MRS. LOTIXGA SMITH, of Gcdling, Nottingham, celebrated her ninetieth birthday on the K th of November, 1947.

In spite of her great age, in spite of ill health and in spite of an accident last winter when she was knocked down by a bus, she is still working for the Lifeboat Service. She was born in Northumberland in 1857, the daughter of a shipowner of North Shields, so that she comes from the coast where the first Mfe-boats were stationed, and in her youth she saw many wrecks at the mouth of the Tyne. She came to Nottingham, as headmistress of a girls' school, in 1883, and in 1886 started collecting foe the Life-boat Service among the schoolchildren, first in farthings and.then in halfpennies. She has collected for the Carlton district of the Nottingham Branch, of which she is now in charge, for over forty years.

During the six years of war, 1939—15, the district.contributed £3,154, and of that total' Mrs. Lotinga Smith personally collected £2,393. In the year 1946-.-47, in spite of her accident, she collected £597.

She was awarded the Institution's gold badge, given only for distinguished honorary service, in 1937, and two engines in one of the life-boats in the new building programme are to have a tablet on them recording that they are her gift. The Duchess of Kent, as the Institution's President, has sent Mrs. Smith her congratulations and thanks..