Coxswain George Parkhill, of .Kirkcudbright, has retired on account of illhealth.

The Institution has awarded him a certificate of service and, at his own choice, a gratuity in lieu of a pension. He is 59, and was appointed coxswain in 1908 at the early age of 23, after serving for * year and a half as bowman. He has been a coxswain for 36 years, a longer time than any other coxswain now in the Institution's fleet. He is also one of only three coxswains appointed before the last war who were still serving when this war began. The other two are Coxswain Robert Cross, of the Humber, appointed in 1912, who retired last year, and Coxswain Henry Blogg, of Cromer, appointed in 1909..