Coxswain William Robinson, of Newbiggin, Northumberland, suddenly collapsed and died on 31st December last, just after he had handed over the Lifeboat to his successor. He had been Coxswain for fourteen years, and previous to that had served for fifteen years as Second Coxswain. During his fourteen years as Coxswain he had taken part in the rescue of seventy lives.

He held the Institution's bronze Medal for gallantry, awarded him for a service in 1926 when the Newbiggin Life-boat rescued the crew of nine of the North Shields trawler, George R. Purdy. It was a service in which Coxswain Robinson showed great skill and seamanship, and a perfect knowledge of the rocks and currents. The trawler had run on the rocks ; there was a dense fog ; the surf was very heavy, breaking right over the trawler ; the tide was falling and the Life-boat had to be taken through the rocks and along a very narrow channel in order to get under the lee of the wreck. Through all these dangers Coxswain Robinson safely took the Life-boat, and without loss or damage rescued the whole crew of the trawler..