ON SUNDAY, December 1, 1974, a service of thanksgiving and dedication on the 150th anniversary of the founding of the RNLI was held in St Giles' Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh. It was a simple but moving service, with clergy from different denominations taking part, though it was sad that the Very Rev. Dr. W. Roy Sanderson, representative of the Moderator of the General Assembly, could not attend on doctor's orders. Those taking part were Mr G.

Macmillan, Minister of St Giles', Cardinal G. Gray, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and the Most Rev. R. Wimbush, Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland.

The service started with a procession of Bailies and Councillors of the City of Edinburgh, in their scarlet and ermine robes, Lord Provosts, or their representatives, of other cities, members of the Scottish Lifeboat Council and senior representatives of the three armed services. As the choir and ministers processed we heard the first performance of Richard Arnell's 'A Lifeboat Voluntary', magnificently played on the organ by Herrick Bunney. The first lesson was read by the Duke of Atholl, Convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council, and the second by Coxswain G. C. Davidson, DSM BEM, of Kircudbright.

Between the lessons the choir sang Hubert Parry's 'I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into the house of the Lord', filling that old kirk with glorious sound. The Minister of St Giles' preached a fine sermon, and thelast hymn, before the benediction, was the seafarers' hymn 'Eternal Father'.

The stately grey kirk had a big congregation, among them members of various RNLI branches and guilds from all over Scotland, service personnel, Sea Scouts, many other organisations and the general public and schoolchildren. It was a memorable occasion for all those who were privileged to attend.

On that same evening an anniversary concert was held within the Usher Hall, Edinburgh. It was a grand occasion with special souvenir programmes and an obviously appreciative audience. The main attraction was the Regimental Band of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, lead by Bandmaster W. J. Simpson, FVCM LTCL ATSC, who started the concert with a first performance of his own composition 'The Two Maroons', dedicated to the Scottish lifeboat crews.

This set the pace for an excellent evening's entertainment. The Scottish Newhaven Fisherwomen's Choir sang traditional Scottish songs; the gay and lively sisters, Anne and Laura Brand, showed how talented they were as both played the piano and sang well-known, much-loved songs; and John Cairney, with his accompanist Harvey Wright, held the audience completely with his character sketches of McGonigal, Robert Burns and Ivor Novello.

After the interval, there was a short speech of thanks from the Duke of Atholl. The concert finally drew to a close with Sir Henry Wood's arrangement of British sea songs, followed by 'Abide with me' and the Last Post, with the trumpeter spotlighted in the far distance.

Signs of the evening having been enjoyed: members of the audience, some elderly, doing the pas-de-bas down the aisles of the Usher Hall, and out through the doors!—E. M. L-J..