Two life-boat stations in the north- west, Barrow and Blackpool, cele- brated their centenaries in April and June.

It was commercial travellers who raised money for the first 36-foot sail- ing life-boat to be stationed near Barrow in 1864 and, appropriately, shewas named Commercial Traveller. At that time the station was known as Piel, standing as it did on the island of Piel in Morecambe Bay. The name was changed a quarter of a century later when the boat was moved to Barrow. The January, 1865, number of THE LIFE-BOAT notes that the life- boat "will command the entrance to the Port of Barrow, which is rising in importance, and where it is likely wrecks may occur more frequently than they have done." Centenary Dinner From the time the Commercial Traveller went out on her first rescue to the time of this year's centenary Barrow life-boats had been launched 180 times, saving 196 lives. The most recent medal award was made to Coxswain Roland Moore in 1958 when the life-boat took a sick man off the Morecambe Bay lightvessel in a near- hurricane force wind and exception- ally rough seas.

The centenary vellum was presented by Mr. P. Denham Christie, a member of the Committee of Management, on loth April when the branch's annual general meeting and centenary dinner and dance were held.

The centenary vellum was later pre- sented to the Mayor of Barrow- in-Furness for safe keeping by Mr.

W. D. Opher, president of the Barrow branch, at the town hall on 24th April.

The first life-boat to be placed at the Blackpool life-boat station in 1864 was a 33-foot, lo-oared life-boat pre- sented by the widow and daughter of Mr. R. W. Hopkins of Preston and named Robert William in his memory.

From the foundation of the station to the time of this year's centenary Black- pool life-boats had been launched 94 times, saving 163 lives.

The centenary celebrations took place on I3th June when the Rt. Rev.

C. R. Claxton, Bishop of Blackburn, conducted the thanksgiving service, assisted by the Rev. Canon G. Gower- Jones, Rural Dean of Blackpool, and the Rev. S. J. Metcalf, President of the Free Church Federal Council.

After opening remarks by Alderman A. Ashworth, Mayor of Blackpool, Sir Arnet Robinson, a Vice-president of the Institution and deputy chairman of the Port of Liverpool and district branch, presented the centenary vellum to the branch.

Held by Mayor It was accepted by Mr. F. L.

Burton, honorary secretary of the branch, and handed to the mayor for safe keeping. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. E. E. Law, chairman of the branch, and seconded by Mr.

H. Bateson, vice-president of the branch..