THE Motor Life-boat of the Ramsgate type, which was sent to Southend-on- Sea last May, is to be a gift from the Civil Service Life-boat Fund, which has not only presented the boat, costing £8,500, but has endowed her. She is to be called Greater London and will bear an inscription plate stating that she has been given to commemorate the services of the late Mr. W. Fortescue Barratt, who from 1914 until his death last year, was Honorary Secretary of the Fund.

The Civil Service Fund was started in 1866, and has contributed over £80,000 to the Institution. Besides the Southend Boat, the Fund has provided and endowed seven Life-boats. In certain cases two Civil Service Pulling and Sailing Life-boats have been replaced by one Motor Life-boat, so that there are now, besides the Southend boat, two Motor Life-boats presented and maintained by the Fund, those at Margate and Dun Laoghaire, and two Pulling and Sailing Life-boats, those at North Deal and Maryport, while the Motor Life-boat which is to be built for Whitehills (Banfishire) will take the place of the Civil Service Pulling and Sailing Life-boat which has been withdrawn from Montrose..