ENGLAND.

ELEVEN naming ceremonies of motor life-boats were held during 1939, seven in England, three in Scotland and one in Wales. Three other ceremonies, one in England, and two in Ireland, were cancelled owing to the outbreak of war.

New Brighton, Cheshire.

A second motor life-boat was stationed at New Brighton in 1938. The station has a 60-feet Barnett cabin motor life-boat, the first of the type to be built since 1923. The second motor life-boat has taken the place of a pulling and sailing life-boat. The new boat is of the Watson type, 41 feet by 11 feet 8 inches. On service, with crew and gear on board, she weighs just over 15 tons. She is divided into eight water-tight compartments and is fitted with 156 air-cases. She has twin screws, driven by two 35 h.p. petrol engines. The engine-room is a watertight compartment, and each engine is itself water-tight, so that it could continue running even if the engineroom were flooded. Her speed is just under 8 knots, and she carries enough petrol to be able to travel 114 miles, at full speed, without refuelling. She carries a crew of eight, and in rough weather can take fifty people on board.

She has two cock-pits, a line-throwing gun and an electric searchlight, and is lighted by electricity.

She has cost about £7,000 and has been built out of a gift from Mrs. Mary Robinson of Liverpool.

The naming ceremony took place on 4th February, 1939, in the South West Princes Dock, at Liverpool, with the very kind help of the Mersey Docks' and Harbour Board Coast Lines Ltd.

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool (Sir Sydney Jones), presided.

Mrs. Robinson, although eightynine years old and in very delicate health, herself presented the life-boat to the Institution. In doing so she said: "The knowledge that I have done something to save a life—perhaps a soul—has filled me with a joy, present and abiding, which is to me without a parallel." The boat was accepted by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, who very warmly thanked Mrs. Robinson for her magnificent gift.

He then formally handed the boat to the station on whose behalf she was received by Mr. W. W. Harris, J.P., its vice-chairman and honorary secretary.

The Rev. W. S. Coad, M.A., vicar of New Brighton, dedicated the life-boat.

A vote of thanks to Mrs. Robinson, the Lord Mayor and Sir Godfrey Baring was proposed by Col. J. G- B. Beazley, M.C., T.D., J.P., deputy-chairman of the Port of Liverpool branch, and seconded by Mr. Stuart Deacon, J.P., chairman of the committee of the New Brighton station.

Mrs. Robinson then named the lifeboat Edmund and Mary Robinson after her late husband and herself.

During the ceremony the Lord Mayor presented the silver and bronze medals and the Institution's thanks inscribed on vellum awarded by the Institution to the coxswain and crew for the rescue in the great gale of 23rd November, 1938, of the crew of the fishing boat Progress, of Hoylake and the schooner Loch Ranza Castle of Annalong.

Nine months later, on 31st October, Mrs. Robinson died. Her funeral was attended by Mr. W. W. Harris, vicechairman and honorary secretary of the station, the coxswain, and four members of the crew who acted as bearers of the coffin.

Selsey, Sussex.

The motor life-boat, a gift from the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, which was stationed at Selsey in 1928.

was destroyed in a fire at the builders' yard at Cowes in 1937, while being overhauled.

Another boat, to take her place, was sent to the station in 1938.

She is of the same type, the Watson cabin, 46 feet by 12 feet 9 inches. On service, with crew and gear on board, she weighs 20 tons. She is divided into nine water-tight compartments, and is fitted with 158 air-cases. She has twin screws, and is driven by two 40 h.p.

Diesel engines. The engine-room is a water-tight compartment, and eachengine is itself water-tight, so that it could continue running even if the engine-room were flooded. Her speed is 8 knots, and she carries enough fuel to be able to travel 212 miles, at full speed, without refuelling. She carries a crew of eight, and in rough weather can take ninety-five people on board.

She has a line-throwing gun and an electric searchlight, and is lighted throughout by electricity. She has cost about £9,000.

The new boat was named by the Duchess of Norfolk on 30th May,"l939.

Mr. E. G. Arnell, J.P., chairman of the Chichester Rural District Council, and chairman of the Selsey branch, presided.

Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, presented the life-boat to the branch on behalf of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company and the Institution, and she was received by Dr. A. Humphrys, a member of the Selsey committee.

The Bishop of Chichester (the Right Rev. Dr. G. K. A. Bell, D.D.) conducted a service of dedication at which the singing was led by the choir of St.

Peter's, Selsey. A vote of thanks to the Duchess of Norfolk was proposed by the Lord Leconfield, G.C.V.O., Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, and seconded bv Major J. S. Courtauld, M.C., M.P', president of the branch.

The platform party then went to the boat-house, which is built over the sea, at the end of a long gangway. Here the ceremony was concluded, being relayed by loud-speakers to the audience on the shore. The Bishop of Chichester blessed the life-boat and the Duchess of Norfolk named her Canadian Pacific. The life-boat was then launched.

Poole, Dorset.

The pulling and sailing life-boat at Poole was replaced in 1939 by a motor life-boat of the new surf type.

She is 32 feet by 9 feet 3 inches, and on service, with crew and gear on board, she weighs 4J tons. She is divided into three water-tight compartments and has 83 air-cases. If a sea breaks on board she can free hei-self in six seonds.

She has two 12 h.p. engines in a watertight engine-room driving Hotchkiss internal cone propellers, and they give her a speed of 6| knots.

She can travel 44 miles at full speed without refuelling. She carries a crew of seven and can take 15 people on board in rough weather.

She has cost about £3,000 and has been built out of a legacy from the late Mr. T. H. Kirk Wright, of Bournemouth.

Mr. Wright left nearly £50,000 to the general funds of the Institution, but as it was discovered after his death that he had wished to present a motor life-boat for Poole, part of his legacy has been used for this purpose and the boat has been named after him.

The naming ceremony took place on 7th June, 1939, with'the Mayor of Poole presiding. Several members of Mr. Kirk Wright's family were present.

Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution, presented the life-boat to Poole on behalf of the donor and the Institution, and she was received by Alderman F. Bacon, J.P., chairman of the branch.

The Bishop of Salisbury (the Right Rev. Dr. E. Neville Lovett, C.B.E., D.D.) dedicated the life-boat, the singing at this service being accompanied by the band of Dr. Barnardo's Boys.

Miss K. J. Johnston, a niece of the donor, then named the life-boat Thomas Kirk Wright.

A vote of thanks to Miss Johnston was proposed by Lieut.-Col. V. D.

Stenhouse, honorary secretary of Bournemouth, and seconded by Miss E. M. Lees, honorary organising secretary of Poole.

Newbiggin, Northumberland.

The pulling and sailing life-boat at Newbiggin was replaced in 1938 by a motor life-boat of the 32-feet surf type, driven by Hotchkiss internal cone propellers, as described in the account of the naming ceremony at Poole.

The new boat has cost about £3,000 and has been built out of a legacy from the late Miss E, A. Northey, of London.

The naming ceremony took place on 24th June, 1989, with Mr. Adam Storey, chairman of the Newbiggin branch, presiding. Lieut.-Col. C. R.

Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution, presented the life-boat to the branch on behalf of the donor and the Institution. She was received bv Captain F. Hollingsworth, honorary secretary of the branch, and the Rev.

C. F. Medd, M.A., president of the branch, thanked the donor and the Institution.

Lady Frances Osborne, president of the Berwick-on-Tweed branch and Ladies' Life-boat Guild, then presented the wrist-watch awarded by the Institution in place of binoculars, to Captain F. Hollingsworth, honorary secretary of the Newbiggin branch, the record of thanks awarded to Mr. T. Hindmarsh, late honorary financial secretary, and the certificates of service awarded to Mr. William Armstrong, Mr. W. R.

Armstrong and Mr. George Brown, members of the crew.

A vote of thanks to Lady Francis Osborne was proposed by Colonel J. H.

Nicholson, J.P., a member of the committee, and seconded by Councillor Mrs. A. Hepple, chairman of the Newbiggin Urban District Council.

The Bishop of Newcastle (the Right Rev. Dr. H. E. Bilbrough, D.D.) dedicated the life-boat, the singing at this service being led by St. Bartholomew's Church of England choir and accompanied by the Newbiggin Colliery Band.

Lady Francis Osborne then named the life-boat Augustus and Laura, and the boat was launched.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight.

The Institution stationed at Bembridge in 1939 a motor life-boat of the 46-feet Watson cabin type, as described in the account of the naming ceremony at Selsey. This boat replaced a smaller and less powerful motor life-boat of the self-righting type.

She has cost about £9,000 and has been built out of a legacy from the late Miss A. Lumb of Huddersfield. Her line-throwing gun is the gift of the Southampton Ladies' Life-boat Guild.

The naming ceremony was held on 21st July, 1939, Major R. S. Savile, J.P., chairman of the branch, presiding.

Several members of Miss Lumb's family were present.

Mr. J. Lumb, a nephew of the donor, presented the life-boat to the Institution and she was received by Sir Godfrey, Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, who then handed her to the branch on behalf of which she was received by Major Savile.

Miss A. I. Lumb, a niece of the donor, then named the life-boat Jesse Lumb.

The Bishop of Salisbury (the Right Rev. Dr. Ernest Neville Lovett, C.B.E., D.D.) dedicated the life-boat.

A vote of thanks to Miss A. I. Lumb and her family was proposed by Mr.

W. Couldrey, J.P., honorary secretary of the branch.

Minehead, Somerset.

The Institution stationed at Minehead in 1939 a motor life-boat of the 32-feet surf type as described in the account of the naming ceremony at Poole. This boat, however, is driven by Gill jet propulsion, and is the first of the Institution's life-boats to be equipped with it. She has the same speed as the Poole boat, 6| knots, but twice as great a range. She can travel 88 miles at full speed without refuelling.

She has replaced a pulling and sailing life-boat.

She has cost about £3,000 and has been built out of a legacy from the late Miss K. Greatorex, of Mytton Hall, near Shrewsbury.

The naming ceremony was held on 26th July, 1939, with Mr. A. E. H.

Berry, J.P., chairman of the Minehead Urban District Council, presiding.

About 3,000 people were present.

The ceremony began with the presentation by Lieutenant H. M.

Brandram, R.N.R., chairman of the branch, of the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum awarded to Mr.

T. K. Ridler, late honorary secretary, and the certificate of service awarded, with a pension to ex-Coxswain R.

Martin.

Mr. A. C. Reed, M.P., for Exeter, and a member of the committee of management of the Institution, then presented the life-boat to the branch on behalf of the donor and the Institution, and she was received by Mr. A. F.

Luttrell, J.P., D.L., president of the branch.

The life-boat was dedicated by the Rev. C. W. C. Ingles, D.D., R.N. (ret.), late Chaplain of the Fleet. The Rev.

G. E. Knapp Fisher, M.A., vicar of Minehead, and the Rev. A. F. Blandford, B.A., took part in the service.

The singing was led by the choir of St.

Michael's Church, Minehead, and was accompanied by the Minehead Town Band.

Mrs. G. F. Luttrell then named the life-boat Kate Greatorex.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Vernon Bartlett, M.P. for the Bridgwater Division of Somerset.

Fleetwood, Lancashire.

The Institution stationed at Fleetwood in 1939 a motor life-boat of the 41-feet Watson type, as described in the account of the naming ceremony at New Brighton. This boat has replaced a smaller motor life-boat of the self-righting type.

She cost about £7,000 and has been built out of a legacy from the late Miss A. L. Russell, of Manchester.

The naming ceremony was held on 26th July, 1939, with the Mayor of Fleetwood presiding. Lieut.-Col. C. R.

Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution, presented the life-boat to the branch on behalf of the donor and the Institution, and she was received by Mr. J. Wood, chairman of the branch.

The Bishop of Lancaster (the Right Rev. Benjamin Pollard, M.Sc., B.D.) dedicated the life-boat assisted by the Rev. S. G. Stanton, M.A., vicar of Fleetwood.

Lady Stanley then named the lifeboat Ann Letitia Russell.

A vote of thanks to Lady Stanley was proposed by Mr. J. W'ignall Hodson, L.L.B., a patron of the branch, and seconded by Mr. R. Forrester Addie, a member of the committee.

SCOTLAND.

Tobermory, Argyllshire.

At the beginning of 1937 the Institution decided to establish an additional station on the west coast of Scotland. Tobermory, in the Isle of Mull, was found to be the only place where a life-boat could be placed and a crew found, and a 46-feet Watson cabin life-boat as described in the account of the Selscy naming ceremony was laid down. This boat, which has cost about £8,000, was built out of a gift from Miss Margaret Lithgow, of Tobermory, and at her wish it has been .named after her friend Sir Arthur Rose, Bt., D.S.O., who commanded the 15th Battalion of the Royal Scots in the war of 1914 to 1918, and was Commissioner for Scotland under the Special Areas Act.

The life-boat was completed in the spring of 1938 and was the chief exhibit in the Institution's pavilion at the Empire Exhibition held at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, from May to the end of October, 1938. The station was opened on 12th October, 3938, when a reserve life-boat was placed there, and the new life-boat arrived at Tobermory on 25th November.

Neither Miss Lithgow nor Sir Arthur Rose lived to see the station opened.

Sir Arthur Rose died in 1937 and Miss Lithgow in June 1938.

The naming ceremony was held on llth August, 1939. Colonel Bryce Allan, O.B.E., T.D., D.L., Provost of Tobermory and chairman of the branch, presided, and Sir Alfred H. Read, J.P.

welcomed the guests. There was an audience of about 1,200 people and several members of Sir Arthur Rose's family were present. Music was played by the Anti-Tank Battery Pipe Band from Oban.

The Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O., V.D., L.L.D., chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council and a vice-president of the Institution, presented the lifeboat to the branch on behalf of the donor and the Institution. She was received by Colonel Bryce Allan.

The Rev. J. M. Menzies, M.A., and the Rev. K. S. MacLean, J.P., conducted a service of dedication at which the singing was led by a joint choir of the United Churches.

Mrs. F. C. Laing, the daughter of Sir Arthur Rose then named the lifeboat Sir Arthur Rose.

A vote of thanks to Mrs. Laing was proposed by Mr. James Bryce Allan, a member of the committee of management of the Institution, and Sir Hugh Rose, Bt., the son of Sir Arthur Rose, replied. A vote of thanks to the Duke of Montrose, Colonel Bryce Allan and others taking part in the ceremony was proposed by Lord Strathcona, and the Mull Anthem and the National Anthem were sung.

Wick, Caithness-shire.

The Institution stationed a motor life-boat of the 46-feet Watson cabin, type, as described in the account of the Selsey naming ceremony, at Wick in 1938. She replaced another Watson motor life-boat of a less powerful type.

The new boat, which has cost about £9,000, has been built out of the general funds of the Institution and has been named by it City of Edinburgh in gratitude for the generous support given to the Institution by the people of Scotland, who have nearly trebled their contributions in the last thirteen years.

The naming ceremony was held on 19th August, 1939. Commander Gore- Brown-Henderson, R.N., chairman of the branch, presided, and among those supporting him were Lieut.-Col. J.

Benskin, D.S.O., O.B.E., a member of the committee of management of the Institution and Mrs. Benskin, C.B.E.

About 2,000 people were present, and music was played by the Wick Pipe Band.

Lord Saltoun, M.C., vice-chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council, presented the life-boat to the branch on behalf of the Institution, and she was received by the Duke of Portland, K.G., P.C., G.C.V.O., a vice-president of the Institution and president of the branch.

The Rev. M. Moore dedicated the life-boat, the singing at the service being led by a choir under the direction of Mr. Alexander M. Small and accompanied by the Wick Salvation Army Band.

The Lady Provost of Edinburgh, Mrs. Henry Steele, then named the life-boat City of Edinburgh.

A vote of thanks to the Lady Provost was proposed by Major the Right Hon.

Sir Archibald Sinclair, of Ulster, P.C., C.M.G., M.P., and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh replied. A vote of thanks to the chairman and others taking part in the ceremony was proposed by Mr.

James Sutherland, a member of the committee.

Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The Institution, stationed at Peterhead in 1939 a 46-feet Watson cabin motor life-boat as described in the account of the Selsey naming ceremony.

The new boat lias replaced a Watson motor life-boat of a less powerful type.

She has cost about £9,000 and has been built out of a gift from Mrs. Park Barry, of Glasgow, who died in March, 1939, five months after making the gift.

The naming ceremony was held on 30th August, 1939. Provost Max J. L.

Schultze, J.P., chairman of the branch presided, several hundreds of people were present, and the motor life-boat from Fraserburgh lay alongside the new boat.

The Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O..

V.D., LL.D., chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council and a vice-president of the Institution, presented the lifeboat to the branch on behalf of the donor and the Institution, and she was received by Provost Schultze. The Rev. H. Douglas Swan, B.D., dedicated the life-boat, the singing at this service being led by a joint choir of the United Churches and accompanied by the band of the 221st Battery, Royal Artillery.

Miss Julia Douglas-Reid, a granddaughter of Mrs. Park Barry, then named the life-boat Julia Park Barry, of Glasgow.

A vote of thanks to Miss Julia Douglas-Reid was proposed by the Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair, O.B.E., J.P., a vote of thanks to the Duke of Montrose by Mr. Alexander Davidson, J.P., and a vote of thanks to the Provost and others taking part in the ceremony by the Earl of Caithness, C.B.E., LL.D., D.L.

An account of the naming ceremony at Barmouth, will be published in the next issue..