Six new life-boats were named in 1955.

Four are in Scotland at Stornoway, Stronsay, Stromness, and Troon; two are in England at Southend-on-Sea and Fowey. An account of the Southend naming ceremony appeared in the September Number of the Life-boat.

STORNOWAY The Isle of Lewis had its first official roval visit for half a century on the 5th of July, 1955, when H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent, President of the Institution, visited Stornoway to name the new boat James and Margaret Boi/d.

Before naming the boat Her Royal Highness said it had been a very special delight for her to learn that a new life-boat was going to Stornoway.

"The life-boat station here," she said, "has, I know, an excellent record and since its foundation has been responsible for the rescue of nearly 150 lives. The new boat, which I am about to name will, I am sure, be worthy of its predecessors in every way. It is not without interest, I think, that the first life-boat sta- tioned here cost £372; the cost of a life- boat today amounts to nearly £36,500 —almost a hundred times as much.

This money is found through the gener- osity of those who, throughout the country, support the life-boat service; and in giving money to the life-boats Scotland plays an outstanding part." Sheriff R. R. Miller, president of the branch, took the chair. Miss Margaret Boyd, niece of the donors, presented the life-boat on behalf of the donors to the Institution. Lord Saltoun, chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council, accepted her on the Institu- tion's behalf and handed her over to the branch. Captain Alexander Finlayson, honorary secretary of the Stornoway branch, accepted her.

The life-boat, which is a 52-feet Barnett boat, was then described by Commander S. W. F. Bennetts, Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats. The Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Minister of St. Columba's Church, Stornoway, assisted by the Rev. H. Downie, Minister of St. Peter's Church, Storno- way, dedicated the life-boat. A vote of thanks to Her Royal Highness was proposed by Lieut. Colonel Sir John Dick-Lander, Bt., Vice-Lieutenant of the County of Ross and Cromarty, and a vote of thanks to the chairman and others was proposed by the Provost of Stornoway, Mr. A. J. Mackenzie.

The Stornoway Combined Pipe B*ands conducted by Mr. Donald Mac- leod piped Her Royal Highness from the Town House to the harbour. The singing was led by the Stornoway Churches Combined Choirs conducted by Mr. Duncan Morison. The life- boat was provided out of legacies left by Miss C. A. I. Boyd, of Dunoon, Dr.

J. C. Tennant, of East Newport, Fifeshire, and Mrs. C. M. Grant, of Edinburgh.

FOWEY The new Fowey life-boat is a gift to the Institution from the peoples of Southern Africa, and she was named Deneys Reitz by Mrs. Jooste, the wife of the High Commissioner of the Union of South Africa, on the 6th of July, 1955.

Mr. Percy Varco, Mayor of Fowey, took the chair. The life-boat, which is a 46-feet 9-inches Watson boat, was then described by Lieut. Commander W. L. G. Dutton, Western District Inspector. Miss Pattie Price, who played a large part in raising the funds in Southern Africa, handed the life-boat over to the Institution.

Colonel A. D. Burnett-Brown, Secre- tary of the Institution, accepted her on behalf of the Committee of Manage- ment and handed her to the branch, Major D. R. Carter, honorary secretary of the Fowey branch, accepting her.

The Rev. T. H. Elkington, chaplain to the Missions to Seamen, dedicated the life-boat, the Vicar of Fowey, the Rev.

J. R. Aspinall, reading the prayer and the Rev. A. Green, chaplain to the Mayor of Fowey, reading the lesson.

The High Commissioner then spoke of the work of the Life-boat Service.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Brigadier H. H. V. Christie, a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Cornwall, and seconded by Mr. Walter H.

Graham, Undersheriff of Cornwall.

The Lostwithiel town band played at the ceremony.

Accounts of the other naming ceremonies will appear in the March number of the Life-boat..