THE honorary secretary of the Minehead branch writes: "You may be interested to know that a friend of mine—the licensee of a small hotel in a remote spot on Exmoor—assisted by local shepherds, last September organised some sheep- dog trials—the first to be held on Exmoor—the net proceeds of which were handed to me for branch funds. I received a cheque for £120.

"Living inland, none of these shep- herds has ever seen a life-boat, but their enthusiasm was grand, and I should very much like to give them a trip in our boat one day on the occasion of an exercise launch." The shepherds are to go afloat when the Minehead life-boat does her exer- cise at the end of June..