Inaugural Ceremony of " Robert Patton—The Always Ready." H.R.H. The Princess Royal named the new motor life-boat at Runswick Bay, Yorkshire, on 20th September, in the presence of over 5,000 people from all parts of Yorkshire.

The new boat has been built out of a legacy from the late Mrs. E. Boldren Brown, of Scarborough, and the name intended for her was The Always Ready, but the name has been changed to Robert Patton—The Always Ready.

in honour of the late coxswain, Robert Patton, who died of injuries received in rescuing a lame man when the row life-boat went out to the help of the steamer Disperser, of West Hartlepool.

which was sinking in a gale on February 8th last.1 Robert Patten's Gold Medal.

For his gallantry and self-sacrifice he was awarded the Institution's gold medal, the highest award which it can make, and this medal was presented to his widow by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., President of the Institu- tion, at the annual meeting held in London on 20th April last. At the ceremony at Runswick the Princess Royal presented to Mrs. Patton the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum which accompanies the medal, and a memorial certificate awarded to her by the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust.

The new boat is one of the light Liver- pool type of motor life-boat, 35 feet 6 inches by 10 feet, designed for stations where the life-boat has to be launched off a carriage or the open beach. On service, with crew and gear on board, she weighs 7 tons. She is divided into six water-tight compartments, and is fitted with 115 air-cases. If a sea breaks on board she can free herself in twelve seconds. She has one screw, driven by a 35 h.p. engine in a water- tight compartment. The engine itself is water-tight, so that it could continue running even if the engine-room were flooded. Her speed is 7£ knots, and she carries'enough petrol to be able to travel 97 miles at full speed, without refuelling. She carries a crew of seven, 1 See The Life-boat tor June, 1934.

and can take thirty people on board in rough weather.

Runswick has had a life-boat station since 1866 ; its life-boats have rescued 199 lives ; and Runswick life-boatmen have won one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals for gallantry.

The Hon. Geoffrey Howard, Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire, presided. Sir Godfrey Bar- ing, Bt., chairman of the Institution, presented the life-boat to the Runswick and Staithes branch. The Rev. Frank Read, Hon. C.F., C.C., J.P., rector of Easington, received her, and the life- boat was dedicated by the Bishop of Whitby (the Right Rev. H. St. J. S.

Woollcombe, D.D.), assisted by the Rev. Joseph Toyn, Methodist minister of the Staithes Circuit.

Among those who took part in the ceremony were the Marquess of Nor- manby, president of the branch ; the Marchioness of Normanby, vice-presi- dent ; Captain Stainthorpe, chairman of the Whitby Rural District Council ; ex-Provost James Norval, chairman of the Carnegie Hero Trust Fund ; Lieut.- Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution ; Com- mander E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., chief inspector of life-boats, Mr. W. James, secretary of the station, and Commander L. G. D. Way, R.N., divisional coastguard officer.

Three Motor Life-boats Present.

The motor life-boats from Whitby, Teesmouth, and Redcar were present, and in the audience were representa- tives from nineteen other Yorkshire life-boat stations and branches. The singing was led by the Hinderwell and District Prize Choir, accompanied by the Port Mulgrave Silver Band. A bouquet was presented to the Princess Royal by Mrs. Patton's daughter.

Besides the programmes, there was on sale a ballad called " Bob Patton of Runswick Bay " describing the service to the Disperser and Coxswain Patton's gallantry. It had been written by the Rev. Joseph Toyn, who not only dedicated it to the Institution but generously had it printed for sale on behalf of the Institution. A birthday cake had also been made, the gift of Mr. Timothy Patton, which was on view by the boat-house, and after the ceremony, was cut up and sold. The ladies of Runswick and Staithes under- took the sale of the programmes and afterwards provided tea for the guests and the crew. By the sale of the programmes and cake £50 was made.

The Hon. Geoffrey Howard, in opening the proceedings, welcomed the Princess Royal. He spoke of the pride of Yorkshire in the splendid gallantry of Coxswain Robert Patton, and their pride also in seeing his name on the new life-boat, and so still associated with the work in which so much of his life had been spent.

After the singing of " O God our help in ages past," Commander Drury, chief inspector of life-boats, described the life-boat, and Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., presented her to the Runswick station.

He spoke of the fine life-boat record of the station, and said that in providing Runswick with the best life-boat that could be designed and built he felt that the Institution was giving the station a life-boat worthy of the crew.

The Rev. Frank Read, in receiving the life-boat, said that in the record of Coxswain Robert Patton the Runswick crew had an example which would always inspire them.

The Bishop of Whitby then dedi- cated the life-boat " to the honour and glory of Almighty God, and for the noble purpose of rescuing those in peril on the sea." The dedication was followed by a prayer which the bishop had specially written in remembrance of Robert Patton: " Let us remember before God, Robert Patton: a gallant sailor and member of the life-boat crew who gave his life to save another. O God of the spirits of all flesh, we praise and magnify Thy Holy Name, for the life and service of Robert Patton and for his example of self sacrifice. We beseech Thee that, encouraged by his example, we may be ready to forget self in the service of others. Grant him Thy peace and Thy great reward through Jesus Christ our Lord." There followed a prayer by the Rev.

Joseph Toyn, and after the benediction by the bishop "Eternal Father, strong to save " was sung.

H.R.H. The Princess Royal. , H.R.H. the Princess Royal broke a bottle of wine over the bows of the life-boat and said : " I name this life-boat Robert Patton —The Always Ready, and I wish her all success in all calls that are made upon her." The Princess Royal then presented to Mrs. Robert Patton the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum awarded with the gold medal to her husband, and the memorial certificate of the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust. She also presented to Mr. W. James, secre- tary of the station, the inscribed barometer awarded to him by the Institution.

A vote of thanks to the Princess Royal was proposed by the Marquess of Normanby and seconded by Lieut.- Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, secretary of the Institution.

A rocket was fired, the life-boat was launched, and, after the singing of the national anthem, cruised in the bay with the three other motor life- boats..