from page 87 Miss F. M. Coleman Honorary secretary of Shipston-on- Stour branch since 1940; awarded record of thanks in 1948 and silver badge in 1963.

Mrs A. L. Kenyon President of Bramhall and Woodford ladies' guild since 1953; awarded silver badge in 1969.

Mrs J. L. Weatherby Honorary Secretary of Alsager ladies' guild since 1953; awarded silver badge in 1965.

Mrs L. Rigby Vice-president of Silloth branch from 1952 to 1957 and president since 1957; awarded silver badge in 1971.

Mrs J. Matthews Chairman of Amble ladies' guild from 1954 to 1980; awarded silver badge in 1968.

J. Matthews Honorary secretary of Amble station branch from 1954 to 1979; awarded binoculars in 1965.

Mrs I. Ellis Committee member of Caernarvon branch before 1954, assistant honorary secretary from 1954 to 1958 and honorary secretary from 1958; awarded silver badge in 1968.

Miss K. Burnand Honorary secretary of Dumfries ladies' guild since 1954; awarded silver badge in 1965.

Mrs R. Dalgleish Vice-president of Selkirk ladies' guild since 1955, after having worked for the Institution for at least 16 years before taking office.

Mrs M. S. Russell Convener at Selkirk from 1947 to 1952; convener at Hawickfrom 1952 to 1970; honorary secretary of Hawick ladies guild from 1970 to 1979, when she retired from office due to ill health; awarded silver badge in 1965.

Miss A. Sutherland Graeme A founder member of Orkney Mainland ladies' guild, president from 1953 to 1973, when she retired from office due to ill health, and a guild member from 1973.

Mrs R. Traill Thomson Honorary treasurer of Orkney Mainland ladies' guild from 1953 to 1978, when she retired from office due to ill health, and a guild member from 1978.

Miss G. MacDonald Member of Peebles ladies' guild for very many years; awarded silver badge in 1960.

Mrs L. A. White Fund-raising organiser of Dublin ladies' guild particularly responsible for the souvenir shop since 1963; awarded silver badge in 1973.

C. A. Baxter, FBICC FRSA Honorary secretary of Kilkeel branch since 1958; awarded silver badge in 1969.

J. M. Owen In 48 years unbroken service for Rhyl station branch, shore crew from 1931 to 1935, lifeboat crew member from 1935 to 1952, acting honorary secretary from 1952 to 1957, honorary secretary from 1957 to 1977 and president since 1977; awarded binoculars in 1968. In addition to his operational duties Mr Owen is an active fund raiser.

Maj J. N. S. Allen-Mirehouse Honorary Secretary of Angle station branch since 1952; awarded binoculars in 1964.

Dr R. W. Adam Honorary medical adviser and chairman of Poole station branch since 1956. Dr Adam is also a member of the Medical and Survival Committee.

Mrs A. Will Committee member of Fraserburgh ladies' guild since before 1937.

To conclude the business of the afternoon Lady Norton, a member of the Committee of Management, moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Edward Heath for addressing the meeting and presenting the awards.FINANCE ACT 1980 and its effect on charitable gifts 1. Gifts Gifts to charities are wholly exempt from Capital Transfer Tax except that in the year prior to death the aggregate amount of money which one person can give to charities free of Capital Transfer Tax has been raised from £100,000 to £200,000.

2. Deeds of Covenant a. The period for which a covenant needs to run has been reduced from 'over six years' to 'over three years'.

b. From 1981/82 a taxpayer will be able to set his covenant payment (subject to a maximum of £3,000) against his higher-rate tax liability. In other words, the taxpayer may covenant a larger amount to the RNLI without ultimately decreasing the 'pound in his own pocket'. Take, for example, the application of the 1980 Act to a net covenant of £200 (that is, after-tax cost of £200 to the covenanter) by a taxpayer liable to a 50 per cent tax rate: to 1980/81 from 1981/82 £ £ After-tax cost to covenanting taxpayer Higher rate tax relief obtained (20 per cent) Net Covenant Tax at base rate (30 per cent) Gross Covenant: i.e. value to Institution 200.00 200.00 85.71 285.71 200.00 80.00 280.00 120.00 400.00 Thus, for the same ultimate out-of-pocket cost of £200.00 to the tax-payer, the RNLI will gain £114.29 if the net covenant is revised to £280 to take advantage of the tax relief offered. It is hoped, therefore, that existing covenantors will be prepared to increase their covenants to the higher net figure which will involve them in the same after-tax cost as before, while enabling the Institution to increase its claim upon the Inland Revenue..