ARCHER-SMITH.

. W. H. WESTHEAD, Esq., M.A.

. Lady BUTLER FELLOWES.

. C. C. R. MOODY Esq.

. Mrs. W. H. M. SINCLAIR.

. Mrs. GREEN.

. Rev. D. MACMILLAN.

. Miss SCOBBLL.

. Miss BIDWELL.

. Mrs. L. FRANK.

. Surgeon-Captain CHARLES R. SHBWAHD, R.N.

Mrs. ARCHIE WATSON.

. Rev. R. MILLER.

. Mrs. CHARLES WALKER.

. Miss FLORENCE LUNN.

. Mrs. TOLLEY.

. G. HERBERT DAY, Esq.

. JOHN TAYLOR, Esq.

. F. CHADWIOK, Esq.

. Mrs. G. T. BUTTON.

Presentation of Medals and Other Awards.

MOELFRE (ANGLESEY).—The presentation of the Gold and Bronze Medals awarded to the Moelfre Life-boat Crew for their very gallant service to the ketch Excel on 28th October last year took place in the Town Hall at Llangef ni, the county town of Anglesey, on 2nd February. The Chair was taken by Commodore Sir Richard Williams- Bulkeley, Bt., K.C.B., R.N.R., Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey, a Vice-President of the Institution and President of the Anglesey Branch. The hall, which holds about 1,000 people, was so full that many were standing on the platform and staircase.

Among those supporting the Chairman were Colonel Lawrence Williams, Honorary Secretary of the Moelfre Station, Captain R. R. Davies, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Anglesey Branch, the District Inspector of Lifeboats and the District Organising Secretary. The Chairman presented the Gold Medals to Second Coxswain William Roberts and Captain Owen Jones, who, in the absence of the Coxswain, were in charge of the Life-boat, and a Bronze Medal to each member of the Crew. All the medals were accompanied by the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum and framed. In the absence of several of the men at sea, the awards were received by their wives or mothers and in one instance by a sister. The widow of William Roberts, the Life-boatman who died of exposure during the service, was represented by her son-in-law, who was presented with the certificate of the Carnegie Hero Fund in addition to the Medal and Vellum of the Institution.

Sir Charles Maclver, Chairman of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fishery Joint Committee, presented each of the men with the Silver Medal of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, and the Society's Testimonial on Vellum.

Before this presentation ceremony, two other very interesting ceremonies had been held. On 7th November the Crew visited their old school, the Llanallgo Council School, where they were received by the teachers and the children. The meeting opened with the singing of a Welsh hymn, and Mr.

Edwards, the Head Teacher, then addressed the school on the heroism of the men, of whom some were so young that they had only left school within the last few years. The Second Coxswain, William Roberts, thanked the school for the honour it had done them.

Following this visit the young people of Moelfre showed their admiration for | the Life-boat Crew by entertaining them to Supper at the Village Institute. The chair was taken by Mr. John Roberts, of Bryn Engrad, and speeches were made by Colonel Lawrence Williams, Honorary Secretary of the Station, and several visitors. Several members of the crew also spoke and expressed their gratitude for the way in which they had been entertained.

ST. MARY'S (!SLES os SCILLY).—The presentation of the Silver and Bronze Medals and Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for the service to the Italian steamer Isabo on 27th October last, took place in the Town Hall on 7th January. Major Dorrien Smith, President of the St. Mary's Branch, was in the Chair, and Mrs.

Dorrien Smith pinned on the medals.

Mr. E. N. V. Moyle, Chairman of the Branch, recalled the fact that Bryher men had, in seventy years, saved 300 lives from shipwreck, and described the wreck of the Delaware over fifty years ago, when a six-oared gig had been dragged across two big islands, Bryher and Samson, and launched from the windward side, and rescued the two survivors out of fifty men who had been seen on a rocky island. The Inspector of Life-boats for the Western District also spoke, and the Life-boatmen presented Dr. Addison, the Honorary Secretary of the Life-boat Station, and Mr. Sam Rogers, the Life-boat Signalman, with cases of pipes.

CROMEE.—The Cromer Town Hall was packed with an enthusiastic audience on. 30th January, •whwa the Vellum of Thanks recording the award of the Second Service Clasp* to his * The Second Service Clasp itself will be presented to Coxswain Blogg by H.R.H. the Prince oi Wales on 28th March, at the Annual General Meeting of the Institution, at the Central Hall, Westminster.

Gold Medal was presented to Coxswain Henry Blogg, and Bronze Medals to the twelve members of his Crew, for the rescue on 22nd November of the fifteen men from the half of the Dutch oil-tanker Georgia, which was stranded on the Haisborough Sands.* Alderman D. Davison, J.P., Chairman of the Urban District Council, and Chairman of the Cromer Station, presided, supported by Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution. Among those present were Mr. F. H. Barclay, the Honorary Secretary of the Station, and Mrs. Barclay, Brigadier-General W. F. Clemson, C.M.G., Presidentof theCromerBranch of the British Legion, Captain G. L. Palmes, D.S.O., President of the Cromer Ex-Service Men's and Social Club, the Inspector of Life-boats for the Eastern District, and representatives of the Coastguard.

In his opening speech Mr. Davison said that the Cromer Station was in its hundredth year, and that it had been a year of heroic service for the Station.

The service to the Dutch oil-tanker Georgia again emphasised the great international value of the Life-boat Service.

Ten years before Coxswain Blogg had won his Gold Medal, and members of his Crew the Bronze Medal, for a service to another foreign vessel, the Swedish steamer Fernebo. In that earlier service during the War the older men of Cromer had taken part, while in the service to the Georgia the young men had been conspicuous ; but whether young or old, the Cromer Life-boatmen were imbued with the spirit of the whole Life-boat Service—to do or die in the saving of life. Mr. Davison then read letters of congratulation to the Cromer Crew which had been received from the Lifeboat Stations at Caister and Great Yarmouth and Gorleston. He spoke also of the special fund which had been raised as a tribute to the Crew for this service, which had amounted to nearly £370, exclusive of a gift of £50 from the Dutch owner of the Georgia, and mentioned that the members of the Ex-Service Men's and Social Club had given a handsome contribution to it.

At their own wish Coxswain Blogg was * See page 4.

to be presented with a Gold Watch, and each of his Crew with a Silver Watch, and the rest of the fund, at Coxswain Blogg's suggestion, was to be divided equally between them, a share going to the helpers, and to the Crew of the Cromer No. 2 Life-boat. [As recorded elsewhere, the Crew have given a donation of £15 to the Institution out of this fund.] Mrs. Barclay then presented the Watches, and handed a cheque to Coxswain Blogg, and Mr. Davison said that he thought it must be a record for so many fathers and sons to be in the same Crew.

Mr. Shee then presented the Medals and Vellums awarded by the Institution, and said that there were no finer Lifeboatmen on any part of the coast than the Cromer Crew. What gave him most pleasure was to see that while on some parts of the coast the young men were not following in the footsteps of their fathers, at Cromer the young men recognised the value of sea-service, and were proud to be members of the Life-boat Crew. Mr. Shee then paid a tribute to the determination, tenacity and splendid seamanship of Coxswain Blogg, which had distinguished him even among the Coxswains on our coasts.

Perhaps the most conspicuous of his qualities was leadership, and Mr. Shee quoted what had been written of him on the occasion of the service to the Fernebo that" it was his own remarkable personality and great quality of leadership which had magnetised the tired and somewhat dispirited men and brought their efforts to a successful conclusion." After various votes of thanks had been moved, " Land of Hope and Glory " was sung, followed by the National Anthem.

The service to the Georgia had already been celebrated in other ways. On the Sunday following the service, references were made to it in the sermons at the Cromer Parish Church, and special prayers were offered for the safe return of the Crew. Two days later, on 29th November, the Cromer Life-boatmen were entertained to dinner and a concert at the Royal Cromcr Hotel, the dinner having been suggested by the Ex- Service Men's and Social Club, and paid for out of public subscriptions. The arrangements were made by Mr. R.

Barnes, the Secretary of the Club, who presided. Only a few hours after the dinner, at 6.30 on the following morning, the Cromer Life-boat was called out on service to the help of the lighter Bertha, of Goole, which was foundering in a strong breeze and a rough sea, and which sank a few hours after the Life-boat had rescued her crew of four.

The Crew were again entertained on 7th December to a high tea and concert by Mr. R. W. Clarke at the Imperial Hotel. Alderman Davison presided, among those supporting him being Mr. F. H. Barclay, the Honorary Secretary of the Station.

LOWESTOFT.—The Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain Albert Spurgeon and the monetary awards made to the Lowestoft Crew for the service to the ketch Lily of Devon on 21st November were presented at a Dinner on 21st December, which, as reported elsewhere, was given to the Life-boatmen of Lowestoft by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Charles Batho. The Mayor of Lowestoft, Mr. Arthur Evans, presided, and a telegram was read from the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London, " sending the Season's Greetings to the gallant Coxswain and Crew of the Lowestoft Life-boat, and wishing them all an enjoyable evening." The Mayor presented the Medals and other awards, and said that he did not think a better Crew could have been picked to represent the Life-boat Service in the Lord Mayor's Show in London than the Lowestoft Crew. During the thirty years that he had been in Lowestoft it had been conspicuous for its fine work.

Coxswain Spurgeon, in replying, spoke of his confidence in the Motor Life-boat Agnes Cross, and said that there was no weather in which they would be afraid to take her out.

HARTLEPOOL.—The presentation of the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum, and a cheque for £25, awarded to Mr. H. W. Jefferson, the Mechanic of the Motor Life-boat, for the courageous way in which he put out a fire on the boat on 21st October (as described elsewhere in this issue) was made on 8th December. The Mayor, Mr. H. W. Bell, presided, and the Mayoress made the presentation.

Among those present were Colonel R.

Burton, President of the Hartlepool Branch, Mr. Alfred Belk, and Mr. J. D.

Howkins, Joint Honorary Secretaries of the Branch, the Rector of Hartlepool and members of the Crew. The Mayor said that this was the third occasion on which Mr. Jefferson had received an award for gallantry. The first occasion had been in 1912, when he received a Medal and Diploma from the King of Denmark, and the second occasion when he received the thanks of the Admiralty, and special thanks and a cheque from the Institution for his help on the occasion of the wreck of the hospital-ship Rohilla off Whitby in October, 1914.

COVENTRY.—A special meeting was held on 10th November, at which Mr. W.

Liggins, the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, presided, for the purpose of showing to Alderman Drinkwater, Chairman of the Branch, the gratitude and esteem of the Institution and of his fellow-workers at Coventry. Since 1903, when he was first elected Mayor, he has held this position, and ever since has worked with the greatest enthusiasm for the Life-boat Service. Mr. Liggins spoke of the Branch's high appreciation of his work, and said that the Life-boat Committee were very proud of the high honour conferred upon their Chairman by the city of Coventry in making him one of its Freemen. The Mayor (Alderman F. Lee) presented Alderman Drinkwater with a Silver Inkstand, mounted with a replica of a Life-boat, on behalf of the Institution, and an autographed photograph album on behalf of the Coventry Branch. In doing so the Mayor said that the best testimonial to Alderman Drinkwater's Life-boat work was the fact that since he had been its Chairman Coventry had contributed to the Institution more than £10,000. The District Organising Secretary said that at the Headquarters of the Institution three Coventry names were held in honour : those of Alderman Drinkwater, Mrs. Beamish, the Honorary Secretary of the Guild, and Mr. Liggins, Honorary Secretary of the Branch. In his reply Alderman Drinkwater said that he deeply appreciated the gifts.

His work for the Life-boat Service had always been a labour of love, and so long as he could continue to work for it he intended to do so.

Annual Meetings: Station Branches.

ABERDEEN.—On 12th December, Mr.

John Ellis, Vice-President, in the chair.* The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the No. 1.

Motor Life-boat had been out on service on two occasions, rescuing six lives, and that £745 had been collected, as compared with £537 in the previous year. A special tribute was paid to the work of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and in particular to Mrs. Maitland and Mrs. Kilgour, the Honorary Secretary.

With the help of an enthusiastic band of workers, the Guild had collected £319.

Reference was also made in the report to the valuable help which the Aberdeen Press had given to the Branch. The thanks of the Branch were expressed to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. George Alexander, and Mr. A. J. Wood, the Honorary Treasurer.

ANSTRUTHER (FIFESHIRE).—On 21st December, Provost Readdie, Chairman of the Branch, presiding. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £87 had been collected, as compared with £73 in the previous year.

APPLEDORE.—On 16th November, the report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £296 had been collected, as compared with £315 in the previous year. It was pointed out that Appledore had the largest subscription list of any Branch in Devonshire, a tribute to the work of the ladies connected with the Branch.

BANFF, MACDUFF AND WHITEHILLS.— On 5th November, Provost Bisset presiding. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £82 had been collected, as compared with £70 in the previous year.

* To the great regret of the Branch and the Institution, Mr. Ellis died on 29th February.— ED., The Lifeboat.

BERWICK - ON - TWEED. — On 15th | November, Admiral of the Fleet Sir j William May, G.C.B., presiding, supported by Lady Francis Oaborne, and the Mayor (Councillor H. Stuart).

The report for the year ending 30th j September, 1927, showed that the Life-boat had been out on service on one occasion, and that £286 had been collected, as compared with £57 in the previous year. As proposed at last j year's meeting, the Committee had been | considerably enlarged. A special appeal j for annual subscriptions had been sent out, resulting in twelve new subscribers, and the Honorary Secretary, Captain Gibsone, D.S.O., in presenting the report, i appealed to subscribers to enlist the help of their friends. It seemed to him that a. list of ninety-four subscribers j was still very small for a place like i j Berwick. The report referred in parti- ; cular to the great loss sustained by the ' ' Branch through the death of ex-Cox- j| swain Burgon, whose knowledge and | j experience had made him a valuable member of the Committee. ' I BLAKENEY (NORFOLK).—On 16th December, Mr. Ellis Turner presiding.

The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £70 had been collected, as compared with £5 in the previous year. During the year the first Life-boat Day in Blakeney was held, and £30 was collected. Captain H. R. S. Birkin was re-elected President and Mr. Ellis Turner was elected Chairman in place of the Reverend D. L.

Lee Elliott, M.A., who, however, is very kindly continuing to organise the Lifebaat Day.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE.—On 29th November, Mr. B. J. Saunders, C.B.E., J.P., Chairman of the Branch, presiding.

The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the Lifeboat had been out on service on two occasions, and that £247 had been collected, as compared with £235 in the previous year. The Chairman congratulated the Branch on having raised this sum in spite of the fact that the Town Council had refused to allow Lifeboat Day to be held, and pointed out that, in addition, the sum of £67 12s Od.

had been received as a legacy to the Institution. A Vote of Thanks was passed to the Chairman and to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. King.

DUNBAK AND SKATERAW (HADDINGTONSHIRE) .—On 6th November. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the Dunbar Lifeboat had been out on service on one occasion, and that £251 had been collected, as compared with £226 in the previous year. This is the largest sum which the Branch has raised since it was founded in 1865.

EASTBOUBNE.—On 16th November, Mr. E. Armstrong, Chairman of the Branch, presiding. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the Life-boat had been out on service on one occasion, and that £1,489 had been collected, as compared with £1,022 in the previous year. The Chairman, in reviewing the work of the year, referred to the death of Mr. Arthur Bowen, the former Chairman of the Branch, and Mr. Arthur Davis, a member of the Committee, both ardent supporters of the Life-boat Service.

The Chairman then spoke of the splendid financial result of the year's work. When the revenue of the Branch reached four figures two years ago it was thought that it would be difficult to maintain. The following year they had succeeded in maintaining it, but in reaching the magnificent sum of nearly £1,500 during the past year they had exceeded their most sanguine expectations. That sum was five and a half times greater than Eastbourne's, contribution to the Service in 1914, and more than twice as much as its contribution in 1923. Special tributes were paid to the work of Mrs. Astley Eoberts, President of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and to Mr. Alexander Robertson, Honorary Secretary of the Branch, to whom Mrs. Astley Roberts presented the Gold Pendant, which had been awarded to him by the Institution in recognition of his valuable work.

FLEETWOOD (LANCASHIRE).—On 16th December, Mr. F. J. Thompson, J.P., Chairman of the Branch, presiding.

The report for tiie year ending SOfeh September, 1927, showed that £314 had been collected, as compared with £304 in the previous year.

FOLKESTONE.—On 28th November, Mr. Frank Scarborough, Chairman, presiding. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £271 had been collected, as compared with £239 in the previous year.

In moving the adoption of the report, the Chairman said that there was a slight falling off in the number of annual subscribers, and he was afraid that the Institution did not get as much support as it had a right to expect from a sea-side town of the size of Folkestone.

It was suggested that every member of the Committee should try and get at least one new subscriber.

MONTROSE.—On 8th December, Provost W. Douglas Johnston, O.B.E., President of the Branch, in the chair.

The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the No. 1.

Motor Life-boat had been out on service on two occasions, and that £473 had been collected, as compared with £526 in the previous year. Last year's total included £193 from the special appeal made by Provost Johnston on the occasion of the Inaugural Ceremony of the new Motor Life-boat in September 1926, while the total for 1926 included £350 from this appeal. The Provost congratulated the Branch on a very successful year, and during the meeting presented the certificate won by Margaret Fotheringham, a scholar at the North Links School, in the Lifeboat Essay Competition.

NEWQUAY (CORNWALL).—On 15th November, Mr. E. J. Constantine, Vice-President of the Branch, in the chair. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £251 had been collected, as compared with £231 in the previous year.

PENLEE (PENZANCE). — On 17th November, Mr. J. D. Matthews presiding.

The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the Life-boat had been out on service on two occasions, and that £136 had been collected, as compared with £339 in the previous year, when an anonymous gift of £100 was received. During 1927 there was a considerable fall in annual subscriptions owing to the illness of the collector, but over £80 was raised by Life-boat Day, and the thanks of the Branch were expressed to the ex- Mayoress, Miss Williams, and those who had helped her to carry out this appeal.

Eeference was also made to the loss sustained by the death of Mr. Phillip Nicholls, a member of the Committee, and ex-Coxswain of the Penzance Life-boat, and of the Reverend C.

Stuchbery, who, when Mayor of Penzance, had been Chairman of the Branch.

POOLE, BOURNEMOUTH, WIMBORNE AND CHEISTCHUECH.—On 29th November, the Mayor (Alderman W. P. Hunt), a Vice-President of the Branch, in the chair. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the Poole Life-boat had been out on service on two occasions, and that £1,011 had been collected, as compared | with £785 in the previous year.

SHEEINGHAM (NORFOLK).—On 27th October, the report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the Life-boat had been out on one occasion, and that £100 had been collected, the same amount as in the previous year. Of this sum over £84 had been obtained on Life-boat Day, and the thanks of the Committee were expressed to Mrs. Johnson and her helpers. A Bowls Tournament raised another £6, but the subscriptions amounted to only £6 6s. Od.

SOUTHWOLD (SUFFOLK).—On llth October, Major E. R. Cooper presiding.

The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that the Life-boat had been out on service on two occasions, and that £108 had been collected, as compared with £194 in the previous year, when the collection on the occasion of the Inaugural Ceremony of the new Motor Life-boat contributed £103. Life-boat Day in 1927 raised £59, and the thanks of the meeting were expressed to the Mayoress, Mrs. G. Bee, who had organised this effort. There were now fifty-three regular subscribers, and it was hoped considerably to increase the number.

Glasgow Ladies' Life-Boat Guild.

There has been for many years a very active Committee of ladies in Glasgow who have organised the annual Life-boat Day, but until recently they had not formed themselves into a Ladies' Life-boat Guild. On the 22nd November, on the invitation of the Duke of Montrose, a Vice-President of the Institution and Chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council, a meeting was held on board the s.s. Transylvania at York Hill Quay, by kind permission of the owners, the Anchor Line. The guests were received by the Duke and Duchess of Montrose and Mr. Leonard Gow, J.P., Chairman of the Glasgow Committee, and among those present were Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Institution, the Duchess of Sutherland, President of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Lady Weir, Lady Mary Graham, Sir Andrew and Lady Pettigrew, Sir D. M. Stevenson, Bt., Colonel J. A.

Roxburgh, Mr. J. R. Barnett, O.B.E., M.I.N.A., Consulting Naval Architect of the Institution, the Inspector of Lifeboats for Scotland and the District Organising Secretary.

The Duke of Montrose, who was in the chair, welcomed the guests and spoke of the efforts which were being made by the recently constituted Scottish Lifeboat Council to increase public interest and public support. Mr. Gow explained the purpose of the meeting, and announced that the Countess of Glasgow had consented to be the first President of the Glasgow Ladies' Life-boat Guild which it was hoped to form at that meeting. Sir Godfrey Baring spoke on the work of the Institution, and the Duchess of Sutherland on the work of the Guild. She said that it had been started seven years ago to unite in one body all the women who worked for the Lifeboat Service, and described how successful it had been in enlisting new workers.

" The men," she concluded, " man the Life-boats, but it is the women who help to keep them afloat." A resolution was then proposed by Bailie Yiolet Craig Roberton, J.P., and seconded by Mrs.

Rupert E. M. Bethune, that the meeting should constitute a Glasgow Guild. This resolution was unanimously carried, and the names of the ladies who had consented to become Vice-Presidents were read to the meeting. Practically all the ladies of the original Committee had already joined the Guild, and Mrs.

Hourston and Miss Jean MacLeod Baxter had consented to become Joint Honorary Secretaries pending the formal election of the Officers. During the meeting over 260 ladies present joined the Guild, and were presented with their badges and certificates of membership by the Duchess of Sutherland.

This preliminary meeting was followed by a meeting on 9th December, at which, in the absence of the Countess of Glasgow, Mrs. Hourston took the chair.

About 150 members of the Guild were present, the election of the Officers was confirmed, and various methods of making Life-boat appeals were discussed.

Among other things it was decided that each member of the Guild should try to enrol two other members in the course of the year.

Annual Meetings: Financial Branches and Guilds.

ACCRINGTON.—On 3rd November, Councillor P. C. Holmes, the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, presiding. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £69 had been collected, as compared with £91 in the previous year.

BATH.—On 15th November, Commander Target, E.N., presiding. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £346 had been collected, as compared with £353 in the previous year. While there had been a slight decline in the Branch revenue, the proceeds of Life-boat Day, arranged by Mrs. Allon Tucker, Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, had increased from £108 to £159.

An appeal was made for more ladies to help in the House-to-House collection.

BOLTON.—The Mayoress, Lady Flitcroft, President of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, in the chair. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £407 had been collected, as compared with £183 in the previous year. Of this sum £220 had been collected by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, which had been formed twelve months before.

The District Organising Secretary appealed to the Branch to do still better in its support of the Institution.

Lady Haslam, who was compelled to resign the Honorary Secretaryship of the Guild, was elected a Vice-President.

BURTON - ON - TRENT.—The Annual Meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was held on 25th November, the Vice- President, Mrs. Arthur Fox, presiding.

The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £151 had been collected, as compared with £155 in the previous year. Mrs. Cronin was appointed Honorary Secretary for the coming year, and the very warm thanks of the meeting were given to Mrs. Fox for her services during the past year. An address was given by the District Organising Secretary.

EDINBURGH, LEITH AND GRANTON.— On 23rd November, Lord Provost Stevenson, President of the Branch, in the chair, supported by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Institution. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £1,596 had been collected, as compared with £1,558 in the previous year. The Lord Provost expressed the great regret of the Branch at the resignation of Mr. T. S.

Paterson, who had been its Secretary for over twenty years, and to whose energy a great part of the success of the Branch was due. He thought that the Branch was very fortunate in being able to get Mr. Paterson's partner, Mr. Harold Cowie, to take up the work. Sir Godfrey Baring also spoke of the Institution's debt to Mr. Paterson, and paid a tribute to the splendid work that was being done by Lady Findlay as President of the Edinburgh Ladies' Life-boat Guild and Honorary Secretary of the Scottish Life-boat Council. He congratulated Scotland on the success of the work which its Life-boat Counci was doing. Sir Godfrey also presentee certificates to three pupils of Edinburgh schools which they had won in the Life-boat Essay Competition.

HEYWOOD (LANCASHIRE). — The Annual Meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was held on 22nd November, the President, Mrs. Firth, in the chair.

The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £55 had been collected, as compared with £41 in the previous year.

HUDDERSFIELD.—The Annual Meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was held on 18th November. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £406 had been collected, as compared with £165 in the previous year. Annual subscriptions amounted to £134, £10 less than in the previous year, but a Life-boat Day was held for the first time since 1922 and raised £212. A concert followed the meeting.

LEEDS.—On 26th September, the Lord Mayor of Leeds (Alderman Hugh Lupton), President of the Branch, in the chair, supported by Sir Charles Wilson, M.P., Chairman of the Branch, and Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £1,105 had been collected, as compared with £599 in the previous year. In presenting the Annual Report Sir Charles Wilson said the result of the Life-boat Day was very satisfactory considering the limited number of workers. If only they could get more workers, he felt sure that they could collect more money, and he hoped to see the Life-boat Day raising £1,000 annually. He also said that there was a great opening for some well-disposed citizen of ample means to present the Institution with a Life-boat to be named after the city of Leeds. A little time ago a promise had been given of £1,000 if ten similar gifts were also promised.

He hoped that others would come forward with such promises in order that Leeds, like Bradford, might have a Life-boat of ite own.

RUGELEY (STAFFORDSHIRE). — On llth November, Councillor W. A.

Fowell presiding. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, the first full year's work of the Branch, showed that £65 had been collected, as compared with £12 in the previous year.

There were forty-nine regular subscribers, their contributions amounting to nearly £19; the first Annual Ball raised over £22 ; and the Life-boat Day also raised over £22. The Ladies' Life-boat Guild had a membership of twenty-seven, and it was hoped that this number would soon be doubled. The Chairman congratulated the town on this result, and expressed the thanks of the Branch to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. B. H.

Brumwell. The Earl of Lichfield was elected one of the Patrons of the Branch.

WAKEFIELD.—The Annual Meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was held on 6th October, the President, Mrs.

Arthur Pickles, in the chair. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £116 had been collected, as compared with £86 in the previous year.

WEST HARTLEPOOL. — On 22nd November, the Mayoress (Mrs. A. Hyde), President of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, in the chair, the Mayor, President of the Branch, coming on later from another meeting. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1927, showed that £150 had been collected, as compared with £83 in the previous year.

Mrs. Kendall, the Honorary Treasurer of the Guild, reported that the Lifeboat Day had raised £110, as compared with £40 in the previous year. The District Organising Secretary, in the course of an address on the work of ;he Service, expressed his gratitude to the Mayoress for the lead which she had jiven in forming the Guild.

Special Meeting*.

BOSTON (LINCOLNSHIRE).—A meeting was held in the Mayor's Parlour on 15th December, the Mayor (Councillor J. Tait) Dresiding, at which it was decided to develop the work of the Branch, and a Committee was appointed, with Mr. B.

Killingworth as Honorary Secretary and Miss Swain as Honorary Treasurer. The Mayor said that he saw no reason why the Branch should not raise £100 a year, and thanked Mr. Killingworth for the work which, as Honorary Secretary, he had been doing for the Branch in the past.

GLOUCESTER.—A special meeting was held at the Guildhall on 21st December, at which the Mayor (Alderman W. C.

Matthews) presided, for the purpose of developing the work of the Branch. A Committee was appointed, Mr. Carey Pitt and Mr. Percy Aas being elected Chairman and Honorary Secretary respectively.

An address was given by the District Organising Secretary, and during the meeting Mrs. P. Farmer was presented with a Gold Brooch which had been awarded to her by the Institution for her devoted services for over twenty years to the Life-boat Cause. The Records of Thanks awarded to Miss Hewlett, Mrs. H. Pitt, Miss Clift and Mrs. George Bailey were also presented.

GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON.— A special meeting was held on 14th November, Mr. A. H. Cartwright, the Chairman, presiding, supported by Lady Myer. Mr. C. A. Cooper, Honorary Secretary at Great Yarmouth, Mr. A. D.

Snell, Honorary Secretary at Gorleston, and Mr. E. Boning, Honorary Secretary at Caister, at which Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution, gave an address. In the course of it he said that no part of the coast produced a finer type of Life-boatman than Norfolk and Suffolk, and recalled that twentysix years ago on this very day nine gallant Life-boatmen had lost their lives at Caister, and that that marvellous old seaman, Thomas Haylett, who was seventy-eight years old, had won the Gold Medal of the Institution for rescuing two of the crew. The Chairman congratulated the Ladies' Life-boat Guild on the excellent work which it was doing, and said that it was intended to extend its appeal still further.

HASTINGS.—A special meeting was held on 30th November, at which the Mayor (Councillor A. J. Thorpe) presided, to hear an address by Mr.

George F. Shee. M.A., Secretary of the Institution. The meeting was held at the kind invitation of Mrs. Harloe- Phibbs. Among those present was Mr.

Samson, Honorary Secretary of the Branch. The Mayor said that a great mistake which they made as a nation was to take things for granted. Ever since they were children they had heard of the wonderful work of the Life-boats, but how many had ever taken the trouble to think seriously what that work meant, and what their own duty was towards it ? Mr. Shee endorsed all that the Mayor had said, and gave an account of the work of the Institution since its foundation in 1824. Coxswain Plummer, of the Hastings Life-boat, spoke of the work which was being done at Hastings and Dungeness.

WINCHESTER.—A special meeting was held on 2nd December, at which the Mayor (Councillor F. Webb Manley) presided, supported by the Mayoress, Alderman W. H. Forder (Winchester's Life-boat Mayor), Mrs. G. A. Roberts, Chairman of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Miss Bostock, Honorary Secretary of the Guild, and Captain H. Pearson, Honorary Treasurer of the Branch, at which an address was given by Mr.

George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution. Mr. Shee gave a short account of the history of the Institution, and of the great mechanical developments which it was now making, and the Mayor said that it was the duty of all to share in the burden of supporting this great national work.

New Guilds.

KESWICK (CUMBERLAND).—A special meeting was held on 16th December, at which Colonel Hope, Chairman of the Urban Council, presided, and it was decided to form a Ladies' Life-boat Guild. In past years much had been done for the Institution in Keswick, and it was hoped that it would be possible to revive interest in the Institution's work.

SKELMANTHORPE AND SCISSETT (YORKSHIRE).—A meeting was held on 29th. November, at the invitation of ! Lady Jackson, at which it was decided to form a Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and the following Officers were elected : President, Lady Jackson; Vice-President, Mrs. J. T. Field ; Honorary Treasurer, Mrs. Tinker ; and Honorary Secretary, Miss Rosalie Jackson.

i 'Theatrical Performance; BRADFORD.—The Annual Life-boat ; Matinee was held on 16th November, ! and, in spite of the industrial depression in the city, raised £325, £9 more than the previous year. The Matinee was i attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady i Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs. Michael Con way), the Deputy Lord Mayor and ! Deputy Lady Mavoress (Mr. and Mrs.

M. F. Titterington), Sir William Priesti ley, Chairman of the Branch, and Mr. H.

Sutclifie-Smith, Honorary Treasurer.

j During the interval the Lord Mayor | moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Francis Laidler, the Manager of the theatre, the artistes who had given their services, i and the staff of the theatre. This is • the 28th Matinee which, through the ; generosity of Mr. Laidler, has been given I in Bradford in aid of the Life-boat j Service.

| CHISLEHURST.—What Might Happen ] was played on 14th, 15th and 17th December, in aid of the funds of the Institution, the performance being ' organised by Miss Sybil Lawson.

LIVERPOOL.—The Lucilla Amateur i Dramatic Society played The Truth about Blayds on 18th and 19th Novem- ] ber, in aid of the funds of the Branch.

The Admiral Back Dinner.

The Triennial Dinner given to the Life-boatmen at Ramsgate was held on 26th October. This dinner is provided out of legacies received from Admiral Sir George Back, the Arctic explorer, who died in 1878, and Mrs. Susannah Stephens, who died in 1914. The chair was taken by Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution, supported by the Mayor (Councillor F. C. Llewellyn), Mr. Harry Hargood, O.B.E., a Vice-President of the Institution, Lieut.-Colonel Percy L. Reid, O.B.E., and Mr. Guy Harben, O.B.E., representing the Prudential Assurance Company, the donors of the present Motor Life-boat, Captain Francis j Symons, the Harbour Master and ', Honorary Secretary of the Branch, and Commander Hewlett, R.N., the Coastguard Officer. Among the guests was one of the four survivors of the Ramsgate Crew which went out to the Indian C/we/inl881.

The toast of the Institution was proposed by the Mayor, and responded to by Mr. Shee, and the toast of the Prudential was proposed by Mr. Shee, and responded to by Mr. Guy Harben.

The health of Guests and Friends of the Life-boat was proposed by Mr. Shee, and responded to by Commander Hewlett. Mr. Hargood also spoke, and entertained the guests with some very interesting reminiscences. He knew • Admiral Back personally and recalled meeting him once at Sandwich, when the Admiral discussed with him what he ! should do to show his high regard for j the Ramsgate Life-boatmen. He also recalled that a fishing vessel named after his wife had been lost off Ramsgate.

It was then'discovered that one of the guests at the dinner had, single-handed, rescued the crew of the vessel. | Entertainment of Crews.

BRIDLINGTON.—A party of Bridlington Life-boatmen visited Bradford on 9th October, and were received at the i Town Hall by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs. Richard Johnson). The Lord Mayor, in honour of his guests, wore a Life-boat jacket with his chain of office over it. He said that there had always been a great friendship between Bradford and Bridlington, and he was very glad to think that Leeds, of which city Bradford was ' very jealous, could not compare with Bradford in support of the Life-boat Service. The Life-boatmen, among other places, visited the Fire Station, where the Brigade was turned out for their benefit, and were entertained to lunch and tea.

MARYPORT.—On 14th December the i Maryport Ladies' Life-boat Guild entertained the Life-boat Crew and Helpers, with their wives, numbering between seventy and eighty in all, to Supper, which was followed by a Whist Drive.

Mr. Walker T. Moore, the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, presided.

An anonymous donor supplied tobacco and cigarettes for the men, while other friends of the Branch supplied fruit for their wives.

PORT ERIN.—(!SLE OF MAN).—On 16th December the Crew and Helpers were entertained to a Hot Pot Supper, followed by a Concert. All those who contributed to the entertainment were thanked by Mr. S. Gorry, the Honorary Secretary.

Whist Drives, Dances, Sales of Work, Concerts, etc KESSINGLAND.—On 29th December the Kessingland Ladies' Life-boat Guild held a Whist Drive and Social Evening, which had been arranged by Mrs.

Woolfield, the Honorary Secretary of the Guild. Among those who attended it was the Coxswain from Southwold.

Practically all the inhabitants of the village of Kessingland are connected with the work of the Life-boat Station or with the Guild, and the evening raised the splendid sum of £36, in which was included the sum of £2 4s. from the sale of a cushion made by Miss Wigg, a daughter of the Signalman, and a grand-daughter of Edward Wigg, whose family has a magnificent record of service in the Kessingland Life-boat.

Whist Drives have also been held in aid of Branch funds at Arbroath (Forfarshire), Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bridlington, Dukinfield (Lancashire), Halifax, Lancaster, Ramsbottom, Stockport, Normanton, Whitehills and Worsthome (Lancashire).

BELFAST.—On 2nd December a Ball, organised by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild in aid of the funds of the Branch, was held at the Belfast Plaza, the ballroom being specially decorated. Among the Patrons of the Ball were the Governor and the Duchess of Abercorn, and the Marchioness of Londonderry.

This was the first Ball organised by the Guild, and it is hoped to make it an annual event.

DORCHESTER.—The fifthannualDance arranged by the Branch was held on 10th November, being organised by Mrs. S. H. Lodder, Honorary Secretary.

Over £20 was raised.

Dances in aid of Branch funds have also been held at Bristol, Denton (Yorkshire), Kirkby Stephen (Cumberland), and Shaftesbury (Dorset).

WAKEFIELD.—On 26th November a Concert and Cinema Show was given in aid of the Branch, which raised over £43. Among the films shown, was the Institution's film, Saved by a Motor ; Life-boat. ,' BERWICK.—On 23rd November the , Berwick Girl Guides and Brownies • gave an Entertainment in aid of the ! j Life-boat Service, this being the first ! combined effort by the Girl Guide Companies and the Brownie Pack since they were formed three years ago.

WALTHAMSTOW. — A Concert and Theatrical Entertainment was given in aid of the Branch on 15th December by the John Ladyman Society of Entertainers.

During an interval, the District Organising Secretary for Greater London gave a short account of the recent services by the Life-boats, and thanked all those who had taken part in the entertainment.

HOLLINGWORTH (CHESHIRE). A Chrysanthemum Tea was held in St.

Mary's Schools on 30th November.

WIGAN.—A successful " Bring and Buy" Sale in aid of the Institution was held in the Old Council Chamber, by kind permission of the Mayor, on- 8th December. The sale realised £32 15s.

Addresses to Rotary Clubs.

Life-boat Addresses have been given to the following Rotary Clubs : Folkestone, by Captain G. C. Holloway, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., a member of the Committee of Management, on 6th October; Wakefield, by Mr. Edgar H. Johnson, F.C.I.S. (District Organising Secretary for the North of England), on 6th October; and Fleetwood, by Mr. Edgar H. Johnson, F.C.I.S., on 9th November..