LAST year the Institution received from its Southern Africa Branch £1,500.

Since the branch was established at a meeting in Cape Town in February, 1942, it has contributed £33,000. The first of three motor life-boats to be built out of the gifts, and to bear South African names, the Field-Marshal and Mrs. Smuts, went to her station at Beaumaris, Anglesey, in September, 1945. The second, Southern Africa, is now being built, and is intended for Dover. The third is to be named Deneijs Reitz, but it has not yet been decided at which station this boat will be placed.

The branch was founded as the result of appeals by Miss Pattie Price, the South African diseuse and singer.

Early in 1940 Miss Price read in The Times a letter from the Institution's chairman giving the record of the Service during the first five months of war. She was so moved by this record that she wrote at once to the Institution offering it her help in Southern Africa, and in the two years before the branch was formed her appeals brought the Institution £4,265.

Altogether, since 1940, the Institution has received from Southern Africa, through Miss Price's appeals, through the branch, or direct from individuals, over £42,000, and also, during the war.

big gifts of woollen comforts.

In June, 1941, the Institution awarded Miss Price its gold badge "in deep gratitude for her generous and most successful help." Since the branch was formed she has from time to time and for long periods, acted a.s its honorary secretary. The Institution has now appointed her an honorary life-governor, the highest award which it can make to an honorary worker, and has awarded its gold badge, given only for distinguished honorary services, to Mrs. D. A. Hosking. the honorary secretary and treasurer of the branch..