WITH deep regret we announce the death on January 24 of Mrs Patricia Rickard.

Mrs Rickard (left) had worked for the RNLI since 1961, was a member of the London ladies' bridge committee and six years ago founded the Droitwich ladies' lifeboat guild. On December 31 she heard she had been awarded a silver badge for outstanding service, but was never to receive it personally. Much loved for herself, and much valued for her work, she will be greatly missed.

Ron Dixon retired as coxswain of Redcar lifeboat at the end of 1973 after more than 40 years' service. He joined the crew in 1932, was assistant motor mechanic from 1946 to 1955, and coxswain/mechanic from then until his retirement. Of the four lifeboats in which he served, his favourite was Aguilla Wren; his most hazardous time when, in his own fishing coble, he towed a mine ashore for defusing by the Navy.

David Aubrey, honorary secretary of Port Talbot ILB Station, has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study inshore rescue methods. He hopes to travel to the United States, spending most of his time there with the US Coastguard.

In the estate of the late Mrs R. M.

Reed, bequeathed to the RNLI, there were premium saving bonds to the value of £1,250 which were being retained until March 1974, when they had to be encashed. A note came from the executor bank last November to say that one of these bonds had been drawn for a prize of £50..