THE portrait on the cover is of Cox- swain Robert Brown of Swanage, who has been coxswain since 1941. He was assistant mechanic from 1928 to 1934 and second coxswain from 1934 to 1941. During his period of service Swanage life-boats have been launched on service 231 times and have rescued 156 lives.

When he was assistant mechanic he was awarded the bronze medal for an outstanding individual act of gallantry in March, 1934. In a strong southerly gale a yacht went aground and one of her crew of two was flung into the sea.

Without hesitation Assistant Mechanic Brown went overboard and succeeded in holding the man until the life-boat was able to pick them both up. The photo- graph is by courtesy of Joan Muspratt..