ON the morning of Monday, the 10th of December, 1956, the Thurso life- boat, Dunnet Head (Civil Service No.

31) and the life-boathouse were totally destroyed by fire. The fire was first noticed shortly after seven o'clock in the morning, and on hear- ing the news the honorary secretary, Captain W. MacKenzie, who is also the harbour master, summoned the fire brigade. He . and the motor mechanic went to the boathouse, but the volume of smoke and flames was such that they could do nothing.

Both the Thurso and Wick fire brigades tried to bring the fire under control but without success.

Four senior officials of the Institu- tion immediately went to Thurso and carried out an investigation in con- junction with a fire expert and the fire master of the northern area. The destruction, however, was so complete that no evidence is available to show the cause of the outbreak. The boat- house itself was completely gutted and only the walls on the south-west side and at the shore end remained. A1J that was left of the boat was the stern frame, the iron keel and a mass of tangled metal where the engine room had been.

Orders have been placed for the construction of a new boathouse, and a life-boat from the reserve fleet, the James Macfee, a 45-feet 6-inches Wat- son boat, will be on duty at the station until a new boat has been built..