THE subject set for the eighth Lifeboat Essay Competition in Elementary Schools was " Describe the kind of man that a good Life-boatman should be." The number of schools taking part was 1919, an increase on last year of 427. The most gratifying feature of the competition was the great increase in the number of competing schools from the South of England. The South was first last year with 390. This year it is again first—with 728. The North of England is again second, although the number has fallen from 381 to 371 ; London again third with 250, as compared with 215, and the Midlands which was fourth last year with 204, ties for third place this year with 250. In Scotland 144 schools competed, one less than last year. In Ireland the number rose from 122 to 135, and in Wales from 35 to 51.

There are still, strange to say, Education Authorities which refuse to give permission for the competition to be held, but when the arrangements for the 1929 competition are being made, we shall hope to bring to their notice what Lord Eustace Percy, the President of the Board of Education, said, in the speech reported elsewhere in this issue about the competition.

He spoke of the fear that schools were being used too much for propaganda— using that word in its best sense—and he made a special exception of the Lifeboat Essay Competition. It was, he said, purely educational and he was sure that every teacher would want his own school to take part in it.

The Winning Essays.

There were no essays of outstanding merit, and few were poor. The most noticeable feature of the competition, in fact, was the evenness of the essays, the great majority reaching about the same level. This made judging difficult, particularly when it came to selecting the best of all from among the six winners of the Challenge Shields. In the end it was decided that the special prize for the best essay of all had been won by Cyril Palmer, of [ Clint Road Council School, Liverpool, for a well-balanced and well-written essay. It is only right to say that Harold Mills, of Drayton Road Boys' School, Portsmouth, was only just behind him, and the other four winners of the Challenge Shields were very close. Special mention should also be made of Reginald Disney, of New King's Road School, Fulham. He is only eleven years old, and, with the handicap given for age, his essay comes second in the London District. It had the merit of saying a good deal in few words. Most of the essays, in fact, were simply written, and no doubt the absence of rhetorical flourishes was due to the fact that the subject gave every writer plenty to say.

The Phrases of the Year.

The phrase of the year comes from a London essayist, " The sea is called the Briton's Birthright, but it often proves to be his grave." Another London essayist gives, as a good motto for a Life-boatman, " God first, other people second, self last." Yet another who wrote " The Life-boatman's knowledge must be serene," deserves to be specially mentioned for that excellent choice of epithet, and there is something delightfully sturdy and stiff about " unquoncerable." The Qualities of the Life-boatman.

One essayist wrote that the Lifeboatman " must be perfect, both mentally and physically, and also have the dexterity of an athlete." After that there does not seem much more to be said; but even those essayists who did not ask for perfection set a very high standard. Strict temperance was demanded by a large number of the competitors.

Others, again, touched on the question of diet, and the laws of health generally, pointing out the Life-boatman's need for regular and simple meals, no drinking between them, plenty of exercise, and houses in which, as one essayist wrote, " there should be plenty of fresh air and as much sunlight as the climate we enjoy (or have to put up with) admits." The question of diet brings us naturally to the question of physique.

Should the Life-boatman be a heavyweight ? On the whole, the children of the British Isles think that he should be.

As one writes, " He must be very heavy and healthy to keep his place in the Boat." Another describes the " average Life-boatman " as " an old bunch of bone and muscle " ; another says that he is usually " very fat." Others again are for the happy mean. One writes that he must have " a cool, steady head on a pair of sturdy shoulders. He need not be a heavy junk, but a middle weight." Another gives excellent reasons for a moderate figure: "A Life-boatman must not be too fat and not too thin ; too much flesh is a burden, and his weight would smash fragile things if he trod on them; but a little flesh helps to keep him warm on a cold night." It must not be thought that the competitors have discussed the physical to the neglect of the moral and spiritual side of the Life-boatman. A fair balance is kept between the two. What is most noticeable is the number of writers who have felt that the ability to turn out in the middle of the night is the best proof of the courage, good health and unselfishness of the Lifeboatman.

As one writer excellently puts it: "A Life-boatman should always be pre- pared to give his beauty sleep for others." But it is not sufficient that he should get up. " He must not be awkward with those who have called him." A lot seems to lie behind that adjective.

To be cheerful and good tempered, " and have a jolly face," is, in the opinion of several competitors, essential, " In his weather-beaten face you should find a smile which brave men always possess." Should a Life-boatman be a Married Man? THAT is a question which has exercised the thought of a number of the writers.

Some are quite certain that he should be a bachelor. " Among little things a life-boatman should not have are wives or a child." Others are equally convinced that a wife is an advantage to him, but she must be " a cheery wife, not one who moans and groans, as it makes him miserable." Another goes so far as to say that " a good wife is the most important of all the qualifications," but you would never guess why: " Because she can make hot tea for the rescued." Other Quaint Phrases.

Here are some more quaint and original reflections on the character of the Lifeboatman :— " A Life-boatman should not grumble, for the harder his life is, the brighter will sparkle his crown in heaven." " Before the Life-boat Service was established millions of people yearly went to a watery grave, unknelled, uncoffined and unknown." " The Life-boatman should never be brutal to his wife and children, but he himself will get knocked about plenty of times whilst at sea." " A Life-boatman is a monstrous specimen of humanity and therefore has no difficulty in passing the doctor and becoming a trained member of the crew." " The Life-boatmen are mostly drawn from the fishing population, not some grandly dressed fops." " No person knows how dear life is until it is lost." This does not come from Ireland, by the way.

" For men must work and women must weep, and these gallant men do all this for nothing." " Their hard, brown and horny hands have been set to tasks that the very thought of which would have made a raw ' land-lubber ' quail." " A Life-boatman should be a sea-dog to his last hair." " The sea and all its vicissitudes must be as familiar to him as the kitchen is to the cook." " He must not be selfish and grab the best seats." " He must know the front of the boat from the back." " Life-boatmen have very red faces and red noses because they get the very best fresh air." " A Life-boatman must be a tall man and have the courage of a lion when caught in a pinch." " He must have good teeth. What use would a Life-boatman be with toothache ? " " He must be strong and muscular, possess great courage, a spirit of selfsacrifice and a waterproof hat." " Courage and wit are another two official things which must be in a Life-boatman's spirit." The Winning Schools.

The Clint Road Council School, Liverpool, deserves double congratulations.

It is the first school in Liverpool to win the Challenge Shield for the North of England, and it is the first school in the North of England to win the special prize for the best essay of all.

For the fourth year running the Challenge Shields have been won by schools which have not previously held them. In the South of England, however, it has been won for the second year in succession by a Portsmouth school. In the first two years of the Competition it was won by a Southsea school, and this record of Portsmouth and Southsea of winning a Shield in four out of the eight competitions is unequalled by any other town. Turning to counties, Staffordshire in the Midlands, and Hampshire in the South, have won the Shield five out of eight times. No other county can equal that record, and in this year's list it will be seen that the first three names in the Midlands are from Staffordshire schools, and that the runner-up is a girl from the same Burslem school as the boy who has won the Shield. It will be seen too that several towns have three prize-winners, while there are no fewer than six Bristol schools in the Midlands list.

Below is the list of successful competitors, and the essay by Cyril Palmer.

He will receive a copy of the five guinea edition of Britain's Lifeboats, by Major A. J. Dawson, signed by the Prince of Wales, and a certificate.

Each of the other five who head the lists for the districts will receive a copy of the ordinary edition of Britain's Lifeboats and a certificate. The remaining 202 boys and girls in the lists will each be presented with a certificate.

The name of the winner in each district will be inscribed on the District Challenge Shield, and the school will hold the Shield for a year. Each of these six schools will also receive, as a permanent record of its success, a copy of the certificate awarded to the pupil. If a shield is won three years running by the same school it becomes the school's property.

The particulars of the next competition will be sent out at the beginning of 1929, and we hope once again to have the interest and support of the Education Authority and the teachers, for whose invaluable help in this year's competition the Institution is most grateful.

List of Successes in the Essay Competition.

LONDON DISTRICT (County Council Area).

Ethel Gill . .14 Alexandra Orphanage, Maitland Park, Haverstock Hill, N.W. 3.

Reginald Disney 11 New King's Road School, Fulham, S.W. 6.

Alma Peters 14 Wix's Lane School, Clapham, S.W. 4.

Martha Bassford 12  Roman Road Girls' School, Bow, E. 3.

Wilma de la Cour 14 Kennington Road Girls' School, S.E. 11.

George Daly . . . . 14 Droop Street Boys' School, Paddington, W. 10.

Henry Finch .14 Gateforth Street Boys' School, Marylebone, N.W. 8.

Stella McNab . . 13 St. Mary's Girls' School, Hide Place, S.W. 1.

Margaret Lawrance .14 Alexandra Orphanage, Maitland Park, Haverstock Hill, N.W. 3.

Teresa Cooper . . . .13 Hackford Road Girls' School, Brixton, S.W. 9

Ronald Thomas . . . .10 Stockwell Church of England School, Lingham Street, S.W.

Joan Sidey...11 Wix's Lane School, Clapham, S.W. 4.

Marjorie Cowen . . . .14 St. Mary Bolton's School, Gilston Road, Kensington, S.W. 10

William Perry . . . .13 Fairfield Road Boys' School, Bow, E. 3.

Phyllis Wheeler . . . .14 Gipsy Road Girls' School, West Norwood, S.E. 27.

Phyllis Grover . . . .12 Sydenham Hill Road Girls' School, Rowland Grove, Sydenham.

Harriet Harris . . . .9 All Saints' School, East Street, Walworth, S.E. 17.

Charlotte Boyce . . . .9 Portman Place Junior Mixed School, Bethnal Green, E. 2.

Frank Kahn .13 Portman Place Junior Mixed School, Bethnal Green, E. 2.

Stephen Ballard . . . .14 Hoxton House Boys' School, Hoxton Street, N. 1.

Fred Chapman . . . .11 Droop Street Boys' School, Paddington, W. 10.

Alice Harsant . . . 13 Monteith Road Boys' School, Bow, E. 3.

Sidney Usher . . . .14 Monteith Road Boys' School, Bow, E. 3.

Reginald W. M. Gwynne . . 11 Athelney Street Boys' School, Bellingham, S.E. 6.

Mary Gillingham . . . .13 Bath Street Girls' School, St. Luke's E.C. 1.

Beatrice Manzke . . .14 Bartram's School, 238, Haverstock Hill, N.W.3

Thomas Little . . . .14 Battersea Park Road Boys' School, Forfar Road, S.W.ll

Walter Offord . . . .10 Kentish Town Church of England School, Islip Street, N.W. 5.

LIST OF SUCCESSES— LONDON DISTRICT (County Council Area)— continued.

Name. : Age. i School.

Doris Walker . . . . 13 Credon Road Girls' School, Rotherhithe New Road, S.E. 16.

Josephine Thompson . . 9 Chester Road Girls' School, Highgate, N. 19.

Annie Roberts . . . . 10 Dempsey Street Girls' School, Mile End. E. 1.

Reginald Cooth . . . . : 11 Ashington Road Roman Catholic School, Fulham, S.W. 6.

William Shanley . . . 11 Fair Street Boys' School, Rotherhithe, S.E. 1.

Leonora Smith . . . . 11 The Michael Faraday Girls' School, South wark, S.E. 17. 

Dorothy Muhlethaler . . 14 : Gipsy Road Girls' School, West Norwood, S.E. 27.

NORTH OF ENGLAND.

Name.

Cyril Palmer . . . .13 Clint Road Council School, Liverpool.

Henry Birmingham .13 St. John's Roman Catholic Boys' School, Salford.

Olive Owston . . . 13 Sacred Heart School, Chorley, Lancashire.

Myles Carrigan. . .13 Gladstone Road Girls' School, Scarborough

Orry Quine . . . 13 Demesne Road Boys' School, Douglas, Isle of Man

Edith Potter . . . .12 St. Mary's Girls' School, Everton Valley, Kirkdale, Liverpool.

Frederick Cole . . . .10 New Seaham Council School, County Durham

Mary Griffith . . . .14 Belsay Council School, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

William Ashworth . 13 Fulwell Council Boys' School, Sunderland.

Ernest Ellams . . . .11 Walton Church of England School, Liverpool.

Elizabeth Archer . . .14 Greenside Council School, Ryton-on-Tyne.

Gladys Ibbotson . . .13 Bradfield Dungworth Church of England School, near Sheffield.

Janey Williams . . . .13 Council School, Wilmslow, Cheshire.

Edith Bennett . . . .14 Central Girls' School, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Jacob Musaphia . . . ..13 Marlborough Road Boys' School, Higher Broughton, Salford.

Clara Bell . . ..13 Redheugh Girls' School, Gateshead, Durham.

Evan Long . . .13 Sugley Church of England School, Lemington-on-Tyne.

Olive Tillston . . . 14 Allerton Council School, Woodlesford, near Leeds.

Mary Dawes . . . 13 " The Parade " Central School, Holylake, Cheshire.

Robert W. Wilson . . 13 Kirkwhelpington Council School, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

George Turner . . . .13 St. Vincent's School, Fulwood,- near Preston.

William Butler . . . .12 Crank Hill Church of England School, Rainford, St. Helens, Lancashire.

Robert Henry Carine . . .13 Rushen Central School, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man

Doris Carter . . .13 " Our Lady's " Girls' School, Cavendish Street, Birkenhead.

Doreen Yates . . . .13 Central School, Kendal, Westmorland.

Violet Bell . . . .13 St. Mary's Church of England School, Ellison Street, Gateshead, Durham.

Nancy Griffiths . . . .14 Hunter Street Central School for Girls, Chester.

Sophie Morley . . . .12 Selby Abbey School, Selby, Yorkshire.

Alice Nacey  . . .13 St. Werburgh's School, Birkenhead, Cheshire.

Hilda Dickinson . . . ..12 Carr Lane School, Low Moor, Bradford

Jessie Edith Radford 12 Roundthorn Council School, Oldham

Marjorie Slee . . . 14 Watermillock School, near Penrith

F Caruana .14 St. Bede's Roman Catholic Boys' School, South Shields.

Charles Holroyd  14 Claughton Higher Grade School, Birkenhead.

The best School essay in Great Britain and Ireland.

MIDLANDS.

Jack Durber . . 13 St. Paul's School, Dale Hall, Burslem, Staffordshire.

May Walkaden . . . .13 St. Paul's School, Dale Hall, Burslem, Staffordshire.

Sydney Barber . . . .14 Grove Senior School, Hanley, Staffordshire.

LIST OF SUCCESSES— MIDLANDS — continued.

Lilian Bradshaw . . 14 Bridge Street Council Girls' School, Redditch, Worcestershire.

William A. Tinkler . . .13 Church of England Mixed School, Frisby-on-the-Wreake. Leicester.

Arthur Bettel . . . .14 St. Nicholas with St. Leonard's Mixed School, Bristol.

Douglas Hemmings .11 Lansdowne Road Council School, Leicester.

Fred Shattock . . . .13 Mina Road Boys' School, Bristol.

Harold Smith . . . .13 Council School, Ripley, Derbyshire.

Alec McEwen . . . .13 Longport Council School (Mixed Department), Burslem, Staffordshire

Albert Colley . . . .14 St. Silas Boys' School, Bristol.

Harry A. Barker . . 13 Woodhouse Council Mixed School, Longton, Stoke-on- Trent.

Elise Jones . . .14 York Street Girls' School, Hanley, Staffordshire

Dora M Lee . . 11 Breadsall Church of England School, Breadsall, Derbyshire.

Arthur Baker . . . .14 Windmill Hill Senior Boys' School, Bedminster, Bristol.

Frances J. Collison . 9 Ingoldmells School, near Skegness, Lincolnshire.

 

Frederick Collett . . . .13 Dudley Road Council School, Birmingham

Douglas Howsley . . .13 Tansley Church of England Schools, near Matlock, Derbyshire

Edna MoColl . . 14 Redcliffe Girls' School, Bristol.

Elsie Brooks . . .13 Chell Girls' School, Stoke-on-Trent.

Kathleen Dewey  . . 13 Bardon Hill Church of England School, Leicester

Jason Linch . . 13 .Bardon Hill Church of England School, Leicester

Irene Barlow . . . . 14 Etruria Council School, Stoke-on-Trent.

Reginald F. Langley 14 Parson Street Senior Mixed School, Bedminster, Bristol

Joseph Jesney . . . .13 Withern Church of England School, Alford, Lincolnshire.

Samuel J . Pitt . . . .14 Boys' Central School, Bilston, Staffordshire.

Evelyn Clarke . . . .13 Chilvers Coton Council Girls' School, Fitton Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Joyce Rosoman . . . .13 St. Paul's School, Mount Pleasant, Stoke-on-Trent.

Evelyn Seaman . . . .13 Eastwood Vale Council Girls' School, Hanley, Stafford- shire.

Albert Prince . . 13 Florence Mixed Council School, Longton, Staffordshire.

Jack Hunt . . .12 St. Mary's Roman Catholic School, Glossop, Derbyshire

Reggie Cole . . .12 Eubery Council School, Birmingham.

Agnes Leese . . 13 Florence Council Mixed School, Lougton, Staffordshire.

Wilfred Fell . . .14 Higher Council School, Church Drive, Arnold, Notting- hamshire.

Kathleen Vickers . . 13 Rubery Council School, Birmingham

 

SOUTH OF ENGLAND.

Harold Mills . . 13 Drayton Road Boys' School, Portsmouth

Mollie Filer . . .13 Coleford Council School, Coleford, Bath.

Kathleen Ledbury ..13 St. John's Girls' School, Frome, Somerset.

May Stevens ..14 Church Street Girls' School, Portsmouth.

Alice Croucher . . . .12 Ludlow Road Girls' School, Itchen, Southampton.

 

Sidney Horton . . . .12 Hollesley Council School, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

 

Louis Borrill ..14 Downsell Road Boys' School, Stratford, E. 15.

 

 

Ian A . McEwan . . . .14 Christchurch Road Boys' School, Ilford, Essex.

 

Simeon Ridley . . . .14 Glanville Street Central School, Plymouth.

 

Marjorie Welch . . . 13. Downshall School, Seven Kings, Essex.

 

Harry Parker 14 Boys' Central School, Margate, Kent.

Geoffrey Law 13  Ashley Green School, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. 

Henry L. Fowell 14 Carclaze Mixed School, St. Austell, Cornwall.

Patricia Harrison 14 Stamshaw Girls' School, Portsmouth.

Richard Barnes . . . .13 Shinfield Church of England School, Reading.

Alice Parsons  . . .14 Stock Street Girls' School, Plaistow, E. 13.

 

Patricia Derrick . . . .14 Padstow Council Girls' School, Padstow, Cornwall.

LIST OF SUCCESSES— SOUTH OF ENGLAND continued.

Spencer G. Worley .14 Seer Green Church of England School, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

Joan Pennells . . . .10 Thornhill School, Wye, Kent.

Constance Brown 13 Sanderstead Council School, near Croydon, Surrey.

George H. Southam   13 Wood Street Boys' School. Wood Street, Walthamstow. E. 17.

 

Alfred Bates . . . .14 Old Windsor School, Berkshire.

Charles Cook. . .13 East Lexham School JCinsr's Lvnn Norfolk.

 

James Tolman . . . .14 Exeter Road Boys' School, Exmouth, Devonshire.

Irene Windsor . . . .14 Chamberlayne Wood Road Girls' School, Willesden, N.W. 10.

William Mitchell . . .14 Raglan Road Boys' Council School, Bromley, Kent

Edith L. Tredger . . .13 Shirley Girls' School, Bellemoor Road, Southampton

Iris Davy . . 14 National School Dereham Norfolk.

Violet Chessman . .. 13 Station Road Girls' School, Egham, Surrey

Violet Foskett . . . .14 Lovewell Road Girls' School, S. Lowestoft.

Edna Foster . . . .13 Council School Olney Buckinghamshire.

Sidney Arnold . . . .14 St. Andrew's Church School, Croydon, Survey

Ivy Chissim . . 14 Goodmaves Girls' School Goodmaves Essex.

Mark North . . .14 Rectory Manor Boys' School Mitcham Road Croydon, Surrey.

John W. Stone . . . .14 Council School, Clevedon, Somerset.

SCOTLAND

Helen F. F. Scott . . 13 Burness Public School, Sanday, Orkney.

Jane McCallum . . . .13 y. East Plean Public School, Stirlingshire.

Winifred Hamilton .14 Abriachan Public School, Inverness.

William Thomson 12 Sciennea Public School, Edinburgh

Catherine MoKinnon 11 Furnace Public School, Argyll.

George Boath . . . .13 North Fort Street, Edinburgh.

Catherine Warren 14 Dalchreichart Public School, Dalchreichart, Glenmoris- ton, Inverness-shire.

Cathie Crawford . . . .14 Auchtergaven Public School, Bankfoot, Perthshire.

Margaret Maxwell . 14 Uphall Public School, West Lothian.

Charles P. Menzies .14 Tynecastle Intermediate School, Macleod Street, Edin- burgh.

Letitia McGurk . . . .11 Roman Catholic School, Carfin, Lanarkshire.

Agnes D. W. Russell . .13 Lamington Public School, Lanarkshire.

Henrietta Maclennan 14 Altaudhu Public School, Achiltibuie, Garve, Ross-shire

Jemima Turner . . . .13 Yetholm School, Roxburghshire.

Catherine Caffrey . . 14 West End School, Mayne Road, Elgin

Alexander Moar . . . .12 Skeld Public School, Shetland.

Daniel MacGregor .13 Public School, Kinlochleven, Argyllshire.

Jack J . Harper . . . .13 Sullom Public School, Lerwick, Shetland.

Edith Logie 14 East End School, Elgin, Morayshire.

William Dickson 13 Rendall Public School, Orkney.

James Duncan . . . 13 Cluny Public School, By Sauchen, Aberdeenshire.

Jack Boss 12 Kiltearn Public School, Evanton, Ross-shire.

Thomas Groundwater .12 South Walls Public School, Longhope, Orkney.

Mary Jean Batter 13 Ollaberry Mixed Public School, Lerwick, Shetland.

Martin Bruce . . . .12 Burnhaven'Public School, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

Neil Gillies 13 St. Andrew's School, Rothesay, Bute

Isabella Noble . . . .13 Highland Orphanage, Inverness.

Jessie McClintock .14 Knock Public School, Portwilliam, Wigtownshire.

Margaret Paterson .13 St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Girls' School, Dundee.

Mamie Dickson . . . .13 Duthil Public School, Carr-Bridge, Inverness-shire

Mary Hughson . . . .14 Firth Public School, Moss Bank, Lerwick, Shetland.

David Dewar Cameron .12 Doune Public School, Doune, Perthshire

Thomas John Anderson .11 Laxfirth Public School, Brettabister, Shetland.

Elizabeth Hay . . . .13 Calderbank Primary School, Calderbank, Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF SUCCESSES—continued.

IRELAND AND WALES.

Maureen Clenagan .13 Ballyellough Public Elementary School, Co. Antrim

John Henry Cousins .14 St. Woolo's Boys' School, Newport, Monmouthshire

Maureen Morrison 14 The Model School, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry.

Thomas J. Briody 14 Clonoose National School, Ballinarry P.O., Co. Cavan.

Douglas Brown . . . .13 Hall Street National School, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan.

Haydn Ludlow . . . .13 Mixed Council School, Tonypandy, Bhondda

May Jones 12 Adamsdown Girls' School, Cardiff

Richard Young . . . .12 Trealaw Boys' School, Trealaw, Rhondda.

Eileen Daly 13 Classdaugh National School, Newbliss Co. Monaghan

Norman Quinn . . . .11 Baden Powell Street Public Elementary School, Belfast.

Daniel J. Meaney 14 Lacken National School, Kilmihil, Co. Clare

Mary Davison . . . .12 Aughagash Public Elementary School, Glenarm, Co. Antrim

John J . Dooley . . . .14 Cranny Boys' School, Ennis, Co. Clare

Georgina Lester . . . .13 Hall Street National School, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan

James R. Davies. . .13 Abersychan Council Schools, Ahersychan, near Pontypool, Monmouthshire.

Edward Flanagan . . .13 Grange Public Elementary Boys' School, Kilkeel, Co. Down

Betty Oriel . . 13 Wood Street Council School, Cardiff

Violet Forde . . 13 Kilmore National School, Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan.

Majorie Higdon . . . .14 Darner National (Mixed) School, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.

Anna Elliott 14 Whiterock National School, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim

Edmund Husbands . 14 Cockshutt Church of England School, Eliesmere, Shrop- shire

Kathleen V. Eccleshall . .14 Hope Church of England School, Minsterley, Shropshire.

Lottie McClure . . . .13 Rossnowlagh National School, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.

Mollie Tivenan . . . .13 Kiltycreighton National School, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.

Nora Gorbett . . 14 Shrewsbury Lancasterian School, Shrewsbury.

James B . Baker . . . .14 Shrewsbury Lancasterian School, Shrewsbury.

Norman Kinnear . . 14 Park Parade Public Elementary School, Ravenhill Road, Belfast.

Mary Scott . ..14 Park Parade Public Elementary School, Ravenhill Road, Belfast.

Mollie McFetridge 14 Model School, Ballymena, Co. Antrim

John Brown 12 Model School, Ballymena, Co. Antrim

Edward Lake . . . .14 The Hon. Irish Society's Boys' School, Coleraine, (Jo. Londonderry.

Betty Weirman . . . .14 Lakefield Girls' School, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire.

Jack Mooney . . . .13 Model School, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry

Charlotte Thompson . . 14 Carnalbana Public Elementary School, Aughafatten P.O., Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

Gordon Griffiths . . . .14 Mount Street Council School, Mount Street, Brecon .

 

Herefordshire and Shropshire are included in this area, as they are in the District of the Institution's Organising Secretary for Ireland and Wales.

The Best Essay.

By CYRIL PALMER (aged 13), of Clint Road Council Boys' School, Liverpool.

THE KIND OF MAN THAT A I remember the last gale. My thought: confess, were of falling slates and chimneys, but to the men in our small fishing towns it meant watchfulness and standing in readiness to venture forth to help some seafarers in distress.

We must remember that the work of the Life-boatman is voluntary, for he earns his GOOD LIFE-BOATMAN SHOULD BE.

I living in other ways ; also that the call comes in the worst of weather, and the work of rescue often means hours of endurance. Only a man who possesses the spirit of self-sacrifice would remain ready to answer the call year after year.

It is quite possible for a brave man, who is ready to risk his life, to be useless as a Lifeboatman.

In the old rowing and sailing Lifeboats it was usually a great feat of endurance to reach the wreck and return. Even in the lastest Motor Life-boat it requires a very hardy man to endure the exposure to cold, rain and sleet that is often necessary. A good Lifeboatman needs to have the best of health and strength. He must not sap his strength by disobeying any of the laws of health.

The safety of the lives of his mates and those on the wreck often depend on his being quickwitted and cool when unexpected danger looms ahead. A good Life-boatman, then, would never dull his brain by indulging in intoxicants.

He often has to go out during the night when good eyesight is essential. Lives may be saved by his being quick to see and quick to act.

A Life-boatman must possess the " Seafever." Otherwise one night's exposure would damp his ardour. Fishermen make the best Life-boatmen because they know the sea, and having experienced its wrath and power, they have the deepest sympathy for those in peril.

The Life-boatman must be clever in managing a boat in a storm, and do the right thing at the right moment by instinct.

He should be specially fitted for this, his noble work. He must be familiar with all lifesaving appliances, and always be ready to render first aid, especially artificial respiration.

He must be a practised swimmer from boyhood and be able to stem the raging waves with lusty strokes.

A good Life-boatman should always try to be cheerful and so encourage his fellow Lifeboatmen when all hope is fading. He must be prepared to command a boat or to carry out orders without protest or argument. Amidst rocks and mountainous waves the lives of the crew and rescued people often depend on the instant obedience to the Coxswain's orders.

How proud we ought to feel that there have been such splendid men to be found to man the Life-boats round our five thousand miles of coast and to rescue over sixty thousand lives. They are the finest type of men, unsurpassed in courage, endurance and unselfishness.