THE Life-boat Enthusiasts' Society is now in its eighth year. It was formed in 1964 and at the outset had only eight members. From this very small beginning membership has grown over the years. At first progress was slow, but in the last year there has been an increase of over 100 and as a result the total membership is now in excess of 300.

The object of the society is to unite those with specialised interest in both the historical and technical aspects of the life-boat service. This interest is not limited to the British Isles but also covers all countries in the world which have any form of sea life-saving service, whether they be voluntary or state-controlled. As a result some of the members reside in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the continent of Europe.What makes the subject so interesting? To answer this question could well keep some of our more ardent enthusiasts talking for hours, but to give the answer in a nutshell it is, as in so many other fields, the quest for knowledge and the urgent need to take adequate steps to record fully the history of the service. Much has already been written both in recent years and in the last century. Unfortunately many of the works are inclined to generalise without paying sufficient attention to detail.

Supporters of the Institution from both station and financial branches often ask how much money we collect in a year and tend to be surprised when it is explained that we are not primarily fund raising. Rather an unusual state of affairs for a branch of a charitable institution, you might think, but is it ? Fund raising has no real connection with electronics, naval architecture and the like. Thus it was decided when the society was formed that we should be selfsupporting, but not fund raising in the true sense of the word. A good example of this is the saleof Christmas cards. Whereas in station and financial branches all revenue so collected is automatically credited to the branch concerned, we are quite happy for our members to buy from their local branches.

The society publishes a quarterly newsletter which is used to bring members up to date on current life-boat affairs and also reports on the research of the previous quarter.

The work of the society is basically concerned with the collection and collation of historic information and also the recording of up-to-theminute life-boat trends and developments. The An enlarged impression of the Society's badge.

field is vast and there are many avenues yet to be explored, but it is to be hoped that the efforts of our members will help to build up a concise history of the service from its foundation by Sir William Hillary in 1824 right up to the present day.

Already much work has been done, but should you have access to any historic records which you feel may be of assistance, however small, please write to our correspondence secretary, Mr. R. Foster, 14 Wordsworth Road, Kettering, Northants. One plea: please remember that, like yourselves, we are voluntary workers, dealing at times with a heavy correspondence, so please be patient if we do not always reply by return of post.

• Should you require details about the society, please write enclosing a minimum rate second class postage stamp to: Mr. J. G.

Francis, honorary secretary, Life-boat Enthusiasts' Society, 20a Transmere Road, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent, BR5 1DU..