H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER named the new Ramsgate life-boat Michael and Lily Davis on the llth of June, 1954. A certificate inscribed on vellum to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of a life- boat station at Ramsgate was pre- sented at the same ceremony.

A life-boat station was established by the Ramsgate Harbour Trustees in 1802. but it did not come under the control of the Institution until 1865.

From 1865 to the time of the ceremony Ramsgate life-boats had been launched on service 980 times and had rescued 1,648 lives. In 1940 the Ramsgate life-boat Prudential brought 2,800 men off the beaches of Dunkirk. Two gold and 37 silver medals have been award- ed to Ramsgate life-boatmen.

The Mayor of Ramsgate, Councillor E. G. Butcher, took the chair at the naming ceremony, and Commander T. G. Michelmore, Chief Inspector of Life-boats, described the new boat, which is a 46-feet 9-inches Watson cabin type boat. The Marquess Camden, a member of the Committee of Management, handed the life-boat over to the Ramsgate branch and presented the commemorative vellum.

The Mayor accepted the life-boat on behalf of the branch.

The Bishop Suffragan of Dover, the Right Rev. A. C. W. Rose, assisted by by the Vicar of Ramsgate, the Rev.

George Bennett, and the President of the Ramsgate Free Church Council, the Rev. B. R. Goodchild, dedicated the life-boat. H.R.H. the Duchess of Gloucester then named her. Prince William and Prince Richard of Glou- cester were both present at the cere- mony.

Notice All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretary of the local branch or guild, or to Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown, O.B.E., M.C., T.D., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.l.

All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should be addressed to the Secretary.

The next number O/THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in DECEMBER 1954..