The R.N.L.I. Christmas card for 1968 will feature a reproduction of an excellent colour transparency showing the Skegness life-boat at sea. The card will sell at 9d., complete with envelope.

There will also be for the first time a postage and packing charge at the rate of 2s. on all orders up to three dozen and then 3s. on all orders above this size, to help meet the costs of these items, which are rising consistently, and also to help offset the high rate of purchase tax which this year has increased to 50 per cent. The Institution has resisted for as long as it could asking purchasers of life-boat Christmas cards to pay such a charge, but with increased costs it can no longer hold out against this now quite acceptable praciice.

A life-boat pictorial calendar will once more be on sale. A very striking colour reproduction of the Scarborough life-boat at sea will be featured on the cover.

The months will be spread over both sides of six pages and each will be headed by an attractive colour photograph of a seascape, several of them having direct life-boat associations. The cost of this calendar will be 7s. 6d., post free, complete with a special cardboard envelope. The increase in the price is regrettably due to a rise in purchase tax.

The usual pocket calendar at 4d. each will be available. This year it will feature the Gorleston 44-foot steel life-boat Khami towing in the auxiliary cutter Theodora in September, 1967, after a round trip of nearly 100 miles.

An informative leaflet, showing colour reproductions of the Christmas card and the two calendars, together with an order form, will be enclosed with the September number..