FIVE life-boats at stations as far apart as Sunderland and Shoreham Harbour were named during the last quarter. On the 4th of July at Sunderland a life-boat provided out of a legacy left by Miss Emily Myers was named. Mr. R. Cyril Thompson, president of the Sunderland branch, opened the proceedings fol- lowed by Commander L. F. L. Hill, dis- trict inspector of life-boats, who described the new boat, which is one of the 47-foot Watson type.

Miss Annie Myers, sister of the late Miss Emily Myers, presented the life- boat to the Institution. The .boat was accepted by Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing, a member of the Committee of Management. Major Norman Dug- dale accepted the life-boat on behalf of the branch, of which he is honorary secretary. There was an address by the Mayor of Sunderland followed by the dedication of the life-boat by the Lord Bishop of Jarrow.

Mrs. Marion Dawson named the life- boat William Myers and Sarah Jane Myers and a vote of thanks was pro- posed by Mr. John Short, chairman of the Sunderland branch, and seconded by Mr. John Rutherford, honorary finan- cial secretary of the branch.

New Boulmer Boat At Boulmer on the 6th of July a 37-foot Oakley type life-boat was named by the Duchess of Northumberland. This sta- tion was established in 1825 and in 165 launches has saved 228 lives.

The Duke of Northumberland opened the proceedings and Commander Hill described the life-boat. Mrs. M. C.

Hardcastle presented the life-boat to the Institution on behalf of the trustees of the late Mr. Hugh Robert Hardcastle, who provided the boat. Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Manage- ment, accepted the life-boat and handed her over to Brigadier Sir George Walton, Chairman of the Boulmer and District branch.

The life-boat was dedicated by the Rev. J. L. Crawley and a vote of thanks was proposed by Cllr. Miss A. M.

White, chairman of the Boulmer ladies' life-boat guild. It was seconded by Mrs.

S. H. Lishman, secretary of the Alnwick ladies' life-boat guild. The life-boat was then named Robert and Dorothy Hard- castle.

Named by Princess Marina The weather at Shoreham Harbour on the 18th of July was very bad and the aircraft bringing Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, to the ceremony, had to be diverted, but in spite of the appalling conditions Her Royal High- ness named the new life-boat in the presence of a large crowd.

Mr. G. B. Crow, president of the branch, opened the proceedings and Lieut.-Commander W. L. G. Dutton, Chief Inspector of Life-boats, described the boat, a 42-foot Watson type, which had already been launched on service twice.

Mr. Philip Constant, on behalf of his wife and himself, donors of the life-boat, presented her to the Institu- tion. She was accepted by Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin and re- accepted on behalf of the branch by Mr. J. C. Harrison, honorary secretary.

The life-boat was dedicated by the Rt.

Rev. J. H. Morrell, Bishop of Lewes.

Mr. L. G. Jackson, chairman of the branch, proposed a vote of thanks.

Princess Marina then named the life-boat Dorothy and Philip Constant.

New Boat for Lowestoft The naming of the life-boat Frederick Edward Crick at Lowestoft on the 25th of July was performed by the Countess Howe. This station was established in 1801 and taken over by the Institution in 1855.

The Mayor of Lowestoft opened the proceedings, and Lieut. E. D. Stogdon, south-eastern district inspector of life- boats, described the boat, which is of the 47-foot Watson type. Captain the Lord Ailwyn, a Vice-president of the Institu- tion, handed her over to Lady Somerley- ton, president of the Lowestoft branch.

The Rector of Lowestoft and Rural Dean, the Rev. W. J. Westwood, dedica- ted the life-boat and a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. F. E. Catchpole, chairman of the branch. This was seconded by Mr. E. K. Tucker, honorary station secretary. The life-boat was then named by Lady Howe.

Large Crowd at Seaham A crowd of several thousands wit- nessed the naming ceremony of the Seaham life-boat, which replaces the boat in which five members of the crew were drowned while on service in Nov- ember 1962.

It was a fine day on the 21st Septem- ber when Mr. H. C. Wilson, chairman of the Seaham branch, opened the pro- ceedings. Commander Hill described the 37-foot Oakley type life-boat, and Mrs. A. C. Welch, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Kirby, who donated the boat, presented her to the Institution.

Professor E. A. Pask, a member of the Committee of Management, accepted the life-boat and handed her over to Captain R. Hudson, honorary secretary of the branch.

The life-boat was dedicated by the Rev. V. Roy Brain, Vicar of Seaham, and a vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs. M. I. Robinson, Chairman of the Seaham Urban District Council, and seconded by Mr. W. F. Smith, branch honorary treasurer. The life-boat was then named The Will and Fanny Kirby by the Marchioness of Londonderry..