Following the service by the Swanage life-boat, recorded elsewhere in this issue, the secretary of the Swanage branch received a letter of appreciation, the opening paragraphs of which are quoted below, together with a donation.

4 May 1965 DEAR SIR - Last Sunday the Swanage life-boat put out to the assistance of my yacht Brumby, aground in Studland Bay in fog. It was unfortunate that they were put to this trouble because, I am afraid, due to inexperience in the use of an emergency R/T set, we alarmed everyone too hastily. However, the efficient way in which everyone responded was most encouraging and I would like to couple with my apologies for the trouble caused my sincere thanks to the coxswain and crew for putting out and for escorting me afterwards into the Channel.

I understand that there is no fee chargeable for the service accorded, but I do not feel I should be let off so lightly as that and accordingly, I enclose a donation to the R.N.L.I. funds.

Yours sincerely, V. W. OUBRIDGE Wasperton House, Warwick.

Another letter of appreciation was sent to the Secretary of the R.N.L.I., following a service by the Dungeness life-boat, also recorded elsewhere in this issue.

DEAR SIR -1 am writing to thank you for the help I received on 24th April, 1965, from the Dungeness life-boat.

I attempted to sail from Dover to Rye in my twenty-foot open day sailer, on the basis of a favourable forecast of a following wind. That following wind became a head wind and I was unable to make any headway after Dungeness at sunset, when the tide turned against me. I might have come to no harm overnight, but I felt that the wind could continue to build and that my boat was not suitable for such an exercise.

My parachute flare brought the life-boat within twenty minutes and they took me in tow to Rye harbour.

I must confess that I feel somewhat guilty at being able to summon help from others so easily, and merely so that I can indulge in pleasure sailing. The crew of the life-boat were extremely kind and competent. Apart from my guilt I enjoyed sailing with them.

Again my thanks to the R.N.L.I. It and its crews are unique in a world where not enough people take the trouble to help others.

Yours faithfully, R. A. PARKS 4 Swan Studios, 69 Deodar Road, London, S.W.I5.

Major Peter de la Billiere, M.C., 22 Special Air Service Regiment, wrote to the honorary secretary of the Tenby life-boat station after the service on i )ih March, recorded in the June 1965 issue O/THE LIFE-BOAT, Dear Mr. Reason-Jones, I am writing to thank you on behalf of all my men and in particular those who were involved in the recent canoe incident off St. Govans. We are all very much aware that it is thanks to the prompt and efficient action of your crew that we owe the safety of the four survivors of the two canoes which you rescued.

Your service is famous throughout the world and nothing I can say can enhance your unbeatable reputation. However, I hope you will accept this plaque as a small token of our esteem and appreciation of your work and in gratefulness to you for your efforts on our behalf on the night of 18/19 March. We would also be grateful if you would put the enclosed cheque towards the funds for your invaluable work.

Yours sincerely, PETER DE LA BILLIERE..