THERE are few in the history of the Institution who have a longer record of service than Mr. John W. Foster, of Whitby, who retired at the end of last September. He had then been secretary of the Whitby life-boat station for 44 years. He was also secretary of the Upgang station for fifteen of these years, until it was closed in 1919.

During Mr. Foster's 44 years the lifeboats of the two stations rescued 215 lives. It was off Whitby that the hospital ship Rohilla was wrecked in 1914, the outstanding rescue of the war of 1914 to 1918. It was off Whitby that the Belgian steamer Charles was wrecked in February, 1940, and, in the attempt to rescue her crew, two men of the Whitby life-boat were the first life-boatmen to lose thier lives in the war of 1939 to 1945.

On the financial side also Mr. Foster has been a most successful secretary.

In his first year the branch raised £70; in his last year, £700. Altogether, during his secretaryship, Whitby contributed over £8,000.

The Institution has shown its gratitude for his devoted services by presenting him with its inscribed binoculars in 1934, and its gold badge, given only for long and distinguished services, in 1948, and by appointing him, on his retirement, an honorary life-governor, the highest honour which it can give..