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

VOL. XXXIX SEPTEMBER 1966 No. 417

CONTENTS

PORTRAIT OF A COXSWAIN 130

NOTES OF THE QUARTER 131

TRIBUTE TO LIFE-BOAT DESIGNER 133

THE WRECK OF THE ANZIO I 134

CREW THROWN OUT OF IRB 136

AWARD FOR SIXTEEN YEAR OLD BOY 138

SIDELIGHTS ON STATIONS AND PLACES 139

THIRTY-FIFTH CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT 140

BIRTHDAY HONOURS 143

FOCUS ON SALCOMBE 144

NEW WAYS OF RAISING MONEY 151

BOOK REVIEWS 155

TWO DOCTORS LANDED ON ISLAND 158

OBITUARY 160

LIFE-BOAT SERVICES ROUND THE COAST 162

IRB LAUNCHES 170, l8l, 194

OTHER IRB LAUNCHES 196

Index to AdvertisersBrookes & Gatehouse Ltd. 159Castrol Ltd. 148Clarke, Chapman & Co., Ltd 159Coastal Radio Ltd. 164Cogswell & Harrison Ltd. 165Dodson-Bull Carpet Co 175Gallaher Ltd. Back coverGardner Engines (Sales) Ltd. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 147The Pyrene Company Ltd. 171R.F.D. Co., Ltd. Inside Back coverUniversity Marine Ltd 167

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

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

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PORTRAIT OF A COXSWAIN

COXSWAIN JOHN TRIMBLE, of the Donaghadee, Co. Down, life-boat Sir Samuel Kelly. Appointed coxswain in April, 1960, he wassecond coxswain from November, 1954, until his present appoint-ment. Since April, 1950, when he was appointed bowman, theDonaghadee life-boat has been launched 82 times and has saved

84 lives.130

NOTES OF THE QUARTERThat the life-boat service is busier every year is now becoming a clearly

established fact, and it received further confirmation in the first six months ofthe present year. In 1965 an all-time record for launches was established, yetthere was a marked increase in the number of launches in the first six months of1966 in comparison with last year. The total figure for launches by life-boatsand inshore rescue boats during this period was 670 compared with 527 in 1965.The number of calls on life-boats did not change substantially, but there wereover twice as many launches by inshore rescue boats, the figure being 225 com-pared with 112 for the first six months of 1965. With a 50 per cent increase inthe number of IRBs in service some increase was to be expected, but an increaseof over loo per cent is a formidable one.

RESCUES FROM RIGS

A new type of structure, which is now beginning to be familiar near thecoasts of parts of Britain, is creating a new form of hazard at sea. This is theboring rig. The number of these in the North Sea is growing steadily withthe intensification of the search for gas. Life-boats have been called out on anumber of occasions on receiving distress messages concerning rigs, and whenSea Gem capsized in December, 1965 (THE LIFE-BOAT, June, 1966), four life-boats spent over 100 hours searching for survivors.

These rigs present peculiar problems to rescue services, and in order to assesssome of the difficulties the first of the Institution's 7o-foot steel life-boats carriedout a reconnaissance in the North Sea shortly after she had been formally named.She left Gorleston early in the morning on nth May and continued the recon-naissance until 17th May. Lieut.-Commander H. F. Teare, R.N.R., AssistantDistrict Inspector, Western, was in command. His report has been carefullystudied by the Committee of Management, together with an interesting film,which was made by a B.B.C. cameraman who was aboard at the time. The filmhas been shown on television. Pictures of oil rigs appear on pages 162 and 163.

A successful rescue has already been carried out from a rig, for on 5th Junethe Blackpool life-boat took seven men off a drilling rig, which was in danger ofcapsizing a few hundred yards south of the central pier. It was a difficult oper-ation, and in taking the men off the life-boat's rudder was damaged. A fullaccount of the service will appear in the December number of THE LIFE-BOAT.

NORWEGIAN VISIT

The first of the 70-foot life-boats put out from Gorleston on another occasionin May. This was to greet the Norwegian rescue cruiser Ambassador Bay,which was paying a visit to Britain from 2Oth to 22nd May. The Gorlestonlife-boat and IRB and the Lowestoft life-boat also met the fine Norwegianvessel. A deputy chairman of the Institution, Commander F. R. H. Swann,O.B.E., R.N.V.R., was on board the 7O-foot boat.

The Norwegian delegation visited the Brook Marine yard at Lowestoft to

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By courtesy of [Eastern Daily Press

The Chief Inspector of Life-boats, Lieut-Commander W. L. G. Dutton, R.D.,R.N.R., greeting the Secretary General of the Norwegian Life-boat Institution,Capt. Olaf Bjb'rnstad, when the Norwegian rescue cruiser Ambassador Bay berthed

at Great Yarmouth on a goodwill mission on 20th May, 1966.

inspect the 44-foot steel life-boats under construction, and in the course of theirvisit they were entertained by the coxswain and crew of the Gorleston life-boat,by the branch committee, by the Mayor of Great Yarmouth and by Sir Patrickand Lady Benn, who is herself Norwegian.

Captain Olaf Bjornstad, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Life-boatSociety, impressed everyone present by the grace and wit of the speeches hemade in English on all the various social occasions. When the Norwegian life-boat returned he went to Littlehampton to inspect the 44-foot steel life-boatwhich the Institution obtained from the United States Coast Guard. Heexpressed particular interest in what he saw of the construction of conventionallife-boats at Littlehampton.

CLOSING OF GROWER No. 2 STATIONThe Institution has decided to close the No. 2 life-boat station at Cromer,

but the decision will not be put into effect until repairs to the slipway, whichare likely to last some months, have been completed. Cromer is the last stationin the country to have two life-boats. The original reason for having a secondboat was that if the No. i boat could not be rehoused because of weather con-ditions she might have to put into Gorleston, where she would not be availablefor duty off Cromer.

The present Cromer No. i life-boat Henry Blogg is to be replaced shortlyby a new 48-foot 6-inch life-boat of the self-righting Oakley type fitted with

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radar. Capsizing trials of this life-boat were carried out at Portsmouth in Juneand a picture appears on p. 154.

NEW HISTORICAL FILM

Another excellent new film has been made about the life-boat service. It isentitled simply 'Lifeboat' and was made by the Perkins Engine Group atPeterborough, who have presented it to the Institution as a tribute to the workof the R.N.L.I. and the courage of its crews.

The film, which runs for 19 minutes, is in colour and 16 mm. It tells some-thing of the history of the Institution and of attempts to improve methods ofsaving life at sea since 1771. Through the use of models, paintings and recon-structed scenes the efforts of Sir William Hillary, Grace Darling, James Beech-ing, the fourth Duke of Northumberland and others are portrayed. Scenes wereshot at Bamburgh Castle, at Douglas, in the Fame Islands and off the GoodwinSands. The opening and final sequences were shot at the Seaham life-boatstation.

SCOTTISH TELEVISION APPEAL, 1966

On Sunday, 20th March, 1966, Mr. Angus Mac Vicar, the author of a numberof works on life-boats and a well known figure on Scottish Television, made anappeal in the B.B.C. Scottish television service on behalf of the Institution.Those who responded to the appeal contributed in all just over £608.

Tribute to Life-Boat DesignerA MAN who can truly be said to have devoted his working life to the Life-boatService, and whose name is likely always to figure prominently in the historyof life-boat design and construction, has retired from the full-time service of theInstitution. He is Mr. R. A. Oakley, M.B.E., M.R.I.N.A.

Mr. Oakley's association with life-boats goes back to 1918, when he enteredthe service of the Isle of Wight firm of S.E. Saunders Ltd. The first life-boaton which he worked for this firm was a 46-foot 6-inch Norfolk and Suffolk typeboat, which was built for Gorleston, but later transferred to Lowestoft. In hisearly days in the Isle of Wight, he worked closely with Mr. Uffa Fox, with whomhe has retained a long-standing friendship.

LIFE-BOATS WERE COMPLETELY OPEN

In 1928 he joined the Institution as Assistant Surveyor. At that time all life-boats were completely open, with no shelter or protection for the crew. One ofthe first boats to be fitted with a shelter was built for Margate. This life-boatwas shown at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924 and took partin the first overland haul of a life-boat for exhibition purposes which the In-stitution had ever undertaken. A trailer was specially constructed and the boat

continued on page 755

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The Wreck of the Anzio /ON the night of 2nd /3rd April, 1966, the motor vessel Anzio I went aground.The Humber life-boat was launched. She was unable to save any lives, but forthe attempt which she made in extremely severe conditions Coxswain Superin-tendent Robertson Buchan has been accorded the thanks of the Institutioninscribed on vellum.

At 11.40 p.m. on 2nd April Coxswain Buchan learnt from the Humber coast-guard that two red flares had been sighted off the Lincolnshire coast in thedirection of Donna Nook. There was a north-easterly gale (force 9) and theweather was overcast. There were intermittent showers of heavy rain. It wastwo hours after low water.

LAUNCHED IN TEN MINUTESThe Humber life-boat, City of Bradford HI, which is one of the 46-foot 9-inch

Watson type, was launched in 10 minutes. Fifty minutes later she sighted thewreck of the m.v. Anzio /, which was heading north west and lying with herstarboard side beam on to the seas. Heavy seas were half way up the deck andwashing right over her.

Because of the heavy, breaking seas on the bank and around the wreckCoxswain Buchan realized there was no chance of coming alongside, and hedecided to anchor and veer down to the wreck.

As this was being done, three members of the crew who were tending thecable forward, Second Coxswain Thomas Beverley, Bowman Clifford Staves,and Crew member Edgar Knaggs, were washed off their feet and thrown backon to the wheelhouse by a heavy sea which completely enveloped the life-boat.

All three men were injured. Second Coxswain Beverley was badly bruised,Bowman Staves received injuries to his ribs, and Edgar Knaggs injured hishead.

They all immediately returned to their postions and continued to veer thecable until the life-boat was within 30 yards of the wreck. Meanwhile the breechesbuoy and the gun line had been made ready for use.

SEARCHLIGHT WAS USEDThe searchlight was trained on to the wreck, which was now seen to be on

her beam ends, with no sign of life aboard. Fifteen-foot waves were washingright over her, and it seemed clear that the crew had either abandoned ship orbeen swept overboard. Nevertheless, Coxswain Buchan remained for overtwenty minutes, scanning the wreck in the beam of the searchlight for any signsof life.

Heavy seas continued to wash over the life-boat. Three times the cockpitand after cabin were completely filled. The plastic side screens to the wheelhousebulged inwards with the weight of water.

The echo sounder was operating throughout, and in the trough the life-boathad only 5 feet of water under her keel.

Finally Coxswain Buchan decided that no useful purpose could be served by

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remaining longer. The anchor was recovered, but the life-boat continued search-ing down tide for survivors until 8.35 in the morning, even though the coxswainwas convinced that anyone who had been washed overboard must by then havebeen cast up on the beach by the onshore gale.

When the life-boat finally left the area all that could be seen of the wreck werethe mast and the top of the funnels. The life-boat finally reached her stationat 9.55 a.m.

Crew Thrown Out of IRBTwo brothers, Christopher and John Cook, who formed the crew of the Yar-mouth, Isle of Wight, inshore rescue boat, and a 64 year old retired doctor, Dr.Harrison Broadbent, have received letters of appreciation signed by the Chair-man of the Committee of Management of the Institution, Captain the HOCLV. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N. The letters are in recognition of their part in anattempt to save life which was in itself a striking example of the way in which thedifferent rescue services co-operate. In addition to the IRB, the Yarmouth life-boat, a helicopter of the Royal Air Force and the Needles coastguard all tookan active part.

At 11.24 a.m. on loth April, 1966, Mr. L. W. Noton, honorary secretary ofthe Yarmouth life-boat and IRB station, learnt from the Needles coastguardthat a man had fallen over the cliff at Scratchell's Bay. The IRB, manned by

By courtesy of] [B.B.C.

'A heavy breaking sea then struck the boat on the quarter, washing her broadsideon to the beach ...'. This fine action photograph—it is a 'still' from a film—wastaken by B.B.C. cameraman Tony Knightley from the cliff overlooking Scratchel l 's

Bay, Isle of Wight, during the IRB service on 10th April, 1966.

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Christopher and John Cook, put out at 11.40.There was a light southerly wind, but there was a heavy ground swell. The

tide was half flood.The IRB made a successful landing at Scratchell's Bay about noon on the

steep shingle beach. Her crew were advised by the coastguard to put to sea againto make a rendezvous with a helicopter which would lower a doctor and anR.A.F. crewman.

About 12.30 p.m. Dr. Harrison Broadbent, who had volunteered his servicesin the absence of the station's honorary medical adviser, was winched down intothe IRB, together with the R.A.F. crewman.

CAUGHT BY UNDERTOW

The IRB approached the beach again, but as her crew tried to turn her toseaward in order to land her stern first on the beach, she was caught by theundertow. A heavy breaking sea then struck the boat on the quarter, washingher broadside on to the beach and throwing the two brothers into the sea.

Christopher Cook was trapped under the boat, but his brother pulled himclear. Dr. Broadbent and the R.A.F. man were then helped ashore.

With the help of Station Officer P. Kent, of H.M. Coastguard, Dr. Broadbentgave the injured man an injection, but the man died of his injuries. The R.A.F.man swam out to sea and was winched back into the helicopter. The IRB hadbeen cleared of water and was relaunched, but although the engine started shewas again washed back by surf. This time the engine was damaged and the boatwas hauled up the beach.

Dr. Broadbent and the members of the IRB crew could not be winched upby helicopter from the beach because of the proximity of the overhanging cliffs.It was therefore decided to launch the Yarmouth life-boat, The Earl and CountessHowe, which is a 48-foot 6-inch Oakley boat. The life-boat put out at 12.48and reached the area of Scratchell's Bay at 1.30. Dr. Broadbent and the Cookbrothers were still on the beach.

PORT PROPELLER FOULED

It was nearly high water and therefore important to get them off as quicklyas possible. Coxswain Harold Hayles anchored in two fathoms of water andbegan to veer down towards the beach. When the life-boat was half way in, aheavy ground swell swept her. The life-boat rode it well, but she was left lyingbroadside on to the sea.

The surge had carried the boat over her own cable and fouled the port pro-pellor. As a result the port engine stalled. Attempts to get lines ashore wereunsuccessful. During the attempts a heavy ground swell struck the life-boat onthe beam and at one moment she seemed almost certain to roll over.

The coastguard then informed the life-boat that it would be possible to bringDr. Broadbent and the IRB crew and the dead man up the cliff. The life-boattherefore made for Yarmouth and reached her station at 4.14. The party fromthe beach were successfully brought up the cliff.

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By courtesy of}[Central Press Photos

Princess Marina, Duch-ess of Kent, presidentof the R.N.L.I., pre-senting Ian Gillies, a12 year old boy fromGourock, with an in-scribed wrist watch foran act of exceptionalgallantry- The occasionof the presentation wasthe annual meeting on

20th April, 1966.

Award for Sixteen Year Old BoyA SIXTEEN YEAR OLD boy, Arnold Togneri, has been awarded an inscribed wrist-watch for the rescue of a girl off Dunbar, East Lothian, on the afternoon ofnth April, 1965.

Arnold Togneri and two other boys, John and James McKay, were canoeingoff East Beach, Dunbar, on the particular afternoon - a Sunday.

There was a moderate westerly wind with a moderate sea. About 4.40 twogirls, Joan Scambler aged 14 and Linda Sinclair aged 12, asked the boys ifthey could take the canoes out. It was just after low water. :

Joan Scambler took Arnold Togneri's canoe, Linda Sinclair taking anothersmaller canoe. Within a few minutes they were both in difficulties in the ebbingtide and the offshore wind. Linda Sinclair managed to turn her canoe and reachshore safely, but the other girl found the canoe she was in too large to handle.

CANOE CAPSIZED

Realizing that Joan Scambler was now in serious difficulties, Arnold Tognerilaunched the smaller canoe again, and went to her help. He tried to turn hercanoe, but as soon as it became broadside to the sea it capsized and threw thegirl into the water.

He told the girl to hang on to the stern of his canoe, but it could not supporttheir combined weight and sank, leaving them both in the water.

Joan was hampered by her clothes, but Arnold was wearing only bathingtrunks and a shirt. He was also a strong swimmer.

At 4.50 the Dunbar coastguard alerted the life-boat. The maroons were fired

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in two minutes and four minutes later the Dunbar life-boat, Margaret, which isone of the 4y-foot Watson type, was launched.

The boy and the girl were extremely cold, and Joan Scambler said she did notthink she could hold on any longer. Arnold, who could probably have swumashore to safety, stayed by her and encouraged her to hold on.

At 5.3 the life-boat reached them and took them out of the water. They weregiven hot drinks, and at 5.15 the life-boat landed them. They were both takento Dunbar Cottage Hospital but neither suffered any serious ill effects.

Crimdon Dene IRBIn addition to the inshore rescue boat stations already listed in THE LIFE-

BOAT, the IRB originally intended for Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, has been re-allocated to Crimdon Dene, Co. Durham.

Sidelights on Stations and PlacesWhen the Charles H. Barrett (Civil

Service No. 55) docked at Broad Quay,Bristol, in preparation for BristolLife-boat Day, television announcerGuy Thomas, on behalf of T.W.W.Ltd., presented a television set to thecrew.

Mr. Jack Abbott, who has providedSt. Mary's life-boat with a radar set,plans to donate a stained glass windowto the church of St. Mary's. The themewill be the life-boat and the light-houseservices, but the completion date willnot be until September, 1967.

Port Talbot, Glamorganshire, was thescene on 2ist May, 1966, of the openingof a new IRB station. Normally IRBstations are commissioned without cere-mony but in this case there were specialgrounds for marking the occasion.

The cost of the boat and its equipment~ £?5° ~ was met locally and the newboathouse - it is strategically sited bothoperationally and from the publicityaspects - was erected by Mr. D. A. Scott,president of the Port Talbot branch of theInstitution.

The Mayor of Port Talbot, CouncillorJ. Gwyn Lewis, O.B.E., welcomed theconstruction of the station and declaredit open, while Sir John Brocklebank, amember of the Committee of Manage-ment, cut the tape to signify the officiallaunching of the boat.

Mrs. D. A. Scott, wife of the president,unveiled a commemorative plaque insidethe rescue boat station, and the dedi-cation was undertaken by the Rev.A. T. M. Jasper, Chaplain of Missionsto Seamen, Port Talbot and Swansea,assisted by Mr. W. K. I. Jones, Missionsto Seamen, Port Talbot.

At the conclusion of the ceremony,Mr. L. W. G. Coyde, local honorarysecretary, presented a painting of a life-boat to the Mayor on behalf of the PortTalbot branch of the R.N.L.I.

The Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats, Commander D. G. Wicksteed,R.N.R., attended from headquarters.

Publications prepared by the R.N.L.I.are among 1,500 books, periodicals,designs and photographs now beingshown on the continent by the BritishCouncil under the title of 'The Sea andSmall Craft'.

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Thirty-Fifth Civil Service Life-Boat

[James O. Barren at;d The Times

The naming ceremony o? the life-boat Charles H. Barrett(Civil Service No. 35) at St. Katharine Docks, London, on4th May, 1966, and (right) Princess Marina, Duchess ofKent, being presented with a bouquet by 4 year old AlisonCatherine Gibb who . . . .

ST. KATHARINE DOCK, London, was the scene in blustery weather on 4th May,1966, of the naming of the first of the Institution's fleet of yo-foot steel life-boats- the £57,000 Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No. 35) - by Princess Marina,Duchess of Kent, who is president of the Institution.

Princess Marina, who was greeted at the quayside by the Mayor of TowerHamlets, Councillor T. H. A. Mitchell, spoke before naming the boat of the'wonderful example' set by the fund in raising by voluntary means the moneyfor its construction.

The newly commissioned life-boat, 70-001, has a sister, 70-002, and theseboats can carry up to 120 survivors and can stay at sea much longer than otherlife-boats of the Institution's fleet.

CENTENARY VELLUMAt the naming ceremony, which was supported by many people, including

London schoolchildren and boys of the City of London Sea Scouts, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey R. Bromet, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., D.L., a deputy chair-man of the Committee of Management, who took the place of Captain the Hon.V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., Chairman, at short notice, invited PrincessMarina to present a commemorative vellum to the Civil Service Life-boat Fundto mark the occasion of the fund's centenary.

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Princess Marina, who afterwards inspected the life-boat and spoke to Lieut.-Commander H. F. Teare, R.N., and the crew of five, then presented the vellumto Sir Eric A. Seal, K.B.E., C.B., chairman of the fund and a member of theInstitution's Committee of Management.

Sir Eric, in handing over the life-boat to the Institution, recalled that theCivil Service Life-boat Fund was 'a very remarkable and quite unique body'.It started, he said, over 100 years ago in the General Post Office. It had goneon spreading and growing, quite spontaneously, throughout the much largerCivil service of today. It had started with an annual income of £300 when theaverage subscription was about 6d., and now had an annual income of over£25,000 with subscribers giving an average of about 2s. 6d.

Sir Eric added: 'The Civil Service Life-boat Fund decided that the bestway to celebrate this centenary is to present the very latest and largest life-boatever to the service, and here she is. I will say nothing in praise of her - let herspeak for herself.'

THE ACCEPTANCEAir Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Bromet accepted the life-boat on behalf of

the Institution, and the dedication by the Chaplain of the Fleet, the Venerable

By courtesy of] [The Times

.... received by way of exchange, a box of chocolates. Alison, whose obvioussurprise and delight caught the photographer's attention, is the daughter of amember of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund's executive committee.

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Archdeacon Christopher Prior, Q.H.C., M.A., followed. After Mr. F. B. Savage,secretary of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund, had proposed a vote of thanks,Princess Marina named the life-boat.

Miniature star attraction of the morning was 4 year old Alison CatherineGibb, the daughter of a member of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund's executivecommittee, whose presentation of a bouquet to Princess Marina caught theattention of The Times photographer to the extent of not one photograph butfive photographs on the back page of next day's edition!

V.C. TAKES 1KB RIDELANCE-CORPORAL RAMBAHADUR, who this year was awarded the VictoriaCross for bravery in Sarawak, was in June taken for a trip in Eastbourne's IRBHe was staying at Upper Dicker at the home of Major J. Gales, an officer in theloth Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, and specially asked to see the life-boatstation. With the party were two other Gurkha friends.

Lance-Corporal Rambahadur is pictured on page 166.

CENTENTARY AT GORLESTONA FRAMED letter signed by Capt. the Hon. H. M. Wyndham-Quin, Chairmanof the Committee of Management, expressing the Institution's appreciation ofthe voluntary work of the officers and committee and of the devotion and courageof the Gorleston life-boat crews, has been sent to Gorleston to mark the cen-tenary of the foundation of its station.

The Great Yarmouth life-boat station was established before 1825 by theNorfolk Shipwreck Association and was taken over by the Institution in 1857.It closed in 1919. The Gorleston station, which was established by the In-stitution in 1866, was renamed Great Yarmouth and Gorleston in 1926.

Gorleston life-boat crews have saved over 1,800 lives.

THE GROSVENOR SPORTS CLUBTHE Grosvenor Sports Club, which was founded in October, 1962, whenmembers of the head office staff of the Institution met to discuss sports and.social activities, is going from strength to strength.

Football, apparently, is the most popular sport among members of the club,but there is also a following for table tennis, tennis and snooker. Other ac-tivities will be introduced from time to time.

In view of the comparative success of the football team it was decided toenter a team last season in the Southern Area Football League, Division Fourand they became league champions in that division. In addition, the team alsowon the Junior Cup of the League, beating Mitcham Tourers five goals to twoin the final. The table tennis 'A' team, which was also entered in a league forthe first time last year, emulated the success of the football team by winningthe 4th Division championship of the London Business Home League. Theywere undefeated throughout the season.

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BIRTHDAY HONOURSThe following were among those honoured by the Queen in the BirthdayHonours List published in June -

K.B.E.Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh C. Martell, K.B.E., C.B., who was ex-officio on the

Committee of Management of the Institution when he was Admiral Command-ing Reserves.

O.B.E.Mr. Basil A. Parkes, O.B.E., chairman of the Boston Group of companies,

who is president of the Hull and district life-boat branch.Mr. Douglas A. Scott, O.B.E., of Porthcawl, Glamorganshire, who is president

of the Port Talbot life-boat branch.

B.E.M.Motor Mechanic John Macleod, B.E.M., of the Stornoway life-boat, who

was the youngest motor mechanic in the R.N.L.I. service when he joined in1929.

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET147 station life-boats 73 inshore rescue boats

2 70-foot steel life-boats on operational trials

LIVES RESCUED 86,887from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to 31st May, 1966

By courtesy o.'/][Northern Echo

Mrs. K. Hanson, ofStaithes, Yorkshire, pin-ning a life-boat flag onAndrew Blowitt, aged 3.

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Salcombe's life-boat, The Baltic Exchange, at anchor in Salcombe river.When called out her crew go to her by motor boat.

Focus on . ..by Christopher Elliott

S4LCOMBE

The village of Salcombe stands on the west side of the Salcombe Haven, umiles from Dartmouth, and years ago this little Devon port was noted for itstrading schooners. The schooners like the clippers of Joseph Conrad's day havegone, but the traditions of the sea live on, particularly in the case of the locallife-boat station which was established in 1869.

My first impression of Salcombe, which lies at the mouth of one of Devon'smost beautiful estuaries, was that it seems to cling, like a drowning man, to arather precipitous site by the river named after it. The roads leading down to thevillage are mostly steep and winding. Most of them seem to lead to the narrowmain street where there is a public house called The Shipwrights' Arms andbranching alleys. Everywhere the sea is reflected in the architecture and, sadly,elsewhere as I shall soon relate.

TIME TO MEDITATE

Down by The Ferry Inn, which has a boat hull as a frame for the door andtwo ship's lanterns to port and starboard, I found the ferry landing stage. Here,where people have time on their hands while waiting for the ferry, are displayedboards - but just now not all the boards - listing the life-boat services fromSalcombe. Here, too, a painted notice board gives instructions about calling thelocal life-boat in an emergency.

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Elsewhere I found the memorial cross to those sons of Salcombe who had diedin two world wars, and noticed that it included the names of 13 life-boatmenfrom the days when the community was only 1,900-strong. For one morningin 1916 the seas of this rocky coast overcame the life-boat, which was returningfrom a service, and suddenly Salcombe was in mourning . ..

THE DISTIN FAMILY

I do not think that the village, despite the passage of 50 years, has ever for-gotten that grim day when, on top of the casualties of the Great War, deathstruck at her men as wives and children looked on aghast.

And here, inevitably, must the Distin family be introduced as Edwin W.Distin, now 76, who was dashed ashore bruised and cut, is the only livingsurvivor. William Johnson, the only other survivor of the disaster, died shortlyafterwards.

More about Edwin Distin in a minute. What is so interesting is that his son,Hubert 'Bubbles' Distin, who is 48, is the present coxswain, and his son, Eric,who is 21, is a reserve member of the crew - a three-generation living connectionwhich is not so common in the life-boat service today.

ONLY SURVIVORMr. W. P. Budgett, honorary secretary, was able - but I don't know what

he used for bait - to steer Edwin Distin into my hands in the life-boat store onthe quay facing The Baltic Exchange, the present life-boat, which rides at anchoramong the yachts and the sailing boats of Salcombe.

'Jolly lucky to get Edwin to agree to come round,' Mr. Budgett said. 'He'snever, as far as I know, allowed himself to be questioned about the 1916 disaster.I can't promise you'll get anything out of him.'

Edwin Distin, who was punctual, came in looking much younger than 76.Yes, he remembered with good reason the 27th October, 1916, when the pullingand sailing life-boat (she was a 35-foot x jo-foot Liverpool type) went out at

76 year old Edwin E.Distin (seated), the onlysurvivor of the 1916 life-boat diaster at Sal-combe, with (left toright) Mr.W. P. Budgett,honorary secretary,Hubert 'Bubbles' Dis-tin, son, who is thecoxswain, and Mr.W. K.Carson, chairman of

the local branch

_•• • *a

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, p (X/V-V-OAAX-

A reconstruction ofthe 1916 life-boatdisaster by Edwin E.Distin, now 76. Hissketch shows howthe sea hit the Wil-liam and Emma fromastern, turned herend for end (theline leading from thehull is the drogue bywhich he reachedthe upturned hull),and then washed allthe survivors off asshe reached the bar.

6.50 a.m. in a strong gale with very heavy seas to go to the aid of the schoonerWestern Lass east of Prawle Point. But the Prawle life-saving company rescuedthe crew before the life-boat could be of service.

Turning about for home, the William and Emma was 'the seaward side of thebar' - some accounts suggest that she was actually crossing the bar - when theroutine order was given to take down all but the mizzen. Just as this was beingdone a great sea hit the life-boat from astern and she was thrown high into theair. Then another sea, as if to make sure that the victim would not rise again,turned her end for end and capsized her.

I asked Edwin Distin, whose sketch of the disaster appears above, if hecould remember much of what happened.

'We had our drogue out at the time,' he explained, 'and I found my wayon to the upturned hull by gripping the line. There were several of us on thehull, during those first moments after the accident, but very shortly we were allswept off. With William Johnson I was hurled on to a rock under Prawle Pointfrom where we were eventually rescued from the shore. I have yet to see a sealike it.'

A TOTAL WRECKFive of the crew were washed ashore, dead, soon after the disaster. Other

bodies were subsequently recovered. But one - Edwin Distin thought it wasthat of William Lamble - was never found. The William and Emma was castashore 'totally wrecked'.

Edwin Distin and William Johnson, battered black and blue by the sea, weretaken up the cliffs to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michelmore, to whom theInstitution awarded an aneroid barometer. There the two survivors lay, unfit

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to be moved, for a month. Only visitors were their families.Without hesitation and undeterred by such a calamity members of the sea-

faring fraternity of Salcombe came forward to volunteer to form a new life-boatcrew. But two years went by before Salcombe got a new life-boat.

"MAGNIFICENT SEAMANSHIP"

Eventually Edwin Distin, whom the sea could not engulf, became coxswainof the Salcombe life-boat, and in 1939 and 1943 he won a silver medal and abronze medal, respectively, for saving no less than 73 people from two wrecks.On yth December, 1939, he showed 'magnificent seamanship both in crossingthe bar and alongside the steamer' from which he snatched 62 people. In aneasterly gale and a very high sea on 4th December, 1943, Edwin Distin took IIsurvivors from an Admiralty salvage craft in distress.

And here, appropriately, is where Hubert Distin, the present coxswain,should have his say.

'I particularly remember that service to the Admiralty salvage vessel,'Hubert Distin said. 'You see, I was home on leave from the navy and, as wasmy custom, went out with the life-boat. On this occasion, however, it was nearlya knock-out. For one of the survivors, when ordered to jump, threw his suitcaseinstead of himself and that hit me across the face!'

I asked Hubert Distin about his crew. They are Owen Taylor, second cox-swain (fisherman), Cyril Baskerville, second engineer (ferryman), MichaelDornom, deck hand (boatman), Brian Cater, deck hand (boatman), Edgar Budd,bowman (painter and decorator), and his twin brother William Budd, deckhand (postman), Graham Griffiths, deck hand (fisherman) and Edward Hanna-ford, full time mechanic.

GREAT RESPECT FOR BARThe bar, despite its familiarity to these men, is treated with great respect by

the Salcombe life-boat crew. At low tide, in fact, there is less than seven footof water and much less, of course, in a storm. Thus, when their present life-boat,which had only just been commissioned, was returning from a service at night in'a full south east gale blowing 8-9 force,' Hubert Distin decided not to cross thebar. They went instead to Dartmouth and came home by taxi. Back at Dart-mouth two days later Hubert Distin, still wary of the bar, asked his father, whowas a Trinity House pilot for over 30 years, to take a look. Edwin Distin, fromthe Prawle Point side of the river, confirmed that the time was ripe to come inand so the Salcombe life-boat returned without incident. Here, surely, was anice demonstration of caution distilled from hard experience. And who betterto ask for confirmation than Edwin Distin ?

Of other tales there were plenty. Mr. Budgett took me to see KennethRichards, 69 years old, who was second coxswain of the Salcombe life-boat fora period. Just as we sat down and he produced an old postcard of the pullingand sailing life-boat they received following the 1916 disaster, Gerald Shepherd,61 years old, who was coxswain for a good many years, was hailed and broughtin to add his piece.

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Both recalled, with admiration, the part that the womenfolk of Salcombeplayed in the days when all hands were needed to launch the life-boat from SouthSands.

'They'd run miles - and it was quite a long run to South Sands - when theywere needed,' Kenneth Richards said. 'I can recall one occasion when, beinga man short after the launching, a man from the crowd swam out to the life-boat. Such was the spirit.'

Down near the quay we found Laurie Prynn, 61 years old, the harbourmaster, who was a member of the local life-boat crew for many years. Now, withhis active life-boat days over, he delights in giving lectures to local organizationson Salcombe and the life-boats of the Devon coast. 'I'm a kind of publicationsrelations man on the subject and it goes down very well,' he told me.

RAISED NEARLY £500

Mr. Budgett (ex-R.A.F. Coastal Command), the honorary secretary, whoseassistant secretary is Mr. J. P. K. Line (ex-navy), told me that, because of thedifficult country, collecting for the Institution has to be done mostly on a door-to-door basis. During the financial year 1964-65 Salcombe Hope Cove andKings Bridge raised nearly £500. Mr. Budgett has several ideas for promotingthe work of the Institution. One is the making of a film on the Salcombe life-boat.

Mr. W. K. Carson, the chairman (he operated in Corsica during the war as aBritish officer with the Maquis), believes that, with the small community theyhave (just over 2,500), fund-raising efforts must be carefully timed and the localpopulation, who are very conscious of their life-boat, not pressed too frequentlyfor support. 'After all,' he said, 'many other charities are favourites here aswell and one mustn't overdo things. I think we know the potential very well."

CAIUUM J*Mt* «•earn J .MKI.EY.CBV« -IAMKI H.CUOO JOHB A.«uoo r«i»cn W.HUTU*

.

Dunn stMtnu. m,FOAU« P«T*« H.r o A W K PCTKl H.POAI.I WILLIAM J.UMDII WllllAM W.>UTT T H O M A S .

Wo«s A t u t R r t.

The old life-boat station at South Sands from which the William and Emmaset out in 1916 and (right) the names of the 13 local life-boatmen who perishedin the disaster. It was Richard Durant, of Sharpham, Totnes, who gave

Salcombe its first life-boat - the Rescue - in 1869.

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NEW WAYS OF RAISING MONEY

A 'heady' tradition was upheld in double measure at Aberdeen in May whenthe maiden catch of the Shetland seine-net boat Evening Star was auctioned.Traditionally, the buyer of the first box offish from a maiden catch receives a newhat, but fish salesmen P. andj.johnstone Ltd. offered two hats - one to each of thebuyers of the first boxes of haddock and whiting. The gross proceeds, £21 us. - againby tradition offered to charity - went to the Lerwick branch of the R.N.L.I.

Recently a lady who was wrongfully slandered threatened to sue unless theslanderer gave a written apology and donation to the R.N.L.I. The lady got thewritten apology. And the Institution got the donation - £5.

Miss Joyce Davey, of Maple Road, Surbiton, Surrey, has sent a cheque for £5 8s.as a gift to the Institution. She says: 'When turning out some oddments a few daysago it occurred to me that it would be a good idea to sett the gold contained in a coupleof worn-out watches and a gold chain, and send the proceeds to the Institution. Ihave not sold anything like this before and had no idea what it would fetch - in factI vaguely expected something like £i.'

Are you able to collect overseas postage stamps, especially the parcel and highervalue ones ? If so, Mr. R. C. Drew, of 78 Chessington Avenue, Bexleyheath, Kent,would like to hear from you. With the backing of the R.N.L.I., he is writing tofirms with a good export trade, to banks and to any organizations with foreigncontacts, asking them to let him have their overseas stamps. He then makes them upinto sets and sells them to various philatelic societies for resale - and the Institutionbenefits.

The Southend (Essex} branch of the R.N.L.I. went in for all-in wrestling atSouthend in March and shared the proceeds — the event also included a supperdance - with the Jewish National Federation. Total takings were about £1,500of which £750 went to the Institution. Since then the branch has organized otherfund-raising functions, including a gymkhana which made between £100 and £150.Three hundred horses took part.

The R.N.L.I. has received a cheque for £50 'under rather strange circum-stances'. Mr. D. W. Crosse, of Cummins Diesel Sales & Service Ltd., London,writes: 'It became vitally important for a customer to have equipment from us by

151

a given date, which seemed to the customer - and indeed I must admit to ourselves -an almost impossible task. However, we embarked on this exercise with the somewhatunusual comment from the customer to the effect that, if we could complete the job onthe due date, he would be prepared to donate £50 to any charity we cared to nominate.As things worked out, our engineers were able to comply with his request, and as aresult he forwarded the £50 to us.'

When Mr. Mike Honnor, landlord of the Chapelhay Tavern, Weymouth, wonthe George Stanley Knock-out Cup - a darts trophy exclusive to publicans - he gavethe £80 cheque to the Weymouth life-boat. Fifty pounds was paid to local branchfunds and £30 was used to buy a loud hailer and an electric kettle. Afterwards heinvited the Weymouth life-boat crew to his tavern for a friendly game of darts withhis regulars.

COASTGUARDS HONOUREDThe President of the Board of Trade, Mr. Douglas Jay, has awarded the

shield for the best wreck service of the year 1965-66 to the Walton-on-NazeCoastguard Rescue Company for their rescue of nine men by breeches buoyfrom the stranded motor vessel Mi Amiga, better known as Radio Caroline, on20th January, 1966.

SILVER MEDAL FOR NORWEGIANSAs reported in the June issue of THE LIFE-BOAT the Norsk Selskab til SkibbrudnesRedning - the Norwegian Life-boat Institution - is celebrating its 75thanniversary this month.

Commander F. R. H. Swann, R.N.V.R., a deputy chairman of the Committeeof Management of the R.N.L.I., will personally present the Silver Medal of theInstitution, together with a certificate inscribed on vellum commemorating theaward, in Oslo.

STOCKPORT AUXILIARIES' 9-FT. LIFE-BOAT

MEMBERS of the Stockport Crew of Life-boat Auxiliaries, led by Mr. Wallace L.Barber, aged 60, of 19 Roxton Road, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Lancashire,who founded the crew in 1937, have completed a model of a 37-foot Oakley life-boat which is quarter full size - g-foot 3-inches long.

In a recent local drive in aid of the Institution the model life-boat, which wasthe work of the many hands, netted over £90 over a period of two days.

Apparently the Stockport auxiliaries are willing to lend it to branches, theonly stipulations being that a member of the crew must be with it and thattransport costs are defrayed.

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Tribute To Life-Boat Designer (.combined&»,page 13$was drawn from Southampton by a steam traction engine, the journey lastingseveral days.

In the course of his work for the Institution Mr. Oakley saw the constructionof some 300 life-boats, i.e. twice as many as the total number now in the activefleet.

When he first joined the Institution, Mr. Oakley was the only permanentAssistant Surveyor. For seven months of the year he had to cover the entirecountry to deal with hull repairs during that period. During the survey seasonfrom ist April to 3ist August temporary surveyors were taken on, but therewere then no reserve motor life-boats, and speed in the completion of surveyswas of the utmost importance.

THE TWO TYPESIn 1936 Mr. Oakley became chief hull draughtsman and in 1940 he was

appointed Surveyor of Life-boats. He was made a M.B.E. in 1959 and in 1964the title of his post was changed to that of Naval Architect.

He is of course best known for the two new types of life-boat which he him-self designed. One is the 37-foot self-righting Oakley type. The first of theseboats came into service at Scarborough in 1958. The other is the 48-foot 6-inchOakley life-boat, one of which was completed in 1963. After being shown at

By com tesy of] {Keystone

The news agency cap-tion said: 'Life-boatdesigner, Mr. RichardOakley, went down withhis ship—and came upsmiling'. The occasion?Capsizing trials at Ports-mouth on 23rd June,1966, when the second48-foot 6-inch Oakleylife-boat was shown tothe Press (see p. 154).

153

the International Life-boat Conference at Edinburgh that year she was sent toher station at Yarmouth in the Isle of Wight. Mr. Oakley was also the designerof the first of the Institution's yo-foot steel life-boats.

In the course of his career he served under no fewer than seven chief in-spectors and five secretaries. The Institution is fortunate in being able to retainhis services on a part-time basis.

By courtesy of} [Central Press Photos

In Portsmouth dockyard on 23rd June, 1966, the second Oakley 48-foot 6-inch life-boat was capsized twice for the benefit of the Press and a large unofficial gatheringof naval and civilian dockyard personnel. Here she is shown righting and clearing her-self after the second demonstration during which she righted herself in three seconds.

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An interesting contribution to Mr. Oakley's standing as a life-boat designerwas made by an Irish schoolgirl, who, in an essay on the life-boat service, wrotethat life-boats are constructed 'either of steel or of oakley'.

Mr. F. H. Futcher, A.M.R.I.N.A., the present Assistant Surveyor of Life-boats, has been appointed Surveyor of Life-boats. He joined the Institution fromthe naval construction department of the Admiralty in 1946, became seniordraughtsman in 1960 and Assistant Surveyor in 1962.

Mr. R. M. Skillman, B.Sc., A.M.R.I.N.A., has been appointed Naval Archi-tect. He joined the Institution in 1964 after working for the Fairfield Ship-building & Engineering Co. Ltd., the Fairfield Ship Design Office, BrookeMarine Limited and Sir J. H. Biles & Co., consulting naval architects andengineers. He took a degree in naval architecture at Glasgow University.

BOOK REVIEWSTHE third volume in Cyril Noall's and Grahame Farr's series Wreck andRescue around the Cornish Coast (D. Bradford Barton Ltd., Truro, 28s.) tellsthe history of life-boat stations on the south coast of Cornwall. These are:Mullion, Lizard-Cadgwith, Coverack, Falmouth, Mevagissey, Fowey, TheLizard, Cadgwith, Porthoustock, Portloe, Polkerris and Looe.

The consistently high standard shown in the earlier volumes is fully main-tained, and the three volumes must be regarded as a standard work on the his-tory of Cornish life-boats.

Most of the rescues recorded were carried out by members of life-boat crews,but the authors also pay appropriate tribute to the gallantry shown by Cornishfishermen, so often described in the past as wreckers, in putting out to the rescuebefore there were life-boats available for this purpose.

Many of the rescues described make exciting and, in some cases, tragicreading. There was, for instance, the wreck of the steamship Mohegan of Hull inOctober, 1898. The Porthoustock life-boat put out and found an overturnedboat, underneath which there were two women. The bowman jumped into thewater and cut away the thwart with an axe to release one of them.

The life-boat put up signals for further help, and a volunteer crew, includingthe second coxswain and honorary secretary, put out in a boat. They were unableto give help directly, but the second coxswain soaked his necktie in paraffin tomake a torch to attract the attention of the survivors. He then told them to re-main where they were until he could direct the life-boat to their help.

THE HENRY BLOGG TRADITIONA modern rescue, the service to the motor vessel Citrine, in the course of

which the acting Coverack Coxswain Reginald Carey drove the life-boat overthe port quarter of the motor vessel, is also vividly described.

The book contains many other interesting facts and comments. At one timeit was the regular practice for the Lizard life-boat to be transported throughfields before being launched from the various coves.

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We learn too that the first Cadgwith life-boat was provided by a fund raisedby commercial travellers in the West of England.

The inaugural ceremony of the Mullion life-boat station in 1868 seems tohave been a colourful occasion. It took place at Penzance, where ten thousandpeople were assembled. Other life-boats were present, their crews tossing theiroars and cheering lustily. The six life-boats then took part in a race. TheInstitution came to the conclusion in 1872 that life-boat races, which had beenpopular events, ought to be discouraged, as they tended to take life-boatsaway from their stations when they might be needed for more importantpurposes.

Like the earlier volumes, the book is attractively illustrated and carefullydocumented.—P.H.

In the Battle of Britain, when the German air force threw its whole weighton the coasts and counties of southern England, life-boats from the mouth ofthe Humber to Weymouth were launched to friendly and enemy aeroplanesover 100 times.

As the radar stations along the east and south coasts detected the Luftwaffemassing over the continent, so this message was flashed to life-boat stationslikely to be affected: 'Expect air battle in this area within next hour. Arrangelife-boat stand by.'

Now Richard Collier in Eagle Day (Hodder and Stoughton, 355.) has taken anew look at the Battle of Britain for the period 6th August to I5th September,1940, and inevitably, as in most books about the R.A.F., the work of R.N.L.I.life-boats is mentioned.

But clearly, to start with, the lightning strokes of aeroplanes fighting at speedsof over 300 m.p.h. gave the life-boatmen many problems, and one was that, nomatter how quickly they launched or how hard they drove their boats, theywere often too late to be of service. That they were always willing, despite therisk, there is no doubt. In three July weeks of 1940, before the Battle of Britainreally got going, R.A.F. casualties were '220 killed or missing over the sea'. Forthe Air Ministry had provided only 18 high speed rescue launches to cover GreatBritain's entire coastline—just two craft more than the 1936 establishment.

THE PRIME MINISTER WAS CONCERNED

Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was concerned about the high pilotlosses due to drowning, was told that '60 per cent of all fatal air battles weretaking place over the sea'.

Thus, for many weeks, a great burden fell on the life-boats of the R.N.L.I.How lucky some pilots were is well illustrated in the following account from thebook:

'Pilot after pilot could tell the same alarming story. Baling out over St. Margaret'sBay, Kent, Flying Officer Paul Le Rougetel was saved by the merest fluke; stilldrifting as night fell, the tiny luminous dial of his wrist watch caught the eye of

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Margate life-boat's Coxswain, "Sinbad" Price in the instant the pilot heeled over,unconscious.'

On August 19, as the two air forces struggled over the approaches to Essex,Kent and Sussex, Lord Dowding, who commanded R.A.F. Fighter Command,greatly worried at the mounting casualties due to drowning, had to order hissector controllers to refrain from sending his fighters beyond the coastline totackle small formations. Three days later, however, the Air Ministry stepped upits meagre air-sea rescue effort with Coastal Command spotter aeroplanes, adozen Army Co-operation Command Lysanders, and naval patrol boats.

So some of the burden was eased from the shoulders of the weary life-boatmen. Meanwhile, Assistant Mechanic Alfred Lacey, of the Margate life-boat, who saw a good few German airmen lifted from the sea although, withoutsuccess, some sections of the public had pressed for them to be left to die,noted: 'If they could stand at all, they stood at attention.'

Richard Collier mentions Pilot Officer Richard Hillary, author of The LastEnemy, who fell in flames off Margate in early September, 1940, and who, likePilot Officer Paul Le Rougetel, was saved by the same life-boat in the nick oftime. Pilot Officer Hillary was the great-great-great-great nephew of SirWilliam Hillary, founder of the life-boat service.—C.R.E.

New Scottish Life-Boat Magazine

THE SCOTTISH LIFE-BOAT COUNCIL is producing a new magazine, The ScottishLife-boat, in June, 1967. The new magazine, which will appear annually, willhave a wide range and cover all aspects of the work of the Institution in Scotland,with a variety of news, views and information. It is hoped that it will appeal notonly to those intimately concerned with the Institution's work, but also to thegeneral public. Contributions and photographs intended for publication shouldbe sent for consideration to The Editor, Scottish Life-boat Magazine, 45 QueenStreet, Edinburgh, 2.

SKIPPER IAN INNESSKIPPER Ian Innes, of Helmsdale, Sutherland, whose R.N.L.I. bronze medalaward for gallantry in rescuing three fishermen was reported in the Juneissue of THE LIFE-BOAT, has been presented with a piece of plate by the Presidentof the Board of Trade, the Rt. Hon. Douglas Jay, M.P. Skipper Innes made therescues from the fishing vessel Branch.

COXSWAIN JAMES TURPIN

Coxswain James Turpin, whose picture appeared in the June issue of THELIFE-BOAT, joined the Fowey life-boat in 1938 and not 1948 as we stated. Hislife-boat service has been practically unbroken.

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Tu/o Doctors Landed on Is/andTwo DOCTORS who were landed on Lundy Island to attend a woman who wasseriously ill after a miscarriage have been commended by the Institution to theBritish Medical Association. They also received letters of appreciation from theChairman of the Institution, Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N.They are Dr. W. Ruddock, M.B., B.Ch., and Dr. S. G. Brook, M.B., B.Chir.

Dr. Ruddock telephoned the Appledore honorary secretary, Captain P.Brennan, at 7 p.m. on ist January 1966, to ask for the help of the life-boat totake him and Dr. Brook, a gynaecologist from Barnstaple, to Lundy Island toattend the sick woman. He had already asked for the help of a helicopter butthe R.A.F. at Chivenor were unable to help because of darkness and the stateof the weather. The two doctors reached Appledore at 8.15.

A westerly gale was blowing, gusting in squalls to hurricane force. The seawas rough. It was two hours after low water.

At 8.30 the life-boat, Louisa Anne Hawker, which is one of the 4y-foot Watsontype, put out. Conditions when she crossed Appledore bar were extremely bad,but they improved as the life-boat approached Lundy, although there was con-siderable backwash from the cliffs at the landing when she approached at 1.26.

Two men, Mr. R. N. Davey and Mr. J. G. Ogilvie, put off from the Lundyslip in a dinghy, but they were washed back on to the rocky beach and theirdinghy capsized. They succeeded in clambering out of the water.

It now seemed that the only way to put the two doctors ashore was by meansof the South lighthouse stores hoist. This consists of a wire cable anchored onthe sea bed and secured to sheer legs on the cliff near the lighthouse. An openbox was lowered down the cable by winch. Coxswain H. E. Carter anchoredand veered down close enough to the cable to pass a rope round it from thestarboard bow of the life-boat. Dr. Ruddock and Dr. Brook climbed into thebox with their equipment and were then hauled some 250 feet up to the clifftop. As they went up the box was swinging dangerously in the wind.

MOVED TO SAFE ANCHORAGE

Coxswain Carter moved to a safe anchorage and stood by ready to re-embarkthe doctors when they had finished their work.

The doctors came to the conclusion that the woman should be taken tohospital and it was decided to ask for a helicopter to come from Chivenor atdawn.

The R.A.F. asked for the life-boat to stand by, and the coxswain weighedanchor at 6.40 a.m. to take up a position half way between Lundy and themainland. He reached this position at 8.30. The helicopter landed, took onboard the woman and two doctors and returned to Barnstaple, arriving at 8.50.

At 10.28, when the life-boat was approaching Appledore bar, CoxswainCarter decided it would be too hazardous to try to cross. He returned to Lundyand secured to a mooring where the life-boat remained until the morning of the3rd January. On the return trip the drogue and oil sprays were used when

158

electronic aids to navigationDEPTH—by HECTA echo-sounder, as supplied to the R.N.L.I. This instrument indicatesdepth by pointer and scale, and illumination for night use is by the virtually everlasting'Betalite'. It has two range scales: 2-5-32feet and 2-5-32 fathoms (Model A); 2-5-52 feetand 2-5-52 fathoms (Model B) and Q-7-9-5 and 7-9b metres (Mode! C). A 2\ in. or 4 in. dia.repeater dial is available for the helmsman. Basic price, with one transducer: £80 IOs. Thisis one of a range of compact hermetically sealed navigational instruments which comprisethe HOMER and HERON radio and direction-finder, the HARRIER log speedometer andthe HENGIST and HORSA wind direction and speed indicator.

where accuracy and reliability count:

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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 ofs i m i l a r design havebeen supplied to theInstitution, for eitherelectric or petrol enginedrive.

Photograph by courtesy of t*«Royal 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 IMITEDVICTORIA WORKS, GATESHEAD, 8. Co. DURHAM.

Tel: Gateshead 72271 (10 lines) Telex: 53-239 Grams: "Cyclops" Gateshead.

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

159

crossing the bar and the life-boat finally reached her station at 11.10 a.m.Additional monetary awards were made to the crew and letters of thanks

were sent to Mr. Davey and Mr. Ogilvie and to the Superintendent of TrinityHouse depot at Swansea.

OBITUARYProfessor Edgar A. Pask, O.B.E., M.D., M.A., M.B., B.Chir., D.A.,F.F.A.R.C.S., died suddenly on 3Oth May, 1966, at the age of 53. ProfessorPask was a member of the Committee of Management of the Institution.

HIS LIFE AND WORK

A memorial service was held at St. Thomas' Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,on June 16. Dr. Geoffrey Hale, M.B.E., M.B., B.Ch., of the Committee ofManagement, in a tribute to Prof. Pask, writes that at the service a large con-gregation gave thanks for his life and work. They were thankful "for Prof.Pask's bravery and initiative in the Royal Air Force Institution of AviationMedicine during the war.

'For his years of devoted service to medicine in the London Hospital, theRadcliffe Infirmary at Oxford, and in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in this city.

'For his abundant gifts as a teacher and research worker during his nineteenyears as Reader and Professor of Anaesthetics, and his wise and balanced leadershipin administration and planning in this University.

'For the guidance and help he gave to the cause of medicine in this country andoverseas.

'For his active concern to promote the safety of life at sea and particularly inassociation with the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

'For his disregard for personal safety and convenience where the welfare ofothers was concerned.

'For his kindly and patient care for all whom he saved and for all with whomhe worked."

Dr. Hale continues: "This quotation from the order of service gives a broadpicture of the quality of Prof. Pask's life and work, but it was particularly hiswork on resuscitation and life jacket design that were of such value to the RoyalNational Life-boat Institution.

'This was much more than the application of a clear and brilliant mind to theproblems involved, because, only too much aware of the hazards, he submittedhimself more than once to research procedures undertaken by his co-workerswhile he was deeply anaesthetized. The results of this research on the un-conscious "casualty" undoubtedly led to the saving of many lives both duringthe war and afterwards.

'By the end of the war this work made him an acknowledged expert in manycountries both in this field as well as his medical speciality of anaesthesia. In1949 at the early age of 37 he was appointed Professor of Anaesthetics in theMedical School of the University of Durham (now part of the University ofNewcastle-upon-Tyne).

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'The Royal National Life-boat Institution have reason to be deeply thankfulthat he agreed to become honorary medical adviser to the Tynemouth life-boatstation, and later to serve on the Committee of Management, where his pains-taking mind and wide knowledge were invaluable in helping to develop theequipment of policies of the Institution.

'With associates in America Prof. Pask developed an anthropometric dummywhich floated in the manner of an unconscious man and was used both by theRoyal National Life-boat Institution and the Ministry of Transport during 1964and 1965 for developing and testing life jackets.

'In conversation Prof. Pask was always lucid and went to great pains to helpothers understand his point of view, and it was of course this gift which madehim such a valuable teacher in his medical school, where he was also an exampleof quiet determination and dedication.

'Prof. Pask's health, never robust, was evidently deteriorating in recentmonths but, characteristically, he never let this interfere with his work andwithin four days of his death he was answering routine letters on the Institution'smedical administration.

'Such qualities and experience in one man can hardly be replaced and in theRoyal National Life-boat Institution, as elsewhere, he will be sorely missed foryears to come'.

Bv courtesv of][Belfast Telegraph

Life-boat collector MissMyrtle Graham, of Bel-fast, receiving her quotaof flags from Mr. GeraldMurphy (right) and Mr.Gerald Lenaghan, mem-bers of the crew of theNewcastle (Ireland) life-boat, in the grounds ofthe City Hall, Belfast.

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Life-boat services round the Coasts

LAUNCHES AND LIVES SAVED BY LIFE-BOATS AND IRBs

1st March to 31st May: Launches 359, lives saved 156

MARCHSOUTH-EAST DISTRICT

Walton and Frinton, Essex - At 11.8a.m. on 4th March, 1966, a message wasreceived that the tanker Blandford had asick man on board and that the servicesof a doctor were urgently required. Aftercontacting a doctor the life-boat EdianCourtauld left her station at noon torendezvous between the Sunk lightvesseland the N.E. Gunfleet buoy. There was alight north westerly breeze and a slightsea. The tide was ebbing. The doctor wasput aboard the tanker, and a helicopterarrived to assist if necessary. The doctordecided that the sick man's condition

By courtesy of] {Royal Air ForceThe Cromer life-boat near the oil rig Constel-

lation in the North Sea.

was such that he should be taken ashoreby the life-boat. The man was landedsafely and transferred to an ambulancewhich conveyed him to hospital. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 2.55p.m.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston,Norfolk - At 4.22 p.m. on igth March,1966, the coastguard informed the honor-ary secretary that the tug Placard of Lon-don, anchored four miles off Yarmouth,required help. At 4.40 the life-boat LouiseStephens was launched in a gentle breezefrom the north east and a slight sea. Itwas three hours after low water. While thelife-boat was on her way a helicopterwinched a man down to the casualty andhe was informed that the services of a tugwere required. When the life-boat reachedthe Placard the coxswain informed hermaster that the tug was in a bad positionand offered to take her in tow until the tugarrived. His offer was accepted and fourof the life-boat crew went aboard thecasualty to help. The Placard was takenin tow and handed over at 7.30 to the tugHector Read. The life-boat stood by andat eight o'clock was asked by the masterof the Hector Read to assist with the tow-age. The life-boat reached her station at10.3.

Skegness, Lincolnshire - At 9 a.m. on23rd March, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that abadly injured man was aboard the Lynn-Well lightvessel, and as he could not belifted by helicopter, the services of thelife-boat were requested. At 9.30 the life-boat Charles Fred Grantham was launchedin a fresh south westerly breeze and a

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rough sea. It was one hour after highwater. She went to the lightvessel wherea helicopter was waiting. An R.A.F.medical officer was lowered from thehelicopter to the life-boat and was thentransferred to the lightvessel. At therequest of the doctor the life-boat re-turned to Skegness with himself and thepatient on board. She arrived at 12.5 p.m.and the patient and doctor were trans-ferred to a waiting ambulance. The life-boat returned to her station at 12.45 P-m-

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex- At 11.26 a.m.on 27th March, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that a smallmotor launch appeared to be in trouble.There was a strong gale from the westsouth west with a very rough sea. Thetide was flooding. The life-boat SirGodfrey Baring launched at 11.58, andwhen she came up with the launch foundthat a helicopter from R.A.F. Manstonhad taken off a sick boy. The remaining(jrew member did not require assistance.On approaching the harbour the coxswainwas advised by the commanding officerof a cadet school on board the yachtTehtar that seven yachts with 30 cadetswere in difficulties in Pyfleet Channelowing to the weather conditions. The life-boat then rescued the crew of five of theEssex Pride and towed the boat to Bright-lingsea. The life-boat returned and helpeda further four yachts to safety. The sixthyacht was too far aground on the mudto be reached, and the coxswain of thelife-boat arranged for a helicopter to takeoff her crew of five before returning tomoorings at Brightlingsea as she was un-able to rehouse in the existing conditions.When weather conditions moderated onthe following day the life-boat rehousedat n.oo p.m. A letter of appreciation wasreceived from the commanding officer ofthe cadet school, together with a donationto the Institution's funds. A gift was alsomade by the cadets to the coxswain andcrew.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 6.30p.m. on 8th March, 1966, the coastguardinformed the coxswain that the tanker

By courtesy of] [Belfast Telegraph

The oil drilling rig Sea Quest, costing £3]m,before she left the Belfast shipyard that builther. Boats can be seen on davits at deck level.

Springwater had an injured man on boardand a doctor was urgently required. At7.14 the life-boat Greater London II(Civil Service No. 30) was launched witha doctor on board in a gentle breeze fromthe south-west and a slight sea. The tidewas ebbing. At eight o'clock she reachedthe tanker and put the doctor on board.The injured man, who required hospitaltreatment, was transferred to the life-boatwhich landed him at 8.51 p.m. at South-end-on-Sea, where he was conveyed tohospital by ambulance.

Ramsgate, Kent - At 9.5 a.m. on 9thMarch, 1966, the honorary secretary tele-phoned the coastguard at Deal to inquirewhether any distress calls or advice fromlightvessels had been received regardinga German ship aground on the Goodwinsbetween north and north east of theGoodwin buoys. The vessel had beenseen by the honorary secretary and cox-

163

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swain when out in a hovercraft, on a sur-vey of the Goodwins, and the coxswainbelieved that the vessel could not getclear without help. The coastguard hadno information. At 9.12 the life-boatMichael and Lily Davis was launched ina gentle north westerly breeze and asmooth sea. It was four hours before highwater. At 10.20 the life-boat came up withthe German motor vessel Margrit Ange-lika, stood by until she refloated at 10.29,and then escorted her away from thesands. At 10.46 she left the vessel atthe north Goodwin and returned to thestation, arriving at 12.15 P-m-

SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Eastbourne, Sussex - At 4.48 p.m. onnth March, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that a smallboat had fired a red flare and one of hercrew was waving a coat attached to an oar.There was a fresh westerly breeze with arough sea. The tide was ebbing. The life-

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boat Beryl Tollemache launched at 5.10and reached the position given. There shecame up with the small boat, whoseengine had failed, rescued her crew offour and took the boat in tow with a mem-ber of the life-boat's crew on board. Thesmall boat was beached at 5.42 and thelife-boat was rehoused at 6.21 p.m.

Poole, Dorset-At 7.15 p.m. on 2ythMarch, 1966, a motor launch with threemembers of the Parkstone Yacht Clubon board, which was going to a yachtmoored in the middle of the harbour,broke down and was in difficulties. Therewas a gale from the west north west witha rough sea. The tide was flooding. Thelife-boat Bassett Green set off at 7.30and took the launch safely in tow toPoole, arriving at 8.30. She returned toher mooring at 8.35.

See page iSofor March service by new 44-footsteel life-boat.

SOUTH-WEST DISTRICT

Penlee, Cornwall - At 7.30 p.m. on9th March, 1966, a telephone messagewas received that the life-boat SolomonBrowne was needed to meet the Britishship Silver Comet, as there was an injuredman on board who needed hospitalattention. At 12.45 a-m- on I0tn Marchthe life-boat was launched in a lightwesterly breeze. It was low water. The life-boat reached the ship four miles south ofPenzance, where the man was transferred,and then went on to Newlyn, arriving at2.30. The life-boat returned to her station,arriving at eight o'clock.

SICK MAN

At 1.30 p.m. on nth March, 1966, thecoxswain received a telephone call from adoctor that the life-boat Solomon Brownewas needed to bring a sick man off themotor vessel Clan Maclver. At 3.30 thelife-boat was launched in a strong breezefrom the north west and a choppy sea. Itwas low water. She went to Newlyn topick up the doctor and ambulance crew,and left Newlyn at four o'clock, reaching

the motor vessel at 4.30 four miles southof Penzance. The life-boat returned toNewlyn with the sick man on board at5.30 p.m.

OFF PENZANCE

At 3 p.m. on 29th March, 1966, thehonorary secretary was informed that thelife-boat would be required to bring asick man off the Greek vessel Proodos. At6.10 the life-boat Solomon Browne waslaunched in a light north westerly breezeand a smooth sea. It was two hours and ahalf after low water. The life-boat, havingcalled at Newlyn to pick up a doctor andambulance men, left at 6.50. She reachedthe vessel at 7.30 five miles south of Pen-zance. The sick man was taken on boardand landed at Newlyn at 8.30.

TWO INJURED MEN

At 9.30 a.m. on 2ist March, 1966, thehonorary secretary was informed thatthere were two injured men on board theDanish vessel Dangulf Maersk. At 9.35the life-boat Solomon Browne waslaunched in a light west-north-westerlybreeze and a slight sea. The tide was ebb-ing. The life-boat embarked a doctor andambulance men at Newlyn. The life-boatwent alongside the vessel at 11.15 and leftat 12.40 p.m. with the two injured men onboard, reaching Newlyn at 1.30 p.m.

Sennen Cove, Cornwall - At 11.20a.m. on 30th March, 1966, the port medi-cal officer at Penzance informed thehonorary secretary that the m.v. HilleOldendorff, of Lubeck, which was aboutnine miles north west of the Longshipslighthouse, needed medical help for aninjured seaman. At 11.45 tne life-boatSusan Ashley was launched with a doctoron board. There was a light north westerlywind, the sea was slight and the tide wasebbing. The life-boat came up with thevessel seven miles north west of the life-boat station and put the doctor on board.The injured man, who had a suspectedfracture of the skull, was transferred to thelife-boat, which then returned to her

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station where an ambulance was waiting,arriving at 1.45 p.m.

CHANNEL ISLANDSSt. Helier, Jersey-At io.2ia.m. on 8th

March, 1966, the duty harbour officerreceived a Mayday message via Jerseyradio from the tug Duke of Normandysaying that she had struck a rock near LesVascelius on the Les Minquiers reef. Thelife-boat Elizabeth Rippon set off at 10.32in a light easterly breeze and a calm sea.There was fog with a visibility of 250yards. The life-boat went to the givenposition but in the meantime the tug hadfloated off the rocks and had anchored.Although she was not leaking she stillrequested the life-boat to stand by. Afishing boat the Betabob, helped to guidethe tug out of the reef and into deep water,and the life-boat on reaching the positionescorted the tug back to St. Helier, return-ing to her station at 2.30 p.m.

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NORTH-WEST DISTRICTBarmouth, Merionethshire - At

8.55 a.m. on 22nd March, 1966, the policeinformed the honorary secretary that afishing boat, the Violet Sinclair, had beenseen three miles south west of Barmouthfiring red flares. At 9.10 the life-boat TheChieftain was launched in a fresh breezefrom the north west and a moderate sea.It was one hour after high water. Shereached the Violet Sinclair and foundthat the boat had developed engine troubletwo miles south west of the Fairway buoy.A rope was passed aboard and the boatwith three men on board was towed backto harbour, arriving at eleven o'clock.

Portpatrick, Wigtownshire - At5.20 a.m. on I5th March, 1966, the coast-guard informed the honorary secretarythat the motor fishing vessel Maisie ofCaernarvon had broken down six milessouth west by west of Portpatrick. A mes-sage received from the British ship Fern-field advised that the assistance of the life-boat was required. At 5.55 the life-boat

By courtesy of] [Eastbourne Gazette

L/Cpl. Rambahadur Limbu, who receivedthe V.C. from the Queen on 12th July, 1966,for bravery in Sarawak, was a visitor to the

Eastbourne life-boat station in June.

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Thejeanie left in a gentle north westerlybreeze and a slight sea. It was high water.She reached the casualty at 6.45 and tookthe Maisie in tow, reaching Portpatrickat nine o'clock.

IRISH DISTRICT

Galway Bay - At 7.30 p.m. on 25thMarch, 1966, the honorary secretaryreceived a report that distress flares hadbeen seen about a mile south east of theNorth Aran light. At 8.5 the life-boatMabel Marion Thompson was launched.There was a strong south westerly wind,the sea was rough and the tide was ebbing.She made a search and found the 46-footlobster boat Muir Ara, of Aran, with acrew of two, five miles north west ofKilronan. The boat had a broken fuelpipe and was drifting, so the life-boattowed her to Kilronan, arriving at 10.15p.m.

CHILD HELPED

At 1.30 p.m. on yth March, 1966, thelocal doctor informed the honorary secre-tary that a one year old child on InishereIsland required medical attention and,as no other boat was available, he re-quested the help of the life-boat. At 2.30the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson setout in a strong south westerly breeze anda rough sea. It was three hours beforehigh water. The child had to be taken toa hospital on the mainland, so the life-boatcontinued the journey with the patient anddoctor to Rossaveel, and returned to herstation at 8.15 p.m.

Howth, Co. Dublin - At 5.52 p.m. onI3th March, 1966, the coxswain's wifeinformed the honorary secretary that aman had fallen over the cliff. The DublinFire Brigade had been called out but hadbeen unable to rescue him. At 6.15 thelife-boat A.M.T. went to the scene of theaccident at Baily Howth. It was two hoursafter high water. She arrived just off thefoot of the cliff at 6.40 and the boardingboat was sent in. The injured man wasput on a stretcher and, with two of the

Photograph by courtesy of the Evening Argus, Brighton

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firemen, taken aboard. At 6.55 she re-turned to the east pier where the injuredman was landed for hospital treatment.The life-boat returned to her mooringsat 7.25

Valentia, Co. Cork - At 9 a.m. on 2ndMarch, 1966, the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Haulbowline in-formed the honorary secretary that therewas a sick man on board the British tankerEsso Canterbury and that her estimatedtime of arrival in Dingle bay was 5 p.m.At 3 p.m. the life-boat Rowland Watts,with a doctor on board, set out for thetanker in a strong breeze from the southwest and a rough sea. It was low water.At 6.5 the life-boat reached the tanker sixmiles north of Valentia harbour. The sickman was taken on board and landed atReenard Point at 6.45, and was then takenby ambulance to a hospital at Tralee foran operation. The life-boat returned toher moorings at 6.45 p.m.

Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin - On17th March, 1966, the life-boat DunlearyII was to undertake a special exercise inconnection with the opening of the IrishBoat Show at which the Institution wasrepresented. Before the life-boat left hermoorings to cross Dublin Bay, the honor-ary secretary obtained a report from themeteorological office. This indicatedthe likelihood of strong squalls and, as theDublin Bay canoe race was in progress atthe mouth of the river Liffey, the life-boatmoved off at 11.10 a.m. to meet thecanoes and escort them across the bay.There was a strong westerly breeze and achoppy sea. Half a mile east south eastof Poolbeg a canoe signalled for help.When the life-boat reached the canoe andher crew were being hauled aboard, asecond canoe capsized, throwing theoccupants into the water. These were alsohauled aboard. The remainder of thecanoeists were dispersed over a consider-able area, and before the finish of the race,

167

another four canoes and five occupantswere rescued by the life-boat. She re-turned to her moorings after seeing thelast remaining canoe safely into DunLaoghaire Harbour, arriving at 1.30 p.m.

Ramsey, Isle of Man - At n p.m. on22nd March, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that theyhad intercepted a message from the wire-less transmitting station Radio Carolinein Ramsey Bay that there was an injuredman on board. The life-boat ThomasCorbett launched at 11.16 with a doctoron board in a fresh westerly breeze and arough sea. It was two hours and a halfbefore high water. The doctor went onboard the vessel and gave first aid. Theinjured man was then brought ashore bythe life-boat and conveyed to hospitalwhere he had a finger amputated. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 1.30a.m. A donation was made to the Institu-tion's funds from the owners of the wire-less station.

SCOTTISH DISTRICT

Stornoway, Outer Hebrides - Atii a.m. on 9th March, 1966, the coast-guard informed the honorary secretarythat they had received a call from theowners of the Fleetwood trawler SSAFAsaying that the vessel had on board aseriously injured man. She was making forStornoway, was expected to arrive atabout 2 p.m., and had requested the life-boat to meet her with a doctor and oxygenequipment. The life-boat's crew anddoctor were alerted and stood by for three-quarters of an hour while the coastguardtried to contact the trawler to ascertainher position. The coastguard failed tocontact her and at 11.45 it was decided thatthe life-boat James and Margret Boydshould go in the direction of the Butt ofLewis in the hope of intercepting theSSAFA. The life-boat left in a strongwesterly breeze and a rough sea. It wastwo hours and a half after low water. Shemet the trawler north of the TiumpanHead lighthouse and a doctor and amember of the life-boat crew, qualifiedin first aid, together with the oxygenequipment, were transferred to her. The

168

SSAFA then continued to Stornoway,where an ambulance was waiting to takethe sick man to hospital. The life-boatarrived back at her moorings at 3.40 p.m.

Barra Island, Outer Hebrides - At7 p.m. on 26th March, 1966, the honorarysecretary was asked by a local doctor ifthe life-boat could be used to convey aninjured patient to South Uist for hospitaltreatment as no other suitable boat wasavailable. There was a gale from thesouth-west with a rough sea. The tidewas flooding. The life-boat The Rankin,on temporary duty at the station, set outat 7.30 and after the patient was embarkedwent on to South Uist. The life-boatarrived back at her station at 2.45 a.m.next day.

MEDICAL CALLAt 7.50 p.m. on 8th March, 1966, the

local doctor asked the honorary secretaryif the life-boat would convey a patient toSouth Uist for hospital treatment as noother boat was available. The life-boat TheRankin, on temporary duty at the station,left at 8.20 in a light westerly breeze and asmooth sea. It was low water. The patientwas embarked at the pier and the life-boatleft for South Uist at 9.15. After landingthe patient, the life-boat returned to herstation, arriving at 4 o'clock.

Stronsay, Orkneys - At 6 a.m. on5th March, 1966, the honorary secretaryreceived a telephone message from thedoctor on Sanday Island stating that hehad an urgent case requiring immediatehospital attention in Kirkwall. Because ofland transport difficulties the use of thelife-boat The John Gellatly Hyndman wasrequested to take the patient to hospital.She set out at 6.30 for Kettletoft pier,Sanday, in a moderate south westerlybreeze, arriving at 7.10. It was three hoursafter low water. She left at 7.25 with thepatient and a nurse on board and reachedKirkwall at 9.45. She waited to take thenurse back to Sanday, and left Kirkwallat eleven o'clock arriving at Sanday ati.io p.m. The life-boat then left immedi-ately for her station where she arrived attwo o'clock.

Lerwick, Shetlands - At 12.35 a-m-on 22nd March, 1966, a vessel wasreported aground to the east of Lerwickharbour. There was a moderate northwesterly breeze and a calm sea. The life-boat Claude Cecil Staniforth set out 20minutes later on an ebbing tide. She foundthe Danish fishing vessel Senious hardaground and an attempt to tow her off wasunsuccessful. The life-boat stood by theSenious until daybreak, by which time thetide had ebbed, leaving the boat high anddry on a rock. The life-boat returned toher station. At 10.50 a.m. the Claude andCecil Staniforth was again called and at11.20 succeeded in towing her offthe rocks.The life-boat returned to her station at11.45.

found the coble and escorted her backto harbour, arriving at 8.58 a.m.

HOSPITAL CASE

At ii a.m. on i3th March, 1966, thecoastguard informed the coxswain that aman on board the motor vessel OlnaFirth, of Newcastle, needed hospital treat-ment. The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworthwas launched at 11.25 in a light breezefrom the north-west and a moderate sea.It was three hours before low water. Shereached the motor vessel, took the sickman, who had a suspected perforatedulcer, on board, and reached the harbourat 11.30 where an ambulance was waiting.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT

Whitby, Yorkshire - At 9.10 a.m. oni8th March, 1966, with the weatherdeteriorating and the local fishing fleet atsea, the life-boat Mary Ann Hepwonhwas launched at 9.30 in a north westerlygale, rough sea and flooding tide. Sheescorted four keel boats over the harbourbar, but the weather improved and, as theservices of the life-boat were then nolonger needed, she returned to her station.

GALE BLOWING

At 10.10 a.m. on 29th March, 1966, thecoxswain informed the honorary secretarythat the sea was becoming dangerous onthe harbour bar, and at 10.13 tne life*boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched.A gale was blowing from the north west,the sea was very rough and the tide wasflooding. The life-boat escorted threelocal fishing boats over the bar, and re-turned to her station at 2.57 p.m.

PROVIDED ESCORT

At 7.35 a.m. on I2th March, 1966, thecoxswain saw a local coble, William andMartha, at sea in deteriorating weather.The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworthlaunched at 7.45 in a strong to gale forcewind from the north west and a roughsea. It was high water. The life-boat

Bridlington, Yorkshire - At 4.30p.m. on 29th March, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that thetrawler Newby Wyke, of Hull, due atBridlington about 4.15, had a very sickman on board. There was a moderatenorth westerly breeze with a smooth sea.The tide was flooding. The life-boatTillie Morrison Sheffield II launched at5.55 and after the station honorarymedical adviser had embarked, set off andsoon came up with the trawler. After hehad been examined by the doctor, thepatient was transferred to the life-boatwhich conveyed him to the south pier atBridlington, where he was landed by theharbour crane and conveyed to hospital.

INJURED MAN

At 2.35 p.m. on 28th March, 1966, thecoastguard informed the honorary secre-tary that the Grimsby trawler BlackburnRovers in Bridlington Bay had an injuredman on board. There was a fresh northwesterly breeze with a moderate sea. Itwas almost low water. The life-boat TillieMorrison Sheffield II launched at 3.5, andafter a doctor had embarked, went to thetrawler. The injured man was transferredto the life-boat which returned to thesouth pier, where the patient was landedwith the help of the harbour crane andconveyed to hospital.

169

The following life-boats were also called outin March:Arranmore, Co. Donegal - i8th.Bembridge, Isle of Wight - 2nd.Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumber-

land - 7th.Dungeness, Kent - 22nd.Dun Laoghaire - 24th and 25th.Falmouth, Cornwall - 3Oth.Holyhead, Anglesey - i6th.Humber, Yorkshire - I2th.Longhope, Orkneys - 24th.Lowestoft, Suffolk - 2yth.Plymouth, Devon - 26th.Redcar, Yorkshire - 20th.St. Helier, Jersey - 8th.Southend-on-Sea, Essex - 26th.O.N. 70-002 - lyth.

IRB LAUNCHESRescues by IRBs in March were under-

taken by the following stations:

SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT

Whitstable, Kent - At 6 p.m. on 26thMarch, 1966, following the completion ofa previous service, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that a manwith his five year old son had put off in asmall dinghy from Shell Ness and werebeing swept out to sea by the ebbing tideand offshore wind. The IRB launchedimmediately in a strong south westerlybreeze for Shell Ness. Meanwhile anotherman, who had put off in his rowing boatto assist the dinghy, was also being sweptout to sea. The IRB towed both boatsto the beach at Shell Ness, and returnedto her station at 7.10 p.m.

CANOEISTS SAVED

At about 12.5 p.m. on 26th March,1966, the coastguard informed the honor-ary secretary that some 24 boys in canoeswere in difficulties about one mile off-shore near Herne Bay Pier. At 12.10 theIRB launched in a strong south westerlybreeze and corresponding sea. The tidewas flooding. A helicopter was divertedfrom another call and picked up seven of

170

the boys. The IRB took five boys onboard but was unable to save their canoeswhich were later recovered by trawlersfrom Whitstable. The IRB returned toher station at 1.15 p.m.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT

Redcar, Yorkshire - At about 8.50a.m. on nth March, 1966, the coxswaininformed the honorary secretary that hehad seen a small fishing boat in difficultieshalf a mile off Redcar. At 8.50 the IRBlaunched in a strong north westerlybreeze and corresponding sea. The tidewas ebbing. The IRB guided the boatswhich had shipped a good deal of water, toa safe part of the beach where she wasbeached with the aid of a line. The IRBreturned to her station at 9.10 a.m.

Tynemouth, Northumberland - At11.55 a.m. on 2Oth March, 1966, a smallrowing boat with two people on boardwas reported in difficulties with a brokenoar one mile east of Tynemouth. At11.59 the IRB launched in a fresh gustingto strong south westerly breeze andslight swell. The tide was flooding.The small boat was towed up river to thepilot jetty. A pilot cutter contacted theIRB crew and informed them a boat ofthe same type was missing. The IRBsearched the area but could find no traceof the missing boat. On reaching herstation at 1.48 p.m. a further checkrevealed that the reported missing boatwas in fact the one that the IRB hadtowed in.

SCOTTISH DISTRICT

Droughty Ferry, Angus - At 12.20p.m. on 3ist March, 1966, the coxswainsaw a canoe with two persons on boardbeing swept downstream. At 12.30 theIRB launched in a gentle north westerlybreeze and slight sea. The tide was ebbing.The IRB rescued the two persons andtheir canoe, returning to her station at1.15 p.m.

See page 196 for other IRB launches.

APRILIRISH DISTRICT

Arranmore, Co. Donegal - At 12.45p.m. on 16th April, 1966, the doctornformed the honorary secretary that itwas essential that an expectant mother onTory Island was transferred to DungloeHospital as there was no medical aidavailable on the island. The conditions,however, were too severe for an ordinaryboat to make the crossing to Tory. Thelife-boat W. M. Tihon was thereforelaunched at 1.30 in a strong north-easterly wind and a rough sea. It was threehours before high water. She reached theisland, collected the patient, and landedher at Burtonport, afterwards returningto her station at 8.5.

Youghal, Co. Cork - At 11.15 p.m.on ist April, 1966, a fisherman informedthe honorary secretary that a salmon yawlwas in difficulties off Youghal. As theweather was bad the life-boat J. B.Couper of Glasgow was launched at 11.41in a strong north north easterly breezeand a calm sea. It was low water. Afterunsuccessfully searching outside the har-bour, flashing from an electric torch wasseen inside the overfall on the eastern sideof the harbour. Approaching in veryshallow water, the life-boat reached theyawl at 11.50 and took her in tow,arriving at her station at i o'clock.

Portrush, Co. Antrim -At 12.10 a.m.on 4th April, 1966, the coastguardadvised the honorary secretary that a redflare had been seen two miles north-eastof Rhu Point, Rattlin Island. The life-boatLady Scott (Civil Service No. 4) waslaunched in a light south-easterly windand a moderate sea. It was low water.When she reached the position given itwas found that the motor launch Impetus,whose engine had failed, had been drivenon to the rocks. The crew had alreadybeen rescued and were safe on the island.The life-boat continued on to ChurchBay and embarked the survivors. Shethen returned to her station at 8.30.

Peel, Isle of Man - At 4.55 a.m. on22nd April, 1966, the coastguard in-

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formed the honorary secretary that them.f.v. Ailsea had run ashore half a milenorth east of Jurby Head. The crew of thelife-boat assembled, but a message wasthen received that the vessel was in noimmediate danger, and the life-boat wasre-housed. At 7.45 the m.f.v. Ailseaasked the life-boat to stand by. The life-boat Helena Harris was launched at 7.50in a strong south-easterly wind, a veryrough sea and heavy rain. It was twohours after low water. At 9.20 the life-boatreached the m.f.v. Ailsea and stood by. Aline was fired to the casualty, and the life-boat assisted in the refloating of the vessel,which was completed at 10.20. The m.f.v.Ailsea returned to Peel Harbour and tiedup at 12 noon. The life-boat's return,however, was delayed by a rope whichfouled the port propeller, but she arrivedat her station at 2 o'clock.

Port St. Mary, Isle of Man-At 6.20p.m. on i6th April, 1966, the coastguard

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By courtesy of] [Evening Argus

The Brighton IRB being launched in a choppy sea. During the first six months ofthis year IRBs were launched 225 times compared with 112 for the same period last

year.

informed the honorary secretary thatflares and a signal fire had been sighted onthe north end of the Calf of Man. Therewas a strong easterly wind with a moder-ate sea. The tide was flooding. The life-boat R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 2 left hermoorings at 6.45, taking the mechanic'sdinghy as she could not go alongside thelanding stage on the island. Upon arrival,it was found that the warden of the Calfof Man needed medical attention as alarge fish hook was embedded in his hand.The warden, who was suffering fromshock, was embarked and brought backto the life-boat station at 8.30. A doctormet the life-boat and took the patient tohospital.

STRANDED

When on service at the Calf of Man oni6th April, 1966, a request was made by aparty of students, who were stranded on theisland owing to the weather conditions, tobe taken off as they had run out of food.As conditions had not improved overnight,

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on i yth April the honorary secretary agreedthat the life-boat could be used. The R. A.Colby Cubbin No. 2 left her moorings at 9a.m. in a strong easterly wind and a moder-ate sea. It was high water. She took theboarding boat with her as she could not goalongside the landing stage on the island.The life-boat reached the island at 9.40 andthe students were embarked by 10.45. Shethen returned to Port St. Mary and disem-barked the party.

Galvvay Bay - At 20 minutes pastmidnight on 22nd April, 1966, the cox-swain informed the honorary secretarythat a young man had been seriouslyinjured in a fall from a motor scooter, andthe doctor had requested the use of thelife-boat to take the patient to the main-land for hospital treatment. As no otherboat was available, the life-boat MabelMarion Thompson embarked the injuredman, together with a nurse, and set outfrom her moorings at i a.m. in a strongsouth-westerly wind and a rough sea. It

was one hour after low water. The cox-swain was unable to approach Rossaveelbecause of very poor visibility and, had towait at the mouth of Cashla Bay until4.45 before attempting the passage to thepier at Rossaveel. The patient was landedand taken to hospital.

PATIENT

At ii a.m. on 25th April, 1966, thelocal doctor informed the honorary sec-retary that a man with a serious haemor-rhage had to be brought to the mainlandfor hospital treatment. The patient wasembarked on the life-boat, Mabel MarionThompson, together with a nurse, and thelife-boat left her moorings at 11.30 in amoderate south-westerly wind and asmooth sea. It was three hours before lowwater. The patient was conveyed toGalway Docks, because of low water atRossaveel on the mainland, and was thentaken by ambulance to hospital.

Howth, Co. Dublin - At 6.35 p.m. on30th April, 1966, the Garda informed themotor mechanic that two boys werestranded at the foot of the cliff at CastenaBay. The fire brigade had been unable toreach them. In the absence of thehonorary secretary, the coxswain decidedto launch the life-boat A.M.T. This wasdone at 6.45 in a gentle southerly windand a smooth sea. It was two hours beforehigh water. When the life-boat reachedthe bay, the boarding boat was sent in topick up the two casualties, one of whomhad sustained head injuries. A thirdperson who had tried to reach the twoboys and was stranded had to be rescuedwith the help of a veering line. The life-boat returned to Howth, the crew render-ing first aid to the injured boy on the way.

CLIFF FALL

At 7.32 p.m. on 24th April, 1966, thehonorary secretary was informed that twoboys had fallen over the cliff at White-waterbrook. The life-boat A.M.T. waslaunched at 7.42 in a light westerly windand a smooth sea. The coxswain took thelife-boat in close to the shore, and threeof the crew went ashore in the boardingboat with a stretcher, and took off a six-

teen-year-old boy, who had a fracturedarm and leg. They returned to the shoreand found that the fire brigade, Gardaand a doctor had arrived via some stepsleading to the shore, but that they weretoo steep for the stretcher. The secondboy, who was 11 years old, had headinjuries. He was taken out to the life-boatwith the doctor in attendance, and thenboth doctor and casualty were landedat the west pier where an ambulance waswaiting.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT

Bridlington, Yorkshire - At 9.5 a.m.on 22nd April, 1966, the assistant harbourmaster informed the honorary secretarythat there were three cobles at sea, and theweather was deteriorating rapidly. Hesaid unless they were inside the harbourby 10.30 they would have to wait untilmid-afternoon. One of these was headingfor the north landing at Flamborough.The life-boat Tillie Morrison, Sheffield IIwas launched in a moderate south-by-easterly wind and a rough sea. The tidehad been ebbing for three hours. Shemet the coble Boys' Own coming up fromthe north, and escorted her to safety inthe harbour. The third coble My Judithwas believed to be crabbing well to thesouth, so the life-boat headed southagainst the ebb to search for her. Sheeventually found the coble 16 milesaway off Mappleton and escorted herback to Bridlington. The life-boat waitedwith the coble outside the harbouruntil she was able to get in. Also waitingoutside were the motor cruiser Philanderand 10 motor fishing vessels. All these wereescorted into harbour.

CALL TO COBLE

At i.io p.m. on 2Oth April, 1966, thecoastguard informed the honorary sec-retary that the fishing coble Neptune hadsprung a leak while crabbing near Horn-sea. A helicopter from Leconfield wasstanding by the boat. The life-boatTillie Morrison, Sheffield II was launchedat 1.30 in a light north-by-easterly windand a rough sea. She reached the casualtyat 2.15 and took her in tow as the engine

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had been swamped. The life-boat towedthe coble back to the harbour, and thenreturned to her station arriving at 4.30.

TOO ROUGHAt 8.30 a.m. on 9th of April, 1966, the

Lloyd's agent told the honorary secretarythat the trawler Ross Cormorant would bein Bridlington Bay at 8.30 p.m. and wishedto have a sick man taken off. He had askedfor a coble to go, but was told that it wastoo rough. He had arranged for an ambu-lance to be on the pier. The life-boat TillieMorrison, Sheffield II was launched at 9.10p.m. in a moderate to fresh east-by-northerly wind and a rough sea. It was highwater. She took the man off the trawler andreturned to the harbour, where the patientwas transferred to the ambulance.

Whitby, Yorkshire - At 10.15 a-m-on nth April, 1966, the coxswain in-formed the honorary secretary that con-ditions were deteriorating on the bar andharbour approaches and that the oldestboat in the local fleet was approaching theharbour. The life-boat Mary Ann Hep-worth was launched at 10.30 in a eastnorth easterly wind and a rough sea.It was two hours after high water. Shemet the Galilee near the bar and escortedher to the harbour. She then stood by,and at intervals escorted another sevenfishing boats which were returning toharbour. When all the boats were safelyberthed, the life-boat returned to herstation, arriving at 1.25 p.m.

SEVEREAt 9 a.m. on loth April, 1966, the

coxswain informed the honorary sec-retary that the m.f.v. Golden Hope was atsea and that conditions in the harbourapproaches were very severe, with visibil-ity almost nil. The life-boat Mary AnnHepworth was launched at 9.10 in aeasterly wind and a rough sea, whichwas caused by the heavy flow of waterdown the river meeting the severe swellat sea. It was 30 minutes before highwater. In the vicinity of Rock buoy sheawaited the arrival of the Golden Hope.The life-boat contacted the vessel at 11.2and escorted her into the harbour.

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Hartlepool, Yorkshire - At 7.27 p.m.on 2nd April, 1966, the coastguard toldthe motor mechanic that a yacht hadcapsized off the north pier. It was lowwater with a moderate easterly breeze anda corresponding sea. The life-boat ThePrincess Royal (Civil Service No. 7) set outat 7.37. In the meantime the Hartlepoolpilot cutter, which had observed thecasualty, rescued the two occupants of theyacht and brought them ashore. The life-boat took the yacht in tow.

Humber, Yorkshire - At 1.50 p.m.on 30th April, 1966, a motorist told thecoxswain superintendent that a small air-craft had crashed into the sea about twomiles north of Spurn. There was a gentlesouth-easterly wind and a smooth sea. Itwas high water. The life-boat City ofBradford III launched at 1.55 and pro-ceeded to the scene of the crash. As shearrived the coastguards were helping aman up the beach. The life-boat pickedup some wreckage, a jacket, life-belt,pillow and a chart, but there were nosigns of any other survivors. A helicopterjoined the search about 10 minutes later,but after searching for over an hour foundnothing. The search was then called off,and the life-boat returned to her stationat 3.50. A police officer met the life-boatand took charge of the various articleswhich had been salvaged.

Boulmer, Northumberland - At8.55 a.m. on 8th April, 1966, the coxswaininformed the honorary secretary that thecoble Providence of Boulmer was late inreturning. The sea in the harbour mouthwas increasing and visibility was poorowing to fog and drizzle. The life-boatRobert and Dorothy Hardcastle wastherefore launched at 9.5 in a lighteasterly wind and a choppy sea. The tidewas ebbing. She came up with theProvidence at 9.25 and escorted her intoharbour.

SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT

Walton and Frinton, Essex - At 3.30p.m. on nth April, 1966, the coxswain

informed the honorary secretary thatsome concern was being felt for two menin a small yacht off Walton pier. The menhad hailed fishermen on the pier and wereobviously exhausted. One was sick. Themen were bound for Harwich from Can-vey Island, their boat was leaking, andthe engine was giving trouble. Within afew minutes of sailing a man was seenwaving an oilskin. The life-boat EdianCourtauld was launched at 4.40 in a gentlenorth-easterly wind and a slight sea. Itwas high water. The yacht Wild Goosewas taken in tow at 4.53 but due to thepoor condition of the yacht the life-boatwas obliged to make a slow tow. Theyarrived in Harwich at 5.54, moored thecasualty alongside the Navy Yard Wharf,and then the life-boat returned to Walton.She arrived at her station at 8.12.

YACHT AGROUNDAt 4.55 p.m. on 3rd April, 1966, the

coastguard told the honorary secretarythat a yacht had been reported to beaground on the Pye Sands, about half amile outside the mouth of the river. Thehonorary secretary then telephoned aman whose house overlooks the sands andhe confirmed that the yacht was high onthe sands, lying abeam the wind and wellon her side. He then went with thecoxswain and district officer of H.M.Coastguard to a point where they couldsee the casualty which was lying on a leeshore, with two anchors laid fore and aft.The life-boat Edian Courtauld put outat 6 p.m. in a strong north-north-easterlywind and a moderate sea. It was one hourafter low water. She came up with thecasualty, which was the auxiliary yachtSouris of Maldon with a crew of four onboard. Owing to lack of water the life-boat was unable to get alongside, but aline was fired to her. At 7.23 the life-boatstarted to tow her and arrived at Harwichat 8.17. A berth was found for the yachtalongside the Trinity House vessel Vestal.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 6.14p.m. on 7th April, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that amessage had been received from thetanker Metco advising him that two men

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were drifting past her in lifejackets. Afurther message was received from aMedway launch that the tanker Emsadler,anchored south of Mid Shoebury buoy,had reported losing several men and hadlaunched one of her own boats to search.At 6.37 the life-boat Greater London II(Civil Service No. 30) was launched in achoppy sea and a gentle breeze from thenorth-west. The tide was ebbing. It wasreported later that only two men had beenlost overboard from the Emsadler and thatboth men had been picked up. The life-boat towed the boat back to the tanker,and on her return to the station found asmall cabin cruiser Pandora anchored withnobody on board. A woman then reportedthat her husband and another man hadbeen fishing in a boat which she thoughtwas named Pandora but had not returnedhome. The life-boat searched but foundnothing, and returned to the station withthe cabin cruiser, arriving at 11.30 p.m.A helicopter from Mansion also searched.

Lowestoft, Suffolk - At 7.42 p.m. onloth April, 1966, the coastguard informed

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the honorary secretary that the trawlerOrmsby Queen had an injured man onboard. At 10.35 the trawler requested thehelp of the life-boat to convey the manashore as she could not enter the harbourbecause of the thick fog and shallow waterat the harbour entrance. The life-boatFrederick Edward Crick left her mooringsat 10.45 in a lignt north-easterly wind anda slight sea. The tide was in flood. Aftersearching for an hour in the thick fog thelife-boat located the trawler near theNorth Gorton buoy and went alongside.The casualty was transferred to the life-boat, which returned to Lowestoft, wherethe man was taken to hospital. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 2 a.m.

Dover, Kent - At 9 a.m. on 14* April,1966, the coastguard informed the honor-ary secretary that a small yacht, with acrew of four on board, off Shakespearecliffs had sent up distress flares. The life-boat Southern Africa left her moorings at9.34 in a snowstorm. There was a galeforce easterly wind and a rough sea. It

By courtesy of} [Norman Paterson

Dr. Harrison Broadbent on top of the cliffafter his IRB ordeal in Scratchell's Bay, Isleof Wight, on 10th April, 1966 (see p. 136).

176

was two hours after high water. The life-boat found the yacht Mer Gaspard, whichhad been blown off course while sail-ing from Calais to Nieuport, Belgium,anchored between Shakespeare cliffs andAdmiralty pier. She towed her to a safeposition in Dover Inner Harbour, andreturned to her moorings at 11.30.

Sheringham, Norfolk - At 2.6 p.m.on 8th April, 1966, the coxswain informedthe honorary secretary that four Shering-ham crab boats were at sea in a very thickfog and might have difficulty in findingthe passage back to the beach. The life-boat James and Catherine Macfarlane, ontemporary duty at the station, waslaunched at 2.20 in a moderate sea and alight south-easterly wind. It was lowwater and visibility was down to 10 yards.The life-boat proceeded to the mouth ofthe passage and at 2.35 the four boatswere found. After passing a life-belt toeach boat the coxswain advised them towait for deeper water before attemptingto get through the passage. The life-boatstood by for an hour and three-quarters,until it was deemed safe to take the boatsthrough the passage. All the boats werebeached in safety and the life-boatreturned to her station at 5 o'clock.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Plymouth, Devon - At 8.50 p.m. on16th April, 1966, the naval authoritiesinformed the honorary secretary that ared distress signal had been sighted dueeast of Penlee, near Renny Rocks. It wasconfirmed that the casualty was a yacht,and the life-boat Thomas Forehead andMary Rowse left her moorings at 9.5. in amoderate east-north-easterly wind anda moderate sea. The yacht jfenesta, whichhad had engine failure and had becomebecalmed, was reached at 9.30. The crewasked to be towed in, so a line was passedto her and the life-boat towed her toMillbay Docks. The life-boat returned toher station at 10.35.

Newhaven, Sussex - At 6.15 p.m. on8th April, 1966, the coastguard informedthe coxswain that one boat had capsizedand another was in difficulties off Peace-

haven. The life-boat Kathleen Mary waslaunched at 6.30 in a light south-easterlywind and a slight sea. It was one hourbefore low water and visibility was poorowing to thick fog. She contacted themotor boat Marianne and started toescort her to harbour. The I.R.B. hadalso launched and took over the escortduty while the life-boat went in searchof the m.f.v. Atalanta which was re-ported to be on the rocks. She found thecasualty west of Rottingdean and stoodby until she refloated. The life-boat thenescorted her back to Newhaven, andreturned to her station at i a.m. next day.A monetary gift was received by the life-boat crew from the master of the Atalanta.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex - At7.55 p.m. on 26th April, 1966, the coast-guard told the honorary secretary that aspeedboat had capsized one and a halfmiles east-south-east of Shoreham har-bour entrance. The life-boat Dorothy andPhilip Constant was launched at 8.3 in amoderate east-south-easterly wind anda choppy sea. It was one hour before lowwater. The life-boat reached the speed-boat Sheila Ann at 8.20 and found threeskin divers clinging to the upturned hull.These were immediately taken on boardthe life-boat, with the speedboat takenin tow. The life-boat arrived at herstation at 9.30.

SOUTH-WEST DISTRICT

Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset-At11.35 p.m. on I2th April, 1966, the Barrycoastguard informed the honorary sec-retary that two men in an open fishing boatwere overdue. They had left the River Axeat midday, intending to return at dusk.After making further inquiries, the life-boat Calouste Gulbenkian was launchedat 12.25 a.m. in a fresh north-easterly windand a moderate sea. It was high water.The search was successful as the boatKincora was found anchored at the sea-ward end of the Brean Down. The occu-pants said that owing to the condition ofthe sea they were unable to return toUphill as planned. The boat was towed toKnightstone, where the two men were

landed. The life-boat returned to herstation at 2.25.

Penlee, Cornwall- At 3 p.m. on lothApril, 1966, the honorary secretary wasinformed that the life-boat's services hadbeen requested at 11 o'clock to take a sickwoman off a Liberian tanker. The life-boat Solomon Browne was launched in amoderate breeze from the south eastand a rough sea. It was one hour beforelow water. She proceeded to Newlyn toembark a doctor, nurse, and ambulancemen. At 11.25 sne left Newlyn and movedto a position six miles south of Penzance,reaching the tanker G.S. Livanos at 12.45a.m. The doctor and ambulance men wereput on board and the tanker steamedfurther into the bay to sheltered waters,where the patient, doctor, and ambulancemen were transferred to the life-boat andlanded at Newlyn at 2.45. The life-boatremained at Newlyn, finally returning toher station at 10 o'clock.

Fowey, Cornwall - At 10.5 a.m. on9th April, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that a vessel wassubmerged with about two foot of mastshowing above the water, a quarter of amile west of Polperro. The life-boatCecil and Lilian Philpott., on temporaryduty at the station, was launched at 10.18in a strong south-westerly wind and arough sea. It was one hour after highwater. She found the casualty at LarrickCove, searched the area in conjunctionwith a helicopter, and recovered the bodyof a man about 150 yards offshore. Whenthe search was called off she took the bodyto Fowey and handed it over to thepolice. The life-boat returned to herstation at 12.30 p.m.

SCOTTISH DISTRICT

Dunbar, East Lothian - At 9.47 a.m.on 3rd April, 1966, the coastguardinformed the coxswain of the life-boat thatthe cabin cruiser Fiola of Glasgow, with acrew of three, was aground on BelhavenSands. The owner of the cabin cruisertold the coastguard that they were bound

177

from South Queensferry to Rochesterand had deliberately run on to the sandsas one of the crew was sick. In the absenceof the honorary secretary the coxswaindecided to go to their assistance as theFiola was lying in a potentially dangerousposition. At 9.58 the life-boat City ofBradford II, on temporary duty at thestation, proceeded in a light breeze fromthe north-east and a slight sea. It was halfan hour after low water. The coxswainasked the owner to lay an anchor toseaward and then attempted withoutsuccess to fire a line aboard. However, onthe flood tide the Fiola managed to pullherself off the beach using her ownengines, and the life-boat escorted thecabin cruiser into Dunbar harbour,arriving at 1.42 p.m.

Stornoway, Orkneys - At 8.30 p.m.on I2th April, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that amessage had been received from them.f.v. Flower that a member of her crewhad severely injured his leg. The life-boat, The Rankin, on temporary duty atthe station, left her moorings at 9.25 witha doctor on board. There was a fresheast-south-easterly wind and a rough sea.It was two hours after low water. Thelife-boat met the m.f.v. Flower off Lum-pan Head, where the doctor was trans-ferred to the vessel and tended to thecasualty. Both the Flower and the life-boat then proceeded to Stornoway, wherethe life-boat returned to her moorings ati.io a.m.

Longhope, Orkneys-At 7.44p.m. onist April, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that the m.f.v.Trust of Stromness was ashore at Haven,Stroma Island, Pentland Firth, and re-quired the assistance of the life-boat. TheLonghope life-boat T.G.B. was alreadyafloat, returning from an exercise, andproceeded immediately in a fresh north-westerly wind and a choppy sea. It was onehour before high water. She picked upthe crew of three from the m.f.v. Trust,who were safely ashore on the island,at 8.45 and landed them at Longhope.

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The life-boat returned to her station at10.40.

Arbroath, Angus - At 1.33 p.m. oa9th April, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that the motorfishing boat Evening Star was lying offthe harbour. At 1.45 the life-boat RosaWoodd and Phyllis Lunn, on temporaryduty at the station, was launched in arough sea and a gale from the south east.It was 11 hours after low water. Shecrossed the harbour bar and escortedthe Evening Star, skippered by the cox-swain of the life-boat, into harbour. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 2.25.

Islay, Inner Hebrides - At 7.30 p.m.on 29th April, 1966, a man informed thehonorary secretary that a motor fishingvessel was in trouble off the Isle of Jura.The help of the Islay life-boat had beenrequested as the vessel's engine had ex-ploded and a crew member had beeninjured. The life-boat Francis W. Wother-spoon of Paisley was launched at 7.40in a moderate south westerly windand a choppy sea. It was low water. Thecoastguard told the honorary secretarythat the injured man was being takenashore by a local boatman, but that them.f.v. May of Port Charlotte, Islay, stillrequired the life-boat's assistance. Shefound the casualty at Lagg Point with herengine shattered by the explosion. Thevessel was towed to Crinan, and the life-boat returned to her station at 5 a.m. Thefishing vessel's owner has since made adonation to the Institution's funds.

Gour don, Kincar dineshir e - At 11.10a.m. on 22nd April, 1966, the coxswaininformed the honorary secretary that thefishing fleet was having difficulties at theharbour entrance. The life-boat The EdithClauson-Thue was launched at 11.22 hi astrong south-easterly wind and a roughsea. It was one hour and a half after lowwater. She escorted all the fishing boatsto safety and returned to her station at4 p.m.

By courtesy of} [Daily Express

When Mr. Basil Dove, lighthouse keeper at Beachy Head, injured himself when hefell down a flight of steps, Eastbourne life-boat went alongside to take him off.

An account of this service will appear in the next issue of THE LIFE-BOAT.

NORTH-WEST DISTRICT

Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - At 4p.m. on nth April, 1966, the coxswaininformed the assistant honorary secretarythat a small yacht was getting into diffi-culties in the bay. The coastguard wascontacted, and after setting a watch theysaid that the yacht did not appear torequire assistance. The life-boat crew,however, stood by. Later the coastguardlost sight of the yacht, so the life-boatLilly Wainwright was launched at 6.10 ina moderate south-easterly wind and arough sea. It was two and a half hoursafter high water. When the casualty wasreached she had drifted about eight miles.The crew of three were in a distressedcondition and numb with cold. Theywere taken on board the life-boat, givenhot soup and wrapped in blankets. Theyacht was taken in tow, and the life-boatreturned to her station, arriving at 8.45.A helicopter assisted in the search for theyacht.

Troon, Ayrshire - At 4.20 p.m. on9th April, 1966, the police told thehonorary secretary that a dinghy had

capsized off Croy Hotel and two peoplewere hanging on to the boat. The life-boat James and Barbara Aitken waslaunched at 4.35 in a strong east-south-easterly wind and a rough sea. It was threehours before low water. She proceededto the position given and started to search.At 6.35 the coastguard advised the life-boat that the occupants of the dinghyhad been landed. She picked up thedinghy and returned to her station at 8.50.

Holyhead, Anglesey - At 12.29 a.m.on i8th April, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that them.v. Kilkenny had sighted red flaresabout 10 miles north-west of Skerrieslighthouse. There was a gale from theeast-north-east with a very rough sea.The tide was ebbing. The life-boat St.Cybi (Civil Service No. 9) was launched10 minutes later and proceeded to theposition given. At 2.5 the Kilkenny re-ported that she had taken the crew of fiveoff the yacht Shelmelier and was goingto meet the life-boat. The life-boat, how-ever, was unable to take the five survivorsoff the Kilkenny due to the very heavyseas and severe weather conditions.At 2.58 the life-boat came up with the

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yacht and a tow line was made fast butthis parted at 9.14 and, as the seas weretoo rough to make fast a further line, theyacht was abandoned. The life-boatreturned to her station, arriving at 11.25.She was placed on moorings in the innerharbour until the weather moderatedsufficiently for her to be rehoused at 8p.m. A donation was made to the In-stitution by the owner of the yacht.

Hoylake, Cheshire, and Rhyl, Flint-shire - At 9.25 p.m. on 8th April, 1966,the shipping agent to the m.v. Bieruminformed the Rhyl honorary secretarythat the vessel had gone aground a quarterof a mile east of Point of Air lighthouse.The life-boat Lucy Lavers, on temporaryduty at the Rhyl station, launched at11.10, and the life-boat Clara and EmilyBarwell, on temporary duty at Hoylake,launched at 11.55. Both life-boats wentalongside the vessel and their coxswainswent aboard. After consultation with thecaptain, it was agreed to attempt to re-float the vessel at high water. The attempt,however, was unsuccessful, and on theebb tide it was decided that both life-boats would return to their stations. TheHoylake life-boat arrived at her stationat 5.25 a.m. and the Rhyl life-boat at5-30.

Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire -At 11.40 a.m. on 24th April, 1966, apolice inspector informed the honorarysecretary that a car or van had gone overthe cliffs and into the sea, close to theAberdaron look-out hut. As no othersuitable craft was available to take diversto investigate, the life-boat White Star,on temporary duty at the station, waslaunched at 2 p.m. with a police officerand four skin divers on board. There was alight south-westerly wind and a slightsea. The tide had been ebbing for twohours. While on course for Aberdaronsome wreckage was picked up whichappeared to be part of a van. Upon arrivalat a position under the look-out hut thedivers went down, and when they re-turned they reported that a cream vanwas lying in about 30 feet of water. Thesteering wheel was recovered but therewas no trace of the driver. The search

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was then called off and the life-boatreturned to her station at 8 o'clock.

New Brighton, Cheshire - At 6.30p.m. on 3rd April, 1966, the coxswaininformed the honorary secretary that amotor fishing vessel was aground on therevetment wall a quarter of a mile north-west of the New Brighton lighthouse. Thelife-boat Norman B. Corlett was launchedat 6.50 in a light north-easterly wind and asmooth sea. It was just past low water.At 7 o'clock the life-boat reached them.f.v. Orian of Fleetwood, and stoodby until she refloated on the rising tide.The life-boat then escorted her as faras New Brighton, and returned to herstation at 7.20.

The following life-boats were also calledout in April:

Aberdeen - ist.Broughty Ferry, Angus - 28th.Cromer, Norfolk - 3rd.Donaghadee, Co. Down - 4th.Dungeness, Kent - 5th.Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin - 2nd.Dunmore East, Co. Waterford -

nth.Howth, Co. Dublin - 5th and 30th.Hurnber, Yorkshire - 2nd.Ufracombe, Devon - i8th.Lizard-Cadgwith, Cornwall - i4th

and 15th.Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - 8th.Penlee, Cornwall - 2ist.Rhyl, Flintshire - 24th.St. Helier, Jersey - loth.St. Ives, Cornwall - 20th.St. Peter Port, Guernsey - 26th.Salcombe, Devon - i8th.Scarborough, Yorkshire - 4th and

loth.Swanage, Dorset - nth.Walmer, Kent - 5th.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - loth

and 22nd.

Life-boat O.N. 44-001Life-boat O.N. 44-001 - At 12.10 p.m.

on 26th March, 1966, while on passagefrom Dover to Littlehampton, the life-boat O.N. 44-001 came upon the yachtOrion of Newhaven which was burning

distress flares. She was stopped and lyingbroadside to a steep sea. There was agale force south south westerly wind anda rough sea. At the same time the cross-Channel ferry Villandry arrived on thescene, and stopped. The life-boat approa-ched the yacht and the owner asked fora tow to Newhaven. The staff socket wascorroded and it was necessary to unshipthe ensign staff before towing couldcommence. When it had been removedthe tow-rope was quickly passed to theyacht and made fast around the base ofthe gypsy-windlass. The tow started atrninimum revolutions, and the ferry,which had been giving some lee, thencontinued her voyage. Within a fewminutes, however, the windlass cameaway from the yacht's deck and broughtdown the main mast, which broke in two.It was obvious that there was no fittingstrong enough to which the tow-ropecould be secured, so it was decided totake off the crew of two young boys and aman.

MUCH WRECKAGE

There was so much wreckage around theyacht that they had to be taken from thestem of the boat. The life-boat was placedat right angles against the yacht and as thefirst survivor came over the stem, the life-boat was put astern. The other two survi-vors were rescued in a similar manner.When the survivors were safely on board thelife-boat she stood by the yacht for about15 minutes. The owner then requested thatno attempt be made to put anyone back onboard because of the considerable risk in-volved. It was then decided to abandon thewreck and land the survivors at Newhaven.The life-boat eventually arrived at Little-hampton at 1.5 p.m.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 11.54a.m. on i8th April, 1966, while the IRBwas being exercised with the districtinspector on board, the crew were in-formed that a dinghy with four youthson board was in difficulties 100 yardsoff shore from Halfway House, ThorpeBay. There was a fresh easterly breezeand moderate sea. It was high water.The four youths were embarked andtaken ashore. The dinghy was later re-covered and towed ashore. The IRBreturned to her station at 12.40 p.m.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Mudeford, Hampshire-At 1.45 p.m.on zist April, 1966, a visitor to Mudefordinformed a member of the IRB crew thata sailing dinghy had capsized about onemile east of the harbour entrance. TheIRB was immediately launched in amoderate to fresh south-westerly breezeand slight sea. It was high water. Shecame up with the sailing dinghy, whosemast had been carried away. The dinghywith two people on board was then takenin tow, and the IRB returned to herstation at 2.5.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight- At 11.10a.m. on 2nd April, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that acanoe had capsized near ScratchelPs Bay.The two crew members, who were cling-ing to the canoe, were being swept bythe tide towards the beach. At 11.20 theIRB launched in a fresh southerly breezeand moderate sea. The tide was ebbing.The IRB took the two people, who hadreached the beach, on board and returnedto her station at 12.10 p.m. The canoewas recovered later by a local boatman.

IRB LAUNCHES

SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICT

Rescues by IRBs in April were undertakenby the following stations:

SOUTH-WESTERN DISTRICT

The Mumbles, Glamorganshire-At6.40 p.m. on 3rd April, 1966, the coast-guard informed the honorary secretarythat a small motor boat had broken downand was drifting out to sea on the ebbtide. At 6.47 the IRB launched in a gentle

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easterly breeze and moderate sea. TheIRB took the motor boat with threepeople on board in tow, and returnedto her station, which was reached at745-

St. Ives, Cornwall - At 11.57 a-m- on

9th April, 1966, the owner of the speed-boat Zepturb informed the honorarysecretary that his boat was out of fuel andwas drifting out to sea in St. Ives Bay.The IRB was launched immediately in agentle to moderate south-south-westerlybreeze and a choppy sea. The tide wasebbing. The IRB came up with the Zep-turb with five people on board very closeto Merryn Rock, and she was pulledclear with only feet to spare and was takenin tow to St. Ives Harbour. The IRB,after towing the Zepturb to St. Ives,returned to her station at 12.15 P-m-

See page 196 for other IRB launches.

MAYSOUTHERN DISTRICT

Weymouth, Dorset - At 10.46 p.m.on ist May, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that themotor cruiser Windy Wyne of Falmouthhad asked for assistance as her engine hadbroken down half a mile north-west ofPortland Bill. The casualty had fouledsome lobster pots and had lost her anchor.The life-boat Peter and Sarah Blake, ontemporary duty at the station, waslaunched at 11.5 in a light north-easterlywind and a slight sea. The tide was ebb-ing. When she found her, the casualty wasbeing held against the strong spring ebbtide, but was being swept into the race.The life-boat secured a line to her andtowed her to Weymouth harbour. Shereturned to her station at 1.35 a.m.

Swanage, Dorset-At about 12.45 p.m.on 22nd May, 1966, the assistant honor-ary secretary saw a sailing dinghy capsizein the bay. The yacht club rescue boathad difficulty in towing her in, as there

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was a strong offshore wind and spring ebbtide which was taking them towards thePevril ledge. When they were within 50yards of the ledge, the towline parted, andas there was still one man on board thedinghy, the assistant honorary secretarydecided to launch the life-boat. TheR.L.P. was launched at i.io in a roughsea. It was one hour after high water. Therescue boat had managed to take the sur-vivor off the dinghy so the life-boatrecovered the dinghy and returned to herstation at 2.30 p.m.

TWO CASUALTIES

At 6.52 p.m. on i5th May, 1966, thecoastguard informed the honorary sec-retary that a fishing vessel had brokendown and was drifting one mile south ofSt. Albans Head. The life-boat R.L.P.was launched at 7.7 in a light south-westerly wind and a moderate sea. It washigh water. On the way to the casualty, acapsized dinghy was sighted. The sur-vivors were picked up and transferred tothe speedboat Jaguar, which was takingthe dinghy in tow. The life-boat then wenton to the fishing vessel Mambo, which wastaken in tow at 7.55 after the man aboardher had been transferred to the life-boat.She returned to her moorings at 9.30 p.m.

RED FLARE

At 10.35 p.m. on 29th May, 1966, theassistant honorary secretary's wife in-formed the honorary secretary that shehad seen a red flare in the direction of thebay. The life-boat R.L.P. was launchedat ii o'clock in a moderate east-south-easterly wind and a rough sea. It was twohours before low water. She found aman ina small boat, and took him aboard. He saidthat he had ferried one man to the yachtVenturess of Southampton, and wasreturning to the shore for the secondmember of the crew when his boatcapsized. He had then swum to the boaton which he was found. The life-boat puthim on the yacht and then proceeded tocheck on a police report of flares off OldHarry rocks, but found nothing. Shereturned to her moorings at 45 minutes

after midnight to await the flood tidebefore rehousing.

TAKEN IN TOW

At 11.53 a.m. on 20th May, 1966, thepolice informed the honorary secretarythat a man had been seen in difficultiesoff Kimmeridge ledge. It was requestedthat the life-boat be launched. A sergeantand a constable embarked in the life-boatR.L.P. which launched at 12.5 in a lightwesterly wind and a moderate sea. Itwas two hours after high water. Thedinghy was sighted coming out ofChapman's Pool. The dinghy was takenin tow, and the life-boat returned to herstation at 3.20 p.m.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight - At 5.31p.m. on 7th May, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that ayacht, the Chillerton Dene of Poole, hadlost a rudder and was drifting off Rydepier. At 7.5 the position had not improvedand it was decided to launch the life-boat.There was a light north-westerly wind anda smooth sea. It was one hour before lowwater. The life-boat Jesse Lumb launchedat 7.19 and came up with the yacht at8.15. She took her in tow and proceededto Portsmouth as there was not sufficientwater for the yacht to enter the harbourat Ryde. The life-boat returned to herstation at 11.10 p.m. The owner of theyacht made a gift to the life-boat's crew.

berry Finn had been sighted 20 milessouth of Portland Bill. The Frank SpillerLocke set off again at 6.25 and continuedto search, making extensive use of herradar. At 6.26 a.m. on 3151 May thefrigate H.M.S. Malcolm, which had alsojoined the search, located the boat andtook her in tow. The life-boat met thefrigate and took over the tow, bringingthe Huckleberry Finn safely to Weymouthharbour at 11.10 a.m. The life-boat wasengaged in the search for the yacht foralmost 35 hours.

Selsey, Sussex - At 6.12 p.m. on 29thMay, 1966, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that a small yachtthree-quarters of a mile west of Bognorpier was signalling for help. The life-boatCanadian Pacific launched at 6.24 in amoderate to fresh north-easterly wind anda moderate sea. It was two hours beforehigh water. She found the casualty - a14-foot sailing dinghy - one mile offBognor pier. Her mast was broken, hersails lost and her hull almost submerged.There was no sign of her crew. At 7.14 amessage was received that they were safeat Littlehampton. The life-boat took thedinghy in tow and started back to herstation, but when she was just off SelseyBill another small boat was reported to bein difficulties. She cast off the dinghywhich was towed in by a local motor boat,and proceeded to an area two miles to thewest, but found nothing. The life-boatarrived back on station at 9.30 p.m.

Weymouth, Dorset - At 6.50 p.m.on 29th May, 1966, a yacht reported thatthe folk-boat Huckleberry Finn was dis-masted and adrift about eight and a halfmiles south east of the Shambles light-vessel. The life-boat Frank Spiller Lockeleft at 8.55 on an ebbing tide. There was astrong easterly wind with a rough sea.The life-boat carried out a search inconjunction with other vessels and ahelicopter but without success and re-turned to harbour at 2 on 3Oth May torefuel. At 6 p.m. a further message wasreceived from the coastguard that a boatanswering the description of the Huckle-

Hastings, Sussex-At 8.30p.m. on25thMay, 1966, the honorary secretary wasinformed that a small fishing boat wasburning a red flare in a position one mileeast of the life-boat station. The life-boatFairlight was launched at 8.42 in a freshsouth-westerly wind and a choppy sea.It was low water. She found that thefishing boat Deano had developed enginetrouble after hitting a balk of timber. Aline was passed to the casualty and thelife-boat towed her back to Hastings. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 9.16p.m.

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Exmouth, Devon - At 2.40 a.m. onigth May, 1966, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that a man was lyinginjured at the foot of the cliffs betweenOtter and Brandy Head, near BudleighSalterton, and he could not be reachedfrom the cliff top. The life-boat MichaelStephen was launched at three o'clock in alight south-westerly wind and a moderatesea, with the honorary medical adviser onboard. The boarding boat was taken forlanding purposes. The casualty wasreached at 4.30 and was found to besuffering from multiple injuries. Afterbeing given an injection, he was embarkedon the life-boat and taken to BudleighSalterton, where he was transferred to awaiting ambulance for hospital. The life-boat returned to her station at six o'clock.

Torbay, Devon - At 9.37 p.m. on 9thMay, 1966, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that a red flare hadbeen sighted about six miles south-south-west of Berry Head and picket boats hadbeen sent out to investigate from theRoyal Naval College, Dartmouth. As nofurther information was received the life-boat Lloyd's, on temporary duty at thestation, proceeded in a light north-west-by-northerly wind and a slight sea. It wasat high water. She searched in the direc-tion indicated and radio contact was thenmade with the Irish coaster Susan whichstated that she was standing by a smallyacht Manana about eight miles fromStart Point. The life-boat had no diffi-culty in finding the Manana which waswell illuminated, and went alongside theyacht. The Susan then continued hervoyage. The yacht had one man onboard, and he was in a distressed con-dition having been suffering from seasickness for three days. The yacht wastowed back to Brixham inner harbour,and after ensuring that the Manana wasmoored safely, the life-boat returned toher own moorings at 2.30 a.m.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex - At8.48 p.m. on 9th May, 1966 it was re-ported that a flashing light had been seenabout four miles south of the harbour.

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The life-boat Dorothy and Philip Constantlaunched at 8.54 in a moderate northwesterly wind and a slight sea. It wasalmost low water. When she reached thegiven position she found the fishingboat Trident whose engine had brokendown. The casualty was partly water-logged so the crew of two were taken offby the life-boat and the Trident was towedslowly back to harbour. The life-boatreturned to her station at 12.15 a.m. onloth May.

NORTH-WEST DISTRICT

Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - At7.55 p.m. on 2ist May, 1966, the honor-ary secretary was informed that a yachthad capsized one mile north of PenmaenHead. The life-boat Lilly Wainwrightwas launched at 8.20 and on her way tothe reported casualty she sighted a cap-sized yacht one mile off Colwyn Bay pier.She asked the Rhos Yacht Club, via thecoastguard, whether the occupants hadbeen taken ashore, and then went to theposition. A helicopter joined the searchand spotted the first yacht three milesnorth of Penmaen Head. The life-boatmoved to the new position and afterfurther consultation with the coastguardit was confirmed that the occupants ofboth yachts had been taken ashore andwere safe. The life-boat took both yachtsin tow and returned to Llandudnoharbour. She reached her station at 1.45a.m. next day. A donation was made tothe Institution's funds.

New Quay, Cardiganshire-At 12.38p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that asailing boat was in difficulties three-quarters of a mile off Lochtyn Island.The life-boat St. Albans was launched atone o'clock in a gale force westerly windand a very rough sea. It was two and ahalf hours after high water. The life-boatreached the yacht and escorted her tothe lee of New Quay Head. The secondcoxswain and a crew member were thentransferred from the life-boat to the yachtto assist the yacht's crew. The yacht was

beached, and the life-boat returned to herstation at 2.30 p.m.

Holyhead, Anglesey - At 4.55 p.m.on 6th May, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that aDutch trawler had struck the Flattens,and was aground, but the local pilot boatand a boat from a Holyhead boatyardwere standing by. It was later seen thatwhile these boats were taking ropes fromthe trawler, her crew of six were driftingaway in a small rubber dinghy. The life-boat St. Cybi (Civil Service No. 9) waslaunched at 6.2 in a gale force northerlywind and a rough sea. She took the sur-vivors off the dinghy and stood by untilthe trawler Anna Hendrika refloated. Shethen put them back on board. The life-boat returned to her station at 6.45 p.m.

SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT

Skegness, Lincolnshire - At 8.45p.m. on 2ist May, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that acabin cruiser was reported to be in diffi-culties three and a half miles east ofTrusthorpe. Her engine had failed andthere was a sick man on board. The life-boat Charles Fred Grantham launchedat 9.12 in a moderate south southwesterly wind and a rough sea. It was onehour after low water. At 9.25 a messagewas received that a rubber dinghy withtwo men and a small boy had been missingoff Skegness since i o'clock. The life-boatwas asked to search northwards on herway to the cabin cruiser. She found thecabin cruiser Higgy, took her in tow, andturned back towards Skegness. At 11.30the IRB launched to take over the tow ofthe Higgy, so that the life-boat couldcontinue the search for the rubberdinghy. The honorary secretary was toldat 12.30 a.m. that the Humber life-boatCity of Bradford HI had launched toassist in the search and a Shackletonaircraft would join the search at daybreak.The Skegness life-boat found the dinghyat 7.30 with the survivors aboard. Shepicked up the dinghy and crew andreturned to her station, arriving at 9 a.m.

The owner of the cabin cruiser made adonation to the Institution's funds andgave a gift to the life-boat crew.

Dover, Kent - At 3.53 p.m. on 24thMay, 1966, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that an open boat withtwo men in it had been seen drifting east-wards in the Channel. The life-boatSouthern Africa was launched at 4.23 in alight north north westerly wind and aslight sea. She found the boat - a whaler -with two young men on board who saidthat they had fallen asleep in the boat andon waking had found themselves at sea.The life-boat picked them up and towedthe whaler back to Dover. She arrivedback at her station at 6 o'clock.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - At 5.57a.m. on 23rd May, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that ayacht was firing flares at WhittakerBeacon. The life-boat Isabella and EdwardIrvin was launched at 6.22 in a strongwesterly wind and a rough sea. It was twoand a half hours before low water. Sheproceeded to the beacon, and on the way,received a message that a helicopter hadrescued the crew of the yacht Valri.When the life-boat reached the casualtytwo members of the life-boat crew wereput aboard the yacht which had grounded.Then the life-boat stood by until thewater rose sufficiently to float the yacht.She then towed her to Brightlingsea andmoored there at i p.m. The life-boat wasrehoused on the following day.

Walton and Frinton, Essex - At 8.3p.m. on igth May, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that theradio ship Olga Patricia had reportedthat a fishing smack was firing red flaresabout one mile north of her. The life-boatEdian Courtauld left her moorings at8.25 in a strong south-west-by-westerlywind and a moderate sea. She had tokeep outside the Pye Sands until reachingHigh Hill buoy. The life-boat foundthe sailing barge Asphodel, belongingto the Thames Barge Sailing Club, at9.7. She had been cruising with clubmembers on board when a squall had

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carried away her port vang. Her sprit-sailwas broken and her top and main sailshad both fouled. The life-boat came upwith the barge, which was still making sixknots, passed a line to her and took her intow to Harwich, arriving at 9.50. At therequest of the casualty's crew, the bargewas anchored off Shotley Spit, and thecrew taken ashore to notify their families.They were then put back on board thebarge by the life-boat.

TWO SAVED

At 4.4. p.m. on I5th May, 1966, thecoastguard informed the honorary sec-retary that the motor vessel Mi Amiga,operating as the wireless transmittingstation Radio Caroline, had broadcast amessage that they had rescued two womenfrom a capsized catamaran and takenthem aboard. As no tender would beavailable to bring the survivors ashore,the life-boat Edian Courtauld was laun-ched at 4.40. There was a moderate tofresh north-easterly wind and a moderatesea. It was one hour after low water. Shereached the Mi Amiga at 6. i and took thetwo women on board. They were landedand the life-boat returned to her stationat 7.46 p.m.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk - At 8.5 a.m. on26th May, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that the catamaranComanche had requested assistance as shewas drifting towards Orfordness, draggingher anchor. The life-boat Alfred andPatience Gottwald was launched at 8.25in a moderate west north westerly windand a moderate sea. It was one hour beforelow water. She met the Comanche off MidBawdsey buoy and towed her intoHarwich harbour.

Caister, and Gt. Yarmouth andGorleston, Norfolk - At 9.40 a.m. on6th May, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretaries of the Caister andGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boatstations that a U.S.A.F. Phantom aircrafthad crashed into the sea five to six mileseast of Winterton. The Caister life-boat

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The Royal Thames was launched at 9.50in a strong south easterly wind and arough sea. It was two hours before highwater. The Great Yarmouth and Gorles-ton life-boat Louise Stephens launched at9.55. The coastguard requested that oneof the life-boats rendezvous with theDutch motor vessel Poorsingel and takefrom her an ejector seat and a rubberdinghy which she had picked up. TheCaister life-boat undertook this, pickingup some wreckage, which had been in-dicated by a helicopter on the way, andthen continued searching in a north-easterly direction. At 11.45 a-m- the

Louise Stephens picked up more wreckageand continued with the search. TheCaister life-boat found three more piecesof wreckage and a log book off BaileyPickle and took the wreckage into Yar-mouth harbour. At 4.56 p.m. a messagewas received by both life-boats that thesearch had been discontinued and theGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boatreturned to her station arriving, at sixo'clock. The Caister life-boat arrived ather station at 6.40 p.m.

Margate, Kent - At 9.2 p.m. on istMay, 1966, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that flashes had beenreported by the police to be coming froma small boat near the south east Margatebuoy and requested that the life-boatstand by. At 9.50, acting upon a furthermessage from the coastguard, the life-boatNorth Foreland (Civil Service No. n) waslaunched in a light easterly wind and asmooth sea. It was one hour before highwater. While she was going to thereported position a message was receivedgiving the position of the flashes as oneand a half miles out from Minnis Bay.When she arrived there it was discoveredthat a cabin cruiser had just entered thebay and was not in any trouble. The life-boat then moved to the position originallystated and fired a parachute flare but sawnothing. She moved nearer to the shoreand saw a small boat with an outboardmotor which was being rowed towardsthe shore by two men. They said theyhad not been flashing lights but had asmall lamp burning in the bottom of the

boat which had probably been mistakenfor a distress signal. They asked for a towto West Bay, Westgate, which the life-boat undertook, and returned to herstation at 11.5 p.m.

OUT OF CONTROL

At 2.43 p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, thecoastguard informed the coxswain that asmall boat was out of control and drifting,to the east of Westgate, with one adult andthree children aboard. The life-boatElizabeth Elson, on temporary duty at thestation, was launched at 2.55 in a strongsouth-westerly wind and a rough sea. Itwas two hours after high water. Shereached the reported position of thecasualty and searched the area with theassistance of an R.A.F. helicopter fromMansion, but nothing was found. Themotor barge Andescol signalled to thelife-boat and said that she had picked up asmall boat. A radio telephone messagefrom Deal coastguard stated that she wasone that had capsized earlier and her crewhad been picked up by the helicopter.The life-boat took the dinghy fromAndescol and brought it back to theboathouse where it was returned to herowner.

AGROUND

At 9.36 a.m. on 2ist May, 1966, thecoastguard informed the coxswain thata cabin cruiser called Security wasaground on Margate sands. The boatwas kept under observation from theharbour by the coxswain and honorarysecretary, who were informed at 11.9by the coastguard that the cabin cruisercould be in difficulties as she refloatedon the flooding tide. There was a mod-erate south westerly wind with a corre-sponding sea. It was two hours beforehigh water. The life-boat Elizabeth Elson,on temporary duty at the station, launchedat 11.45 hours and proceeded to theposition of the Security about three milesnorth east of Margate. The cabin cruiser'sengines had broken down, and as theweather was deteriorating, the life-boattook her in tow to Ramsgate, arriving at2.15 p.m. While at Ramsgate the life-boat

received an R/T message from Dealcoastguard advising that a small craft hadcapsized off Westgate and her crew of twowere in the water. The life-boat imme-diately set off again but while off ForenessPoint a further message was received thata helicopter from R.A.F. Mansion hadrescued the two people.

Ramsgate, Kent - At 12.48 p.m. on29th May, 1966, the East pier watchmannoticed that the motor launch CheshireCat with nine people on board wasaground in Pegwell bay. The life-boatMichael and Lily Davis left her mooringsat 12.55 in a fresn north north easterlywind and a rough sea. It was almost lowwater. When the life-boat came up withthe Cheshire Cat a towline was madefast and after the yacht was refloated shewas towed to Ramsgate.

SAILS LOST

At 1.8 p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, a yacht,two and a half miles east of Ramsgate, hadher sails carried away and was unable tomake harbour. The life-boat Michael andLily Davis left her moorings at 1.15 in agale force west south westerly wind and arough sea. She found the yacht Raine II,and towed her back to Ramsgate harbour.Thelife-boatreturnedtoherstationat24O.

SOUTH-WESTERN DISTRICT

Appledore, Devon - At 9.7 a.m. on28th May, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that a swimmerhad been reported near a capsized dinghy.The life-boat Louisa Ann Hawker waslaunched at 9.40 in a light easterly windand a smooth sea. The tide was flooding.She proceeded to the dinghy and searchedthe area in conjunction with a helicopteruntil a message was received that theswimmer had returned to the beach. Shethen picked up the dinghy.

Ilfracombe, Devon - At 6.10 p.m. on29th May, 1966, the police informed thehonorary secretary that a small dinghy offBull Point appeared to be drifting. A

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helicopter had been called and the coast-guards advised that it would be best todelay launching the life-boat until thehelicopter had returned and reported.The crew assembled and stood by. Latera message was received that the helicopterhad taken a girl off the dinghy, and wouldland her at Ilfracombe, but the life-boatwould be required. The life-boat Robertand Phemia Brown was launched at 6.54in a moderate east-south-easterly windand a moderate sea. It was two hoursbefore low water. Aided by the helicopter,the life-boat found the dinghy which wastrying to get into a small bay. This wasimpossible as the wind and tide werecarrying her further into the channel.The owner was taken off by the life-boatwhich towed the dinghy to Ilfracombeharbour. She returned to her station at10.30 p.m.

St. David's, Pembrokeshire - At2.56 a.m. on 24th May, 1966, the coast-guard informed the honorary secretarythat the yacht Ranger of Lune was indifficulties ten miles north-west of SouthBishop's rock, as her engine had brokendown. The life-boat Joseph Soar (CivilService No. 34} was launched at 3.20 in amoderate south-westerly wind and a mod-erate sea. It was almost low water. Shewent to the position given, and found thecasualty at 4.48. She took the yacht intow and headed for Solva. After clearingRamsey Sound before the flood tidebecame too strong, the life-boat reducedspeed so that there would be sufficientwater when they arrived to get the casualtyalongside the Quay Wall. When the Rangerof Lune was safely berthed, the life-boatreturned to her station which she reachedat 9.52 a.m.

Barry Dock, Glamorganshire - At5.10 p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, the coast-guard informed the motor mechanic thata yacht was ashore on the Cardiff sands.The life-boat Rachel and Mary Evans waslaunched at 5.15 in a gale force southwesterly wind and a very rough sea. It wasthree hours before high water. She tookseven people off the casualty, the yachtScottish Maid, as a precaution but thenthe yacht refloated and started to make

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her own way to Penarth with three of hercrew still on board. While the life-boatwas escorting the Scottish Maid anotheryacht was reported to be in difficulties.This yacht - the Canty - was taken in tow,although she was not in danger, andtowed to Penarth with the Scottish Maid.On her way back to Barry Dock a furtherreport was received from Flatholm in-dicating that the yacht Seaspray wasashore on the eastern beach and breakingup. The life-boat hastened to this posi-tion but before she arrived a helicoptertook four people off the yacht and flewthem to Rhoose airport. The life-boatwas recalled and arrived at her stationat 9.20.

Padstow, Cornwall - At 8.47 a.m. on2yth May, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that the yachtRanger of Lune had engine trouble andwas in difficulties twenty-five miles westof Trevose Head. There was a gentlenorth-easterly breeze with a slight sea.The tide was flooding. The life-boatJoseph Hiram Chadwick proceeded at 9.5and after carrying out a search in con-junction with a Shaddeton aircraft cameup with the yacht 30 miles west of theoriginal position. The Ranger of Lunewas in a sinking condition, and it wasdecided to tow her back to Padstow. From10 o'clock that evening until 4 o'clockthe next morning the wind freshenedfrom the east-north-east, greatly reducingthe speed of the tow, but after a service ofalmost twenty-two hours' duration thelife-boat arrived back at her station at6.30 a.m.

Falmouth, Cornwall - At 11 a.m. on22nd May, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that a motorlaunch had fired an orange flare aboutthree miles south by east from Pendennis.The life-boat Crawford and ConstanceConybeare left her moorings at 11.15 in amoderate to fresh westerly wind anda moderate sea. It was two hours beforelow water. She found the motor launchQueen of Falmouth, with two men onboard. Her engine had broken downwhile on passage from Falmouth toMousehole. The life-boat took the

By courtesy of] [Scottish Sunday Express

The Strom ness life-boat alongside the crippled Norwegian vessel Kings Star (1,189tons) after she had hit the North Shoal—a dangerous rock eight miles off the Ork-

neys. Also alongside are two of the vessel's own boats.

launch in tow and berthed her at CustomsHouse Quay, Falmouth. She returned toher station at 12.10 p.m.

Fowey, Cornwall - At 4.27 p.m. on18th May, 1966, a woman informed thehonorary secretary that she and herhusband had been in a motor boat whichcapsized in Lantio Bay, but they hadmanaged to scramble ashore. The life-boat Deneys Reitz was launched at4.30 in a light west-north-westerly windand a slight sea. It was one hour beforehigh water. The life-boat found the boatsunk on the beach, and towed her toFowey harbour. She returned to herstation at 5.45 p.m.

Penlee, Cornwall - At n a.m. on28th May, 1966, the honorary secretarywas told that the life-boat would beneeded at about 8 a.m. the following dayto bring an injured man ashore fromthe Dutch motor vessel Oranje Nassau.The life-boat Solomon Browne was laun-ched at 8.30 a.m. on 29th May in a galeforce east south easterly wind and a veryrough sea. It was low water. She went to

Newlyn and embarked a doctor. The life-boat rendezvoused with the OranjeNaussau at 10 o'clock six miles east ofTater-du lighthouse. The casualty wastransferred to the life-boat which re-turned to Newlyn an hour later whenthe injured man was transferred to awaiting ambulance and conveyed tohospital. The life-boat remained onmoorings in Newlyn harbour until theweather moderated on ist June, whenshe was rehoused.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT

Whitby, Yorkshire - At 8.50 a.m. on24th May, 1966, the coxswain informedthe honorary secretary that a heavy swellwas building up on the bar and that atleast one of the smaller cobles was at sea.The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth waslaunched 10 minutes later in a fresh eastsouth easterly wind and a rough sea. Itwas an hour and a half after high water.She stood by to await the coble Williamand Martha and escorted her into theharbour. She then stood by for the largerfleet of five motor fishing vessels which

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were due to return. Although one of thesewas swamped by two heavy seas, they allreached the harbour safely, escorted bythe life-boat which then returned to herstation, arriving at 3.55 p.m.

Hartlepool, Co. Durham - At 7p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that acabin cruiser was in difficulties threequarters of a mile north-east of Hartle-pool. The life-boat City of Bradford II, ontemporary duty at the station, left hermoorings at 7.10 in a gale force westerlywind and a rough sea. It was two hoursafter high water. She found the casualty,with two men aboard, two to three milesnorth-east of Hartlepool breakwater. Herengine had failed and she was drifting.The life-boat's second coxswain jumpedaboard the cabin cruiser, and after a linewas made fast the life-boat towed it intoHartlepool, reaching her station at 8.50p.m.

Humber, Yorkshire - At 9.30 a.m.on 5th May, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the superintendent coxswain thatthere was a seriously sick seaman onboard the m.v. Dryburgh who requiredmedical attention. There was a lightsoutherly wind with a slight sea. It wasone hour and a half before low water. Thelife-boat City of Bradford HI launched at10.50 with a doctor on board and came upwith the Dryburgh half a mile east ofSpurn lightvessel at 11.20. The doctortransferred to the vessel, and at about thistime a trawler hailed the life-boat toreport that two men had been lost over-board from the trawler St. Romanus atabout 10.30. The life-boat proceeded tothis vessel and carried out a search of thearea in conjunction with trawlers and ahelicopter from R.A.F. Leconfield with-out success. After the search was aban-doned the life-boat embarked the doctorand patient from the Dryburgh andconveyed them to Grimsby. The life-boatarrived back at her station at 3.15 p.m.

Runswick, Yorkshire - At 5 p.m. on22nd May, 1966, the motor mechanicinformed the honorary secretary that twocobles were in difficulties and in danger

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of being blown out to sea. The life-boatThe Elliott Gill was launched at 5.35 in agale force south westerly wind and achoppy sea. It was one hour before highwater. She found that the motor boatGlennis had attempted to take the motorboat Lady Lynn, which was out of con-trol, in tow. The life-boat had just takenthe Glennis in tow when a sea nearlyswamped the Lady Lynn. She immed-iately cast off the Glennis and went to theLady Lynn whose crew had called forhelp. She took the crew of three aboardand took the casualty in tow. Then shereturned to the Glennis, took her lineaboard, and towed both boats back toPort Mulgrave harbour, where the crewof the Lady Lynn were put ashore at 6.30.The crew of the Glennis disembarkedfrom their own coble at the same time.The life-boat returned to her station at8.10 p.m.

Flamborough and Filey, Yorkshire- At 3.20 p.m. on 9th May, 1966, thecoastguard informed the honorary sec-retary that a youth had fallen over thecliff about two miles north west of thelife-boat station. The IRB stationed atFiley was launched at 3.25. The Flam-borough life-boat Friendly Forester waslaunched at 3.30 in a moderate south-south-easterly wind and a choppy sea. Itwas two hours after high water. Sheproceeded to the position given to findthat the IRB and a helicopter hadalready arrived. The IRB was veeredashore on a line from the life-boat and hercrew then helped the helicopter crew tofasten the casualty to a stretcher andcarried him away from the cliff so that thehelicopter could winch him up. The IRBcrew returned to their craft and the life-boat hauled her off from the rocks. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 5.45and the IRB at 5.55 p.m.

Scarborough, Yorkshire - At 7.50p.m. on 27th May, 1966, the coxswainwas informed that the trawler Dinas ofFleetwood had a badly injured man onboard who required a doctor. There wasa moderate northerly wind with a corre-sponding sea. It was three hours beforehigh water. The life-boat jf. G. Graves of

Sheffield launched at 7.55.The life-boatcame up with the trawler one mile eastsouth east of the Castle and, after theinjured man had been treated by thedoctor, he was transferred to the life-boat.The patient was brought to Scarboroughand conveyed to hospital. The life-boatarrived back at her station at 8.50.

Teesmouth, Yorkshire - At about5.36 p.m. on 28th May, 1966, the coast-guard sighted a small fishing boat beingblown out to sea with three people onboard. Her engine had failed and shehad neither oars nor anchor. In theabsence of the honorary secretary, whowas at South Gare with the second cox-swain, the coastguard fired the maroons.The second coxswain went out in hisboat with one of the life-boat launcherson board and managed to get a line tothe fishing boat Minni. He started towingher to Paddy's Hole. The crew of thelife-boat, Sarah Jane and James Season,who had assembled at the boathouse,noticed that little progress was beingmade with the tow. The life-boat waslaunched at 6.15 in a strong southwesterly wind and a moderate sea. Itwas high water. She assisted in towingthe casualty to safety and returned to herstation, arriving at 7.5.

SCOTTISH DISTRICT

Barra Island, Outer Hebrides - At12.50 p.m. on 4th May, 1966, the localdoctor informed the honorary secretarythat a nine year old boy had to be takento the mainland for hospital treatment. Asthere was no other suitable boat available,he requested the help of the life-boatR.A. Colby Cubbin No. 3. The life-boatset off at i o'clock with the patient onboard in a gale force south-easterly windand a rough sea. It was three hours afterlow water. The life-boat landed thepatient at Loch Boisdale, returning to herstation at 9 o'clock.

STRUCK ROCKAt 5.40 p.m. on 28th May, 1966, the

trawler Welsh Consort struck a rockat the entrance to Castlebay Harbourwhen leaving. She blew her siren con-

tinuously and the life-boat R.A. ColbyCubbin No. 3 was launched at 6 p.m.There was a light northerly wind and asmooth sea. It was three hours after highwater. She stood by until 1.30 a.m., whenthe casualty refloated herself, and thenescorted her to an anchorage. The life-boat returned to her station at 3 o'clock.The trawler had been holed, but her ownpumps were able to cope, and she sailedfor Milford Haven with an escort vesselat 3.15.

FIVE PEOPLEAt 6.45 p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, the

honorary secretary was informed that asmall motor boat with five people onboard was adrift in the sound of Barrawith engine trouble. The life-boat R.A.ColbyCubbinNo. 3 was launched at 7 o'clockin a gale force northerly wind and a veryrough sea. The tide was flooding. Beforeshe could reach the given position thecasualty was taken in tow by anotherfishing boat. The life-boat escorted bothcraft to Northbay harbour, and thenreturned to her station, arriving at no'clock.

MATERNITY CASEAt 5.10 a.m. on 22nd May, 1966, the

doctor informed the honorary secretarythat there was an expectant mother whoneeded to be transferred to hospital atSouth Uist. The life-boat R.A. ColbyCubbin No. 3 was launched at 5.45 in amoderate south south easterly wind and asmooth sea. The tide was flooding. Shelanded the woman at Loch Boisdale andreturned to her station at 11.55 a-m-

Stromness, Orkneys - At n.i a.m.on 28th May, 1966, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that theNorwegian motor vessel Kings Star ofAllesumd was ashore on the north shoal.The life-boat Archibald and Alexander M.Paterson was launched at 11.13 a-m- in a

light south-south-easterly wind and asmooth sea. It was low water. She reachedthe casualty at 1.33 p.m. and found thatmost of the crew were in their ship'sboats and in no danger. She went along-side the casualty and the coxswain wentaboard. The master informed him that he

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had ordered a tug, which was comingfrom Middlesbrough, but it would notarrive until after midnight. The vesselwas badly holed and he asked that pumpsbe sent as soon as possible. At the requestof the life-boat pumps were obtained fromthe fire service and conveyed to thecasualty in local fishing boats. At 2.25 thecasualty slid off the rocks and the cox-swain offered to escort her to Stromness.The life-boat picked up the seamen andtook the ship's boats in tow to Stromness.She returned to her station at 6.p.m.

Mallaig, Invernesshire - At 8.55p.m. on yth May, 1966, the doctorinformed the honorary secretary that apatient on the Isle of Rhum needed to beremoved to hospital immediately, and asno other suitable craft was available it wasrequested that the life-boat E. M. M.Gordon Cubbin be used. She left hermoorings at 9.10 in a moderate south-easterly wind and a moderate sea. Thetide was ebbing. The life-boat reachedthe Isle of Rhum at 11.30 and embarkedthe patient. She then returned to Mallaig,transferred the patient to the waitingambulance, and arrived back on station at1.30 a.m.

POOR VISIBILITYAt 2.15 p.m. on 25th May, 1966, a man

informed the motor mechanic that he hadseen a launch which seemed to be driftingabout three miles south west of Mallaig.The motor mechanic, together with thehonorary secretary and the coastguard,went to the look-out hut but owing to poorvisibility could not see the launch. Afterfurther inquiries the life-boat E. M. M.Gordon Cubbin was launched at 4 o'clockin a moderate south south westerly windand a choppy sea. It was low water. Thelife-boat found the launch adrift andtowed her back to Mallaig. She arrivedback at her station at 4.45 p.m.

Islay, Inner Hebrides - At 12.25 P-m-on loth May, 1966, the local doctorasked the honorary secretary if the life-boat could be used to convey an urgentsurgical case from Jura Island to Islay, asthe weather was too bad for the smallferry launch to be used. The life-boatFrancis W. Wother spoon of Paisley left her

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moorings in a gale force south-south-westerly wind and a rough sea. At 12.35she collected the patient and his sisterand landed them at Port Askaig, wherethey were transferred to a waiting ambu-lance. The life-boat returned to hermoorings at 2 p.m.

Aith, Shetlands - At 9.10 p.m. on istMay, 1966, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that the Foula mail-boat had been reported overdue. She waslast seen six miles east-south-east ofFoula, apparently drifting. The life-boatJohn and Frances Macfarlane left hermoorings at 9.40 in a moderate tofresh west-south-westerly wind and arough sea. Three fishing vessels and anaircraft assisted in the search. At 12.45a.m. a red light or flare was seen approxi-mately one mile south east of Foula. Thiswas found to be the missing motor vesselMelvin, with a crew of two on board andher engine out of action. The life-boattook the vessel in tow to Foula andreturned to her moorings at 5.20 a.m.

Buckie, Banffshire - At 2 p.m. on4th May, 1966, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that a boat hadbeen reported to be drifting approxi-mately four miles north-west of Buckie.The life-boat Laura Moncur left hermoorings in Buckie Harbour at 2.10 in amoderate south-easterly wind and achoppy sea. It was two hours after highwater. The life-boat reached the driftingvessel, which was the lobster fishing boatRose, at 2.30. She required assistance asher engine had broken down. A tow-linewas passed to the Rose at 2.35, and thelife-boat towed her back to Buckieharbour, arriving at 3.10 p.m. Shereturned to her moorings twenty minuteslater.

I R I S H DISTRICTBaltimore, Co. Cork - At 7.30 p.m.

on 29th May, 1966, the Hare Island PostOffice informed the honorary secretarythat a yacht had grounded on a rockbetween Hare Isle and Cunamur Point(Taylor's Rock). The life-boat SarahTilson was launched at 8.30 in a moderatesouth-easterly wind and a choppy sea. It

was low water. She reached the yachtHermus at 9.5 but was unable to get nearher until 10.30. The life-boat towed thecasualty off the rock at 11.35 and escortedher back to Baltimore harbour, arriving ather station at 12.30 a.m. The skipper ofthe yachtmade a gift to the life-boat crew.

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford -While the reserve life-boat H. F. Baileywas on passage from Arklow to Rosslareharbour on 3ist May, 1966, she came upwith a small yacht which was becalmedwith her engine broken down, south ofCahore Point. At the request of her crewthe yacht Squibbs of Hoylake was towedto Rosslare harbour and berthed alongsidethe pier.

Douglas, Isle of Man - At 2.30 p.m.on 5th May, 1966, the harbour mastertold the honorary secretary that the motorvessel Gripsholm of Gothenburg hadlanded approximately 300 passengers atPort St. Mary in the morning and theywere due to re-embark at Ramsey in theafternoon. The weather, however, becameunfavourable at Ramsey and she wasdiverted to Douglas. As there were noother suitable craft available it was agreedthat the life-boat should ferry thestranded passengers back to their ship.The life-boat R. A. Colby Cubbin No. iwas launched at 3.15 in a moderatenortherly wind and a choppy sea. It wastwo hours after high water. The life-boatmade three trips between the shore andthe boat, in very rough conditions, andreturned to her station at 6.40 p.m. Theowners of the vessel made a donation tothe funds of the Institution and agift to the life-boat crew.

Kilmore, Co. Wexford - At 5.30p.m. on 20th May, 1966, the honorarysecretary at Dunmore East informed theKilmore honorary secretary that a yachtwas in difficulties off the Conningbeglightvessel. The life-boat Cecil Paine waslaunched at 5.45 in a light southerly windand a smooth sea. When she came up withthe cabin cruiser Sure Return, it wasfound that the casualty had enginetrouble, but was already being towed toDunmore East by the Dutch coaster

Fastnet. Having assisted them to getunder way, the life-boat returned to herstation, arriving at 8.10 p.m.

Howth, Co. Dublin - At 9.15 p.m.on 24th May, 1966, a fire on a fishingtrawler, which looked like a signal fire toattract attention, was noticed. The life-boat A.M.T. was launched at 9.30 in asoutherly wind and a smooth sea. It waslow water. When she was about a milefrom the casualty a helicopter, which hadflown over the trawler, lowered a man onto the life-boat who reported that themen had lit a fire to warm their hands.The coxswain, however, thought itadvisable to close with the trawler Wanda^and discovered that its gear box hadbroken down. She was anchored at thetime and in no danger, but asked to betowed to Dun Laoghaire harbour. Thelife-boat complied with this request andreturned to her station, arriving at mid-night.

The following life-boats were also calledout in May:

Aberdeen - 2oth.Anstruther, Fife - 3ist.Appledore, Devon - 28th.Bembridge, Isle of Wight - 3rd and

8th.Boulmer, Northumberland - 29th.Campbeltown, Argyllshire - 23rd.Dover, Kent - 1st and i8th.Douglas, Isle of Man - 3Oth.Exmouth, Devon - 2gth.Fishguard, Pembrokeshire - 3Oth.Girvan, Ayrshire - 23rd.Hartlepool, Co. Durham - 2ist.Hastings, Sussex - yth.Howth, Co. Dublin - 15* and 22nd,Humber, Yorkshire - 22nd and 24th.Lowestoft, Suffolk - nth.Minehead, Somerset - 23rd.New Brighton, Cheshire - 2ist and

22nd.Penlee, Cornwall - 26th.Plymouth, Devon - 29th.Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire -

Ramsgate, Kent - 2yth.Redcar, Yorkshire - i6th.Salcombe, Devon - 2istShoreham Harbour, Sussex - i8th.

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Stronsay, Orkneys - 28th and 3Oth.Swanage, Dorset - 22nd.Teesmouth, Yorkshire - 4th.Torbay, Devon - 28th.Tynemouth, Northumberland -

22nd.Walton and Frinton, Essex - 8th.Weston super Mare, Somerset -

18th.Weymouth, Dorset - i3th, zyth and

29th.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - 23rd.

IRB LAUNCHESSOUTHERN DISTRICT

Eastney, Hampshire - At 3.10 p.m.on i4th May, 1966, a member of theIRB crew informed the honorary sec-retary that a sailing dinghy had capsizedoff the Royal Marine Barracks. At 3.15the IRB was launched in a moderatesouth westerly breeze and correspondingsea. The tide was flooding. The IRB tookthe two crew members of the sailingdinghy Tiffy on board and the dinghy intow. A helicopter winchman tried twiceto lift the capsized dinghy's mast but thedinghy rolled over. The IRB returned toher station at 4.25. At 4.27 the IRBescorted another sailing dinghy to thebeach, finally returning to her station at4.50 p.m.

DUNKIRK MANAt 3.46 p.m. on i5th May, 1966, the

honorary secretary was informed that adinghy was in difficulties on the EastWinner. At 3.48 the IRB was launchedin a slight south westerly breeze and calmsea. The tide was flooding. The IRB crewfound the dinghy swamped and a man inthe water. After taking the man on boardthe crew salvaged the dinghy's gear andengine and then emptied the dinghy andtook her in tow. The IRB returned to herstation at 4.15 p.m. where the man wasgiven hot soup and dry clothes. Therescued man was one of the troops takenoff by Ramsgate life-boat during theevacuation of Dunkirk. He made adonation to the Institution's funds.

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Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent - At 1.40p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, a crew memberinformed the honorary secretary that asmall pram dinghy was in difficultiesthree quarters of a mile to seaward. Shehad dragged her anchor in the wind andtidal conditions and drifted into exposedwaters. Her engine had also failed and shewas in danger of capsizing. The IRB waslaunched at 1.41 in a strong southwesterly wind and a choppy sea. It wasone hour after high water. She took thedinghy Scud in tow and beached her bythe IRB station at 2.20 p.m.

Eastbourne, Sussex - At 4 p.m. on29th May, 1966, when the IRB was onexercise, a capsized dinghy was sighted.Her crew of two were in the water andappeared to be in difficulties. There was afresh easterly wind and a moderate swell.They were quickly rescued by the IRBand put ashore. The IRB took a freshcrew for the dinghy and stood by whilethe sailing club rescue boat towed thedinghy ashore.

SOUTH-WEST DISTRICT

Bude, Cornwall - At 12.15 P-m. on30th May, 1966, the IRB was on exercisewith a partly trained crew when shereceived a message that a bather was indifficulties half a mile north west of Bude.She proceeded immediately in a moderateto fresh north easterly wind and a calmsea. The tide was at half flood. On reach-ing the casualty - a thirteen year old girlwho was unconscious - one of the crewof the IRB left the boat and enteredshoulder-deep water approximately 100yards from the shore. He carried thecasualty ashore, at the same time admin-istering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation ashe went. Once ashore the beach patrolassisted in resuscitation until the ambu-lance and a doctor arrived. The patientwas then taken to hospital and recovered.The IRB returned to her station at 12.30p.m.

Porthcawl, Glamorganshire - At4.20 p.m. on ist May, 1966, the crew ofthe IRB heard a police radio message that

four youths were stranded on a rock. TheIRB was launched at 4.21 in a lightsoutherly wind and a moderate groundsea. It was almost high water. They foundtwo girls and two young men on a rock,but could not get close to them. A mem-ber of the boat's crew swam and helpedthem one at a time to the beach. He thenswam back to the boat which returned toher station at 5.20 p.m. A letter ofappreciation was sent to the crew memberwho swam to help the youths.

NORTH-WEST DISTRICT

Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - At 7p.m. on May 29th, 1966, flares werereported in Aberdaron Bay. The IRB,which was launched at 7.5 in a calm sea,proceeded to Aberdaron and found theauxiliary yacht Perichole with enginetrouble. The Perichole, with three personson board, was taken in tow to Abersoch,and the IRB reached her station at10.45 P-ni.

YACHT AGROUND

At 1.40 p.m. on 2ist May, 1966, ayacht was reported in difficulties one mileeast of Llanbedrog Point and about threemiles south west of the station. The IRBwas launched at 1.45 in a strong southwesterly wind and a rough sea. It was twoand a half hours before low water. Shefound the dragon class yacht Mirandaaground on the mussel beds. Havinganchored the casualty to prevent herbeing swept on to the rocks, the IRB tookthe two-man crew off the Miranda andlanded them at the station at 3.15 p.m.

SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT

Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 2.37p.m. on 22nd March, 1966, a dinghy wasreported in difficulties four miles northeast of the station. The IRB was launchedat 2.45 in a light westerly breeze andmoderate sea. The tide was ebbing.After taking the crew member on board,the life-boat took the boat in tow. Shereturned to her station at 3.30 p.m.

Harwich, Essex - At 2.43 p.m. on30th May, 1966, a small sailing dinghywas reported to have capsized one mileoff Dovercourt beach. The IRB launchedat 2.48 in a moderate east north easterlybreeze and moderate sea. The tide wasebbing. The dinghy was found water-logged with her two-man crew in thewater alongside. After taking them onboard, the IRB crew anchored the dinghy.They reached their station at 3.6 p.m. Therescued people were supplied with dryclothing by the crew on arrival at Harwich.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT

Scarborough, Yorkshire - At 7.10p.m. on 29th May, 1966, a tractor driversaw a capsized canoe with two personsclinging to it in broken water one milesouth west of the life-boathouse. Theywere trying to make for the beach but dueto the state of the tide were unable to makemuch progress. The IRB was, therefore,launched at 7.20 in a north north easterlybreeze and corresponding sea. The dinghywas towed to the beach and the two crewmembers landed. The IRB returned toher station at 8 p.m.

See page 196 for other IRB launches.

FebruaryCromer, Norfolk - At 11.30 a.m. on

ist February, 1966, the master of the ex-Admiralty motor fishing vessel UniversalDipper, which had grounded 200 yardseast of Runton Gap, asked the coxswainif the life-boat would stand-by while at-tempts were made to refloat the vessel.There was a light south easterly wind witha smooth sea. The No. 2 life-boat WilliamHenry and Mary King launched at 11.45on a flooding tide, and, on reaching her,passed a line from a tug to the UniversalDipper. The tug refloated the UniversalDipper and towed the vessel, escorted bythe life-boat, to Gt. Yarmouth, arrivingat 9 o'clock.

BINOCULARS. 20% Discount, all makes,Nascroft Trading Co., 164 Manor Road,Chigwell, Essex. Tel. 01-500-0033.

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OTHER IRB LAUNCHESIn addition to the services by IRBs which resulted in saving lives and which are recorded

in full on pages 170, 181 and 194, the following launches on service were made during themonths of March to May, 1966, inclusive:

Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire - April nth. May ist, 2nd and i5th.Amble, Northumberland - May 29th.Atlantic College, Glamorganshire - April 3rd (twice) and 7th.Bangor, Co. Down - April i2th.Barrow, Lancashire - April 29th.Bembridge, Isle of Wight - April 30th, May i6th and 22nd.Blackpool, Lancashire - May 3rd.Blyth, Northumberland - May igih.Bournemouth, Hampshire - May 29th (twice).Brighton, Sussex - May I2th and I5th.Broughty Ferry, Angus - April 28th, May 3rd, ifth, 2oth and 22nd.Eastney, Hampshire - March 6th, May ist (twice), 6th, nth, 22nd (twice),

28th, 29th and 3ist.Filey, Yorkshire - May 8th.Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk - April i2th, May 8th and i8th.Harwich, Essex - April 23rd (twice), May yth, 8th (thrice), 28th and 30th.Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire - April nth (twice).Humber Mouth, Lincolnshire - May 29th.Kinghorn, Fife - April i4th.Largs, Ayrshire - April loth, nth, May ist.Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - April 30th, May i4th, 2ist, 28th and 3ist.Lymington, Hampshire - May 3oth.Moelfre, Anglesey - May 26th.Mudeford, Hampshire - March fth, April 26th, May 30th.The Mumbles, Glamorganshire - May 29th.Newquay, Cornwall - April 23rd.North Sunderland, Northumberland - May 30th.Porthcawl, Glamorganshire - May ist and 6th.Port St. Mary, Isle of Man - May 2oth.Port Talbot, Glamorganshire - May 29th, 30th and 3ist.Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - May 2ist.Redcar, Yorkshire - March 2Oth, May 4th.St. Ives, Cornwall - March i8th, April loth, 2oth, May 2ist and 3ist.Skegness, Lincolnshire - May 2ist and 23rd.Southend-on-Sea, Essex - March 5th, April iyth, May ist (twice), i5th, 2ist,

22nd (twice) and 26th.Torbay, Devon - May 3ist.Tynemouth, Northumberland - April 22nd, May 4th, 6th, I4th, 22nd, (twice)

and 30th.Weston-super-Mare, Somerset - March 29th.Whitstable, Kent - March 4th, 26th, May 2nd, iyth, 22nd (thrice) and 29th.Whitby, Yorkshire - May 3ist.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - March I4th, April loth.I.R.B. No. 15 - March iyth.

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