The Annual Report of the Institution for 1929 will be issued shortly after the Annual Meeting of the Governors on 11th April, and we publish the following article in the hope that many of those who have in the past considered the Annual Report as a dry official record, of value only for statistical reference, will study it in the future with an entirely different interest. As the 1929 report is not yet issued, references in the article are to the Report for 1928.] EDITOR The Lifeboat.

The perusal of a volume of 370 pages entitled " Annual Report . . .

with the lists of the Committee of Management, Officers and contributors " would not seem to offer much prospect of a very rollicking half-an-hour. As a matter of fact, it is an extraordinarily interesting and instructive book, con- taining exploits as " saucy " as any of those associated with the Arethusa, and in many ways reminiscent of the tales of adventure of bygone days, which also were financed by people with a definite interest in the outcome of each adventure. A stranger to our country, and even many of our own countrymen, would find it a true mirror of the spirit and the heart of the Nation.

At the outset one experiences some- thing of that feeling of awe and respeot which comes when entering historical places, or when standing on the draw- bridge of the Tower of London for, after the Report on " the hundred and fifth year of its work " we read that the earliest Patrons of the Institution were first King George IV. and then King William IV.

The Report itself is an official account of stewardship for the previous year, the details of which will be known by readers of this Journal, but the pages which immediately follow contain a very full Statement of Accounts, details of the Fleet, its distribution round our coasts, and its work during the preceding twelve months.

Summer and Winter: A Contrast First comes a list, with details con- cerning each Boat and Station. Here is one of them : New Brighton No. 2 ; Established 1864 : 60 feet in length ; 15 feet in breadth ; Motor (Barnett Type) ; Built 1923 ; Name, William and Kate John- ston. Just a line of cold print, but on page 86 this same Boat has, at a signal, become almost a live thing in the hands of her crew, and is dashing her way through " a heavy W.N.W. gale, with a very heavy sea, continuous blinding rain squalls, and gusts of wind at nearly a hundred miles an hour." That is the weather for which these Boats are designed. We who see the coast in the summer have no idea what it means to take a small boat out to sea under con- ditions such as those quoted, and in this respect the Report provides a striking contrast between conditions as we summer-holiday sailors are intended to know them and. as the Life-boatman knows them. To take first the conditions as we are intended to know them, here is what an illustrated hand-book says of a certain northern seaside resort: " the coast line ... is practically one sweep of rugged grandeur . . . where the fresh breezes blow from the great North Sea. . . . The bathing is superb owing to the smooth sands on which there is no danger for anyone. The boating is also perfectly safe." Now, the same place for the Life- boatman : " The Life-boat was launched during a strong S. by E. gale with a heavy sea and snow showers.

. . . When the Life-boat was launched a very heavy sea was running and the waves swept over the launching tractor, temporarily stopping the engine. . . .

The Committee of Management, in view of the arduous nature of the service, granted additional rewards to the crew and helpers." And again : " The Life- boat was put out as twelve fishing vessels had been overtaken by a sudden S. gale which at times reached amost hurricane force, causing the heavy seas to wash over the pier and harbour entrance." Contrasts of this kind could be quoted from all parts of the coast, but that one will suffice to remind us that " strong gales " and " very heavy seas " are exactly the reasons for the existence of this fleet. At the same time, it is impossible to read the exploits of the boats and crews without feelings of astonishment and admiration as we go through page after page of " rewards for rescuing life from shipwreck." Some of them are amazing in their almost jaunty gamble with Fate in order to save life. Look at the case of the New Brighton boat already referred to, when, in the face of the most appalling condi- tions, and with the Life-boat damaged when getting alongside the wreck, twenty-four lives were saved, this great feat being recognized by the award of the Silver Medal to the Coxswain and Bronze Medals to the Crew.

A Nasty Sea Here is another one, the Campbel- town Boat this time, and the Official Report says : " The night was dark with heavy rain, a rough sea and a strong S.W. wind, but in spite of this and the fact that no lights could be burnt (owing to the gas fumes which were escaping from the cargo of ben- zine) the wreck was located and the men taken ofE." In another case there was " a dense fog and a nasty S.E.

sea." That is the word for this work : " a nasty sea ! " Another report speaks of " thick weather." The combina- tion " thick weather " and " a nasty sea " is surely sufficiently expressive to convey to the imagination a sense of what these men voluntarily face.

Here are a few sentences taken at random : " There was a heavy sea running, and communication was established by means of the Line-throwing Gun, the remaining six survivors being hauled through the surf into the Life-boat." " During a strong N.E. gale with a heavy sea . . . The Life-boat went out to meet her (a fishing vessel trying to make harbour). Life-belts were handed to the crew and a small boy was taken into the Life-boat at the request of the skipper." One can then picture the two boats separating, and faintly imagine the grim struggle which fol- lowed.

Here is a whole volume in one sen- tence : the Newbiggin Life-boat " res- cued the crew of four, consisting of a father and three sons." Think about it.

We have often heard the expression " there are worse troubles at sea," and here is an instance. A motor fishing boat signalled for help. Her engine had broken down, her sail had split and her anchor had been lost.

To finish with a Christmas story '.

On 25th December " the Life-boat Crew and most of the inhabitants had gone to a Christmas concert in a neighbouring village. They were at once called out " and proceeded to rescue the crew of three of the ketch ." Repeated Courage The number of times we see the name of particular Stations repeated through- out these pages emphasizes the fact that the boats and crews do not simply rise to an occasion here and there, but that the need for them is constantly coming.

For instance, we read that at Padstow on two occasions during the year " such skill and gallantry were shown in cir- cumstances of great danger that the Institution awarded its Bronze Medal in each case." In the same way, at another Station extra monetary awards were voted to the Coxswain and the Motor Mechanic " in recognition of their very plucky conduct in going out on service four times, although injured on the first service." Other items, significant in spite of their official wording, catch the eye in these pages. For instance, the Com- mittee at one meeting " voted £542 13s. 6d. to pay the expenses of the i following Life-boat launches, assem- blies of Crews, etc., with a view to assisting persons on vessels in distress." And at another : " granted £84 13s.

8d. to persons injured in the Life-boat Service " at a number of places.

The Women of the Service There are cases where members of the Crew, although ill in bed, insisted on getting up and taking their places in the Life-boat, and from another report comes a sentence which will thrill -all the members of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild: " The women of Boulmer again rendered valuable help in launch- ing the boat, many of them wading into the sea." A fitting end to this section will be a reference to a small paragraph which announces that the name of the late William Roberts, who died while on service in the Moelfre Life-boat, is to be inscribed on the Roll of Heroes of the Carnegie Heio ]?Ymd.

Then follow several pages containing the names of those who have been awarded medals for conspicuous bravery, every one of which represents a mighty deed performed " out there " in " thick weather and a nasty sea." There are pictures illustrating a Life-boat Station, and diagrams of Life-boats of all types, each one of which represents years of study and experiment in producing the best pos- sible boats to meet the conditions already described.

So much for the spirit of the Nation as shown by men and women all round these Islands, who regard the fighting of gales and heavy seas as part of their everyday life, when lives are in peril at sea.

And now for the heart of the Nation, as shown by people in every walk of life, who cheerfully finance these adventures year by year. From a national point of view this part of the Report is well worth a fairly close analysis, for it is surely the finest index to the character of our people.

The first thing that strikes one on looking at the 240 pages of contribu- tions is the wonderful network of Branches and Ladies' Life-boat Guilds which covers every county ; the thou- sands of honorary officials, members of Committees, members of the Guild, honorary helpers and collectors, all imbued with the same spirit as that which animates the Life-boatmen— the saving of life from shipwreck—and enthusiastically devoting their time and energies to raising the money so that it shall be done as efficiently as possible.

Where does the Money Come From ? Then comes the thought " Who gives all this money ? " and it is in tracing back each penny to its pocket and handbag, as it were, that we realize how national is the Life-boat Service. The diversity of pockets from which the funds come is indeed astonish- ing. In the list of subscriptions and collections we see all ranks, classes and professions. The universal response to the appeal is seen on every page. A collection in Chorleywood Parish Church is followed by Gillingham Baptist Tabernacle and Westminster Abbey; there is a contribution from the Royal Yacht Squadron following closely on one from the Paddington Borough Council Scavenging Department Em- ployees. Ivydale Road L.C.C. School is very little behind Rugby School, while the North China Command at Tientsin is immediately followed in the list 1 y the North London Drapery Stores. New Scotland Yard joins with the convicts of Camp Hill prison in contributing to help those who face the " thick weather and nasty seas," while the Hotel Cecil stands side by side with the Angel Inn, Tooting, in the same cause. There is the North Walsham Mothers' Meeting and the Lord Mayor of London and Sheriffs' Committee; the Manchester Baths and Wash-houses and the Foreign Office ; the Swanley Junction Working Men's Club and the Richmond Golf Club ; Magdalen Col- lege, Oxford and the Forster Infants' School; the Connell (Argyll) Band of Hope and the " Rose and Crown " at Birmingham. The list could be con- siderably extended, but the point has been made.

It is quite impossible to make a com- plete categorical summary of contri- butors, but the following will be seen at glancing through the lists : Warships and units of the Royal Navy, the Army, Royal Air Force, Civil Service, the Police and County Constabulary, Fire Brigades, Municipal Departments and Borough Councils, Staffs and Depart- ments of Banks, Offices, Works, Shops, Hotels, Railways, Tramways, 'Buses, etc., Scouts and Guides, Women's Insti- tutes and Mothers' Meetings, Universi- ties, Schools (Day and Sunday), Pas- sengers and Crews of Ships, Theatres, Cinemas, Churches and Chapels of all denominations, Societies and Clubs (Social, Rotary, Yacht, Literary, Dra- matic, Sport, Shooting, Swimming, Angling, Tennis, Bowls, etc.), Masonic Lodges from all over the world, For- esters, Oddfellows, Orphanages, Bible Classes, Benevolent Societies, Co-op- erative Societies. Even the three Divisions of the Football League are represented by Leicester City, Preston North End and Fulham.

That the Life-boat Service makes a special appeal to those who wish to make contributions " in memoriam " is shown not only by the number of special gifts and donations from Trustees and Executors, but by the number of anonymous contributions for that pur- pose.

£43,000 from Life-boat Days Almost every known method of collecting money is employed by the hosts of voluntary workers, but easily the most successful is the Life-boat Day Street Collection. In 1928 such Col- lections were held in nearly 800 places, and in this way £43,000 was raised. It is very doubtful whether this money could have been obtained in any other way, and, although this form of collec- tion is becoming increasingly difficult, those who have organized and helped in these appeals will surely be encouraged by this huge total to continue their efforts, and to determine more than ever to overcome the difficulties and to insist upon the much-maligned " Flag Day " as the only means of reaching those " smaller" contributors who in that one year gave between them over £40,000 towards the rescue of the shipwrecked.

Amongst the other forms of raising funds were over 100 Dances, nearly 100 Whist Drives and about seventy Con- certs. Collections were made in about 170 Churches and Chapels and 150 Theatres and Cinemas. Many House- to-House Collections were held, as well as Bridge Drives, Socials, Sales of Work, Bazaars, Carnivals, Jumble Sales, Garden Parties and Fetes, Theatricals, At- homes, Carol Singing, Sales of Photo- graphy and Sketches, Collections by Boxes and Cards, Dancing Displays, Band Concerts, Processions, Sale of Souvenirs, etc., etc.

One is left with a feeling that the Report is a remarkable justification of the voluntary principle under which the Institution has been maintained and administered since its foundation, and a complete answer to the few who ask why the Service is not run by the State.

For clearly, the people have made the Life-boat Service their own.

W. P..