Coxswain George Leith, of the Lerwick, Shetland, lifeboat, who helped to rescue the crew of nine of the trawler Granton Osprey on December 13, 1972, is this year's recipient of the £5 'The Maud Smith Award for courage, in memory of John, Seventh Earl of Hardwicke'.

Captain Nigel Dixon, Director and Secretary, in informing Coxswain Leith of the award, said: 'This award was introduced just after the last war when £5 was, of course, worth very much more than it is today. I hope you will appreciate that it is not so much the monetary value of the award which counts, but the reason for which it is made.'.