Mr R. Marr, of Dunbar, East Lothian, and Ex-Coxswain Calum Macdonald, of Stornoway, Outer HebridesMr Calum Macdonald, former coxswain of the Stornoway lifeboat, was one of three people to receive the freedom of the Burgh of Stornoway at the ceremony before a packed Town Hall early this year. The caskets were presented by Provost Sandy Matheson, of Stornoway, and the one to Mr Macdonald was a scale model of the Stornoway lifeboat, the James and Margaret Boyd. Provost Matheson said that Mr Macdonald, coxwain emeritus of the Stornoway lifeboat, had been chosen as a freeman not only because of his own qualities but also to indicate the high regard the town council had for the Stornoway lifeboat crew past and present. Mr Macdonald, he said, was one of the burgh's 'most courageous and eminent sons' who had been a member of the lifeboat crew for 40 years, 20 of them as coxswain. During that period a total of 180 lives had been saved by the lifeboat. A modest man, Mr Macdonald had been awarded the BEM, and was also the holder of the RNLI's silver and bronze medals. The Provost also paid tribute to Mrs Macdonald— who was presented with a bouquet—and to the work of the Stornoway ladies' lifeboat guild.

by courtesy of Hebridean Press ServiceWHEN Mr Robert (Bob) Marr of Victoria Place, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, was told that THE LIFEBOAT wished to include him in this feature he replied as a man of action with few words.

But Mr Marr's record as a lifeboatman and voluntary worker, though short in description, has been most impressive.

Apparently he was second coxswain of the Skateraw lifeboat for getting on for two years. He was bowman of the Dunbar boat for nearly three years. But his total service with lifeboats extends over nearly 50 years.

During this long service—he is a fisherman and expert net maker—the lifeboat rescued 71 lives for which Mr Marr, who is now retired, received a certificate of service and a gold watch.

Mr. Marr, who is 79, is therefore in an ideal position to talk to people about the work of the RNLI. And the Dunbar lifeboat station has been in being for quite a time too.

Although Dunbar was reestablished as a station by the Institution in 1864, its history as a lifeboat station dates a long way back. There was a lifeboat there in 1808. In December, 1810, the lifeboat saved 45 men from HMS Pallas in two trips. Then in a third attempt the lifeboat capsized and a number of men were drowned.Floating chair The following story appeared in The New Zealand Herald on May 21, 1973: 'Mrs Amelia Pep, a chairman grandmother from New Zealand, allowed her vehicle to freewheel down the lifeboat launching ramp at Westhaven, Auckland. Because her chair was of a revolutionary design, having a large petrol consumption, and a correspondingly large petrol tank, and owing to that tank being half empty, Mrs Pep's chair floated out to sea while she remained in the doze that had cloaked her earlier glide. She was rescued, still asleep, by the five-crewed lifeboat returning from an exercise.'New badge Young Coltswear Ltd, of Farnham, Surrey, are producing a special RNLI supporter's badge for jersey use. They are marketing this, showing the flag and the word 'Supporter', by itself.

The badge sells for 60p (of which 20p will go to the RNLI) and for those who want to buy it through the post, the address to contact is Colts, 5 Hampstead High Street, Hampstead, NWS 1PR.

Orders by post should be accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope.

Stormy voyage In early May a party from the River Thames branch travelled to Dover to visit the lifeboat Faithful Forester. The party went on board for a sea passage which, due to the gale and sea conditions, 'gave the party a first-hand impression of the conditions in which the lifeboats so often have to operate'..