A LIFEBOAT HEROINE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 20

A LIFEBOAT HEROINE

CARRIES ON HER FATHER'S WORK.

. Tribute has been paid to Miss Lotitia French, by the Eoyal National Lifeboat Institution, for her remarkable work on their behalf. Sho is the only woman in the British Isles who actually 'administers 1, and carries on a lifeboat station, states the "Daily Chronicle."

■ "Miss Letitia," as she is known in the district by the rugged seafaring men of Palling^in Norfolk, has the responsibility of the Station from ono year's end to another. She is not merely a financial secretary of a district. It is her job to see that the crow is efficient and in readiness for every call. She has undertaken this responsibility for 23 years, and she has never failed.'.'

There has been a lifeboat on this part of the coast since 1852, and a second boat was placed there in 1870.

Sixty-one years ago Mr. Edward French took over charge of. the lifeboat station at Palling. He was an old seadog, with an heroic and honourable record. He had served in the Navy, and fought in the Crimea with tho Black Sea Fleet. He wag present at tho battles of Alma and Balaclava, and was in the first boat that .landed at the siege of SebastopoL. He took part in tho storming of the fort of St. Jean d 'Acre, and. was decorated for his services in that action.. After tho Crimea he took part in tlfe suppression of the slav 6 trade. . Mr. French left tho Navy in 1866, and. in the same year was appointed- chief officer of the Coastguard at Palling. Ha became at the same time hon. secretary of the Palling lifeboat station. He continued",in that position until his. death.., Miss-Letitia. was always deeply devoted to her father, and when he relinquished the nolm his daughter .determined to carry on. She. has now completed nearly a of a century's work, and during tho whole time, as an. official of the Lifeboat Institution, she has carried on the high traditions of her father in the service.

"In the 75 years the Palling lifeboats have been launched. 390 times and have rescued, 788 lives," said an official. "There axe : tew stations, anywhere round our coasts with a finer record, and of the stations on the Norfolk coast only Caister, -with its record of 1709 lives, has done greater service. Under Miss Letitia's direction the Palling lifeboats have been out on service 109 times and hayo rescued 209 lives. There is no other woman in the British Isles who can make the same claim. Miss French has been given special pprmission to wear the gold medallion presented to-, her fattier for his distlhgiushes gervlce.'-'- :." ' -"*."" ..'. .