THREE thousand gas-filled balloons were released from Torquay sea front with cards attached to each balloon bearing the name of someone who had paid one shilling to the Torquay branch of the Institution. Three prizes were awarded for the balloons which travelled furthest. Cards were returned showing that balloons had arrived in France, Switzerland, Western Germany, Eastern Germany and Jersey. A balloon which had travelled 775 miles and was picked up near Salzburg won the first prize for Mr.

Herbert Eastwood of Leeds.

* * * The Chief Cashier at Brown's Hotel in Dover Street, London, W.I. does not bank halfpennies, but puts all halfpennies received at the hotel into the life-boat collecting box. Over £16 were collected by this means in one year.

* * * A concert held in a backyard in Filey, Yorkshire, raised 10s. for the Institution. The performers were Susan Cappleman, aged 9|, actor and director; Paul Dobson, aged 6-f, actor and scene shifter; and Joan Eastwood, aged 7|, actor.

One summer afternoon the Howth life-boat cruised off-shore along Portmarnock Strand, Co. Dublin, while Mr. W. G. Smith, the local life-boat day organiser, addressed the crowd on the beach by loud hailer. Oilskin-clad collectors then landed by dinghy and filled their boxes.

Every year in the late autumn Messrs. Courtaulds factory near Carrickfergus lend their recreation hall for an open badminton tournament organised by Mrs. Hopper in aid of the Institution. It is supported by well-known amateur players from Belfast and the local area and attracts some generous donations. One tournament raised as much as £36.

A concert on board the channel steamer St. Julien on a day excursion, from Weymouth to Guernsey was given by men of the 108 Royal Engineers Territorial Unit of Swansea, who were in camp at Wyke Regis. A collection taken afterwards raised £5 17*. 6d. for the Guernsey branch of the Institution..