As announced in the last issue of The Lifeboat, the Committee of Management decided in May that every Life-boat Station, on the completion of a hundred years, should be presented with a Vellum to be hung in the Town Hall or other public building, and that a special ceremony of presentation should be arranged. This resolution was made retrospective. During the past summer Vellums have been presented to sixteen Stations, while it is hoped to arrange similar presentations next summer at as many more Stations which have already completed their centuries.

Each Vellum is signed by the Prince of Wales and bears a record, expressing the Institution's appreciation of the voluntary work of the Officers and Committee and of the devotion and courage of the Life-boat Crew.

The number of lives rescued and of medals awarded is up to the date of the ceremony, but it is not in every case possible to give the total of lives from the date of the establishment of the Station, as the early records are not always complete. The medals are in each case all medals awarded to Lifeboatmen and others from the foundation of the Institution in 1824.

Padstow, Cornwall.

The first of the presentations was made at Padstow (Cornwall) on 28th May.

The Station was established in 1827.

Since 1899 there have been two Lifeboats at Padstow, and since 1901 there has also been a steam tug to take out the Life-boats, the only tug in the Institution's Fleet. Since 1856 the Padstow boats have rescued 386 lives from shipwreck, while during the century no fewer than 23 Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal have been awarded to Life-boat men and others.

These lives have not baen rescued without loss. In 1867 the Life-boat capsized and five of her crew of thirteen were drowned, and in 1900 the Steam Life-boat capsized, only two of her crew of ten being saved.

The presentation took place on the bridge of the Life-boat tug, the Helen Peele, with the two Life-boats, Edmund Harvey and Arab alongside of her, and there was a big crowd on the quay. Before the presentation of the Vellum, Captain Charles J. P. Cave, a member of the Committee of Management, presented the Bronze Medal to Coxswain H. J. Baker, and the Institution's Thanks on Vellum to each member of the Crew of the Arab. These had been awarded to them for the gallant rescue in a whole gale, on llth February last, of the 18 men of the Norwegian steamer Taormina.* Mr. George F.

Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution, then handed the Centenary Vellum to Colonel C. R. Prideaux-Brune, the President of the Branch, and in doing so, spoke of the glorious history of the Station. There were few, if any, Lifeboat Stations where the conditions were so difficult and the dangers so great, and the record of nearly 400 lives rescued in 78 years was greater even than it seemed. Colonel Prideaux- Brune then handed the Vellum to Captain E. P. Hutchings, Chairman of the Urban District Council (who is also Honorary Secretary of the Branch), to be kept permanently among the civic records of Padstow.

Holyhead, Anglesey.

The first mention of Holyhead in the records of the Institution is in 1825, when it was decided that a Life-boat should be built and stationed there.

In 1828 a local committee was formed, and shortly afterwards the Life-boat arrived. Since 1890 there have been two Life-boats, and Holyhead is now the only Station on our coasts which has a Steam Life-boat. Since 1850 the Holyhead Life-boats have rescued 854 lives, a splendid record, while no fewer than three Gold Medals and 27 Silver Medals have been awarded to Life-boat * An account of this service appeared in the issue of The Lifeboat for last May.

men and others for their services. One of the Gold Medals was won by Coxswain William Owen for the service to the steamer Harold, in 1908, a service carried out in a hurricane, and each of the 10 members of his Crew received the Silver Medal.

The presentation of the Centenary Vellum took place on 2nd July, at the Church House, in the presence of a large audience. Lord Stanley of Alderley, K.C.B., President of the Branch, was in the chair, and the presentation was made 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. Among those present were Mr. J. Brown, Chairman of the local Council, Lady Stanley, Lady Magdalen Williams-Bulkeley, and Mr.

J. Lewis (the Honorary Secretary of the Branch). Lord Stanley spoke of the great services of the Holyhead Lifeboats, stationed on a dangerous coast, where all the shipping for the Mersey passed and repassed, and asked that the Vellum might be faithfully preserved in the archives of the town. Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley gave the history of the Station. He paid a tribute to the Life-boat Crews, saying that it was scarcely possible for any man to have a more honourable family tree than a record of successive generations in the Life-boat Service, and thanked all, both men and women, who had done so much to help the Institution in raising the funds for the Service. He then handed the Vellum to Mr. John Brown, Chairman of the Holyhead Urban Council, who in receiving it said that their hearts were warmed at the thought of the deeds of valour performed by their fellow townsmen, and that the Vellum would be kept as one of the most valued possessions of the town.

Redcar, Yorkshire.

The Station at Redcar is the oldest but one of the Stations maintained by the Institution. It was established in 1802, and since 1850 its Life-boats have rescued 213 lives. The first Redcar Lifeboat was the Zetland. She was built, in 1800, by Henry Greathead, who, in 1789, had built the Original for Tynemouth, the first boat to be designed specifically for rescuing life from shipwreck.

The Zetland is still in existence, the only one of Greathead's Life-boats which has been preserved; nor can any other Life-boat show such length of service. She was not replaced until 1867, and she actually carried out a service in 1880, when no other Life-boat was available, rescuing the crew of the brig Lima. She was then eighty years old. The Zetland was followed by the Burton-on-Trenl, built out of a fund raised in that town, and there have since been two Life-boats, including the present one, stationed at Redcar.

In 1857, Coxswain R. Shieldon was awarded the Silver Medal.

The ceremony took place on 7th July, the Vellum being presented on behalf of the Institution by Sir William Milligan, M.D., J.P., Chairman of the Manchester, Salford and District Branch, and a Vice- President of the Institution. Among those present were the Mayor of Redcar.

supported by several Mayors from Tees-side, Sir Hugh Bell (Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding), Mr. R. McClean (the Town Clerk of Redcar), Captain J. T. Shaw (Honorary Secretary of the Branch), and Mr. J. H. Amos (Honorary Secretary and Treasurer at Middlesborough).

Thousands of people were present at the ceremony, among them Mr. Thomas Picknett, aged 83, the only surviving member of the Zetland's Crew.

In welcoming Sir William Milligan, Sir Hugh Bell recalled the work of the Zetland, which he could remember, 75 years ago. Sir William Milligan paid a tribute not only to the Lifeboatmen of Redcar but to the generous interest which the whole of Yorkshire took in the Life-boat Service, and the Mayor, in accepting the Vellum, said that it was not only a reminder of what Redcar had done in the past but an incentive to unstinted service in the future for the Life-boat cause.

Dungeness, Kent.

The early history of the Dungeness Station is complicated by the fact that there does not appear to have been anyclear distinction made between Dungeness, Lydd and New Romney. There is, however, no doubt that in 1826 Dungeness was provided with a Life-boat by the Institution, a boat 20 feet long, pulling six oars. Since 1854 there is a continuous history of the Station, and in 1892 a second Dungeness Station was established. Owing to the confusion with neighbouring Stations in the early days it is not possible to give an accurate figure of lives rescued, but the Dungeness Life-boats have rescued certainly 128 lives, and another fiftynine lives were rescued either by Dungeness or New Romney.

One Gold and 13 Silver Medals have been awarded to Life-boat men and others. One of the Silver Medals was •won by Coxswain James Lucas in 1891 for his gallant conduct when the Lifeboat capsized and two lives were lost.

This was the second of three disasters in the history of the Station. In 1852 a Coastguard boat capsized with the loss of four of her crew of seven, and in 1893 the Life-boat again capsized, and the second Coxswain was drowned.

The Vellum was presented on 25th July at the No. 1 Boathouse by Captain G. C. Holloway, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., a member of the Committee of Management.

In making the presentation, Captain Holloway gave the history of the Dungeness Station and congratulated it on its fine record. The Vellum was received by the Mayor of Lydd (Alderman Arthur Finn), Chairman of the Branch, who spoke of his pleasure at this recognition of the noble work of their Life-boatmen. Among those present at the ceremony were the Mayor of New Romney, Mr. P. L. Hutchings (Honorary Secretary of the Branch), and the District Organising Secretary.

After the presentation all stood in silence for two minutes, in memory of all the Duiigeness Life-boatmen who were dead.

Brighton and Hove, Sussex.

A Life-boat was first stationed at Brighton in January, 1825, and since 1850 its Life-boats have rescued twentytwo lives. It is one of seven Stations on the coast of Sussex, and since 1850 they have rescued no fewer than 805 lives. One Gold and three Silver Medals have been awarded in Brighton.

The ceremony took place on 30th July, Mr. B. J. Saunders, C.B.E., J.P., Chairman, presiding. The Vellum was presented by Rear-Admiral T. P. H.

Beamish, C.B., Member of Parliament for Lewes, and a Member of the Committee of Management of the Institution.

Among those present were the Mayors of Brighton and Hove, the Mayoress of Brighton, Lady Rawson (President of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild), Mr. H. King (Honorary Secretary of the Branch), and Mrs. R. Carpenter (Honorary Secretary of the Guild). In presenting the Vellum to the Mayor of Brighton and a copy to the Mayor of Hove, Admiral Beamish gave the history of the Station, and appealed to Brighton and Hove to give the Institution greater support, pointing out that both Eastbourne and Worthing contributed much larger sums. The Mayor of Brighton said that the Corporation had the interests of the service at heart, and the Mayor of Hove said that Hove had always done its best on Life-boat Day.

The Mayor of Brighton then presented to Coxswain John Taylor the pension awarded him by the Institution, which, at his request, had been commuted into a lump sum.

Douglas, Isle of Man.

As soon as Sir "William Hillary, Bt., of Douglas, Isle of Man, had seen hia appeal for a national Life-boat service answered by the founding of the Institution in 1824, he set to -work to organise a district Life-boat Association in the Isle of Man. In 1824 a Station was established at Douglas.

This was followed by a Station at Castletown, which was closed in 1922.

The Peel Station was established in 1828, and the Ramsey Station in 1829, so that within six years of the founding of the Institution, when there were only 45 Life-boats on the entire coast of the United Kingdom, there were four Stations in the Isle of Man. About the middle of last century they were allowed to fall into decay, but after the Institution itself had been re-organised in 1851, there was a revival of the Isle o: Man. Stations. Since 1850 the Douglas Life-boats have rescued 127 lives. Sir William Hillary won the Institution'; Gold Medal three times and its Silver Medal once for gallantry, and he was also awarded the Gold Medal as the Institution's founder. In addition, one Gold and 12 Silver Medals have been awarded to Life-boatmen and others for their services.

Tyhe ceremony took place in the Town Hall on August 8th. The Mayor of Douglas presided, and the Vellum was presented by Sir William Priestley, J.P., Chairman of the Bradford and District Branch, and a Vice-President of the Institution. Among those present were the Bishop of Sodor and Man, His Wori ship the Vicar-General (Chairman of the Branch), Colonel H. W. Madoc, C.B.E., M.V.O. (the Honorary Secretary of the Branch), and the District Organising Secretary. The District Organising Secretary introduced Sir William Priestley, who spoke of the work which the Institution had done since it came to birth in the Isle of Man. He then presented the Vellum to the Vicar- General, who received it on behalf of the Branch and presented it to the Mayor for safe keeping in the records of the town. After the ceremony those present went to St. George's Churchyard, where Sir William Priestley laid a wreath, in the form of an anchor, 5 feet high, in the colours of the Life-boat Service, on ! Sir William Hillary's tomb. When the I wreath had been laid, the Bishop pronounced the benediction.

Peel, Isle of Man.

The Station at Peel was founded in 1828, four years after the Douglas Station, and since 1885 it has a record of 92 lives rescued from shipwreck.

In 1889 the Coxswain and Crew were presented with Medals by the Norwegian Government for the rescue of 23 lives from a Norwegian ship.

The presentation of the Vellum took place on 8th August, in the grounds of Peel Castle, immediately after the ceremony at Douglas. Mr. E. H. Corkill, J.P., Chairman of the Town Commission, presided, and the presentation was made by Sir William Priestley. Among those present were Mr. Edward Cottier (Chairman of the Branch), Mr. George Sayle (Honorary Secretary of the Branch), and the District Organising Secretary. Sir William Priestley, who was introduced by the District Organising Secretary, paid a tribute to the Life-boatmen of Peel and to the Isle of Man, as the birthplace of the whole Life-boat Service. He then handed the Vellum to the Chairman of the Branch, who presented it to the Chairman of the Town Commissioners to be kept in the Peel Town Office.

Filey, Yorkshire.

The Filey Station was established in 1823, and has the fine record of 242 lives rescued from shipwreck. The great majority of its services have been to fishing boats. One Silver and two Bronze Medals have been awarded.

The presentation of the Vellum took place on llth August. Thousands of people lined the streets as the Life-boat was drawn through them, with its Crew on board, led by the Town Band. The actual ceremony took place on board the Life-boat at the coble-landing, near the Life-boat House. Girl Guides and Boy Scouts acted as a guard of honour, and between 5,000 and 6,000 people were present. Canon A. N. Cooper, Chairman of the Branch, presided, and the presentation was made by Sir William Priestley, J.P., Chairman of the Bradford and District Branch and a Vice-President of the Institution.

Among those present were Councillor Mortimer (Chairman of the Urban District Council1), supported by several members of the Council, Mr. Charles Burgess (Honorary Secretary of the Branch) and the District Inspector of Life-boats. Sir William Priestley spoke of the fine record of the Filey ew, and then of the part which was )layed by the people of inland places, n particular of the devoted work of vomen, in helping to maintain the Service. He then handed the Vellum o Mr. Burgess, the Honorary Secretary.

He in turn presented it to the Chairman of the Council, who said that it would be hung in their Council Chamber, an encouragement to all who saw it to be courageous and unselfish.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

The Aldeburgh Station was established in 1824, the first Life-boat being placed there by the Suffolk Shipwreck Association, and in 1905 a second Station was opened. Few Stations have such a fine record. Since 1853 the Aldeburgh Life-boats have rescued 413 lives. In this record the most conspicuous part has been played by the Cable family, which, for five generations, has served in the Life-boat; while two of its members have lost their own lives in attempting to rescue life from shipwreck.* Aldeburgh Life-boatmen and others have been awarded nine Silver Medals.

Of these Medals, three were won by Mr.

James Cable, who was Coxswain for thirty years, from 1888 to 1917. This splendid record of the Aldeburgh Lifeboats has not been achieved without loss of life. Twice the Life-boat has capsized on service. The first time was in 1859, when two of the Crew were drowned.

The second time was in 1899, when six men were drowned on service. On that occasion the Institution contributed £1,000 to the fund raised for the relief of the widows and children.

The Vellum was presented at the Moot Hall on llth August, Life-boat Day being held on the same day.

Captain C. U. V. Vernon-Wentworth, C.B., R.N., President of the Branch, was in the Chair, and the presentation was made by Mr. Gervais S. C. Rentoul, Member of Parliament for Lowestoft, and a Member of the Committee of Management. Among those present were the Mayor, Mr. Walter Riggs (Honorary Secretary of the Branch), Members of the Branch Committee, and the District Organising Secretary. Mr.

Rentoul said that he could pay no higher compliment to Aldeburgh than to say that its record was second to none, and he referred in particular to * A full account of the services of the family appeared in The Lifeboat for November, 1927.

the magnificent services of Coxswain James Cable, and his family, men whom one recognized as the finest type of Englishmen. The Mayor, in receiving the Vellum, spoke of the town's pride in its Life-boatmen and in their great achievements.

Skegness, Lincolnshire.

The Skegness Station was established in 1825, the year after the Institution itself was founded, and two years before the Lincolnshire Coast Shipwreck Association, which maintained the Stations on the Lincolnshire coast until 1864, when it was amalgamated with the Institution. Since 1850, the Skegness Life-boats have rescued ninetyfive lives, and four Silver Medals have been awarded. Three of these medals have been won by the Moody family, Coxswain Samuel Moody winning it in 1851 and again in 1854. In addition to these awards by the Institution, Coxswain Matthew Grimnill and Second Coxswain Montague Grunnill were presented with Silver Medals by the King of Norway for the rescue of the crew of a Norwegian brig in 1912.

The Vellum was presented on 13th August, the same day on which Life-boat Day was held, at the entrance to the pier in the presence of a large audience.

Mr. Frederick Acton, C.B.E., presided, the presentation was made by the Earl of Yarborough, and among those present were Councillor G. E. Holmes, J.P.

(Chairman of the Skegness Council), Councillor S. Moody (Chairman of the Branch), Mr. C. H. Major, and Dr. B.

Sweeten (Honorary Secretary of the Branch). Lord Yarborough gave the history of the Station, paid a warm tribute to the courage of its Crews, and appealed to the public to show their appreciation of what Skegness Lifeboatmen had done by contributing to the Institution. He then presented the Vellum to Councillor Holmes, as Chairman of the Council, and Councillor Moody as Chairman of the Branch. He also presented to Mr. Major the photograph of a Life-boat going out to a vessel in distress, which had been awarded to him for his services for many years on Life-boat Day. Councillor Holmes said that they had always considered their Crew second to none in the country, and that he hoped the town would never fai in its generous support of the Service Councillor Moody recalled the time when the population of Skegness was under 400, but in spite of that there was never any difficulty in getting a Crew the older boys being as anxious as their fathers to take their place in the Boat.

He recalled too, with pride, that for sixty-one years the Coxswainship was held by a member of his family.

Appledore, Devonshire.

Appledore is the oldest Station on the coast of North Devon, and was established in 1825, the same year in which the Plymouth Station was established on the South Devon coast. There were at one time three Stations at Appledore, but one was closed in 1897 and another in 1919. In 1922 the Station was provided with a Motor Lifeboat.

The early history of the Station is uncertain, but it is on record that in 1829 Silver Medals were awarded to three Appledore men for rescuing 11 passengers and the crew of the sloop Daniel.

Altogether the Institution has awarded 20 Silver Medals to Lifeboatmen and others for services in the rescue of life from shipwreck at Appledore, Bideford and Braunton. Of these, four were for the service to the Austrian barque Pace in 1869— one of the finest services in the history of the Station—when, after rescuing 9 of the Pace's crew, the Life-boat put out a second time, although she was damaged and rudderless, capsized, and righted, returning with her Crew safe but only three oars. Coxswain Joseph Cox, who, though injured, went out the second time, was awarded two bars to the Silver Medal which he already held, and his son was awarded the Silver Medal. Since 1850 the Appledore Lifeboats have rescued 211 lives.

The presentation of the Vellum was made on 29th August. On that day there was a special meeting at the Bideford Town Hall to celebrate the fact that the title of Port had been restored to Bideford. Immediately after that meeting the Mayor, together with the Aldermen and Councillors, went to the Quay, where the Appledore Motor Life-boat was lying. There he was received by Captain Prideaux-Bune, President of the Branch. Among those present were the Mayoress, Captain H. F. J. Rowley, C.B.E., R.N., Chief Inspector of Life-boats, Sir Basil Peto, Member of Parliament for Barnstaple, Lady Peto, Sir Reardon and Lady Smith, members of the Committee of the Branch, and Mr. H. C. Whitehead, the Honorary Secretary. The Vellum was presented by Captain Rowley, who, after giving the history of the Station, paid a tribute to the Coxswains of Appledore, who had carried on the fine tradition of the Cox family, spoke of the long and untiring services of the honorary officials, and referred to the loss which the Branch had sustained by the death, a few weeks before, of its President, the Rev. J. B. White, after thirty-one years' service for the Lifeboat cause. He then handed the Vellum to Captain Prideaux-Brune, who asked the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of Bideford to accept it and hang it in the Town Hall as the record of a hundred years of the gallantry of Appledore Crews. He paid a tribute to the work of the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Whitehead, and referred with pride to the fact that the Appledore Branch had the largest list of annual subscribers in Devonshire. The Mayor, in receiving the Vellum, said that it was an honour to be given the custody of this tribute to the men of Appledore. He was sure that the people of Bideford would not be behind in their support of the Lifeboat Service.

. Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire.

Lyme Regis is the oldest Station on the coast of Dorsetshire, the first Lifeboat being stationed there in 1825.

One Gold and six Silver Medals have been awarded. Since 1853 the Lyme Regis boats have rescued 35 lives. Altogether the Station has had six Lifeboats.

The present boat, presented by Mrs. J. Thynne, is named the Thomas Masterman Hardy, after her grandfather, ! Nelson's famous Flag Captain, whose monument on the hills above Wey- mouth can just be seen from Lyme Regis on a clear day.

The Vellum was presented on 30th August on board the Life-boat in the presence of a large audience. Among those present were the Mayor and Mayoress, Colonel the Master of Sempill, a member of the Committee of Management, Dr. H. J. Cooper (Chairman of the Branch), Colonel B. M. Hynes (Honorary Secretary of the Branch), and members of the Town Council. In making the presentation the Master of Sempill paid a tribute to the Life-boat men and thanked all in Lyme Regis who had given their help to the Branch. The Mayor in receiving the Vellum said that it would be hung in the Town Hall, and that the town warmly appreciated this record of its long association with the Life-boat Service.

Scarborough, Yorkshire.

The Station at Scarborough is the oldest of all the Institution's Stations, for it had its first Life-boat in 1801, just a year before the neighbouring Station at Redcar. Twelve Silver Medals have been awarded to Life-boatmen and others for their services, and since 1861, when the Station was taken over by the Institution, its Life-boats have rescued 359 lives. Of the nine Life-boats which Scarborough has had, three, all named Queensbury, were presented and endowed by Colonel Herbert Foster, of Queensbury Works, Bradford, and by members of his family. These three boats served at Scarborough from 1887 to 1918, and rescued 151 lives. The Station has had a Motor Life-boat since 1923. The fine record of the Scarborough Life-boats has not been achieved without loss of life. The Lifeboat sent by the Institution in 1861 met with disaster on her first service, being flung against the sea-wall, her oars swept away and several of her Crew washed out of her. Two of them were drowned, as were three men out of a number who had rushed down the beach to their help. Six Silver Medals were awarded to the rescuers for their gallantry. The name which is most prominent in the history of the Station is that of John Owston, who retired in 1912 after having been Coxswain for 41 years. He won the Silver Medal in 1880 when, in a little over 24 hours, the Life-boat was launched five times to vessels in distress and rescued every life 011 board them—28 in all. When John Owston retired he was succeeded as Coxswain by his son, who still holds that post.

The presentation of the Vellum took place on 31st August in the Town Hall.

The Deputy Mayor (Alderman Bielby) presided, in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, and the presentation was made by Sir Charles H. Wilson, LL.D., Member of Parliament for Leeds and Chairman of the Leeds Branch of the Institution. Among those present were the Mayoress, Lady Wilson, Alderman T. Whitehead (Chairman of the Harbour Commissioners), Mr. F. P. Morgan, F.A.A. (Honorary Secretary of the Branch), and the District Organising Secretary. Sir Charles Wilson, who was introduced by the District Organising Secretary, gave the history of the Station and paid a tribute both to the Crew and to the Branch Committee and the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. He then presented the Vellum to Mr.

Morgan, who spoke of Scarborough's pride in having the oldest Station on the Yorkshire coast. He pointed out that it cost £600 a year to maintain, and appealed for more subscribers.

The Deputy Mayor, in receiving the Vellum from Mr. Morgan, said it would be given a prominent place in the Town Hall. The whole town was proud of the Institution and proud of the Life-boat men.

Barmouth, Merionethshire.

The Barmouth Station was established in 1828, and since 1854 the Barmouth Life-boats have rescued 121 lives from shipwreck.

On September llth the centenary was celebrated at a meeting and concert at the Pavilion in the presence of a large audience. An address was given by Mr. T. W. Piggott, J.P., D.L. (Chairman of the Branch), who said that they were proud to have one of the oldest Life-boat Stations on the Welsh coast, and paid a high tribute to the Barmouth Life-boat men of the past and present.

He then presented the Vellum to Dr.

J. Pugh Jones, J.P. (Chairman of the Urban District Council), who said that it would be kept as one of the town's most valued possessions. Among those present at the meeting were Mr. Ehys Jones, J.P., Mr. R. Llewelyn Owen (Deputy Clerk to the Council), and Mr. Rees Jones (Honorary Secretary of the Branch).

Bridlington, Yorkshire.

The Bridlington Station was established by the Institution in the year in which it was itself founded, 1824, and four years later, when its Life-boat rescued three of the crew of the Fox, of Montrose, the Coxswain was awarded the Institution's Silver Medal. Nine other Silver Medals have been awarded.

The Bridlington Life-boats have rescued 142 lives.

The Vellum was presented in the Grand Pavilion on 27th September. In the chair was the Mayor (Alderman C. H. Gray), who is joint Honorary Secretary of the Branch, has taken in recent years a very active and prominent part in the work of the Station and has on several occasions been specially thanked by the Institution for his courage and resolution in the launching of the Life-boat. The presentation was made by Sir William Priestley, J.P., Chairman of the Bradford Branch, and a Vice-President of the Institution.

Among those present were the Mayoress, Lady Macdonald of the Isles, Mr. Y. G.

Lloyd-Greame, J.P. (President of the Branch), Alderman T. D. Fenby, a Member of Parliament for Bradford, Mrs. A. E. Gray (Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild), Mr. H.

Royal-Dawson (Joint Honorary Secretary of the Branch) and the District Inspector of Life-boats. The District Inspector, in introducing Sir William Priestley, spoke of the great services of Yorkshire to the Life-boat cause and paid a tribute to the Bridlington Crew, the officials of the Branch and its very active Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Sir William Priestley, in presenting the Vellum, congratulated Bridlington on its fine record and spoke of the duty of the inland industrial towns to support the Service. Mr. Lloyd-Greame received the Vellum and spoke of the universal good feeling which there was among men who risked their lives for one another. The Mayor, in thanking Sir William Priestley, said that Bridlington was very proud of its Life-boat Crew, and described, from his own experience, what it felt like to turn out to the rescue in a blinding snow-storm in the middle of the night, when to get the Life-boat afloat was a long and exhausting struggle.

Plymouth, Devonshire.

In 1824, the year of its own foundation, the Institution placed at Plymouth one of Captain Manby's Mortar Apparatus for firing lines to ships in distress, and the following year it stationed a Life-boat there. Altogether Plymouth has had seven Life-boats, and since 1862 134 lives have been rescued. In 1926, a Motor Life-boat of the Barnett Twin Screw type, was stationed there. Twelve Silver Medals have been awarded.

The presentation of the Vellum took place on 24th October, in the Public Library. Admiral John de M.

Hutchison (Chairman of the Branch) presided, and among those present were Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt. (Chairman of the Committee of Management), the Mayor of Plymouth (Mr. W. H. J.

Priest), Alderman R. R. Oke (Chairman of the Public Libraries and Art Gallery Committee), Sir Frederick Winnicott and Mr. George Scantlebury (Honorary Secretary of the Branch). Sir Godfrey Baring, in presenting the Vellum, gave the history of the Station and said that, in the new Motor Lifeboat, the Institution had given that historic port, with its long record of service to the shipwrecked, the finest and most powerful type of Life-boat which had yet been devised. The Mayor, in receiving the Vellum, expressed the admiration which Plymouth felt for the Institution, and appealed to the people to show it by their contributions.

The upkeep of the Station cost the Institution £1,000 a year. He thanked all who helped the Branch by personal service or by contributing, but regretted that the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was not more active, pointing out that the Guild at Exeter had raised £500 and was aiming at £1,000. Alderman Oke then received the Vellum to hang in the Public Library. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Mayor presented a Certificate which had been won in the Life-boat Essay Competition by a Plymouth boy, Simeon Ridley, of the Glanville Street Central School.

Blyth, Northumberland.

The ceremony at Blyth took place on 22nd November. An account of it will be given in the next issue of The Life-boat..