Presentation of Prizes in the London District.

AT the Caxton Hall, Westminster, on the llth March, the Mayor of Westminster (Major V. B. Rogers, D.S.O., M.C.) presided at the Presentation of the Prizes won in the Life-boat Essay Competition in London (consisting of Schools in the London County Council area) in 1928.

The presentations were made by Coxswain John T. Swan, of Lowestoft, Gold and Silver Medallist of the Institution.

Supporting the Mayor were the Mayoress of Westminster, the Viscountess Bertie of Thame (Chairman of the Central London Women's Committee of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild), the Lady Florence Pery (Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild), the Mayor of St. Pancras, the Hon. George Colville (Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Institution), Vice-Admiral G. R. Mansell, C.B.E., M.V.O., Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir R. B. Dixon, K.C.B., and Mr. H. A.

Baker (Members of the Committee of Management), Mr. George F. Shee, M.A.

(Secretary of the Institution), and Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., Deputy Secretary.

During the meeting Mr. Frederick Woodhouse sang five sea songs, all of which were enthusiastically received by the audience.

The Mayor of Westminster In opening the proceedings the Mayor of Westminster gave some particulars of the competition and then went on to say : " Boys and girls, I am not going to give you a long dissertation on education, and I am sure you would not wish me to do that. But even the youngest of you will also agree that the main object of education is to assist British boys and girls to become useful citizens. We also know that among the qualities which we all value most in our fellow men and women are courage, physical and moral, strength of character, ability to face difficulties and dangers and even unpopularity, truthfulness and loyalty to one another, and finally, humanity. In these days there is so much false sentimentalism that I do not wish to be misunderstood in using the word humanity.

It is not a hysterical readiness to weep at misfortune, or a false sense of pity which is prepared to demand that even the worst criminal should be relieved of the responsibility of his crimes. The humanity which we wish to see developed springs from the broad sense of brotherhood among men and the readiness to recognise that brotherhood by active helpfulness, even at the risk of inconvenience and personal self-sacrifice. I need not remind you that the Life-boat Crews, who voluntarily man the Life-boats round our 5,000 miles of coasts, are constantly giving an example of the qualities which I have described. Courage is the first essential of their equipment, and it is courage of the highest order. Endurance is also called for as an indispensable condition of being able to last out in the terrific strain imposed upon them by the fury of the gales, the terrible onslaught of the sea, the bitter cold, the exposure lasting perhaps twelve, fourteen or twenty-four hours.

Nor will any Crew achieve the best that is in them unless there is a complete sense of truth and loyalty between its members ; loyalty also to the command of the Coxswain. But the springs which set in motion these qualities are to be found in the deep humanity which inspires the fishermen of all our coasts, the men from whom the Life-boat crews are formed.

(Cheers.) " I pass on to welcome Coxswain John Swan, of Lowestoft (cheers), a man who fitly embodies all the qualities of the Life-boatman which I have done my best to describe to you.

I think the Committee of Management have been very wise in asking Mr. Swan to come here to-day to present the Challenge Shield and the Certificates, for he holds not only the Institution's Silver Medal, but its Gold Medal, the highest award which it is in the power of the Institution to bestow. What better thing could you have than that, for it is the Victoria Cross of the Life-boat Service ? " (Applause.) The Mayor then congratulated Ethel Gill, winner of the Challenge Shield, and the other prize winners.

Coxswain Swan After presenting the prizes, Coxswain Swan said : " I am not used to speaking before an audience, though I can shout out to the men in the Life-boat at any hour in the morning. But I'll see what I can do.

" It has been a very great pleasure to me to present these prizes—I'm sure its a great honour—and to see so many boys and girls interested in the Life-boat Service.

" You have all been writing about what a Life-boatman ought to be. I don't think it will be very easy for us to live up to the character that you think we ought to have (laughter), but we try our best. Boys and girls all like a good sportsman. Well, if you are a good Life-boatman, you are a good sportsman.

We have to fight hard, and go on fighting, and never let ourselves be beaten, because we are fighting for the lives of men and women, and .-sometimes children too. I am sure that you would all like to be Life-boatmen, the girls as well as the boys (laughter). On some parts of the coast the women and girls do splendid work helping to launch the Life-boat.

When I was a boy on Lowestoft beach I have seen hundreds of boys and girls and women up to their waists in water getting the Life-boat away.

" I hope that when your summer holiday comes, if you go to the sea-side, you will be sure to find out if there is a Life-boat there, and go and see it. It's a wonderful boat.

And when you get older, don't forget to help the Life-boat Service.

"That is all I have to say, except to wish you all good luck." (Loud applause.) Mr. Frederick Woodhouse then sang " Home, Dearie, Home," " Married to a Mermaid," " The Golden Vanitee," " Yarmouth Town," and " Fire Down Below," the audience joining in the chorus of the second and last songs.

The Mayor of St. Pancras proposed and Mr.

Colville seconded a Vote of Thanks to the Mayor of Westminster and Coxswain Swan, and after the Mayor of Westminster had replied, Mr. Woodhouse led the singing of the National Anthem. A small Life-boat gift was handed to each boy and girl as they left the hall..