Mr. George Carey, of Speldhurst, near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, who was a launcher at the old Littlestone life-boat station between 1889 and 1895, will be 100 on 27th October, 1968.

It is recalled that, with his brother who was also a launcher, he used to run over a mile to the life-boat house across the fields when the alarm was given.

Usually they were the first there as the others came from New Romney. On arrival they were given a ticket and only those with tickets could draw the five shillings which each launcher was paid. There were about a dozen launchers, including the linesman who fired the green rocket to let the wrecked ship know that help was coming.

Mr. Carey is the great-uncle of Mr. E. N. Smith, honorary treasurer of the Littlestone-on-Sea IRB station..