DR NORA ACHESON who died in Aideburgh in 1981, in her eightieth year, had always been connected with the local lifeboat. It was thought that she was the first lady doctor ever to have gone to sea in an RNLI lifeboat on service when she stood in for her husband Dr Robin Acheson during the early part of the second world war.

Robin and Nora Acheson began practice in Aldeburgh in 1931, coming from Northamptonshire; Doctor Robin becoming doctor to Aldeburgh branch 15 years before the post of honorary medical adviser was formalised, and a member of the branch committee in 1938, He was branch chairman at the time of his death in 1959. Doctor Nora continued the practice up to a week before her death. She was made an Honoured Citizen of Aldeburgh in 1980 and was president of the local St John Ambulance Brigade; and it was she who founded the present Aldeburgh Cottage Hospital during the war following the complete destruction by enemy bombs of the original hospital in Aldeburgh High Street. She made many trips in Aldeburgh lifeboat during her lifetime and performed much valuable lifesaving work at sea, particularly during the war, when calls were frequent to ditched airmen.

Mrs Dorothy Jenkins, of Hemel Hempstead branch, and Mrs Doris Lamb, of Sandown, Isle of Wight, both received presentations from theirbranches recently for their long service.

Mrs Jenkins first sold flags 60 years ago, outside Buckingham Palace; Mrs Lamb first helped with fund raising in London 47 years ago and she was a founder member of Sandown and District branch ten years ago. It is with deep regret that we record the following deaths: March J. E. Roberts, MBE JP, Porthdinllaen station honorary secretary from 1937 to 1978. He was awarded binoculars in 1949, the gold badge in 1964, the bar to the gold badge in 1973, and honorary life governership in 1978.

Henry O. Thomas, coxswain of Torbay lifeboat from 1951 to 1960 after serving an assistant mechanic from 1941 to 1951. He was awarded the bronze medal in 1952 and the silver medal in 1959.

April Ronnie Aim, composer of 'The Heroes of Longhope', a tribute to the men who died in the Orkney lifeboat disaster played everywhere Scottish fiddlers got together. Mr Aim was involved in a road accident and died in hospital in Kirkwall.

John W. Sales, BEM, coxswain of Lerwick lifeboat from 1947 to 1969, after joining the crew in 1943 and serving as assistant mechanic from 1944 to 1947. He was awarded the bronze medal in 1956, the silver medal in 1958 and a framed letter of thanks signed by the chairman of the Institution in 1969.

May Robert Anderson, DSM, coxswain of Aith lifeboat from 1948 to 1965, after serving as bowman from 1946 to 1948.

Lady T. Ferens, president of Driffield ladies' guild for about 16 years.

Saltash branch has received £70 in memorial tributes from the family of the late Geoffrey Smith of St Germans, Saltash.

Mrs Phyllis Carpenter, for seven years an enthusiastic collector during London lifeboat week for West Drayton and Uxbridge branch, was knocked down in a hit and run car accident just before lifeboat week last March and died shortly afterwards. At the wish of her family, instead of floral tributes, donations amounting to £150 were given to the RNLI..