THE six summer months of this year have been the busiest which the Lifeboat Service has ever had in time of peace. Its boats have been out on service more often and have rescued more lives than ever before. The launches numbered 339, the lives rescued 262.

Not only are these figures records for peace-time, but in only one year of war were there more launches, in 1940, the summer of the Battle of Britain, and in only four years of war, 1917, 1918, 1940 and 1941 were more lives rescued..