THE LIFE-BOATTHE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION

VOL. XXXIX MARCH 1966 No. 415

CONTENTSPORTRAIT OF A COXSWAIN 2

NOTES OF THE QUARTER 3

AWARDS FOR "CALCULATED COURAGE" 5

RESCUE DURING CONVALESCENCE 6

MEDAL FOR RESCUE FROM FISHING VESSEL . . . . . . . . . . J

RESCUE OF MAN CUT OFF BY TIDE 9

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY AWARD 9

VISITORS 10

THREE KNOT MARVEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

STAFF RETIREMENTS 13

NEW YEAR HONOURS 13

OBITUARIES 14

RICHARD DIMBLEBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET SIR HENRY OLIVER 15

FIRST VELLUM AWARD FOR I R B RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

I R B LAUNCHES . . . . . . 16

"WE HAVE TO GO OUT - WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK" 17

NATURE OF SERVICES BY INSHORE RESCUE BOATS . . . . . . . . 18

NATURE OF SERVICES BY LIFE-BOATS . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

RECORD OF RESCUES IN 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2O

SUMMARY OF SERVICES IN 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

INSHORE RESCUE BOATS ON SERVICE 22

LIFE-BOAT SERVICES ROUND THE COASTS 25

NEW WAYS OF RAISING MONEY 55

H.M. COASTGUARD 55

42, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.1.Advertising enquiries should be addressed to CHEIRON PRESS LTD.

3 CORK STREET, LONDON W.1. (REGENT 5301)

Portrait of a Coxswain

COXSWAIN ROBERT BUCHAN of the Humber is the superintendent coxswain ofthe only full-time life-boat crew in Britain or Ireland. He was appointed cox-swain in 1959 having served for seven years as a member of the crew. Duringsix of those years he was second coxswain. Since he became a member of thecrew the Humber life-boat has been launched 165 times and saved 41 lives.

NOTES OF THE QUARTERIn 1965 the life-boat service had by far its busiest year since the Institution was

founded in 1824. There were 1,038 launches by life-boats on service and 462 by inshorerescue boats. Life-boats saved the lives of 562 people and IRBs 265.

An all-time record for launches had been set up in 1964, yet there was an increase ofsomething like 28 -3 per cent on this figure last year. Some impression of how the workof the life-boat service has grown in the last few years can be gained from the followingtable:

Launches by RNLI Lives saved byrescue craft these craft

1962 833 4221963 863 3641964 1,168 5251965 1,500 777

NEW IRB STATIONS

The value of the Institution's inshore boats as a means of saving life has been provedbeyond question by the achievements of last year when the lives of no fewer than 215people were saved. In 1966 another 26 IRB stations are to be established. Of the sitesprovisionally chosen 18 are in England, 5 are in Wales, one is in Scotland, one is inIreland, and one is in the Isle of Man.

The English sites selected are:Amble, Bridlington, Burnham-on-Crouch, Bude, Clacton-on-Sea, Exmouth, Filey,Fleetwood, Littlehampton, Littlestone-on-Sea, Margate, Morecambe, Rye Harbour,Scarborough, Sunderland, Weston-super-Mare, Whitby, and West Kirby.

The Welsh sites are:Aberavon Beach (Port Talbot), Borth, Conway, New Quay (Cardiganshire), and Flint.The Scottish station will be at Kippford, the Irish station at Dun LaDghaireandthe

Isle of Man station at Port St. Mary.

ROUND TABLE SUPPORT

The inshore rescue boat seems to have made a particular appeal to members ofRound Tables in different parts of the country, and the RNLI is deeply indebted tothem for the provision of a number of new IRBs. The Barrow-in-Furness IRB wasprovided by the Barrow Round Table. Norwich Round Table provided the Happis-burgh IRB and Hemel Hempstead the Eastney IRB. The new IRB to be stationed atRye Harbour is the gift of the Beaconsfield Round Table. In addition, the boat shelterat Mudeford was provided by a special gift from members of the Christchurch RoundTable.

By courtesy of} [Arthur \V. Dick

Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., Chairman of the RNLI, seen on theoccasion of his visit to Flamborough in December. The retiring coxswain of theFlamborough life-boat, Dick Cowling, is on the left of the picture. Albert Duke, the new

coxswain, is on the right

NEW LIFE-BOAT STATION

The RNLI has decided to build a new life-boat station at Trevose Head in Cornwallat an approximate cost of £114,600. The work is expected to be completed in about twoyears.

When the new station becomes operational it will replace the existing Padstowstation, where conditions on the bar now seriously interfere with the operationalefficiency of the life-boat.

The new station will consist of a boathouse and slipway built on the foreshore at thefoot of the cliffs, which at that point are about 100 feet high. The life-boat will belaunched down a 240-foot slipway. A new road, a quarter of-a-mile long, will beconstructed from the Coastguard station to the top of the cliff.

Wave records have been taken over a period of two years on the site. These show thatit ought to be possible to launch the life-boat in any conditions, although in certaincircumstances re-housing may not always be possible immediately.

It is known that there was a life-boat station at Padstow before 1825. Since the RNLIlook over the station in 1856 Padstow life-boats have had a magnificent record, havingbeen launched on service 361 times and having saved 478 lives. From 1899 to 1962 thePadstow station regularly had two life-boats.

INSHORE RESCUE SCHEME EXTENSION

The inshore rescue scheme, which is operated jointly by the RNLI and H.M. Coast-guard, is to be extended in 1966 from the Scottish border to the River Clyde on thewest and the Firth of Forth on the east. This scheme was begun experimentally in1962 on the south coast of England between Selsey Bill and Swanage, including theIsle of Wight. All coastguard stations concerned keep a list of private boat owners whohave agreed to co-operate in the scheme and whose boats are considered suitable andgenerally available. The list includes the telephone numbers of the owners and parti-culars of the type of boat they own. The coastguard can, therefore, contact such peoplewithout delay. The RNLI undertakes to pay monetary awards for rescues, or attemptedrescues, to those participating in the scheme. The scale is that applying to members oflife-boat crews on service. The Institution will also reimburse the cost of fuel and payfor the replacement of any gear lost or damaged.

IRISH STATION RENAMED

The Cloughey life-boat station in County Down has been re-named Cloughey/Portavogie. The reason for this is that with the development of the harbour at Port-avogie it has become possible to keep a life-boat at permanent moorings in the harbour,and in consequence the 35-foot 6-inch Liverpool boat has been replaced by a 4i-footboat. The Cloughey station has a fine record. It was established in 1885, and since thenlife-boats from the station have launched on service 152 times and saved 311 lives.

Awards for "Calculated Courage"The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been awarded to seven

men who put out in the Portrush life-boat to search for survivors from a Norwegianfrigate on ist November, 1965.

At 9.16 that morning Mr. W. R. Knox, the honorary secretary of the Portrushstation, received an anticipatory message from the Senior Naval Officer, NorthernIreland, through H.M. Coastguard, Bangor, stating that five men had been lostoverboard from the Norwegian Frigate Bergen. The position given was 20 milesnorth-west of Portrush.

A north-westerly wind of storm force (force 10) was blowing. There were frequentsqualls causing poor visibility. It was two hours before high water and conditions atthe harbour entrance were described as "appalling".

ALL VOLUNTEERED

Mr. Knox discussed the situation with the coxswain, Robert McMullan. Thecoxswain decided to make an attempt to take the life-boat out of the harbour, andthe crew were assembled. They were told of the conditions at the harbour mouth,and they all volunteered to put out. Mr. Noble Ruddock, the District Engineer(Ireland), was on duty in the area and volunteered to join the crew.

The life-boat Lady Scott (Civil Service No. 4), which is one of the 46-foot g-inchWatson life-boats, was launched at 10.17. When she reached the harbour mouth a

high breaking sea struck her on the beam, and eye-witnesses said that it threw thelife-boat bodily broadside for a considerable distance. Coxswain McMullan turnedthe life-boat to meet the second sea head on and this broke overall. People who werewatching said that she appeared to leave the water and drop bodily into the troughof the sea. This happened several times before the boat reached deeper water.

After rather more than two hours the life-boat reached a position 5 miles north-eastof Inishowen Head, and the coxswain began a search of the area, reducing speed toease the pounding. The search continued without success until darkness fell. Con-ditions were too bad for the life-boat to return to Portrush and Coxswain McMullandecided to make for Greencastle.

The life-boat reached Greencastle at 6.28 in the evening and was refuelled andmade ready for sea. The next morning she returned to Portrush, where she wasrehoused at 9.28.

LIFE-BOAT DAMAGED BUT SEAWORTHY

By then it had been found that her bilge keel, stem-head fitting and ventilatorshad all been damaged, but the life-boat was still in a state of immediate seaworthiness.The radio telephone equipment had been swamped by a heavy sea but communica-tions were maintained throughout the service.

In his report, the District Inspector, Mr. G. R. Walton, expressed the view thatthe coxswain and crew "showed calculated courage in unanimously deciding tolaunch" and that they acted in the finest tradition of the Institution.

The seven men to whom the thanks of the Institution have been accorded areRobert McMullan, Coxswain; James Stewart, Second Coxswain; William H. Lee,Bowman; Gilbert Chambers, Motor Mechanic; Frederick Ernest Williams, AssistantMechanic; T. O'Neill, Life-boatman; and Noble George Ruddock, District Engineer(Ireland).

Rescue During ConvalescenceMr. and Mrs. E. C. Bawtree of Porthleven have received a letter of thanks signed

by the Chairman of the Committee of Management, Captain the Hon. V. M. Wynd-ham-Quin, R.N., for rescuing two boys who had been cut off by the tide at GillanCreek, near Helston, on i6th October, 1965.

At about 7.20 that evening the housekeeper at Lantinning Farm was working in thekitchen when she heard shouting outside. She went into the garden, which overlooksa beach, and heard a child crying for help from the opposite side of the creek. Sheimmediately returned indoors and told two guests, Mr. and Mrs. Bawtree, what shehad heard. Mr. Bawtree was convalescing at the time after osteo-myelitis, which hadresulted in severe toxaemia.

FLOOD TIDE CAUGHT DINGHY

He and his wife went to their car, which was parked overlooking the creek, andswitched on the headlights in the hope of being able to see what had happened. Theycould not see anybody in trouble, but Mr. Bawtree decided to pull across the creek

in his lo-foot pram dinghy, which was moored off the beach. He and his wife randown to their boat and started to pull across. Conditions were calm, but the dinghywas caught in the flood tide and carried upstream.

As the dinghy was carried towards the narrows Mrs. Bawtree saw something floatingin the water and then recognized it as a boy's check shirt. She and her husband grabbedhold and found that a small boy was floating face downwards and being kept afloatby the air in his shirt.

THOUGHT BOY WAS DEAD

With some difficulty they pulled him into the boat and at first thought he was dead.Mrs. Bawtree called out to discover whether there was anyone else in trouble, andthey heard another child answer. Mr. Bawtree rowed towards the rocks where hefound an older boy.

They took this boy aboard too and Mr. Bawtree rowed back across the creek. Asthey were approaching the shore they noticed signs of life in the first boy who hadbeen picked up, and as soon as the boat touched bottom Mrs. Bawtree jumped outand waded ashore, carrying the boy to the beach. There, with the help of some otherpeople, she gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

A motor boat then reached the scene, and the unconscious boy was taken back tothe farm by boat. Both boys were looked after by Miss Isabel Waters, the housekeeperat the farm, until the ambulance arrived to take them to hospital. They both recoveredand were discharged the next day.

Medal for Rescue from FishingVessel

Coxswain Gordon Elliott of Padstow has been awarded the Institution's silvermedal for gallantry for the rescue of two men from the fishing vessel Deo Gratiason 23rd November, 1965. The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum havebeen accorded to the other six members of the crew.

A report that the Deo Gratias was firing red flares was received by the honorarysecretary, Mr. A. G. Trembath, from the coastguard at 3.50 in the afternoon. Theposition was given as one mile north-west-by-north of Kellan Head. At 4.8 the life-boat Joseph Hiram Chadwick, which is one of the 52-foot Barnett class, slipped hermoorings.

FORCE 11

There was a westerly gale, gusting at times to violent storm (force n). The seawas very rough and visibility poor. It was an hour and a half before high water.

Conditions on the bar were bad and Coxswain Elliott made for Newland Islandbefore altering course to try to reach the fishing vessel.

The Southern Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Mountbatten had diverted a Shack-leton aircraft, which had been on a routine training flight, to the area. The aircraftarrived off Kellan Head at 4.40. In the light of flares dropped by the aircraft Coxswain

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Elliott sighted the Deo Gralias well to seaward of the position which had been reported,and he altered course accordingly.

MIZZEN CARRIED AWAY

The fishing vessel was riding head to wind with her mizzen set, but this carriedaway during a heavy squall and the fishing vessel broached, sheering about violentlyand drifting rapidly downwind.

The life-boat reached her about 5.10. The two men aboard the fishing vessel saidthey had lost their rudder, were making water and wanted to abandon ship. A linewas fired from the life-boat in an attempt to pass the tow-line, but this failed. A secondunsuccessful attempt was made, and by then the fishing vessel was settling rapidly bythe stern.

Coxswain Elliott realized that there was no time to make a further attempt to get aline aboard. He warned the two mechanics that they must respond to his orderspromptly and stationed the rest of his crew forward.

LIFE-BOAT CRASHED THROUGH BULWARK

He then waited for a lull and put the bow of the life-boat against the fishing vessel'sstarboard quarter. The two men were hauled aboard, and before he could go asterna heavy sea rolled the fishing vessel under the bow of the life-boat. The life-boatcrashed through her bulwark on to the deck.

By 6.5 the life-boat crew were able to send a radio message that they had taken thetwo men off the fishing vessel and were making for Padstow. The fishing vessel wasreported to be adrift and a danger to navigation.

Conditions continued to grow worse and the coxswain decided to go outside New-land Island and close the Gulland Rocks before turning into Stepper Point. Thelife-boat crossed the bar at 7.10 and was secured at Padstow quay ten minutes later.The two rescued men, who were suffering from shock, were met by relations anddriven to their homes. The life-boat was then re-fuelled and returned to her mooringsat 8 o'clock.

The six members of the crew to whom the Institution's thanks on vellum havebeen accorded are Ernest Murt, D.S.M., Acting Second Coxswain; Arthur Permewan,Acting Bowman; William George Pinch, Motor Mechanic; Horace Edward Murt,Assistant Mechanic; Philip May, Emergency Mechanic; Arthur May, Life-boatman.

NOTICE

All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretaryof the local branch or guild, or to Stirling Whorlow, Esq., Secretary, Royal NationalLife-boat Institution, 42 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.I.

All enquiries about the work of thi Institution or about this journal should beaddressed to the Secretary.

The next number of THE LIFE-BO.YT will be published in JUNE, 1966.

Rescue of man cut off by tideLetters of commendation signed by the Chairman of the Committee of Manage-

ment, Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., have been sent to Mr. JohnParsons of Luton and Master Michael Dunn of Highbridge for rescuing a man whowas cut off by the tide at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, on 28th August, 1965.

At 8 o'clock that evening a policeman was told that a man had been seen clingingto an iron post on the wall of the marine lake. The man was up to his waist in water,with waves breaking over him, and in danger of being swept into deep water.

The policeman went to call out the Burnham Surf Life-Saving Club and at thesame time two 15 year-old boys, Michael Dunn and Raymond Farthing, ran to thebreakwater where the local Council keeps a 12-foot fibre glass dinghy. The dinghy'sattendant, Mr. John Parsons, had gone off duty and the outboard motor and oarshad been locked away.

Mr. Parsons returned shortly afterwards with the intention of doing some fishing,but when he saw the man on the wall in danger he went to fetch the engine and gearfor the dinghy. With the help of three people he rigged the dinghy and got it to thewater edge and then asked Michael Dunn to accompany him.

A fresh breeze was blowing from the north-west and there was a choppy sea. Thetide was making at about 3 knots. The man and the boy launched the dinghy withsome difficulty through the breakers. As he approached the man on the wall Mr.Parsons cut the engine and rowed towards him.

The man on the wall was dressed in heavy fishing gear, and as he grabbed the sideof the dinghy he nearly capsized it. Mr. Parsons had to hold the iron post to steadythe boat and Michael Dunn helped the man in over the bows.

Royal Humane Society AwardThe Royal Humane Society awarded a testimonial on parchment, combined with aresuscitation certificate, to Police Sergeant Stephen Ferguson of the County Boroughof Hastings Police, and a resuscitation certificate to Motor Mechanic John Martin ofthe Hastings life-boat, for their rescue of a youth during the night of the i6/iythAugust, 1965.

Police Sergeant S. Ferguson and Motor Mechanic J. H. Martin had gone out in theHastings IRB to search for a dinghy, which they found about 200 yards south-west ofHastings pier at 12.54 a-m- The dinghy was empty, but splashing was observed in thewater some distance away and the IRB reached this spot as a youth was seen disappear-ing beneath the surface. Sergeant Ferguson dived fully clothed into the sea and got thecasualty, who was apparently drowned, into the IRB and immediately started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The IRB arrived back at her station at i a.m. The patient was landed and MechanicMartin took over the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation whilst Sergeant Ferguson gavecardiac massage. The youth regained consciousness as a result of this treatment andwas removed to hospital.

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VISITORSVisits by French, Dutch and Spanish delegations, on behalf of their respective life-

boat societies, took place in November and January.The Netherlands delegation, headed by the Director of the North and South

Holland life-boat societies, Lieut.-Commander C. L. van der Zweep, R.N.N., accom-panied by the Inspector, Mr. Klijn, and the Inspector of the Royal South HollandLife-boat Society, Mr. B. R. de Jong, arrived on the fth November 1965 for a three-dayvisit. They joined the first of the yo-foot life-boats at Oban for passage to the Clyde.A call was made at Campbeltown on the way. Later the delegation visited Yarrow'syard and were shown over the second yo-foot life-boat under construction. TheNetherlands delegation also visited the Head Office of the R.N.L.I.

Captain Y. Durand-Gasselin, Chief Inspector of the French Central Life-boatSociety, arrived in London on 9th January, 1966 for a week. On the loth he visitedLittlehampton, where he was met by Mr. R. A. Oakley, M.B.E., M.R.I.N.A., the Institu-tion's Naval Architect, and inspected life-boats under construction at the yard ofWilliam Osborne.

The 44-foot steel boat to American (U.S.C.G.) design was also inspected at Little-hampton, and afterwards a call was made at the Newhaven life-boat station. Thenext day Hastings life-boat station was visited.

On the I3th January, a visit was made to Yarrow's yard on the Clyde to inspect theyo-foot life-boat under construction. While in the area Captain Y. Durand-Gasselinsaw the inshore rescue boat station at Helensburgh. The following day he took partin sea trials of the first yo-foot life-boat.

The Spanish delegation arrived on the lyth January for a five-day visit. SenorJuan M. Paster, Secretary General of the Spanish Life-boat Society, was accompaniedby Lieut.-Commander Luis Monereo. After visiting Head Office and the Depot atBoreham Wood the deputation travelled by night train to Penzance.

On the 18th January, St. Ives, Sennen Cove, and Falmouth life-boat stations werevisited, and on the igth, Lizard' Cadgwith, and Coverack.

On the 2oth Mr. Oakley accompanied the delegation to William Osborne's yard atLittlehampton, where they inspected the life-boats under construction. Later that daythey visited Selsey life-boat station, and on the following day saw the stations atShoreham, Newhaven, and Hastings.

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET

147 life-boats 24 inshore rescue boats

LIVES RESCUED 86,602from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to 31st December, 1965

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GERRUX

The Red Hand Compositions Co.THE MARINE DIVISION OF PINCHIN JOHNSON AND ASSOCIATES LIMITED

HENRIETTA HOUSE • 9 HENRIETTA PLACE • LONDON Wl • TELEPHONE: MUSEUM 4213-8

Three Knot MarvelBy Bernard Loftus

The launching ceremony and trial run of a four-foot scale model of the Howthlife-boat took place recently at Baldoyle. The builder, twenty years old Derick Rileyof "Alverno", Strand Road, Baldoyle, Dublin, is a science student at UniversityCollege Dublin.

Derick decided to build the scale model three years ago when he was present atthe naming of the Howth life-boat, but it was not until July of last year that he started,when he had access to the original blueprints of the 4y-foot Watson type boat.

He spent most of his holidays working on the model, which is built on a scale ofone inch to the foot. She is 47 inches long with a beam of 13 inches and a draught of4^ inches. With fuel and equipment on board she weighs 36 Ibs. The rudder control

By courtesy of] [B. Loftm, Dublin

Derick Riley and his model of the Howth life-boat

is power assisted by an electric motor. She has twin screws driven by an 8 c.c. water-cooled diesel engine giving her a maximum speed of just over three knots.

Most of the fittings on the model were made by Derick himself. The super-structureis of plywood with glass-fibre in places to mould curved parts.

The exhaust, as in the original life-boat, has two outlets. One under the waterlineto discard oil, the other, for smoke, from the mast-head. To make it even more realistic

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the model has a crew of miniature life-boat men. The total cost of materials used inthe construction was about £25.

Derick has appeared on Irish television with his model and has entered it for adisplay at Helys of Dame Street, Dublin during a model fortnight. Later on, Derickhopes to fit a radio control unit into the model and give displays to raise funds for theHowth life-boat.

By courtesy of] [Perkins Engines Ltd.

Members of Cromer No. 2 life-boat crew inspect a marine diesel engine during avisit to the Peterborough headquarters of the Perkins Engine Group

STAFF RETIREMENTSMembers of the Institution's staff who retired in 1965 after more than fifteen years'service were:

Mr. V. G. Parsons, 40 years. Assistant Superintendent of Depot.Mr. J. A. Ashford, 44 years. Senior Clerk at Depot.Mrs. N. A. Rooke, M.B.E., 42 years. Office Registrar.

NEW YEAR HONOURSRear Admiral Sir Edmund Irving, C.B., F.R.S.A., a member of the Committee of

Management, has been made a K.B.E. in the New Year Honours list.Mr. W. R. Edwards, honorary secretary of the Ramsey, Isle of Man, life-boat

station, has been awarded the M.B.E.

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OBITUARIESCOMMANDER LORD SEMPILL, R.N.V.R.

A Vice-President of the Institution since 1954 Lord Sempill, who died on 3othDecember, 19563 had served on the Committee of Management from 1927 until hebecame Vice-President and had served on the boat and construction, and generalpurposes and publicity committees. His long and valuable devotion to the RNLIwill be remembered with gratitude, but aviation was the great interest of his life.

After serving an engineering apprenticeship with Rolls Royce he joined the RoyalFlying Corps in August 1914. In 1919 he retired from the Service - by then the RoyalAir Force - and devoted himself to the cause of British aviation. A pioneer withcourage and enthusiasm, he competed in the King's Cup Air Race from 1924 to1930 and was the author of several aviation books, notably Wanderings Along a FutureCommercial Air Route. He was President of the Royal Aeronautical Society from1927 to 1930.

He also made his mark in industry, pioneering new ideas and urging the need fortechnological progress at a time when the urgency of this, for Britain, was not appre-ciated.

EX-COXSWAIN JOHN WAITERS

Ex-coxswain John Watters died on 2nd September, 1965, aged 66. He had beencoxswain of Fowey life-boat for more than 25 years and was awarded the RNLFsbronze medal for gallantry in 1947 f°r a difficult and perilous rescue in heavy seasand darkness. He had taken out the life-boat when the call came, though he hadbeen injured by a fall. The service is reported in full on page 46 of THE LIFE-BOATfor September, 1947

RICHARD DIMBLEBYRichard Dimbleby who died on the 22nd December, 1965 at the age of 52 was anactive supporter and friend of the life-boat service. To a man, such as he was, of greatpersonal courage and deep sincerity and with a passionate interest in people the life-boat service made a particular appeal. Among a number of life-boat stations at whichhe was personally known were Southend-on-Sea, where he was dragged throughthe water by breeches buoy, and Walmer, from where the life-boat took him out overthe Goodwin Sands in thoroughly disagreeable conditions. Shortly after his visit toWalmer he was invited to make an appeal on behalf of the life-boat service. He readilyagreed and in characteristic fashion he took the greatest care in the preparation of theappeal. The appeal was broadcast by the B.B.C. in the Home Service on 2ist February,1954. Among those who responded were a bedridden invalid in her 94th year, twoelderly African missionaries, an infant school in Scotland, and children in Worcester-shire in a class whose average age was seven.

Television is such an intimate medium that millions of people felt the loss of RichardDimbleby as a personal affliction. To those who had the privilege of knowing him theloss is one which can never be made good.

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Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry OliverIn the December 1965 issue an obituary notice appeared of the late Admiral of the

Fleet Sir Henry F. Oliver, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., M.V.O., which was necessarily brief becauseof pressure on space. It would, indeed, be difficult to do justice to his remarkablecareer in the service of the Royal Navy in less than a volume.

Sir Henry Oliver entered the Royal Navy as long ago as 1878. Within 35 years hehe had risen to the rank of Rear-Admiral, and in the first year of the First World Warhe became Chief of Admiralty War Staff. He became a member of the Board ofAdmiralty and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff in 1917 and in the next year commandedthe First Battle Cruiser Squadron He was promoted Admiral of the Fleet in 1928 andwas placed on the retired list five years later, but in the Second World War he wasrestored to the active list.

The achievement for which Sir Henry was probably best known was a feat of naviga-tion to which there are few parallels. In 1901 he brought the Channel Squadron fromthe West Coast of Scotland to the Stilly Isles through thick fog, which never let up,the whole operation being carried out with a precision which could not have beenbettered with all the aids to navigation available today.

By courtesy of] [Lensmen Ltd., Dublin

Part of the dramatic display arranged by Noel E. Gleeson Ltd., in their car showroomsin Dublin, in January 1966. Emphasis was on the sale of souvenirs and in thefirst four

days sales amounted to nearly £15. The display was to last for several weeks

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first Vellum Award for IRBRescue

For the first time ever the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have beenaccorded for a service by an inshore rescue boat. The service was carried out by theEastney IRB on 3ist October, 1965, when six men were saved from a fishing launch.The IRB station has been accorded a collective vellum, and vellum service certificatesare being issued to the three members of the crew, Dr. I. T. McLachlan, Mr. R.Cook Radmore and Mr. S. Thayers.

At 4.32 in the afternoon the Needles Coastguard told Dr. McLachlan, who is thehonorary secretary of the IRB station and was acting duty coxswain at the time, thatsix men in a fishing vessel anchored about 400 yards south of Hayling Island fun fairwere reported to be waving for help.

The assembly signal was made one minute later, and two minutes after that theEastney IRB put out at full speed.

The wind was blowing from the south-west, and there was a rough sea, especiallyon Langstone bar. Visibility was poor and darkness was falling. It was one hour afterhigh water.

The IRB reached the 28-foot fishing launch Silver Spray at 4.46. At the secondattempt she came alongside the port quarter of the launch and took off four men.She then returned across the bar, where the confused sea made entry into the harbourdifficult and hazardous. At 5.5 the four men were landed at Eastney Coastguardstation and two minutes later the IRB put out again. She took off the two remainingmen in darkness and finally reached Eastney at 5.40.

IRB LAUNCHESIn addition to the services by IRB's which resulted in saving lives and which arerecorded in full elsewhere in THE LIFE-BOAT, the following launches on service weremade during the months of September to November, 1965, inclusive:

Abersoch, Caernarvonshire - September 2gth.Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire - September 26th.Bangor, Co. Down - October yth.Barrow, Lancashire - October 9th.Bembridge, Isle of Wight - September ist, 4th, 8th.Bournemouth, Hampshire - October yth.Brighton, Sussex - September 2yth.Droughty Ferry, Angus - October 3rd, 5th, 6th, November nth, :8th.Cullercoats, Northumberland - September i8th.Eastney, Hampshire - September 3rd, 8th, 25th (twice), 26th, October 3rd, 8th,

24th, 30th (twice).Gt. Yarmouth & Gorleston, Norfolk - September iyth, October iyth.Harwich, Essex - September 2nd, gth, October loth, 3151.Hastings, Sussex - September 2ist.Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - September i6th, 23rd.Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire - September ipth.Moelfre, Anglesey - September ist (twice), 3rd, 22nd, October 5th.Mudeford, Hampshire - September 3rd, 4th, 2oth, 2yth, November 2nd, I4th.

16

Newquay, Cornwall - September roth, 20th.Poole, Dorset - September 27th, 3oth.Porthcawl, Glamorganshire - September 6th.Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - September ist, 3rd.St. Ives, Cornwall - September 8th, I3th, I5th, 25th.Southend-on-Sea, Essex - September i8th, November ist.Southwold, Suffolk - September I2th.The Mumbles, Glamorganshire - September ist, nth, October 3rd.Torbay, Devon - September zoth.Tynemouth, Northumberland - October loth, 3oth.Walmer, Kent - September 5th, 9th.Whitstable, Kent - September loth, 25th, 29th, November 5th.Worthing, Sussex - September gth.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - November 9th.

'We have to go out -we don't have to come back/

"Some years ago, when a life-boat was about to be launched in the teeth of a gale,someone said to the coxswain: 'You can't go out in a sea like that—you'll nevercome back.' The coxswain replied, 'We have to go out—we don't have to come back.' "

So began a B.B.C. television feature They have to go out..., which was shown toScottish viewers on Sunday I4th November, 1965. The words were spoken by theRev. James Wood, who gave the commentary throughout the half-hour programme.Many filmed sequences showing life-boats being launched and at sea were used. TheAberdeen life-boat was prominent and its coxswain, Mr. Leo Clegg, was interviewedin the studio by the Rev. James Wood.

The late Tom Sinclair, who was coxswain of the Aberdeen life-boat from 1924 to1949, was recalled by the Rev. James Wood, and this part of the programme wasillustrated by photographs of the late coxswain's certificates and medals.

Occasions when life-boatmen have failed to come back were recalled, the BroughtyFerry and Fraserburgh tragedies being mentioned.

Diploma de Voto de GraciasThe Spanish Life-boat Society has presented a certificate—their Diploma de Voto

de Gracias—to the coxswains and crews of the Sennen Cove and Penlee life-boats asa token of deep appreciation for their efforts to locate the crew of the Spanishship Juan Ferrer, which was lost at Lamorna Cove in the early hours of the 23rdOctober, 1963. The Penlee life-boat found the captain clinging to some wreckage.A full report of the service was given on page 29 of the March 1964 issue of THELIFE-BOAT.

Copies of the certificate have been framed for display in the respective boat-houses.

17

NATURE OF SERVICES BY INSHORERESCUE BOATS

CLASS

Fishing boats -all types

Motor vessels, motorboats, etc.

Sailing yachts, sailingdinghies, sailing boats3motor cruisers andmotor yachts

Aircraft

Small boats, canoes,rubber dinghies, etc.

Landing sick persons,help to bathers, peopleon cliffs, rocks, or cutoff by tide

Miscellaneous : rocketsand flares, etc.

1964

No. % oftotal

15 6-3

31 13

63 26-5

_ —

63 26-5

37 15-5

29 12-2

238 ioo

1965

No. % oftotal

II 2-4

8 1-7

159 34-3

I -2

153 33-2

84 18-2

46 10

462 ioo

% of total services

0 10 20 30 40

~"1(I9<?4)

If 1965

(1964)

JX965

(1964)

1965

(1964)

|i965

(1964)

1965

(1964)

ji9«5

(1964)

|i9<S5

0 10 20 3O 40of total services

Note: In 1964 there were 27 inshore rescue boats in service and in 1965,48.

18

NATURE OF SERVICES BY LIFE-BOATS

CLASS

Fishing boats -all types

Motor-vessels,steamers, barges,motor boats, etc.

Sailing yachts, sailingdinghies, sailing boats,motor cruisers, andmotor yachts

Aircraft

Small boats, canoes,rubber dinghies, etc.

Landing sick persons,and taking but doctors,help to bathers,people on cliffs, rocks,or cut off by tide

Miscellaneous ; rocketsand flares, lightvesselreliefs, etc.

1964

No. % oftotal

179 19-6

119 12-6

232 25

19 a

113 I2-I

149 16-1

119 12-6

930 ioo

1965No. % of

total

196 18-9

105 IO-I

238 22-9

17 X-6

140 13-5

165 15-9

177 I7-I

1038 100

% of total services

o 10 20 30

1 (1964)1 1965

(1964)1965 1965

1i J965

J (1964)

|f 19*5

(1964)

JI965

| (1964)

j 1965

(1964)

1 1965

0 10 20 30% of total services

19

RECORD OF RESCUES IN 1965

1965 month

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

Number of timeslife-boats calledout on service

1965

633854907298

1041791 0276

10458

1,038

Lives saved bylife-boats

1965

304

36779544579157232919

562

£?

"3 sa jz4-1 ^

%*

1965

332

241719163618955

157

£

f, o

§ 3^T3 0

°3>4> nj cjj

Is"1-1

19653i2

172465

107141

592698

462

.0

T3OJ .CO

rt W

CO *H

3

1965. —

——181536445619234

215

jo

"S.-CO

M 9

£"nu

1965I

——37

131921

933

79

•aCJ M

o'S §"5 o°'3_g>a|

l.c-3

3|"°

1965

9

ii24

593280261992

322

SUMMARY OF SERVICES IN 1965Number of times life-boats called out on serviceNumber of times inshore rescue boats called out on service

Number of lives saved by life-boatsNumber of lives saved by inshore rescue boatsNumber of lives saved in shore-boat cases recognized by the Institution

1,038462

1,500

562215322

1,099

20

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Inshore Rescue Boats on ServiceLaunches on service from 1st September to 3oth November, 1965, which resulted in

the rescue of people in difficulties are described in chronological order below.

Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire. At 12.50p.m. on ist September, 1965, the coast-guard notified the mechanic that a smallboat was in difficulties off Carreg-y-Defaid. At 12.54 tne IRB launched in agentle to moderate northerly breeze andsmooth sea. She came up with a dismasteddinghy which had one person on boardwith only one oar. The dinghy's occupantwas unable to make any headway in theprevailing conditions and the dinghy wastaken in tow. The IRB returned to herstation at 1.27 a.m.

Southwold, Suffolk. At 11.35 a.m.on 2nd September, 1965, the coast-guard notified the honorary secretarythat a sailing dinghy had been dismastedapproximately one mile offshore and wasbeing blown out to sea. At 11.40 the IRBlaunched in a gentle to moderate north-north-easterly breeze and choppy sea.She found the yacht, which had threepeople aboard. Two of them weretransferred to the IRB, which then tookthe yacht in tow. The IRB returned to herstation at 12.23 P-m-

Llandudno, Caernarvonshire. At7.29 p.m. on 5th September, 1965, theacting honorary secretary was told by thepolice that a yacht had capsized in theConway estuary. At 7.40 the IRB laun-ched in a moderate to fresh north-wester-ly breeze and moderate sea. On reachingthe yacht, which had a crew of two, theIRB took one aboard and then the secondcrew member, who had been rescued by ashore boat from Conway, was transferredto the IRB. The :wo people rescued werelanded at Deganwy and the IRB returnedto her station at 8.40 p.m.

Eastney, Hampshire. At 2.23 p.m.on 5th September, 1965, the coastguardreported that a bather was in difficultiesoff Eastney beach. At 2.24 the IRBlaunched in a slight south-westerlybreeze and slight sea. The bather was

22

embarked and taken to the beach. TheIRB returned to her station at 2.59 p.m.,

Whitstable, Kent. At approximately2.15 p.m. on 8th September, 1965, thehonorary secretary was told that a smalldinghy with one person on board was indifficulties a half a mile off shore. At 2.20the IRB launched in a strong south-westerly breeze and short steep seas. Shefound the man from the dinghy clingingto a boat at a mooring. He had jumpedoverboard to swim ashore when thedinghy's outboard engine would notstart, as he could not make any progressby rowing. The IRB brought him ashore,then his father, who had put out in asmall boat to search for him, was seen tobe in difficulties. His engine had run outof fuel and he had lost an oar. The IRBtook the boat in tow and returned to herstation at 3 p.m.

Torbay, Devon. At 12.10 p.m. oniith September, 1965, the coastguardsaw a sailing dinghy capsize off the northend of Brixham Breakwater. Two peoplewere visible in the water. At 12.17 tne

IRB launched in a fresh to strong west-north-westerly breeze and choppy sea.She found three people in the water.After taking them ashore the IRBtowed in their dinghy and returned to herstation at 1.5 p.m. The mother of therescued made a donation to the Institu-tion's funds.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston,Norfolk. At 2.30 p.m. on i8th Septem-ber, 1965, the IRB launched to go to theassistance of a person on board a pleasurecruiser which had grounded at BreydonWater the previous day. There was afresh gusting to strong breeze blowingfrom the south-east and a rough sea. Thetide was full. The IRB took the man onboard and conveyed him to the ex-Cromer No. 2. life-boat, now owned byMr. C. Peacock, who had put out in

support of the IRB service. The IRBreturned to her station at 4.30 p.m.

Mudeford, Hampshire. At 6.2 p.m.on 20th September, 1965, the coast-guard reported that a dinghy had cap-sized about half a mile west of the har-bour entrance. At 6.5 the IRB launchedin a slight southerly breeze and acorresponding sea with heavy groundswell. She found two people clinging tothe capsized dinghy. They were taken onboard the IRB, which returned to herstation at 6.25 p.m.

North Sunderland, Northumber-land. At 12.2 p.m. on 2ist September,1965, the coastguard told the honorarysecretary that a yacht had capsized inNewton Bay and that two people werebelieved to be on board. At 12.5 the IRBlaunched in a fresh gusting to strongsouth-westerly breeze and slight sea. Shefound a dinghy with a crew of three. Ahelicopter was in attendance.

The dinghy was taken in tow and hercrew transferred to the M.F.V. Children'sFriend. The IRB returned to her stationat i.20 p.m. It was found later that theM.F.V. Flourish had picked up fivepeople from the capsized yacht reportedin distress by the coastguard, and thatthe dinghy, which the IRB found andassisted, was the sailing club rescueboat. It had gone to the assistance of theyacht when it had been reported that herengine had failed.

Tynemouth, Northumberland. At3.25 p.m. on 22nd September, 1965, themotor mechanic reported that a dinghyhad capsized in the estuary and that hercrew were having difficulty in baling herout. At 3.39 the mechanic reported thatthe dinghy had capsized again near theend of the North Pier and that herthree crew were in the water and wereunable to regain the boat to bale her out.At 3.44 the IRB went out and took aboardtwo of the dinghy's crew of three. Theremaining crew member stayed on boardthe dinghy to bale her out whilst theIRB towed the boat towards the shore.During the tow a sailing dinghy took oneof the dinghy's crew off the IRB and

landed her. The crew member on boardthe dinghy was unable to make anyprogress baling her out and so he wastransferred to the IRB, which returnedto her station at 4.30 p.m.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 11.55a.m. on 9th October, 1965, the coast-guard notified the coxswain that asailing dinghy had capsized one and a halfmiles east of the station. At 12 o'clockthe IRB launched at high water in astrong east-south-easterly breeze and arough sea. She found the dinghy with twopeople on board. They were embarkedand with the dinghy in tow the IRBreturned to her station, which wasreached at 12.30 p.m.

Tramore, Co. Waterford. At 4.25p.m. on 9th October, 1965, the honorarysecretary was told by the police thatcries for help had been heard comingfrom the sea half a mile east of the station.At 4.30 the IRB launched on a floodingtide in a moderate easterly breeze and achoppy sea. She found three bathers, andthree youths who had climbed down thecliffs to help them. One of the bathershad got into difficulties when swimmingand had been brought ashore by the twoother bathers. The exhausted bathercould only be taken off the beach byboat, so the IRB was taken close inshoreand the bather put aboard. The crewthen waded out with the IRB until shewas clear of the rocks and the enginecould be started. She returned to herstation at 4.45 p.m. where an ambulanceand doctor were waiting.

Aberdovey, Merionethshire. At 9.15p.m. on 9th October, 1965, the policereported that three wildfowlers werestranded on the south bank of the estuary.At 9.30 the IRB launched on an ebbingtide in a south easterly gale and a roughsea. She went to the south side of theestuary and took aboard a man who gavethe position of the stranded wildfowlers.On reaching the spot he helped the crewto get the three wildfowlers and their dogon board. They were taken ashore to awaiting ambulance. The crew decided inview of the weather conditions to leave

23

the IRB on the south side of the estuary.They returned to Aberdovey by car. TheIRB was returned to her station the nextday.

of this service, for which special awardswere made, appears on page 16.

Barrow, Lancashire. At 3.53 p.m.on iyth October, 1965, a member of thecrew told the motor mechanic that asailing dinghy was in difficulties with abroken mast three quarters of a milesouth by east of the station. At 4 o'clockthe IRB launched in a moderate west-south-westerly breeze and a choppy sea.She found the sailing dinghy Taurus,with two people on board. The dinghyhad been holed when the mast hadbroken. She was taken in tow to RoaIsland, then the IRB returned to herstation, which was reached at 4.30 p.m.

Atlantic College, Glamorganshire.At 2.30 p.m. on 28th October, 1965,while the two IRB's (Nos. 33 and 38)were on exercise, with four sailingdinghies and the Atlantic College boatAphrodite, the breeze freshened. The tidehad just started flooding and becameturbulent, causing a dinghy to get intodifficulties. Aphrodite went to the dinghy'sassistance, but while trying to take her intow the engine stalled and could not bestarted. The Aphrodite was anchored andlater towed ashore by IRB No. 38.

The remaining dinghies were by nowin difficulties and drifting capsized to theeast, only being upright for short periods.IRB No. 33 went to one dinghy, but asudden breaking wave flooded and stalledthe engine. IRB No. 38 went to two ding-hies and took oflf their crews after thedinghies had been anchored. When theircrews had been taken ashore she returnedto IRB No. 33 and took off her crew ofthree. It was decided not to bring No. 33ashore, so she was anchored for thenight. No. 38 returned to her station at4.40 p.m.

Eastney, Hampshire. On 3ist Octo-ber, 1965, the Eastney IRB rescued sixmen from a fishing launch. A full account

24

Whitstable, Kent. At 11.32 a.m. on6th November, 1965, a member of thepublic told the honorary secretary that asmall sailing dinghy had capsized half amile to a mile off shore, and that after thetwo people aboard her had managed toright her the dinghy capsized again andlost her mast. At 11.37 the IRB launchedin a strong north-easterly breeze andmoderate sea. The dinghy's crew weretaken on board the IRB and the dinghywas righted. One of the crew was returnedto the dinghy, which was taken in tow.The second crew member, who wasexhausted, remained in the IRB. Shereturned to her station at 12.10 p.m.

Eastney, Hampshire. At 4.15 p.m.on 6th November, 1965, a fisherman toldthe honorary secretary that a wildfowlerwas waving for assistance on SouthBinness Island. After receiving confirma-tion of the report from the FisheryOfficer the IRB was launched at 4.30 on aflooding tide in a moderate gusting tofresh easterly breeze and slight sea. TheIRB searched South Binness Island butfound no trace of the wildfowler. Eventu-ally the wildfowler's punt was found in awater-logged condition moored to drain-pipes on Nap Island. Footprints leadingto South Binness Rythe were also found.After searching Long Island the IRBwent to North Binness Island and foundtwo canoes with a boy on board each ofthem. The youngsters were unable tomake any headway towards StorehouseQuay in the strong wind, so they weretaken on board the IRB. With the twocanoes alongside she returned to herstation, which was reached at 6.30 p.m.It was later established that the wildfowlerusually kept his punt moored to thedrainpipes and made his way ashore in adinghy, and on this occasion the signalsfor assistance came from the boys in thecanoes, not from the wildfowler.

Life-boat services round the Coasts

LAUNCHES AND LIVES SAVED

1st September to 30th November: Launches 282, lives saved 109

SeptemberNORTH-EAST ENGLAND

Boulmer, Northumberland. At 8.20a.m. on 25th September, 1965, thecoastguard informed the coxswain thatsome of the local fishing cobles were stillat sea in deteriorating weather conditionsand might need assistance to return to theharbour over the bar. At 8.50 the life-boat Robert and Dorothy Hardcastle laun-ched on an ebbing tide in a moderatesouth-easterly breeze and slight sea. Shecame up with the fishing coble VioletStephenson of Boulmer about one and ahalf miles north of Boulmer. The coblemade several attempts to enter the har-bour, but was unable to enter in safety.The life-boat then escorted her to Craster.After standing by until the VioletStephenson and a Craster boat had safelyentered the harbour the life-boat returnedto her station at 12.40 p.m.

FOULED PROPELLERBridlington, Yorkshire. At 7.25 p.m.

on 17th September, 1965, the honorarysecretary was informed by the coast-guard that a local fishing boat was towinga trawler and the help of the life-boat wasbeing requested. At 7.37 the life-boatTittie Morrison, Sheffield II was launchedand came up with the trawler YolandeAnnie, of Grimsby, in tow of the motorfishing vessel Our Catherine, two milessouth of Flamborough Head. A gale wasblowing from the south-south-east, thesea was rough and the tide was flooding.The trawler had fouled her propeller.The life-boat escorted both vessels to theharbour and fired parachute flares toilluminate the harbour entrance. OurCatherine and Yolande Annie entered the

harbour safely at 8.40 and the life-boatremained there on account of the weatherand was rehoused at 8.30 a.m. on the18th.

Filey, Yorkshire. At 10 a.m. on 3rdSeptember, 1965, the honorary secretary,concerned for the safety of two fishingcobles which were at sea in deterioratingweather conditions, consulted with thecoastguard. It was decided to launch thelife-boat Isa and Penryn Milsted and sheset out at 10.10 in a strong north-westerlywind with a rough sea. It was high water.She soon found the two cobles, GuidingStar and Sea Witch, and escorted themsafely to harbour, which was reached ati p.m.

Hartlepool, Co. Durham. At 4.30p.m. on i2th September, 1965, the coast-guard informed the coxswain that a yachthad capsized two miles north of Hartlepool.There was a light north-easterly breezewith a calm sea. The life-boat PrincessRoyal (Civil Service No, 7) was launchedat 4.40 on a flood tide and soon came upwith the yacht, which had been rightedand was proceeding in company withanother yacht. Their crews drew thecoxswain's attention to a speedboatwhose engine had failed. The life-boattook the speedboat in tow to Hartlepool,arriving at 5.10 p.m.

SKIN DIVER RESCUEDFlamborough, Yorkshire. At 5.30

p.m. on 26th September, 1965, the cox-swain was told by the coastguard that askin diver was in difficulties a quarter of amile south of the station. The life-boatcrew were asked to stand by, and shortlyafterwards the coastguard requested thelife-boat to launch. The life-boat FriendlyForester launched at 6 o'clock in a gentle,

25

gusting to moderate south-easterly breezeand moderate sea. It was one hour beforehigh water. The skin diver was foundclinging to the cliff face. He was beingpounded by the heavy sea swell.

The life-boat dropped anchor abouteighty yards from the cliff and cameastern on the cable to the cliffs. When thelife-boat was twenty feet away from thecliff a wave broke over the man and helost his grip and fell into the sea. For-tunately he was able to hold on to a linethrown to him and he was taken onboard the life-boat. It was found that hisleg had been injured by the heavy seas,which had pounded him whilst clingingto the cliff face. The life-boat returned toher station at 6.35 p.m.

Humber, Yorkshire. At 3.30 p.m.on 2ist September, 1965, the honorarymedical adviser informed the coxswainsuperintendent that the Lebanese S.S.Areti off Spurn Point had a sick seamanon board who required medical attention.There was a moderate south-westerlybreeze and it was one hour after highwater. The life-boat City of Bradford IIIlaunched at 3.45 with the honorarymedical adviser on board.

After the sick man had been examinedhe was transferred to the life-boat andlanded at Spurn, where an ambulancewas waiting to take him to hospital. Thelife-boat arrived back at her station at5.25 p.m.

On Wednesday 29th September, thelife-boat again launched to the 5.S.Areti with the honorary medical adviseron board, following a report that anothermember of her crew was sick. There wasa light south-westerly breeze with aslight sea. The sick man was transferredto the life-boat and landed at Spurnwhere an ambulance was waiting. Thelife-boat arrived back at her station at8.15 p.m.

LIFE-BOAT STOOD BYAt 10.52 a.m. on 25th September, 1965,

the coxswain superintendent was notifiedby the coastguard that a small boat hadbroken down one and a half miles north-east of the Outer Binks buoy. There was anear gale from the south-east with a rough

26

sea. It was one hour before low water.The life-boat City of Bradford III waslaunched at 11.7 and after a searchfound the yacht Dowssabell of Scarboroughwhich had been taken in tow by them.f.v. Reef Bank of Grimsby. In view ofthe existing weather conditions the life-boat stood by the vessels until they hadentered the river Humber and thenreturned to her station, arriving at2.15 p.m.

SOUTH-EAST ENGLANDBembridge, Isle of Wight. At 4.6

p.m. on 8th September, 1965, a yachtand a motor boat were reported in dis-tress between Bembridge Harbour andSt. Helens. There was a strong south-westerly breeze with a rough sea. Thetide had just started to flood. The IRBwas launched immediately, but on comingup with the vessels realized that shewould not be able to tow them to safety.A flare was fired from the IRB and onseeing this the life-boat Jesse Lumb waslaunched and she rescued the two occu-pants of the casualties and towed thevessels to safety, arriving back at herstation at 4.40 p.m.

DANISH SHIP HELPEDAt 7.33 p.m. on 8th September, 1965,

the coastguard reported that a coasterwith a deck cargo two and a half milessouth-south-west of Ventnor appearedto have broken down, so at 7.45 the life-boat Jesse Lumb was launched. She madea search in a strong westerly wind, roughsea and flooding tide and came up with theDanish motor vessel Northwind threemiles east-south-east of Woody Bay. Thevessel had engine trouble and an elec-trical fault and asked for a pilot. Thelife-boat radioed for a pilot to be sentout, escorted the Northwind to a safeanchorage in St. Helens Roads, andreturned to her station at 10.40 p.m.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 9.38 p.m.on 2nd October, 1965, the honorarysecretary was notified that a yacht was indifficulties 200 yards east of ClactonPier. At 9.55 the life-boat Sir GodfreyBaring launched in a slight southerly

breeze and slight sea. The tide wasebbing. The life-boat found the motorcruiser Seabird with two people on board.The cruiser was making water and wastaken in tow to Brightlingsea. At 12minutes past midnight on the 3rd the crewwere informed that another cabin cruiserwas in difficulties 200 yards east ofClacton Pier and had asked the life-boat tostand by. The life-boat found thecabin cruiser Smuggler II with fourpeople on board. The Smuggler II wasleaking and was taken in tow to Bright-lingsea after her crew had been landed atClacton. The life-boat returned to herstation at 6.15 a.m.

Dungeness, Kent. At 10.5 a.m. on24th September, 1965, the yacht Corinnewas reported aground at Camber. One ofher crew of three had been seen to swimashore. There was a moderate south-south-westerly breeze with a choppy sea.It was almost high water. The life-boatMabel E. Holland launched at 10.14 anc*soon came up with the yacht. Owing tothe state of the tide it was not possible totow the Corinne off and as her crew werein no immediate danger the coxswainstood by until the tide had ebbed suffi-ciently for them to walk ashore. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 1.15p.m.

Hastings, Sussex. Thirty minutesafter midnight on 8th September, 1965,a red flare was sighted two miles southof the Fairlight coastguard lookout. Therewas a strong south-westerly breeze with amoderate sea and an ebbing tide. Thelife-boat Fairlight went out seventeenminutes later and on reaching the positiongiven found the yacht Bronwin in diffi-culties. The yacht was taken in tow to thelee of Dungeness, but as the wind in-creased and backed to the south thecoxswain decided to continue the tow toDover. At Dover the life-boat crew had ameal before returning to their station,which was reached at 3.3 p.m.

Margate, Kent. At 10.10 p.m. on 8thSeptember, 1965, red jlares were seenone mile east of the north-east Spitbuoy. The life-boat North Foreland

(Civil Service No. //) launched at 10.34in a strong gale from the west with a veryrough sea. The tide was flooding. Shewent to the position and found a Frenchtrawler, with the Dutch m.v. Colga inattendance. The life-boat stood by whilethe Colga put a towline on board thetrawler, and escorted both vessels untilthey reached sheltered waters off NorthForeland. The life-boat then returned toher station, arriving at 2.15 a.m. and wasmoored in the harbour until the weathermoderated. She was rehoused at 2.30 p.m.on the loth.

Newhaven, Sussex. At 6.28 p.m. on6th September, 1965, the coastguardreported that red flares had been seen offthe Martello tower at Seaford. There wasa moderate south-westerly breeze with acorresponding sea. The tide was flooding.The life-boat Kathleen Mary launched at6.37 and found the yacht Bronwin whoseengine had failed. Her sail had carriedaway. The yacht's crew of two wererescued and the life-boat returned toharbour with the yacht in tow, arrivingback at her station at 7.50 p.m.

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Offices: 37a, Aldersgate St., London E.C.1

27

YACHT TOWED IN

At 6.50 p.m. on 28th September, 1965,the coastguard notified the honorarysecretary that the life-boat was requestedto take over from the Trinity Housevessel Ready the towing of the yachtEronwin. The life-boat Kathleen Marywas launched at 7.35 in a moderatesouth-westerly breeze. It was low waterand the seas were moderate. The life-boatreached the two vessels and towed theyacht back to harbour. The life-boat wasback at her station at 10.10 p.m.

Ramsgate, Kent. At 1.4 p.m. on 25thSeptember, 1965, the east pier watchmanreported that the motor yacht Lady Janehad broken down one mile east of thepier and was signalling for help. The life-boat Michael and Lily Davis proceeded at1.14 in a fresh south-easterly breeze andvery rough seas. It was two hours afterhigh water. The life-boat took the LadyJane, which had a crew of three, in tow toRamsgate Harbour. Then the life-boatwas asked to assist the motor-boat Fury

which had broken down three-quarters ofa mile south-east of Ramsgate. Two peoplewere aboard. The Fury was towed back toRamsgate and the life-boat reached herstation at 2.35 p.m. The owner of the LadyJane made a donation to the R.N.L.I.

MOTOR BOATS IN TROUBLE

At 11.55 a-m- on 26th September, 1965,the east pier watchman fired maroonswhen he saw the motor boat Champion,which was towing the motor boatStephens, foul the east pier throwing twomen overboard. The life-boat Michaeland Lily Davis went out at 12.2 p.m. in astrong southerly breeze and in roughseas. It was at high water. The life-boatpicked up the two men and took bothboats in tow to the inner harbour. In themeantime two further boats were noticedwith engine trouble. The life-boat wentto the motor boat Lady Jane and thedinghy Queen Mab and took them back toharbour under tow. The life-boat reachedher station at i.io p.m.

[Evening Argus, Brighton

Shoreham life-boat towing Katcher I into Shoreham harbour

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By courtesy of] {Gordon Whiting, Liverpool

Hoylake life-boat and an IRB seen recently when trials were taking place on theRiver Dee.

Sheringham, Norfolk. At i.io p.m.on 5th September, 1965, the motorcruiser Sinus was reported to have brokendown four miles north-east of the life-boat station. The coastguard was informedand the motor cruiser was kept underobservation. A light was flashed at 1.20and the life-boat The Manchester Unity ofOdd Fellows was launched ten minuteslater. There was a light easterly breeze, asmooth sea and it was high water. Thelife-boat went alongside the Sirius and twomembers of the life-boat crew were putaboard her. The motor cruiser was thentaken in tow to Blakeney harbour and thelife-boat reached her station at 6.15 p.m.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. At7.29 p.m. on 2ist September, 1965, thecoastguard reported that red flares hadbeen seen in a position three miles south-west of Shoreham. The life-boat Dorothyand Philip Constant was launched at 7.38

in calm weather. It was two hours tohigh water. The life-boat was followed bya local boat John V and they joined insearching for the casualty. The John Vfound the cutter Valerie, which had runout of fuel, and began to tow her back toharbour. The life-boat, when contact wasestablished, escorted both boats to theharbour which was reached at 10.20 p.m.

AGROUND AT BRIGHTON

At 6.9 a.m. on 27th September, 1965,the police at Brighton reported that afishing vessel was aground 200 yards eastof the Palace pier and that she was listingbadly. The life-boat Dorothy and PhilipConstant was launched at 6.35 in a freshsoutherly breeze and a slight swell. It wasone hour to low water. The life-boat foundthe French trawler Katcher I at 7 o'clock.The Brighton IRB was already alongside,and she helped two of the life-boat crew

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Photograph by courtesy c/ t

EI1JOVSITS WORK

On the Royal National Lifeboat Institution InshoreRescue Boats Evinrude motors have to work hard.Have to be ready for action all the time, reliable,powerful. And they always are. Every Evinrude isprecision engineered, completely corrosion-freeand rigorously pre-delivery tested.That's why the RNLI chooses Evinrudes.Because they enjoy hard work.Evinrurie range —17 models, 3 —90 h.p.UNIVERSITY MARINE LIMITEDSilverdale Road, Hayes, Middx . Telephone: Hayes 8311

to board the trawler. A line was madefast and the life-boat managed at 10.50a.m. to re-float the trawler, which wasthen towed to Shoreham harbour. Thelife-boat reached her station at 3.45 p.m.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 4.28a.m. on ist September, 1965, the coast-guard reported that red flares had beensighted off the S.W. Girdler buoy.There was a fresh north-westerly wind, amoderate sea, and it was one hour beforehigh water. The life-boat Greater LondonII (Civil Service No. 50) was launched at4.56 and found the yacht habela onemile west of Pansand. The wind had bynow increased to gale force, with a veryrough sea. The life-boat went alongsidethe habela and two members of the life-boat crew were put aboard as the yachtwas making water. Temporary repairshad been made to the rudder and thecrew of eight people asked the life-boat toescort them to Harty Ferry. The life-boat reached her station at 12.30 p.m.

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CABIN CRUISER AGROUNDSouthend-on-Sea, Essex. At 6.40

p.m. on 8th September, 1965, a cabincruiser was seen by the coastguard to bein difficulties off Warden Point. There wasa full gale from the south-west with arough sea. The life-boat Greater LondonII (Civil Service No. 30) was launched at7.15 on a flooding tide. After a search withthe aid of parachute flares and hersearchlight she found the cabin cruiserVulfrano aground on the Maplin Sand,south-east of Maplin Buoy. The twopeople aboard were rescued and with theVulfrano in tow the life-boat returned toher station, arriving at 2.10 a.m. on the9th.

FLASHING LIGHT SEENSouthend-on-Sea, Essex. At 12.40

p.m. on 26th September 1965, the coast-guard notified the honorary secretarythat the coaster Mary Birch had reportedat 11.30 a.m. seeing a small flashing

light north-west of Blacktail Spit closeinshore. The life-boat Greater London II(Civil Service No. 30) was launched at1.5 p.m. and proceeded in a strong south-westerly breeze and rough seas to thereported area. It was an hour and a halfbefore high water. The life-boat cameupon a cabin cruiser whose engine hadbroken down. There were four men aboardand the cruiser was taking water. Hercrew were transferred to the life-boat,two life-boatmen taking their placeswhile the cruiser was towed to mooringson Southend shore. The life-boat returnedto her station at 3.45 p.m.

HOPPER AND TUG COLLIDEDSouthend-on-Sea, Essex. At 8.10

a.m. on 28th September, 1965, the coast-guard reported that a collision had takenplace near the South Oaze buoy and thatthere were people in the water. The life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No.30) launched at 8.28 in a light easterlybreeze and a calm sea. There was densefog and it was an hour and a half to lowwater. The life-boat found that the hopperSir Joseph Rawlinson had capsized innine fathoms of water after colliding withthe tug Danube 8. Ten of the hopper'screw of nineteen had been rescued. Thelife-boat carried out a search for the othernine men without success. She was theninformed that a fishing vessel had found abody and the life-boat picked it up andreturned to her station, arriving at 5.45p.m. The hopper eventually sank. Heli-copters also took part in the search forsurvivors.

Walton and Frinton, Essex. At1.45 p.m. on gth September, 1965, thecoastguard informed the honorary sec-retary that the motor vessel Galaxy (radiotransmitting station "Radio London")had requested the services of the life-boat to take out a doctor to attend to thecaptain who was ill. The honorary medicaladviser, who knew of the captain's illnessfrom a previous service on the 2oth August,was consulted and the life-boat Edian Cour-tauld put out at 2.31. There was a lightwesterly breeze and a slight sea. The tidewas ebbing. The captain of the Galaxy wastaken aboard the life-boat and landed, tobe driven to hospital by ambulance. The

life-boat returned to her moorings at3.36 p.m.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. At 4.38p.m. on 26th September, 1965, a motorcruiser was seen firing flares in the NorthChannel near Shingle Bank. At 4.48 thelife-boat The Earl and Countess Howeleft her moorings with the second cox-swain in command. There was a slightsoutherly breeze and smooth sea. Thetide was ebbing. The life-boat found themotor cruiser Salonique II, with fourpeople on board. The Salonique II hadengine trouble and was taken in tow. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 6 p.m.

CHANNEL ISLANDSSt. Peter Port, Guernsey. At 5.20

a.m. on 2nd September, 1965, the signalstation received a message from a yachts-man arriving in the harbour. He had seenred flares about three miles south ofSt. Martins Point. The life-boat Euphro-syne Kendal left her moorings at 5.40 in astrong north-easterly wind and a roughsea. It was low water. A Dakota aircraftwas also engaged to search and her crewinformed the life-boat that the yacht hadbeen sighted eight miles south of St.Martins Point. The life-boat made forthis position and found the yacht Merlinwith a crew of four. Her mainsail hadsplit, and she had engine trouble. TheMerlin was taken in tow to St. PeterPort harbour, arriving at 9.22 a.m.

SOUTH-WEST ENGLANDCoverack, Cornwall. At 2 p.m. on

2nd September, 1965, the motor mechanictold the honorary secretary that the 12-foot dinghy Paris Girl had left Coverackat 10 a.m. intending to return by noon.There were two people on board and theboat had an outboard motor. In view ofthe increasing northerly wind the relativesof the crew of the dinghy had becomeanxious. At 2.35 p.m. the life-boatWilliam Taylor of Oldham was launchedin a rough sea. She found the dinghynear Porthallow with her engine brokendown. The life-boat took the dinghy intow to her station, arriving at 5.5 p.m.

Falmouth, Cornwall. At 12.8 p.m.on 8th September, 1965, the coastguard

31

reported that a sailing dinghy was indifficulties three miles off PorthbearBeach. There was a gale from the north-west with a rough sea. It was one hour afterlow water. The life-boat Cecil and LilianPhilpot, on temporary duty at the station,went out at 12.22 and after a further posi-tion was received from the coastguard byR/T the dinghy was found south-east ofPorthmellin Head. The dinghy had cap-sized and her crew of two were in the watersuffering from exhaustion and exposure.They were rescued and with the dinghy intow the life-boat returned to her station,arriving at 2.44 p.m.

CRIES FOR HELPFalmouth, Cornwall. At 9.21 p.m.

on iyth September, 1965, the coastguardtold the coxswain that cries for help hadbeen heard in the water off the Prince ofWales pier. There was a gale from thewest-south-west with a rough sea. It washigh water. The life-boat Cecil andLilian Philpot, on temporary duty at thestation, went out at 9.40. The coast-guard set up a searchlight on the pier toilluminate the area.

The life-boat closed a yacht that wasobserved flashing a light and the coxswainlearnt that two people had been seenboarding the tug St. Mawes. On comingup with the tug, which had no crew onboard, the coxswain found two youngpeople on her deck. Their rubberdinghy had capsized when they werereturning to their yacht and they hadswum to the tug. The youngsters werelanded and conveyed to hospital by ambu-lance for a check-up. The life-boat arrivedback at her station at 10.50 p.m.

Penlee, Cornwall. At 1.20 a.m. on28th September, 1965, the coastguardreported that the tanker London Harmony,due in Mount's Bay about 9 o'clock,wished to land a sick man. There was agentle north-easterly breeze with asmooth sea. It was high water. The life-boat Solomon Browne launched at 7.40and after embarking a doctor and stret-cher at Newlyn proceeded to Mount'sBay and came up with the LondonHarmony at 8.40. After the doctor hadexamined the sick man he was transferred

to the life-boat and landed at Newlyn,where he was taken to hospital by awaiting ambulance. The life-boat arrivedback at her station at 10.10 a.m.

CREW AND POODLES RESCUEDSwanage, Dorset. At 7.51 p.m. on

7th September, 1965, red flares hadbeen reported to have been seen offOld Harry rocks. There was a moderatesouth-westerly breeze with a rough sea.It was one hour after high water. Thelife-boat R.L.P. launched at 8.9 and sooncame up with the motor cruiser Janet,whose propeller had fouled a lobster potline. The cruiser which had a crew of threeand two poodles on board was taken in towand placed on moorings at Swanage. Thelife-boat arrived back at her station at 9.45p.m.

YACHT CAPSIZEDSwanage, Dorset. At 5.45 p.m. on

I7th September, 1965, a small yachtcapsized in Swanage Bay opposite theGrand Hotel. At 5.59 the life-boatR.L.P. was launched. A gale was blowingfrom the west-south-west, the sea wasrough and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat found a i q-footAlbacore sailing dinghycapsized with two men clinging to her onemile north of the life-boat station. Themenwere rescued and the dinghy towed to thelife-boat slipway, arriving at 7 p.m.

St. Ives, Cornwall. At 5.47 p.m. on13th September, 1965, the coastguardreported that a skin diver was missingfrom the fishing boat Bonnie Lass, of St.Ives. At 6.10 the life-boat Edgar, George,Orlando and Eva Child was launchedwith the life-boat honorary medicaladviser on board. There was a lightwesterly wind, a moderate swell and thetide was flooding. The life-boat came upwith the Admiralty survey vessel Medusaone and a half miles north of Stonesbuoy and learnt that she had rescued theskin diver. The doctor examined himand found that he was all right. The life-boat then took him on board and landedhim at St. Ives at 7.25 p.m. The IRB wasalso launched and a helicopter took partin the search.

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BODY FOUNDSt. Ives, Cornwall. At 5.11 p.m. on

15th September, 1965, a man was reportedtrapped on the rocks to the north ofPortheras Cove and at 5.30 the life-boatEdgar, George, Orlando and Eva Childwas launched with the honorary medicaladviser on board. There was a light south-south-westerly breeze, the sea was slightand the tide was flooding. The life-boatmade for the Cove and off Zennor Headcame up with the St. Ives IRB whichhad also put out. The IRB had pickedup the body of a man in a cave a little tothe north of the Cove. The body wastransferred to the life-boat and landed atSt. Ives at 7.15 p.m.

Sennen Cove, Cornwall. At 4.33p.m. on 25th September, 1965, thecoastguard notified the honorary secretarythat the fishing boat Spray with two skindivers on board was in difficulties offPorthchapel beach. There was a light

southerly breeze with a moderate sea.The tide was flooding. The life-boatSusan Ashley launched at 4.45 and tookthe fishing boat Spray in tow to Newlyn,arriving back at her station at 7.20 p.m.

Weymouth, Dorset. At 5.24 p.m. on8th September, 1965, the coastguard sawa yacht firing red flares three and a halfmiles south of Lulworth Cove. There wasa westerly wind of gale force, and a roughsea. The life-boat Frank Spiller Locke putout at 5.40 on a flooding tide and found theyacht Gladeye in tow of the motor vesselBlack Ranger. The life-boat escorted bothvessels to Portland harbour and reachedher station at 7.50 p.m.

WALES

St. David's, Pembrokeshire. At8.40 a.m. on 27th September, 1965, thecoxswain received a message from TrinityHouse asking if he would take off a badly

CLARKE CHAPMAN

M A R I N E

A U X I L I A R I E S

FOR LIFE-BOAT

S T A T I O N S

This illustrates one ofour electrically drivenwinches as supplied tothe Tynemouth Life-boat Station for haul-ing up the life-boat.Many other winches ofsimilar design havebeen supplied to theInstitution, for eitherelectric or petrol enginedrive.

Photograph by courtesy of theRoyal National Life-boatinstitution.

MANUFACTURERS OF WINCHES, WINDLASSES, CAPSTANS, PUMPS, SEARCHLIGHTS & FLOODLIGHTS ETC

C L A R K E , C H A P M A N & C O M P A N Y L IMITED

VICTORIA WORKS, GATESHEAD, 8, Co. DURHAM.

Tel: Gateshead 72271 ( 1 0 lines) Telex: 53-239 Grams: "Cyclops" Gateshead.

LONDON OFFICE: Ounster House, Mark Lane, London, E.C.3.Telephone: MINcing Lane 8345-6-7 Grams: "Cyclops" Easphone, London.

33

burnt man from the South Bishoplighthouse in his own boat. On reachingthe boathouse the coxswain decided thatas there was an exceptionally strongflood tide the man could be broughtashore quicker and more comfortably inthe life-boat. So at 9.30 the life-boatJoseph Soar (Civil Service No. 34) waslaunched in a light south-westerly windwith a doctor on board. The man, amechanic, had burns to the face, arm andchest. He was taken on board the life-boat with another mechanic who was dueto leave the lighthouse. Both men werelanded, the injured man being taken tohospital. The life-boat reached herstation at n a.m.

Moelfre, Anglesey. At 11.20 p.m. on3rd September, 1965, the life-boat WatkinWilliams was launched in a north-westerlywind of gale force and a rough sea to go tothe assistance of a motor vessel whose en-gine had broken down five miles north-west of Lynas point. The life-boat stood byuntil the engines of the m.v. Anabisi hadbeen repaired, then returned to her station,arriving at 1.30 a.m.

Holyhead, Anglesey. At 4.15 a.m. on22nd September, 1965, the m.v. Farringaywas reported by the coastguard to havebroken down twenty miles west of SouthStack lighthouse. She did not requireimmediate assistance. At 8.50 the honor-ary secretary was informed that theFarringay was asking for the help of thelife-boat. There was a gale from the south-south-west with a rough sea. The tide wasflooding. The life-boat St. Cybi (Civil Ser-vice No. 9) launched at 9.5 and came upwith the Farringay, which had been takenin tow by the m.v. Firth Fisher. At the re-quest of the master of the Farringay thelife-boat escorted both vessels to Moelfre,returning to her station at 7.18 p.m.

Rhyl, Flintshire. At 1.4 p.m. on istSeptember, 1965, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that two flares hadbeen burned by the m.f.v. Stingray. Therewas a fresh north-westerly breeze with arough sea. It was almost high water. Thelife-boat Lucy Lavers, on temporary dutyat the station, was immediately launched

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and soon came up with the Stingray,which was in danger of capsizing. Hertwelve passengers were taken on boardthe life-boat, which landed them andthen escorted the fishing vessel intoharbour.

A report was then received that twopeople were in the water off Rhos Point.The life-boat set out, only to discoverthat the supposed casualties were mooringbuoys. On the way back to her station sheescorted the m.f.v. Sultan, with a load ofpassengers, safely to harbour, arriving at2.46 p.m.

CABIN CRUISER SAVED

At 11.5 p.m. on nth September, 1965,the coastguard reported that he had seena cabin cruiser run ashore, but that shehad refloated. She went ashore for asecond time a little later and burnt a redflare, so at 11.20 the life-boat Lucy Lavers,on temporary duty at the station, waslaunched in a fresh north-westerly wind,moderate sea and a flooding tide. Shefound the cabin cruiser Swallow ofPreston, with a crew of three, one and aquarter miles off Rhyl, hah0 a mile east ofthe river. The Swallow was sinkingquickly, but the life-boat took her in tow,put three men on board to pump her out,and brought her successfully to harbour.The life-boat returned to her station at1.45 a.m. on the i2th.

New Quay, Cardiganshire. At 1.34p.m. on 8th September, 1965, a reportwas received that a boat had capsizedbetween New Quay and Aberaeron. It wasknown that a small lobster boat was stillat sea, although there was a strong north-easterly breeze and a very rough sea. It waslow water. The life-boat St. Albanslaunched at 1.55 and after a short searchfound the lobster boat. It was not, andhad not been, in difficulties. Evidentlythe men hauling their lobster pots intothe small vessel, combined with the badvisibility owing to heavy rain, had giventhe appearance of a capsized boat. Thefishing boat was escorted back to harbourand the life-boat returned to her stationat 3.9 p.m.

SCOTLAND

Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. Ati p.m. on 13th September, 1965, theStornoway coastguard notified the honor-ary secretary that a fishing boat appearedto have been abandoned about threemiles east of Ru Melvick, South Uist. At1.20 the life-boat R. A, Colby Cubbin No. 3put to sea. There was a moderate north-westerly wind. The sea was moderate andthe tide ebbing. The life-boat found thefishing boat Guide On thirteen mileseast of Eriskay. There was no one onboard. The life-boat towed the boat toEriskay and returned to her station at8 p.m.

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. At8.20 a.m. on 26th September, 1965, areport was received that the m.f.v. GoodTidings of Lerwick was leaking five mileseast of Fraserburgh. At 8.35 the life-boatThomas McCunn, on temporary duty atthe station, launched in a wind that wasgusting to gale force from the south-east,and a rough sea. The tide was flooding.The life-boat escorted the m.f.v. GoodTidings to the harbour and returned to herstation at 11.50 a.m.

Thurso, Caithness-shire. At 12.15p.m. on 4th September, 1965, the coast-guard told the coxswain the lobsterboat St. Ninian was overdue and a searchby the life-boat was requested. The life-boat Pentland (Civil Service No. 31)was launched at 12.30 in a strong north-easterly breeze and rough seas. It wastwo and a half hours after low water. Thelife-boat found the St. Ninian nearHolborn Head and escorted her back toharbour. The life-boat was at her stationat 2.30 p.m.

BODY SEEN

At 10.5 a.m. on i3th September, 1965,the honorary secretary was told by thecoastguard that the motor patrol vesselAnnabel had reported seeing a body inDunnet Bay. The life-boat Pentland(Civil Service No. 31) was launched at10.15 in a fresh north-westerly breeze andin rough seas. She recovered the body andwas back at her station at 12.15 p.m.

Troon, Ayrshire. At 10.30 p.m. on25th September, 1965, the coastguard atPortpatrick told the honorary secretarythat a small cabin cruiser was in difficultiesbetween Sannop and Bute. The life-boatJames and Barbara Aitken proceeded at10.45 in a south-easterly breeze. It wasthree hours to high water and there was aslight swell. The life-boat found the cabincruiser Rascal drifting helplessly in anortherly direction with six peopleaboard. The cruiser was towed tomoorings at Fairlie and the life-boatreturned to her station at 6.30 a.m.

IRELAND

Galway Bay. At 10.15 a-m- on 3fdSeptember, 1965, Valentia Radio in-formed the honorary secretary that afishing vessel was in distress half a milesouth of North Aran lighthouse. Therewas a strong north-westerly breeze with arough sea. The life-boat Mabel MarionThompson went out at high water, at10.45, and reached the fishing boat BunBrosna at 11.45. While the Bun Brosna'screw of five were lobster fishing herengine had failed and the boat had strucka rock. Her crew had managed to keep theboat afloat by bailing. Shortly after theywere taken on board the life-boat theBun Brosna sank. The men were landedat Kilronan, where they were given dryclothing before the life-boat took them tothe mainland. She then returned to herstation, arriving at 7.30 p.m.

GIRL WITH FRACTURE

At 2.30 p.m. on 4th September, 1965,the local doctor informed the honorarysecretary that a young girl with a frac-tured arm needed to be conveyed toInishmaan Island to catch the mail boat,which would take her to the mainland forhospital treatment. There was a gale forcewind from the north-west with a choppysea. It was low water. The life-boat MabelMarion Thompson, being the only suitableboat available set out at 3.30 with the girlon board and on arriving at Inishmaantransferred her to the mail boat. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 5.45p.m.

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MATERNITY CASE

At 6.40 a.m. on 23rd September, 1965,the local doctor informed the honorarysecretary that he had a maternity patientto send to hospital and as he could notobtain another suitable boat he asked forthe life-boat. At 7.30 the life-boat MaryStanford, on temporary duty at the station,put out with the woman on board. Therewas a moderate north-easterly breeze anda calm sea. It was two hours before lowwater. The life-boat had to land thepatient at Galway as the tide was too lowat Rossaveel. After refuelling the life-boat returned to her station at 6 p.m.

The following life-boats were also called outin September:

Aberdeen - 4th.Aldeburgh, Suffolk - ist and 9th.Appledore, Devon - 3rd.Barmouth, Merionethshire - loth.Beaumaris, Anglesey - i6th and 29th.Bembridge, Isle of Wight - iyth and

25th.Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumber-

land - 9th.Bridlington, Yorkshire - ist and nth.Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - 8th (twice).Cromer, Norfolk - nth.Fowey, Cornwall - 3rd.Galway Bay - 22nd and 3Oth.Hoylake, Cheshire - 25th.Humber, Yorkshire - 28th.Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - i6th.Mallaig, Invernessshire - I3th.Minehead, Somerset - igth.Newhaven, Sussex - 25th.Padstow, Cornwall - 8th.Plymouth, Devon - I2th.Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - iyth.Ramsgate, Kent - 8th.St. Abbs, Berwickshire - loth.St. Helier, Jersey - 3rd.St. Ives, Cornwall - 8th.St. Peter Port, Guernsey - ist.Salcombe, Devon - I2th andSelsey, Sussex - 8th.Southend-on-Sea, Essex - iyth.Stromness, Orkneys - loth.Sunderland, Co. Durham - 26th.Tenby, Pembrokeshire - i8th.Torbay, Devon - gth and 24th.Valentia, Co. Kerry - 3rd.

36

Walmer, Kent - 5th.Walton and Frinton, Essex - ist, yth

and 8th.Workington, Cumberland - I4th.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - 2nd and

loth.

OCTOBERNORTH-EAST ENGLAND

Bridlington, Yorkshire. At 4 p.m.on ist October, 1965, the m.f.v. Ospreywas reported to have stopped nearWithernsea with engine failure. Therewas a moderate south-south-easterlybreeze with a rough sea. The tide wasflooding. The life-boat Tillie Morrison,Sheffield 11 was launched at 4.29 and foundthe Osprey, which had hoisted a sail butwas making little progress against the tide.The Osprey was taken in tow and broughtsafely into harbour at 8.30, the life-boatarriving back at her station at 9 p.m.

Flamborough, Yorkshire. At 11.40a.m. on 2Oth October, 1965, the coast-guard told the coxswain that the fishingcoble Moss Rose was out in conditionslikely to deteriorate. The life-boat Friend-ly Forester was launched in a strong south-easterly wind and a rough sea. It wasthree hours to high water. The life-boatwent to a point five miles north-east ofFlamborough Head where she found thecoble. She escorted her back to the northlanding, arriving at 3 p.m.

COBLE ESCORTED

At 9.30 a.m. on 29th October, 1965, thecoxswain informed the honorary secretarythat a coble which was five miles awaymight be in need of assistance as weatherconditions were deteriorating. The life-boat Friendly Forester was launched at9.40 in a west-north-westerly gale and arough sea. It was two hours after highwater. She went to a position five milesnorth-east of Flamborough Head andfound the coble Moss Rose strugglingtowards the harbour. The life-boatescorted her back to harbour.

Humber, Yorkshire. At 4.30 p.m. on18th October, 1965, the coastguardinformed the coxswain superintendentthat the French trawler St. Joachim wasproceeding to Spurn with an injured manon board. The help of the life-boat wasasked for to get him to hospital and thelife-boat City of Bradford III waslaunched at 9.40 in a fresh easterly breezeand moderate seas, with a doctor onboard. It was two hours to high tide. Thelife-boat met the trawler at 11.15 and thedoctor was put aboard. The injured manwas later transferred to the life-boat andlanded at Spurn. The life-boat returnedto her station at 11.40 p.m.

A LONG SEARCH

At 1.42 p.m. on sist October, 1965,the fishing vessel Fair Adventure wasreported by the coastguard to haverequested an escort as all her navigationalaids had ceased to function eight mileseast of the Sea Gem oil rig. The life-boatCity of Bradford III was launched at 2.46in a south-westerly storm force wind anda very rough sea. It was low water.

The life-boat searched an area east ofthe oil rig, assisted by two other vessels.The Fair Adventure was eventuallyfound forty-nine miles north-east ofSpurn by a Shackleton aircraft ofCoastal Command. The life-boat went tothis position and at 12.45 a-m- found thefishing vessel being escorted by the cargovessel Owl. The life-boat escorted bothvessels until the Humber lightvessel wasreached. The Owl then proceeded on pas-sage while the life-boat continued to escortthe Fair Adventure to Grimsby, arriving at9.30 p.m. The coxswain decided in view ofthe weather conditions to remain over-night at Grimsby, and the life-boat re-turned to her station at 10 a.m. the nextday.

Runswick, Yorkshire. At 12.18 p.m.on 3rd October, 1965, a sailing dinghywas seen to capsize off Kettleness Pointand it was thought there might bechildren on board. There was a lightsouth-south-westerly breeze with a slightsea and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat The Elliott Gill launched at 12.30

and on reaching the dinghy found thatshe had been righted. The dinghy'smainsail had been damaged and shereturned to Runswick Bay sailing underher jib only, escorted by the life-boat.When the dinghy reached safety the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at1.30 p.m.

Skegness, Lincolnshire. At 5.50p.m. on loth October, 1965, the coast-guard reported that a message had beenreceived from the Cromer coastguard thata vessel was in trouble two miles south-west of Lynn Well lightvessel. The life-boat Charles Fred Grantham was launchedat 6.18 in a gentle north-easterly breezeand a slight swell. It was two and a halfhours to high water. The life-boat reachedthe motor cruiser Golden Spray, which hadthree people on board, and took her intow to Boston as her engine had brokendown. The life-boat reached her stationat 3 a.m.

BOY FELL OVER CLIFFSWhitby, Yorkshire. At 6.20 p.m. on

igth October, 1965, the honorary sec-retary was told that a boy had beenreported as having fallen over the cliffs atRavenscar. The life-boat Mary AnnHepworth was launched at 6.40 in amoderate south-easterly breeze and aslight swell. It was low water. The life-boat reached the cliffs at 7.45 and usedher searchlight to assist people ashore anda helicopter which had been sent to theposition. The boy was winched aboard thehelicopter and taken to hospital. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.10 p.m.

SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND

Caister, Norfolk. At 7.55 a.m. on29th October, 1965, the mechanic toldthe coxswain that a small fishing boat wasburning red flares. The life-boat TheRoyal Thames was launched at 8.10 in afresh westerly breeze and moderateseas, two hours after low water. She wentto a position a quarter of a mile northof the South Caister buoy, where thefishing boat Catherine Anne of Yarmouthwas found with her engine broken down.There were three men aboard. The life-

37

boat took the Catherine Ann in tow toYarmouth harbour and reached herstation at 10.30 a.m.

Lowestoft, Suffolk. At 9.30 a.m. on30th October, 1965, the coastguardreported that the trawler J.A.P. ofLowestoft was aground on the sandbankoff the harbour entrance and had sent adistress signal. The drifter Wisemans hadgone to her assistance, but had also groun-ded. The life-boat Frederick EdwardCrick proceeded at 9.55 in a south-westerlygale and a choppy sea. The tide wasflooding. The life-boat stood by untilboth vessels refloated on the flood tideand escorted them to harbour, arrivingat II a.m.

Newhaven, Sussex. At 7.10 p.m. on2nd October, 1965, Shoreham coast-guard told the motor mechanic thatred flares had been sighted west of New-haven harbour. The life-boat KathleenMary was launched at 7.25, two and a hah0

hours after high water, in a moderatebreeze and choppy seas. She found themotor boat Helena three miles south-west of Newhaven harbour. The Helenahad a crew of two. Her engine had brokendown and so the life-boat took her in towback to harbour. The life-boat returnedto her station at 8.25 p.m.

SHAFT COUPLING TROUBLEAt 11.17 P-m- on 2nd October, 1965,

the motor vessel Golden Crest was seen tobe asking for assistance. The life-boatKathleen Mary was launched at 11.27 in

a moderate south-westerly breeze andmoderate seas. It was one hour after lowwater. The Golden Crest was towed backto harbour as her engine shaft couplingwas defective, and the life-boat reachedher station at 12.15 a.m.

EXPLOSION ON MOTOR VESSELAt 10.23 a-m- on 6th October, 1965,

the coastguard told the coxswain that themotor vessel Frederick T. Everard wasreported to be in distress following anexplosion on board. The life-boat Kath-leen Mary was launched with a doctor onboard at 11.22 in a light north-easterlybreeze and moderate seas. It was two

38

hours after low water. She took thecaptain and three injured men from themotor vessel and landed them. The life-boat was back at her station at 12.25 p.m.

YACHT'S CREW SEASICKAt 4.3 p.m. on 9th October, 1965, the

yacht Selene was reported in difficulties.The life-boat Kathleen Mary launched at4.15 in a strong east-north-easterlybreeze and a moderate sea, two hoursbefore low water. She went to a pointthreemiles south-west of Newhaven whereshe found the yacht with a crew of twomen suffering from severe sea sickness.They were taken aboard and the life-boat towed the yacht to Newhaven,arriving at 8.15 p.m.

Newhaven, Sussex. At 1.20 a.m. on29th October, 1965, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that redflares had been sighted two miles southof the Breakwater. The life-boat KathleenMary was launched at 1.33 in a strongwesterly breeze and in a rough sea. Thetide was flooding. The life-boat foundthe sailing barge Will Everard sevenmiles south of Newhaven and took thebarge in tow, but as the vessel's rudder wasjammed to starboard the coxswain deci-ded that the assistance of a tug would berequired on entering the harbour. Thelife-boat towed the barge to a positionone mile south of Newhaven, then thetug Meeching took over the tow. The life-boat returned to her station at 5.15 a.m.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. At 7.40a.m. on 30th October, 1965, the coast-guard reported that a small fishing vesselhad fired red flares from a position half amile east of the harbour. The life-boatDorothy and Philip Constant was launchedat 7.53 in a fresh south-westerly breezeand a choppy sea. It was low water. Shefound the fishing vessel with her enginebroken down, and her crew of three weretaken on board. The life-boat thentowed the fishing vessel to ShorehamHarbour, arriving at 8.35 a.m.

Walton and Frinton, Essex. At4.54 p.m. on 28th October, 1965, a shipin the vicinity of Rough Towers reported

having seen a distress signal from theTowers. It was further reported that aprivate radio transmitting station hadasked for assistance. The life-boat EdianCourtauld went out at 5.15 in a moderatesouth-westerly breeze and moderate seas.It was two hours to low water. The posi-tion of the distress call was determined asSunk Head Towers and the life-boataltered course, arriving at Sunk HeadTowers at 6.41. One member of thestation staff of nine was taken aboard, inneed of medical attention. He was landedat Walton Pier. The life-boat returned toher station at 9.15 p.m.

CHANNEL ISLANDSSt. Peter Port, Guernsey. At 3.45

p.m. on 8th October, 1965, the Statesmaintenance engineer notified thedeputy harbourmaster that the States ofGuernsey launch St. Anne had found itimpossible to take three maintenance menoff the Platte Fougere lighthouse. Thedeputy harbourmaster decided to sendthe life-boat out on standby. The life-boat Euphrosyne Kendal left at 4.03 in anorth-easterly gale and rough seas. It wastwo hours before high water. TheEuphrosyne Kendal went alongside thelighthouse and in difficult conditions thethree men were taken aboard. The life-boat returned to her station at 5.30 p.m.

SOUTH-WEST ENGLANDClovelly, Devon. At 2.15 a.m. on nth

October, 1965, the coastguard reportedthat a ship in distress had fired rocketsnorth-west of Hartland Point. The life-boat William Cantrell Ashley was laun-ched in a moderate easterly breeze and amoderate sea, one hour after low water.At 4 o'clock the life-boat went alongsidethe fishing smack El Cid, which was mak-ing water in her engine room despite theefforts of her crew. The casualty wastaken in tow by the life-boat to Clovellypool. The life-boat reached her station at5.10 a.m.

FISHING BOAT FOUNDERED

At 8 a.m. on 25th October, 1965, thecoxswain's wife informed the honorarysecretary that the fishing boat Minnie was

in difficulties in Clovelly harbour, havingshipped seas while hauling in her nets.The life-boat William Cantrell Ashleylaunched at 8.20 in a fresh east-south-easterly breeze and a rough sea, two and ahalf hours after high water. She went to apoint four hundred yards off GallantRock and found the two-man crew in thewater as the boat had nearly sunk. Themen were rescued, but an attempt to savethe fishing boat was unsuccessful. Thelife-boat returned to Clovelly, arriving at9.40 a.m. The owner of the Minnie madea contribution to the funds of theInstitution to cover the cost of launchingthe life-boat.

St. Mary's, Scilly Isles. At 3 p.m. on22nd October, 1965, a message wasreceived via Land's End radio from themotor vessel Constance Bowater that shehad a seriously ill seaman aboard andrequested that he be taken off and sentto hospital. The life-boat Guy and ClareHunter was launched at 3.40 in a freshsouth-westerly breeze and rough seas. Itwas high water and foggy. She went to arendezvous point two and a half milessouth of Pennis Head. The sick man wastransferred to the life-boat which tookhim to St. Mary's, returning to her sta-tion at 6 p.m.

CLIFF CLIMBER FELLSwanage, Dorset. At i.i p.m. on

26th October, 1965, the life-boat's assis-tance was requested as a youth had fallendown the cliff two hundred yards westof Anvil Point. The life-boat R.L.P.was launched at 1.9, with the secondcoxswain in command, in a light south-easterly breeze and a moderate sea. It wasthree hours after high water.

The life-boat went to the cliff where itwas found that the youth, who was amember of a school cliff climbing party,had fallen forty feet on to a ledge fifteento twenty feet above sea level. A coast-guard, a policeman and two school-masters had been lowered by rope on tothe ledge, and after giving first aid hadstrapped the youth into a Neil-Robertsonstretcher.

The life-boat anchored at the foot ofthe cliff and the injured youth was loweredto her. She then returned to her station at

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2.io p.m., where a doctor examined theboy before he was conveyed to hospital.He had a broken ankle and wrist andvarious lacerations.

Weymouth, Dorset. At 2.45 a.m. onlyth October, 1965, the coastguardreported that cries for help had beenheard near Ringstead beach, four mileseast of Weymouth. The life-boat FrankSpiller Locke went out at 3 o'clock on anebbing tide, in a gentle north-easterlybreeze and moderate seas. Arriving atthe position indicated she began hersearch and a man was sighted at 3.50swimming in the water. The life-boatdrew alongside and picked him up.

The man said a second man was still inthe water and the life-boat searched forhim. Naval assistance was requested inview of the size of area and the darkness.The dockyard tug Agnes was sent to jointhe search and after dawn a helicopteralso helped. The helicopter located anupturned dinghy at 8.2 one hundredyards east of Portland harbour. There wasno sign of the other man. The life-boatand helicopter continued their searchuntil 8.30 when it was abandoned. Thelife-boat returned to her moorings at9 a.m.

NORTH-WEST ENGLANDFleetwood, Lancashire. At 5.12 a.m.

on 3rd October, 1965, a motor yacht wasreported in trouble one and a half milesnorth of Danger Patch. The life-boatAnn Letitia Russell was launched at 5.30in a moderate breeze and a moderatesea, half an hour after high tide. Shereached the vessel Dawn Flight at 6.10and found the anchor cable had fouledthe yacht's propeller. The life-boat tookher in tow to Jubilee quay, Fleetwood, andreturned to her station at 8.30 a.m.

New Brighton, Cheshire. At 6.25 a.m.on igth October, 1965, the honorary secre-tary was told that a collision had occurred offPluckington Bank buoy and that a coasterwas sinking. The life-boat Norman B. Cor-lett went out at high water, 6.45, in a lightsouth-easterly breeze and moderate seas.She found the motor vessel Ballylesson and

40

stood by until the damaged vessel was safelybeached at King's Wall. The life-boat re-turned to her station at 8 a.m.

SHIPS IN COLLISIONAt 11.30 p.m. on 22nd October, 1965,

the coastguard reported that two vesselshad been in collision in fog between theQ.2 and the Bar Ship; one, the m.v.Salaverry, a passenger ship, was badlyholed. The life-boat Norman B. Corlettset out in a moderate breeze and a moder-ate sea. It was one hour after high watei.The life-boat reached the vessel andstood by as the ship Vigalent was givingassistance. The life-boat returned to herstation at 5.15 a.m.

MOTOR BROKE DOWNAt 4 p.m. on 2yth October, 1965, the

coxswain reported that three men in asmall boat were in difficulties with theiroutboard motor broken down, near theBrazil buoy in the river Mersey. Thelife-boat Norman B. Corlett went out at4.18 in a moderate south-westerly breezeand a moderate sea. It was two hoursbefore low water. She reached the boat,which had secured a line from a dredger,at 4.28. The three men were taken onboard the life-boat and their crafttowed to New Brighton stage. The life-boat returned to her station at 5 p.m.

WALES

Beaumaris, Anglesey. At 6.45 p.m.on 3rd October, 1965, the secretary of thePenmaenmawr Yacht Club reported thata number of their sailing dinghies hadbeen caught in a sudden squall and hadoverturned. The sailing club rescue boatwas unable to cope, so at 7.10 the life-boat Field Marshal and Mrs. Smuts laun-ched in a moderate north-easterly breezeand choppy sea. The tide was ebbing.Visibility was poor. The life-boat joinedthe rescue boat and by using parachuteflares and her searchlight all the sailingdinghies were soon accounted for. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 10 p.m.and was rehoused the following day at6 a.m.

Holyhead, Anglesey. At 10.30 p.m.on 25th October, 1965, the coastguardreported that the Irish ship River Avocarequired a doctor to attend and bringashore a member of the crew sufferingfrom severe and continuous stomachpains and vomiting. The life-boat St.Cybi (Civil Service No. 9) was launched at10.54 in a moderate southerly breeze anda slight swell. It was high water. Shewent to a point four and a half mileswest of South Stack lighthouse, where thesick man was transferred by stretcher to thelife-boat. He was landed at Pelham stepsand taken to hospital by ambulance. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 12.9a.m.

IRELANDDun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. At 5.45

p.m. on 6th October, 1965, a BritishRailways representative informed thehonorary secretary that the mail boatHibernia was fog bound in ScotsmensBay. She had been there since 6.30 a.m.and was running short of provisions forher passengers. There were light airs anda calm sea. Visibility was nil owing tothick fog. The tide was flooding. Thelife-boat Dunleary II proceeded at 6 p.m.with fresh provisions, and after these hadbeen put on board the Hibernia she returnedto her station arriving at 7.45 p.m.

TWENTY-NINE HOURS AT SEA

Cloughey, Co. Down. At 8.25 a.m.on 6th October, 1965, the coastguardreported that the coaster Normanby Hallhad asked for assistance as she wasaground off South Rock. The life-boatConstance Calverley put to sea at 8.50 indense fog, two hours before high water.An hour later the coxswain was given aposition two miles north of the Strang-ford Bar buoy. The life-boat was along-side the Normanby Hall at 10.30.

Attempts were made during the day toget a line aboard the vessel as she con-tinued to flood in both her fore and aftholds. An attempt to re-float her wasmade at n p.m. after the water level hadreached 7 feet in her holds and after 90tons of cargo had been jettisoned, but it

was abandoned as visibility was reducedto nil. The life-boat remained on watchthrough the night. In the morning thetanker Oarsman, in answer to a requesttransmitted by Holyhead R/T station,pulled the casualty clear and took her intow to Belfast. The life-boat returned toher station at 2.15 p.m. the next day after29 hours' duty at sea.

Galway Bay. At i p.m. on 24thOctober, 1965, the local doctor asked forthe use of the life-boat to take a boy witha broken arm to the mainland for hospitaltreatment. No other suitable boat wasavailable. The life-boat Mary Stanford,on temporary duty at the station, set outat 2.30 in a moderate south-easterlybreeze and moderate swell, three hoursbefore high water. She landed the boy atRossaveel and returned to her station at545 P-m.

Valentia, Co. Kerry. At 1.5 p.m. on25th October, 1965, the Inspector forIrish Lights informed the honorarysecretary that a carpenter on SkelligsRock lighthouse required immediatemedical attention. The life-boat RowlandWatts proceeded at 1.30 in a freshsouth-easterly breeze and a slight swell.The tide was flooding. The life-boatreached the lighthouse at 3.40. The manwas taken off and later landed at Valentia,the life-boat reaching her station at5.40 p.m.

SCOTLAND

Cromarty, Ross and Cromarty.At 9.4 a.m. on 28th October, 1965, asmall fishing boat was reported in troubleoff Dunrobin Castle, Golspie. The life-boat Lilla Marras, Douglas and Willproceeded at 9.22 in a violent south-westerly storm and a very rough sea. Itwas one and a half hours after low water.At 9.48 a message was received that thefishing boat had sunk off Golspie har-bour and the life-boat was not required.She was recalled, but was later requestedto escort eight fishing vessels to harbour.The life-boat returned to her station at2.10 p.m.

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AGROUND IN FOGDunbar, East Lothian. At 2.54

p.m. on 6th October, 1965, the coast-guard reported that the m.f.v. Virgin IVhad run aground in fog on Long Craigrock, half a mile west of the harbour.The life-boat Margaret left her mooringsat 3 o'clock in a light south-easterlybreeze and calm sea, in dense fog. It wasone and a half hours after high water.

The life-boat went alongside theVirgin IV, but the crew refused to leavetheir ship. Later a fishing boat arrivedand took them aboard. The life-boatescorted the fishing boat to Dunbar,reaching her moorings at 4.20 p.m. Laterthat evening she went out again, at 10.18,as the crew of the Virgin IV had reboard-ed their vessel anticipating refloating onthe rising tide. The life-boat reached thegrounded vessel at n o'clock and a towline was put aboard. The life-boattowed the Virgin IV off and took her toDunbar, and was back at her moorings ateight minutes past midnight.

Stornoway, Outer Hebrides. At9.10 p.m. on ist October, 1965, thecoastguard reported that a flare had beensighted about one mile to the south-westof Arnish light. There was a moderatenorth-easterly breeze with a choppy sea.The tide was flooding. The life-boatThe James and Margaret Boyd went outat 9.40 and found a small motor boat withher engine broken down, dragging heranchor towards the steep rocky shore. Aline was made fast and the life-boattowed the motor boat with her crew oftwo to Stornoway harbour, arriving at10.55 P-m-

Stromness, Orkneys. At 5.45 p.m.on igth October, 1965, the honorarysecretary informed the coastguard thata man and his son had left Burray in afifteen-foot speedboat which had beenlaid up for over a year. At 7.50 the life-boat Archibald and Alexander M. Patersonwas launched in a moderate wind andmoderate seas, as the speedboat was thenlong overdue. It was two hours to lowwater. The life-boat proceeded on a searchcourse and sighted a dim flare five miles

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west of Netherbutton. When the speed-boat was reached the man and his son weretaken aboard and the speedboat towedback to Stromness. The life-boat reachedher station at 11.40 p.m.

CHILD TO HOSPITAL

Stronsay, Orkneys. At 3.25 p.m. on11 th October, 1965, the secretary of the hos-pital board told the honorary secretary thatthere was a child on the Isle of Sanday inneed of urgent hospital treatment. Thelife-boat The John Gellatly Hyndman pro-ceeded at 3.45 in a light south-south-west-erly breeze and a slight swell. It was twohours to low water. She arrived at Sandayat 4.20 and took the boy and a nurse onboard, then proceeded to Kirkwall, arriv-ing at 6.45. The boy was taken to hospitalby ambulance. The nurse was taken backto Sanday and landed at 10.15. The life-boat reached her station at 11 p.m.

The following life-boats were also called outin October:

Aberdeen - 25th.Appledore, Devon - yth.Beaumaris, Anglesey - 6th3 jyth and

28th.Bridlington, Yorkshire - loth.Campbeltown, Argyllshire - yth.Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - loth and 3151.Donaghadee, Co. Down - yth.Exmouth, Devon - 25th.Fleetwood, Lancashire - 3151.Hartlepool, Co. Durham - I3th.Holyhead, Anglesey - 6th.Ilfracombe, Devon - yth, nth and

22nd.Longhope, Orkneys - igth.Mallaig, Inverness-shire - 26th.New Brighton, Cheshire - 22nd and

23rd.Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - 25th.Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire -

6th.Ramsgate, Kent - 4th, 23rd and 30th.Sennen Cove, Cornwall - 9th.Southend-on-Sea, Essex - i8th.Stornoway, Outer Hebrides - loth.

Stromness, Orkneys - 2nd (twice) and3rd.

Stronsay, Orkneys - 3rd.Torbay, Devon - 9th.Tynemouth, Northumberland - 30th.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - 4th and

2yth.

NOVEMBER

NORTH-EAST ENGLAND

Amble, Northumberland. At 8.50a.m. on ist November, 1965, the coast-guard warned the honorary secretarythat two fishing cobles, which wereoverdue, might be in need of assistance.It was decided at 10.15 to send the life-boat Millie Walton and she went out atonce in a strong south-westerly gale anda rough sea. It was one and a half hoursafter high water. The life-boat reached apoint one and a half miles east-south-eastof Coquet Island, and escorted the fishingcoble Provider back to harbour. She wasthen called upon to stand by the fishingcoble Silver Coquet and escorted her tothe harbour. The life-boat reached herstation at 11.20 a.m.

and Mary Garfonh of Leeds was launchedat 4.30 in a moderate northerly breezeand in a slight swell. It was at high water.The bullock was found standing on therocks below the cliff. A boarding boat putashore and towed the animal to the life-boat which then towed it to West AngleBay, three miles away. The bullock wasreturned to its owner and the life-boatwas back at her station at 7.40 p.m.

Bridlington, Yorkshire. At 8.20 a.m.on 16th November, 1965, the coxswaininformed the honorary secretary that themotor fishing vessels Winifred and LeadUs were still at sea and conditions forentering harbour were deteriorating. Thehonorary secretary made enquiries aboutthe positions of the two vessels and wasinformed that one boat was east of Flam-borough Head and the other well to thesouth, both boats hauling their lines. Itwas decided to launch the life-boatTillie Morrison, Sheffield II at 9.5 and shewent to the harbour in a south-easterlygale and a very rough sea to await thearrival of the Winifred and Lead Us. Itwas one hour before high water. Bothboats were escorted safely to harbour.The life-boat remained afloat because ofthe weather conditions and was re-housed on 18th November.

COBLES ESCORTED

At 10.3 a.m. on i6th November, 1965,the cobles Provider and Silver Coquetwere reported to be still at sea in conditionsthat were rapidly deteriorating. The life-boat Millie Walton set out at 10.40 in asouth-easterly gale and a very rough sea,one and a half hours after high water.She made a search and found the SilverCoquet three miles north-east of Coquetand escorted her back to harbour. As theProvider had meanwhile reached theharbour safely, the life-boat returned toher station, arriving at 1.40 p.m.

LIFE-BOAT TOWED BULLOCK

At 3.50 p.m. on 2ist November, 1965,a farmer informed the coxswain that abullock had fallen over the cliff at EastPickard Bay and asked for the life-boat'sassistance. The life-boat Richard Vernon

VERY ROUGH SEA

At 6.45 a.m. on 29th November, 1965,three motor fishing vessels were reportedto be still at sea in deteriorating weather.The life-boat Tillie Morrison, Sheffield IIwas launched at 7.5, an hour before highwater, in a south-south-easterly gale anda very rough sea. She waited for two ofthe boats, the Winifred and Lead Us, andescorted them both safely into harbour.She then remained afloat until the thirdboat Energy was safe in harbour, return-ing to her station at 2.20 p.m.

Flamborough, Yorkshire. At 9.30a.m. on 27th November, 1965, the cox-swain told the honorary secretary thatthe fishing coble Moss Rose was at sea inweather that was likely to deteriorate andthat he wished to go to the landing toinvestigate. The life-boat Friendly Forester

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was launched at 11.45, one and a halfhours before high water, in a strongnortherly gale and very rough seas.She went to a position half a milenorth-east of the landing, where shefound the coble in heavy seas. The MossRose was escorted back to the northlanding, where the life-boat helpers hadto stand waist deep in the sea in order tobeach the coble. The life-boat was backat her station at i p.m.

Scarborough, Yorkshire. At noon onist November, 1965, the weather wasrapidly deteriorating and two open cobleswere still at sea, so the life-boat James andCatherine MacFarlane, on temporary dutyat the station, was launched in a west-by-northerly storm and a rough sea, twohours after high water. The life-boat metthe coble Betty Sheader just off the Castleand escorted her into the harbour, thenwent north and found the second cobleHilda II four miles north of the Castle.As the life-boat was escorting her thecoble's engine broke down and she wastaken in tow. The engine was laterrestarted and the Hilda II escorted toharbour. The life-boat returned to herstation at 1.35 p.m.

TOOK INJURED MAN OFF OIL RIGAt 7.15 p.m. on 22nd November, 1965,

the coastguard notified the honorarysecretary that a man aboard the oil rigEndeavour needed medical attention forinjuries. The life-boat James and CatherineMacFarlane, which was on temporaryduty at the station, was launched at 7.50in a strong northerly breeze and a roughsea. It was two hours to low water. Theinjured man was taken off the oil rigand brought back to Scarborough. Thelife-boat reached her station at 11.15 P-m-

Whitby, Yorkshire. At 8.50 a.m. on13th November, 1965, conditions hadbecome dangerous at the harbour barand the fishing coble William and Marthawas still at sea. The life-boat Mary AnnHepworth was launched at 9 o'clock in amoderate east-south-east breeze and arough sea. It was three hours to low water.The life-boat found the coble four milesnorth-west of the harbour and escorted it

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into harbour. The life-boat returned toher station at 10.36 a.m.

ESCORTED FISHING BOATSAt 8.20 a.m. on i6th November, 1965,

two small fishing cobles were reported tobe out in very bad weather conditionsand the life-boat Mary Ann Hepworthwas launched at 8.30 in a south-easterlygale and a rough sea. It was one hour tohigh water. The life-boat found the cobleWilliam and Martha and escorted hertowards harbour, and while doing thiscame upon the other coble, Venture. Thelife-boat escorted both vessels intoharbour and was back at her station at9.50 a.m.

LIFE-BOAT AT BARAt i p.m. on i8th November, 1965, the

motor vessel Ocean Venturer was reportedto be at sea in conditions which weredeteriorating. The life-boat Mary AmHepworth was launched at i .20 in a fresheasterly breeze and a heavy swell. It wasone hour after high water. The life-boatstood by at the harbour bar while theOcean Venturer made the difficult crossingand returned to harbour. The life-boatreturned to her station at 3.15 p.m.

CONDITIONS DETERIORATINGAt 8.50 a.m. on 22nd November, 1965,

conditions on and near the harbour wererapidly deteriorating and two motorfishing vessels, still at sea, were due toreturn to harbour. The life-boat Mary AnnHepworth was launched at 9 o'clock in anorth-westerly gale and a very rough sea.It was low water. The life-boat stood byas the two fishing vessels Ocean Venturerand Success entered harbour, then stoodby again as the vessel Lead Us negotiatedthe harbour bar. The life-boat returned toher station at 2.40 p.m.

PROPELLER FOULEDAt 4.20 p.m. on 25th November, 1965,

the coxswain told the honorary secretarythat the motor vessel Wakeful had parti-ally fouled her propeller and was returningto harbour from the fishing grounds.Conditions on the harbour bar weredangerous. The life-boat Mary Am

Hepworth was launched at 4.35 in anortherly gale and rough seas. It washigh water. The life-boat went to theharbour bar and stood by as the Wakefulreturned. The motor vessels Success andProvider were still at sea so the life-boatremained at the bar until they too weresafely back in harbour. The life-boatreturned to her station at 6.30 p.m.

DETAILS TO COME

On 2yth November, 1965, the life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth rescued thecrew of the motor vessel Fred Everard ofLondon. A full account of this servicewill appear in the June issue of THELIFE-BOAT, which will also contain a fullaccount of the service on the 29th Novem-ber, when the Mary Ann Hepworth waslaunched to escort three local fishingvessels to harbour.

SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston,Norfolk: At 12 noon on 3rd November,1965, the Superintendent of TrinityHouse, Great Yarmouth, asked for helpin bringing off a sick man from the CrossSands light vessel as the Trinity Housetender was too far away to deal with theemergency. The life-boat Louise Stephenswas launched at 12.42 in a strong northwesterly breeze and a moderate sea. Itwas one hour before high water. Thelife-boat proceeded to the light vessel,where the man was taken aboard thelife-boat, which reached her station at4.15 p.m. A doctor and ambulance metthe life-boat on her return.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight. At 6 a.m.on 20th November, 1965, a request wasreceived from the Danish vessel Zita for atow as her engines had broken down. Thelife-boat Jesse Lumb was launched at 6.45in a gentle north-easterly breeze andrough seas. It was two hours to highwater. The life-boat met the Zita offVentnor and towed her to Portsmouth.The life-boat was back at her station at5.30 p.m. The owner of the vessel made agift to the life-boat crew.

Clacton-on-Sea and Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 4.20 p.m. on 2ythNovember, 1965, the Clacton coastguardtold the honorary secretary of the Clacton-on-Sea life-boat station that red flareshad been seen north-east of Mouse. TheClacton-on-Sea life-boat Sir GodfreyBaring was launched at 4.45 in a strongnorth-westerly gale force wind and arough sea. The Southend-on-Sea life-boat Greater London II (Civil ServiceNo. 30) was launched five minutes later.It was two hours after high water.

The life-boats went to the area givenand found the barge Rodent, with a crewof two, aground one and a half milesnorth-north-east of the Barrow beaconon Barrow Sand. The life-boats stood by,one to leeward, one to windward, untilthe barge was refloated on the floodingtide. The Southend-on-Sea life-boatthen went alongside and put a line aboardand towed the casualty to Southend-on-Sea. The Clacton-on-Sea life-boat stoodby during this operation, returning to herstation at 12.44 a.m. The Southend-on-Sea life-boat reached her station at 2.30a.m. The owners of the barge made agift to the crew of the Southend-on-Sealife-boat.

Cromer, Norfolk. By noon, on 2ythNovember, 1965, the weather haddeteriorated considerably and as five localfishing boats were still at sea it wasdecided to assemble the crew of theNo. 2 life-boat. The life-boat WilliamHenry and Mary King was launched at1.15 p.m. to stand by the boats which werethen making for Cromer. There was amoderate north westerly breeze and avery rough sea. It was four hours afterhigh water. The first boat, CharlesPerkins, was met about one mile southof Cromer and escorted safely ashore.The life-boat then proceeded south forabout three miles where she came up withthe fishing boat George Robert andescorted her to Overstrand. About amile further south three more boats werefound, and one of these, the YoungFisherman, had broken down and was indanger of driving ashore. A tow rope waspassed and the Young Fisherman wastaken in tow to Overstrand where she

45

was beached. The life-boat then escortedthe Black Beauty and the Lewis James toCromer and returned to her station at3 p.m.

Dover, Kent. At 8.5 p.m. on nthNovember, 1965, a yacht in Doverharbour was reported to be in danger ofcapsizing against a Trinity House pilotcutter which had it in tow. The life-boatSouthern Africa left her moorings at8.18 in an easterly gale and a rough sea.It was four hours before high water.She reached the two vessels and tookover the tow of the yacht Taia, taking herto a safe anchorage. The life-boat wasthen called upon to stand by a secondyacht, the Standig, which was beingtowed by the German motor vesselThule. After the yacht reached harbourthe life-boat returned to her station at10.15 p.m.

POUNDING AGAINST PIER

Dover, Kent. At 7.20 a.m. on 2gthNovember, 1965, the owner of the yachtSugar Creek informed the life-boatmechanic that the yacht, from which hehad just swum, had broken loose fromher moorings in the inner harbour and waspounding herself against the Admiraltypier. There was still one person on board.The life-boat Southern Africa set out at7.30 in a south-south-westerly gale and arough sea. It was one hour before lowwater. The life-boat reached the SugarCreek, saved the woman who was aboard,and towed the yacht, which had beenbadly damaged, to a safe place. The life-boat was back at her station at 8.35 a.m.

Dungeness, Kent. At 8.10 a.m. on3rd November, 1965, a local fishermantold the honorary secretary that afishing boat, half a mile south of Dunge-ness, was flying a distress signal. The life-boat Mabel E. Holland was launched at8.28 a.m. in a gentle northerly breezeand a moderate sea. It was two hoursafter high water. The life-boat went to theposition given and found the herringboat Fisher Lads with her net caught inboth propellers. She was drifting out tosea. The life-boat towed the Fisher Lads

46

back to Dungeness and reached herstation at 9.8 a.m.

YACHT LEAKING

At 5.55 a.m. on I5th November, 1965,the coastguard reported that a yacht withher engine broken down was in need ofassistance and that a pilot cutter wasstanding by. The life-boat Mabel E.Holland was launched at 6.18 in a moder-ate northerly breeze and a choppy sea.It was one and a half hours to low water.The yacht Diana was found, leaking,with three people on board. The life-boat towed the yacht into Folkestoneharbour and was back at her station at11.45 a-m-

Lowestoft, Suffolk. At 6.50 a.m. onloth November, 1965, the local trawler

Jamaica was reported aground on thesandbank off Lowestoft harbour. She hadsent out a 'Mayday' call. The life-boatFrederick Edward Crick went out at 7.5in a fresh north-north-easterly breezeand a moderate sea. The tide was flooding.On reaching the trawler her skipper askedthe coxswain to stand by until a tugarrived. However, as the tide was flooding,the coxswain suggested that he shouldtry going full astern. In half an hour thetrawler was clear of the sandbank. Thecoxswain, using the life-boat's echosounder, was able to guide the Jamaicainto deep water and safely into harbour.The life-boat reached her station at8.25 a.m.

Newhaven, Sussex. At 4.43 p.m. on27th November, 1965, flares were ob-served, fired from a small fishing boatwhich was drifting across Seaford Bay.Her anchor cable had parted and herengines had failed. The life-boat KathleenMary was launched at 4.55 in a north-westerly gale force wind and a roughsea, three hours after high water. Shefound the motor boat Rosemary with acrew of four in a position half a mile offthe Buckle Inn, Seaford, and took her intow to a safe berth in Newhaven harbour,where she arrived at 5.40 p.m.

Ramsgate, Kent. At 9.9 p.m. onloth November, 1965, the coastguard at

Deal informed the honorary secretarythat the Margate coastguard had ob-served a vessel burning flares two milesnorth-east of Foreness Point. The life-boat Michael and Lily Davis put out at9.22 in a fresh east-north-easterly breezeand a rough sea. It was three hours beforehigh water. The motor vessel Reclaimwas found three-quarters of a mile offForeness Point, with her engine brokendown. She was being driven ashore.The life-boat took her in tow to Rams-gate harbour. During the journey thetow rope broke three times. The life-boat reached her station at 12.10 a.m.

TOWED MOTOR BOAT

At 11.54 a-m. on 25th November,1965, the east pier watchman sawa motor boat in difficulties off Broad-stairs. The life-boat Michael and Lily

By courtesy of] [Joy Warren, Bembridge

.Bembridge Coxswain, .Peter Smith, wasknocked unconscious when he was thrownagainst a stanchion while the life-boat,Jesse Lumb was battling against heavyseas on a service call to a yacht in distress.

Davis set out at 12.7 p.m. in a southerlygale force wind and a very rough sea.The tide was flooding. Five miles east-north-east of Ramsgate the life-boatfound the motor boat Cherie with herengine broken down. Two people wereaboard. The life-boat took her in tow toMargate, as conditions at Ramsgate werenot suitable, and reached her station at3.25 p.m.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 5.11a.m. on ist November, 1965, the motorvessel Clarity was reported to be draggingher anchor and running aground half-a-mile west of No. 4 Sea Reach buoy. Thelife-boat Greater London II (Civil ServiceNo. 30) was launched at 5.35 in a strongsouth-westerly gale and a very roughsea, one hour after high water. She wentto the sandbank where the Clarity layaground and it was arranged that thelife-boat should return later to stand by athigh water.

As the life-boat drew alongside South-end pier it was noticed that a Dutch vesselwas within ten yards of the pier. Thelife-boat stood by with a tow rope untilthis vessel was safe and at 3 p.m. returnedto assist the Clarity as she refloated on afull tide. The life-boat was back at herstation at 5 p.m.

SOUTH-WEST ENGLANDThe Lizard-Cadgwith, Cornwall.

At 12.32 a.m. on 25th November, 1965,the coastguard reported that red flareshad been seen two miles south-west of theLizard light. The life-boat The Duke ofCornwall (Civil Service No. 33) was laun-ched at i o'clock in a south-westerly galeand a rough sea, three hours before highwater. She found the cabin cruiserKetchedro with one of her engines brokendown and her electrical equipment outof order. She had a crew of four whowere uncertain of their position and thelife-boat escorted the cabin cruiser toNewlyn, arriving at 4.30. The life-boatreached her station at 9 a.m.

Padstow, Cornwall. On 23rd Novem-ber, 1965, the Padstow life-boat JosephHiram Chadwick rescued the crew of twoof the fishing vessel Deo Gratias. A full

47

account of this service, for which specialawards were made to the coxswain andcrew, appears on page 7.

Penlee, Cornwall. At 10 a.m. on nthNovember, 1965, the St. Just coastguardtold the coxswain that a ship had reportedseeing mattresses in the sea five milessouth-east of Tater Du lighthouse. Themattresses were possibly from the missingBelgium trawler Etna. The life-boatSolomon Browne was launched at 10.10in a south-easterly gale and rough seas.It was one and a half hours to high water.She searched a large area with the assis-tance of a helicopter and a Shackletonaircraft. At 2 p.m. the life-boat picked upa large grating and a ship's fender but noother wreckage. The coxswain decided at2.55 p.m. to return to harbour as visibilitywas poor, and the life-boat had to remain

afloat at Newlyn until i8th Novemberbecause of weather conditions.

TRAWLER LOST PROPELLER

At 4.10 p.m. on 26th November,1965, the honorary secretary informedthe coxswain that the Newlyn trawlerJacqueline had lost her propeller andthat another trawler, the Trewarveneth,had attempted to give a tow but indoing so had fouled her propeller.The two trawlers were locked togetherand needed immediate help. The life-boat Solomon Browne was launched at4.20 in a full southerly gale and a veryrough sea. It was one and a quarter hoursto high water. The life-boat found thetrawlers one mile east of Runnelstone.Both were badly damaged above the waterline. Two other trawlers took theJacqueline and Trewarveneth in tow and

By courtesy of] [The Wat Briton

Lizard-Cadgwith life-boat crew (in oilskins) with men from the yacht Kechedro

48

the life-boat escorted all four vessels toNewlyn harbour, returning to her stationat 7.30 p.m.

St. Mary's, Scilly Islands. At 4.58p.m. on 28th November, 1965, thehonorary secretary learnt from the coast-guard that the motor vessel MarchionEnterprise had taken the yacht Barran-quilla in tow with a broken propellershaft coupling and a fouled rudder. Theyacht had a crew of five. Their positionwas then about 90 miles south west ofSt. Mary's and the master of the motorvessel asked if the life-boat would takeover the tow when they were nearer St.Mary's. At 3.29 p.m. the next day thecoastguard requested that the life-boatGuy and Clare Hunter be launched atfour o'clock and she proceeded in amoderate to fresh south westerly breezeand a rough sea. It was three hours and ahalf before high water. The life-boat metthe motor vessel Marchion Enterprisefourteen miles south south west ofBishop Rock lighthouse and took overthe towage of the Barranquilla to St.Mary's harbour, arriving at 10.10 p.m.

NORTH-WEST ENGLANDLytham-St. Anne's, Lancashire.

At 7.38 a.m. on 24th November, 1965,the Dutch vessel Herta was reportedaground three miles north-east of theNelson buoy. The life-boat Sarah Towns-end Porritt went to the scene at 8.20 in awest-north-westerly gale and a veryrough sea. It was two hours after lowwater. The life-boat found the Hertahad refloated on the rising tide and wasbeing swept by heavy breaking seas. Sheescorted the Dutch vessel as far as theLytham anchorage, then the Hertacontinued to Preston and the life-boatreturned to her station, which she reachedat 10.30 a.m.

Holyhead, Anglesey. At 10.26 a.m.on 2yth November, 1965, the honorarysecretary heard that the Norwegian motorvessel Havlyn was in need of assistance,having a forty-five degree list ninemiles from the South Stack lighthouse.

The life-boat St. Cybi (Civil Service No.9) was launched at 10.49 in a north-north-westerly gale force wind and a very roughsea. It was one hour before high water.The life-boat proceeded and reached theHavlyn at 12 noon, and stood by until thevessel righted herself and had madeanchor in Penrhos Bay. The life-boatcontinued to stand by until 5.7 when shereturned to her station, arriving at 7.5p.m.

CARGO MIGHT SHIFTHolyhead, Anglesey. At 11.15 p.m.

on 28th November, 1965, the coastguardnotified the honorary secretary that theNorwegian motor vessel Havlyn intendedto weigh anchor and proceed to Holyhead.Her master was afraid that her cargomight shift. The life-boat St. Cybi (CivilService No. 9) was launched at 11.23 to

escort the vessel, which had a list toport, to Holyhead. There was a strongnorth-westerly breeze blowing and thesea was rough. It was two hours to highwater. The life-boat reached the Havlyn,which was three miles south-west ofSouth Stack, and escorted her to Holy-head. The life-boat was back at her stationat 12.50 a.m.

The service reported below is a full accountof the one mentioned briefly on page 504 ofthe December 7965 issue of THE LIFE-BOAT.A letter of appreciation has been sent bythe RNLI to the coxswain, crew, and shorehelpers thanking them for the manner inwhich this rescue was carried out in hazar-dous weather conditions.

Rhyl, Flintshire. At 11.19 a.m. on3ist August, 1965, the coastguard repor-ted that a yacht anchored off Rhyl hadfired a red flare. The life-boat LucyLavers, on temporary duty at the station,was launched in a strong north-westerlywind and a rough sea. The tide wasflooding. The life-boat found the yachtTaka Maru with her mainsail torn, thestaysail blown out and fouling theanchor chain. Her propeller had alsobeen fouled. The coxswain took the life-boat alongside the yacht in difficultconditions - a very heavy sea wasrunning - and rescued her crew of two.

49

They were very exhausted and weregiven hot refreshment. The life-boatreturned to her station at 3.25 p.m.

SCOTLANDAith, Shetlands. At 5.40 p.m. on

nth November, 1965, a man told thehonorary secretary that he had seen agreen flare just west of the Island ofVementry. It was one hour to high waterwhen the life-boat John and FrancisMacFarlam put out at 6.30 in a gentlenorth-easterly breeze and a choppy sea tosearch an area west of the Island ofVermentry. Further information wasreceived that a lobster boat with twomen on board was missing, so the life-boat began to search an area betweenManganess Voe and Papa Sound using asearchlight, but at 11.30 it was decided toabandon the search.

At 10.45 a-m- tne following day thehonorary secretary decided to continue

the search for the missing lobster boat.The life-boat set out at 11.5 in a freshsouth-easterly breeze and a moderate sea.The tide was flooding. At 12.10 p.m.the life-boat located the motor vesselEdna which was drifting helplessly asshe had fouled her propeller with herdinghy's rope. The life-boat towed thevessel to a safe anchorage and returnedto her station at 1.15 p.m.

Arbroath, Angus. At 12.25 P-m- on

12th November, 1965, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that thefishing fleet which was out was shortlydue to return and that the harbour barwas dangerous. The life-boat The Duke ofMontrose was launched at 12.45 in a

south-easterly gale and a very rough sea.It was two and a half hours after lowwater. The life-boat escorted twentyfishing vessels over the bar into harbour,a task she had accomplished by 2.30, but

By courtesy of] [R.A.F., Valley

Holyhead life-boat approaching m.v. Havlyn off South Stack, Anglesey

50

the life-boat could not be rehoused forforty-eight hours.

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. At7.42 p.m. on 27th November, 1965,the honorary secretary was told that thefishing boat Bluebell had been towinganother fishing boat the Ebenezer (whichhad no lights) when the tow rope parted.The help of the life-boat was now required.The life-boat The Duchess of Kent waslaunched at 7.52 and found two fishingboats one mile off Kinnaird Head. Therewas a north-westerly gale and a veryrough sea and it was an hour before lowwater. The life-boat took the Ebenezer intow and escorted the Bluebell back intoharbour, reaching her station at 9.27 p.m.

Mallaig, Inverness-shire. At 11.40p.m. on 28th November, 1965, thelife-boat E.M.M. Gordon Cubbin pro-ceeded in a light northerly breeze andin a slight swell. A ship had beenreported aground on the east side ofCall. It was one hour after high water.The life-boat came up with the motorvessel Fokke de Jong Sr. of Borkum andstood by at the request of the master ofthe ground vessel. The vessel, which wasamongst rocks, was re-floated after severalattempts but shortly afterwards groundedagain. The life-boat now put a towrope on board the vessel and pulled theFokke de Jong Sr. off the rocks stem firstand again stood by until the motor vesselhad reached safer waters. After it wasascertained that the motor vessel had noleaks, the life-boat returned to herstation, arriving at 5 p.m. on the 29thNovember.

STOKEHOLD ON FIREPeterhead, Aberdeenshire. At 4.59

p.m. on I9th November, 1965, thecoastguard told the honorary secretarythat they had received a mayday call fromthe British trawler hernia stating that herstokehold was on fire. The life-boatJulia Park Barry of Glasgow was launchedat 5.25 in an easterly gale force wind anda very rough sea. It was two hours afterlow water. The life-boat was guided byflares dropped by a Shackleton aircraft ofCoastal Command and located the hernia

fifteen miles north-east of Peterhead. Atthe request of the skipper nine of thetrawler's crew of twenty were taken off.After standing by while another trawlertook the hernia in tow the life-boatreturned to her station, arriving atii p.m.

St. Abbs, Berwickshire. At n a.m.on nth November, 1965, the coxswaintold the honorary secretary that the motorfishing boat Guide Me had not returnedto harbour with the rest of the fishingfleet, following a gale warning. The life-boat Jane Hay was launched in a south-easterly gale and a rough sea, two and ahalf hours after high water. After asearch she came upon the Guide Mesteaming towards St. Abbs. The life-boatescorted her back into harbour andreturned to her station at 11.35 a.m.

MAN TO HOSPITALStronsay, Orkneys. At 7.35 a.m. on

5th November, 1965, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that they hadreceived a message from a doctor onSanday Island saying that a person neededimmediate hospital treatment. Any delaymight prove fatal. The life-boat The JohnGellatly Hyndman left at 8.15 in a strongwest-south-westerly breeze and a roughsea. It was high water. Sanday was reachedat 8.50 and the patient taken aboard forKirkwall, which was reached at 11.25.The patient was taken to hospital. Thenurse who had accompanied the patientwas taken back to Sanday Island by thelife-boat, which reached her station at3.30 p.m.

Whitehills, Banffshire. At 2.24 p.m.on 28th November, 1965, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that thepolice had reported that a man had fallenover the cliff at Troup Head and couldbe in the sea. The life-boat HelenWycherley was launched at 2.40 in astrong westerly breeze and a moderatesea. The life-boat on reaching the areacarried out an extensive search closeinshore without finding the man. Mean-while two men had succeeded in descend-ing the cliff face and found the body ofthe man near the foot of the cliff, but as

51

there was a swell the two men and thebody could not be taken aboard. Themen also could not climb up the cliffowing to fresh snow falls and darknessand they decided to spend the night atthe foot of the cliff. The life-boatreturned to her station at 6.5 p.m. Aboutthree hours later the life-boat put outagain with a small boat at the request ofthe coastguard to attempt to rescue themen, but she was later recalled as it hadbeen found possible to lower food anddry clothing to the trapped men. At7.30 a.m. the next day the life-boatproceeded to the position, calling in atGardenstown to pick up four men whohad more intimate knowledge of theinshore water at Troup Head, and a liferaft. On reaching the head a line wasput ashore to which the raft was attached,but the two men on shore elected to waitfor a helicopter which was on its wayfrom Lossiemouth. After being winchedup to the cliff top the body of the manwho had fallen down the cliff was takenaboard the life-boat, which arrived ather station at 4.30 p.m.

Wick, Caithness-shire. At 4.45 a.m.on 3rd November, 1965, the harbour-master was informed that the Danishvessel Irene Frijs of Copenhagen wasarriving in Wick Bay to land two injuredseamen. The vessel unfortunately groun-ded on the north side of the bay and thelife-boat City of Edinburgh was launchedat 5.20 in a strong north-westerly windand a slight swell. It was two hours beforehigh water.

The life-boat found the Irene Frijswith a 30° list to starboard and took thetwo injured men on board. The master ofthe casualty then asked if pumps couldbe brought out as the vessel had shipped alarge quantity of water. After landing thetwo injured men, the life-boat returned tothe casualty with pumps obtained fromthe local fire service, and later towed theIrene Frijs into deeper water where sheanchored. The life-boat reached herstation at 11.35 a.m.

WALES

St. David's, Pembrokeshire. At11.20 p.m. on 7th November, 1965, the

52

assistant honorary secretary received amessage from the Smalls lighthousestating that there was an injured keeperon the lighthouse. After consulting withthe honorary medical adviser it wasdecided to launch the life-boat the nextmorning. The life-boat Joseph Soar(Civil Service No. 34) was launched at 6.2a.m. with a doctor aboard and the boardingboat in tow in a strong southerly breezeand a rough sea. It was one hour after highwater.

The life-boat arrived at the Smallslighthouse at 8.30. The second coxswainand a member of the crew began to rowashore in the boarding boat with thedoctor. Then a helicopter from R.N.A.S.Brawdy arrived and offered to carry thedoctor on to the lighthouse. This wasdone and later the helicopter flew thedoctor with the injured man to Brawdy.The boarding boat was recalled and thelife-boat reached her station at 11.45 a-m-

St. David's, Pembrokeshire. At10.32 a.m. on 23rd November, 1965, thecoastguard informed the coxswain thatan aircraft had come down in the sea inthe St. Bride's bay area and her crew oftwo had baled out. The life-boat JosephSoar (Civil Service No. 34) was launchedat 10.47 m a west south westerly galeand a very rough sea. It was one hourbefore low water. The life-boat proceededsouth through Ramsey Sound, and amessage was then received from theRoyal Naval Air Station at Brawdy thatthe two airmen had been rescued and thecoxswain was asked to recover theirdinghies. The life-boat searched an areafour miles south of Ramsey Island andfound one dinghy. The second wasthought to have sunk. The life-boat wasrecalled and reached her station at8.30 p.m.

IRELAND

Galway Bay. At 4 p.m. on i3thNovember, 1965, the local doctor askedthe honorary secretary if the life-boatwould take a sick man from the Inish-maan island to the mainland for hospitaltreatment, as no other suitable boat wasavailable. The life-boat Mary Stanford,

on temporary duty at the station, set outwith the doctor in a north-easterly galeand a rough sea. It was three hours tohigh water. After examining the man,who had appendicitis, the doctor re-turned to the life-boat with his patient.The life-boat left the island for Kilronanto embark a nurse who accompanied thesick man to the mainland at Rossaveel.The life-boat returned to her station,arriving at 11.30 p.m.

MAN TAKEN TO HOSPITALAt 3.15 p.m. on I9th November, 1965,

a local doctor asked the honorarysecretary for the services of the life-boatto take a man with a haemorrhage to themainland for hospital treatment. Thelife-boat Mary Stanford, which was ontemporary duty at the station, put outat 3.25 in a fresh north-easterly breezeand a slight swell. It was three hours afterhigh water. The life-boat landed thepatient at Rossaveel and was back at herstation at 7.30 p.m.

TWO CHILDREN ILLAt 4.30 p.m. on 24th November, 1965,

the local doctor informed the honorarysecretary that there were two sick childrenwho needed hospital treatment. One hadappendicitis and the other had a dangerouscut on his leg. As no other boat wasavailable the life-boat Mary Stanford,on temporary duty at the station, pro-ceeded at 5.30 in a light north-easterlybreeze and a calm sea. It was one hourbefore high water. The two patients weretaken to Rossaveel and the life-boat wasback at her station at 8.30 p.m.

Portrush, Co. Antrim. On ist Nov-ember, 1965, the Portrush life-boat LadyScott (Civil Service No. 4) was launched tosearch for survivors from the Norwegianfrigate Bergen. A full account of this ser-vice, for which special awards were madeto the coxswain and crew, appears on page5-

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.At 9 a.m. on 8th November, 1965, theInspector of Irish Lights informed thehonorary secretary that there was a sick

keeper on the Tusker Rock lighthouseand requested that he be taken off. Thelife-boat Douglas Hyde set out at 10.30,towing the boarding boat, in a freshsoutherly breeze and a moderate sea. Itwas low water. She reached the light-house, took the sick man off and landedhim at Rosslare harbour. He was takenby car to a doctor, and the life-boatreached her station at 1.15 p.m.

KEEPER LANDED

At 9 a.m. on 9th November, 1965, theInspector of Irish Lights asked thehonorary secretary for the life-boat'sassistance to place a deputy keeper onTuskar Rock lighthouse. The life-boatDouglas Hyde set out at 10.45 towing theboarding boat in a moderate south-wester-ly breeze and in moderate seas. It waslow water. The keeper was landed at thelighthouse and the life-boat returned,reaching her station at 1.30 p.m.

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The following life-boats were also called outin November:

Aberdeen - i8th.Aldeburgh, Suffolk - 27th.Bembridge, Isle of Wight - ist and

8th.Blyth, Northumberland - i6th.Broughty Ferry, Angus - nth.Caister, Norfolk - 24th.Cullercoats, Northumberland - 2ist.Dover, Kent - I4th.Flamborough, Yorkshire - 5th.Fleetwood, Lancashire - 23rd.Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire - 24th,

28th and 29th.Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Nor-

folk - 24th.Hartlepool, Co. Durham - 27th and

30th.Hastings, Sussex - iyth.Islay, Inner Hebrides - 6th.MoeLfre, Anglesey - 2yth.New Brighton, Cheshire - isth.Newhaven, Sussex - yth and 27th.

Padstow, Cornwall - I7th and 20th.Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire -

27th.Ramsgate, Kent - 6th and loth.Redcar, Yorkshire - 4th.Rhyl, Flintshire - ist.Runswick, Yorkshire - i6th.St. Mary's, Scilly Isles - 9th, I4th and

I5th.St. Peter Port, Guernsey - i8th.Scarborough, Yorkshire - 2nd.Skegness, Lincolnshire - 30th.Stronsay, Orkneys - gth.Sunderland, Co. Durham - 27th.Teesmouth, Yorkshire - ist.Tynemouth, Northumberland - i8th.Walton and Frinton, Essex - 2ist and

27th (twice).Whitby, Yorkshire - 20th.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - 9th.

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

A VITAL SERVICE TO THE

R.N.L.I.

Coastal Radio - the privileged exclu-sive supplier of M.F. Radio and D.F.equipment for over 180 R.N.L.I. Life-

boats over the past 15 years.

SELECTED FOR RELIABILITY

COASTAL RADIO LTD.Hope Crescent, Edinburgh 7

Tel: WAVerley 2633/4

Cyldon Works, Fleets Lane,Poole, Dorset.

Tef: 1640

By courtesy of] [Bridlington Free Press

Bridlington life-boat launching to escortkeel boats back to harbour in rough seas

54

New Ways ofMrs. Smith of Southport has handed to the Southport Guild the sum of £5, raised

by a collection of a penny a week contributed by each member of the St. Andrew's InnerWheel over 6o's Club.

Topsham Sailing Club challenged the Exe Sailing Club to a football match. This wasplayed on the mud flats and afterwards the players had to be hosed off with cold water.However, a collection of £7. 5. 6 was taken for the local branch of the R.N.L.I.

The honorary secretary of the Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton branch reports thattheir glass tank, which has a life-boat sunk in the middle of it, has raised over £25 during7965. He comments that it is rather a bad thing to show a life-boat sunk, but people liketo throw money into the water and because of this the sunken life-boat certainly pays.

The Marconi International Marine Company Limited of Chelmsford decided lastyear to abandon the practice of sending Company Christmas cards, and instead, to makea donation to a suitable maritime charity of the amount which would have been spent onthe purchase and distribution of Christmas cards. The RNLI was chosen as the recipientof the 1965 donation, and a very acceptable 'Christmas present' was the result.

H.M. CoastguardThe Institution's best wishes for many happy years of retirement go to Commander

D. F. White, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R. (Retd.), who relinquished his post as ChiefInspector of H.M. Coastguard at the end of 1965.

Commander White first went to sea as a cadet in 1915, later transferring to the RoyalNavy for the duration of the war. He then returned to the Merchant Navy and servedas an officer in various ships of the Anchor Donaldson Line and the Anchor Line.He also served in various Royal Navy ships as a permanent R.N.V.R. officer, and wasrecalled to the Royal Navy when World War II began, serving in corvettes and frigatesin the Western Approaches Command. At the end of the war he was Commodore ofCoastal Convoys. In the course of his duties he had escorted convoys to the invasionbeaches, and one to Antwerp.

He joined H.M. Coastguard as an Inspector in 1946, became D.C.I, in 1950,and in 1962 was promoted Chief Inspector. His retirement is due to reaching the agelimit, 65.

The easy co-operation and close, friendly relationship which exists between theRNLI and H.M. Coastguard are proof of the efficient manner in which CommanderWhite handled all matters which were of mutual concern.

He is succeeded as Chief Inspector of H.M. Coastguard by Commander P. J. H.Bartlett, O.B.E., R.N. (Retd.).

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By courtesy of] [Eastern Daily Prex

A plate fixed as a temporary repair to the Gorleston life-boat after she hadbeen holed on service 24th November, 1965

INDEX TO ADVERTISERSCastrol Ltd 21

Clarke Chapman & Co. Ltd. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33

Coastal Radio Ltd 54

Dodson Bull Carpet Co. .. .. .. ,. .. .. .. .. 27

Gardner Engines (Sales) Ltd. .. .. .. .. .. Inside front cover

Gallaher Ltd. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Back cover

Pinchin Johnson & Associates Ltd. II

Pyrene Co. Ltd. .. 53

R.F.D. Co. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Inside back cover

University Marine Ltd. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30

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