COXSWAIN WILLIAM CROWLEY, of the Fenit life-boat Hi/ton Briggs.A member of the crew since 1928, Coxwain Crowley, who is 58, wasappointed bowman in 1936, since which time the life-boat has beenlaunched 58 times and has rescued 16 lives. He was appointedcoxswain from 1938 to 1942, and was reappointed coxswain in 1945.150
NOTES OF THE QUARTERLast year the Institution had a deficit of nearly £124,000, and the figures for
revenue and expenditure at the end of the first six months of the present yearindicate that in 1967 there is every likelihood of an even larger deficit. At theend of June expenditure, which amounted to £902,595, was £335,246 higherthan revenue. This figure must fill all those in any way connected with the life-boat service with concern, and the need for increasing revenue is too obviousto need stressing. The reason for the decline in revenue in the first six months of1967 compared with the corresponding period last year was a substantial dropin the amounts received from legacies and gifts for special purposes. Legacieswere down by over £160,000 and special gifts by over £150,000.
This fall in revenue occurs at a time when the work of the life-boat service iscontinuing to expand. Once again the number of launches on service by rescuecraft of the R.N.L.I. in the first six months of 1967 was an all time record,amounting to 723 (416 of these were by life-boats and 307 by inshore rescueboats). Many more lives were also saved this year than in the first half of 1966.Life-boats saved 262 people compared with 196 in the corresponding period lastyear and inshore rescue boats 169 compared with 114.
NEW LIFE-BOAT STATIONS
Launching conditions at Padstow have for a long time been unsatisfactory asa result of the silting of the river. In order to provide adequate coverage it hasbeen necessary to build a new boathouse and slipway at Trevose Head, a shortdistance outside Padstow. The constructional work has cost £114,600 and thenew boathouse will become operational in the autumn of this year. The life-boat station will then bear the name Trevose Head (Padstow).
As a result of trials carried out last winter and a review undertaken by theCoast Review Working Party of the Committee of Management it has also beendecided to establish a station at Lochinver in Sutherland. As a temporarymeasure to provide coverage during the coming winter the 46-foot life-boatformerly stationed at Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, will operate from Lochinver.This boat will later be replaced by a newer life-boat fitted with radar.
TRIUMPH FOR VOLUNTARY LABOUR
A new inshore rescue boat station has been opened at Lyme Regis, Dorset. Itwas built entirely by voluntary labour at high speed and with great enthusiasmand skill. At least two people may be said to owe their lives to the fact that thestation was made operational so speedily, for two days before the official openingtook place the IRB rescued two 24-year-old holidaymakers from a capsized dinghy.The service of dedication was held on roth June and conducted by the vicar ofLyme Regis, the Reverend J. H. Charles. Some 700 people attended, andthe station was formally opened by Mr. Simon Wingfield Digby, M.P., for
151
By courtesy of] [Motor Boat & Yachting
The Wells, Norfolk, inshore rescue boat in high spirits.
West Dorset. The driving force behind the splendid achievement of volunteerswas the honorary secretary of the station, Wing Commander F. A.Buckingham, R.A.F. (retd).
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
At the farewell dinner given by the French Central Life-boat Society to thedelegates to the tenth international life-boat conference and their wivesCaptain Olaf Bjornstad, the Inspector General of the Norwegian Life-boatSociety, said that the friendly nature of the discussions which had taken placemight serve as an example to all international gatherings. The conference was,as always, happily free of any political differences, and the friendliest spiritprevailed. A report of the conference appears on page 155. From this it will beseen that there was a wide range of subjects discussed.
It is still somewhat early to estimate the immediate practical benefits of theconference, but there was tangible evidence of the value derived from the con-ference held at Edinburgh in 1963. This was the 44-foot life-boat to be stationedat Gorleston, which is itself based on a design of which the United States CoastGuard gave details during the Edinburgh conference. The American delegateswere favourably impressed by the modifications which the R.N.L.I. had made.
152
The Norwegian Life-boat Society is also building 44-foot life-boats to a modifieddesign.
The R.N.L.I. life-boats were a fine sight and attracted much admiration. By ahappy coincidence they arrived in St. Malo immediately following the SailTraining Association's ship, Sir Winston Churchill, which was manned largelyby a crew of girls.
In the last number it was incorrectly stated that the R.N.L.I.'s delegation wasled by the Chairman, Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N. After thenumber had gone to press it was learnt that the Chairman would be unavoidablyprevented from attending, and the R.N.L.I.'s delegation was led by CommanderF. R. H. Swann, O.B.E., R.N.V.R., a Deputy Chairman.
ARRIVAL OF SIR FRANCIS CHICHESTER
Three life-boats met Sir Francis Chichester when he arrived off the coast ofEngland in Gipsy Moth IV after his great voyage round the world. The yo-footlife-boat, Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No. 35), took up station astern ofGipsy Moth /Ffrom the Scilly Isles to Plymouth. Some days before Sir Francis'sarrival the weather had been changeable, and it was expected that casualtiesmight occur among boats which put out to greet him. Fortunately, in the event,the services of the life-boat were not called upon. The Lizard /Cadgwith life-boat, The Duke of Cornwall (Civil Service No. Jj) also put out and met Gipsy
'^Ht***—
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ma*
By courtesy of ] [ The Time
Historic moment: the Lizard-Cadgwith life-boat making contact with Sir FrancisChichester's yacht Gypsy Moth IV as she neared the English coast on 28th May, 1967,
after her voyage round the world.
153
Moth IV off the Lizard. Congratulations were conveyed by the honorarysecretary, Mr. Lindsay Britton, and in reply Sir Francis thanked him and saidhe hoped he would never need the services of a life-boat.
Nearing Plymouth Gipsy Moth IV was met by the Plymouth life-boat,Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse, and the new inshore rescue boat. The tworescue craft escorted the yacht into harbour both as a tribute to Sir Francis andto be available as safety boats, but their services too were not needed in spite ofthe huge number of boats which greeted Sir Francis.
PADSTOW LIFE-BOAT MARCH
A life-boat march has now been composed which, it is hoped, will be playedon many life-boat occasions. It is known as the Padstow Life-boat March andis the work of the well known composer, Malcolm Arnold, who wrote it as atribute to the crews who have served at Padstow and to mark the building of thenew station. The first performance was given at the Royal Festival Hall, London,on loth June during the B.B.C.'s International Festival of Light Music. Mr.Arnold himself conducted the performance.
CLOVELLY STATION
The 70-foot steel life-boat, Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No. 35), whichhas been operating for some time past in the Bristol Channel area, will be theClovelly station life-boat after the 3ist March, 1968. The 35-foot 6-inchLiverpool type (William Cantrell Ashley) will then be withdrawn. Trials of aninshore rescue boat will be carried out at Clovelly during August, 1967.
THANKS FOR THE BADGEMr. J. Richard Hobbs, honorary treasurer of the Reigate and Redhill Branch,
recently wrote to the South East office thanking the Institution for his badge.He said: 'That the Institution thinks fit to recognize those who support from
the side lines is a matter of much satisfaction to those of us thus noticed andI should like my grateful acknowledgment duly recorded.'
HELICOPTER CRASH
WHEN an R.A.F. helicopter from R.A.F. Coltishall, Norfolk, crashed into thesea near Yarmouth on 22nd June, 1967, the three members of the crew whowere killed - they were well known to the R.N.L.I. for their air sea rescue work -were Fit. Lt. A. Gavan, flight commander of 'D' Flight, No. 202 Squadron;Master Navigator H. Grossman, and Fit. Lt. G. Pink, a navigator on the station.
Coxswain J. R. Plummer, of the Caister life-boat, said that after 'the quickestlaunch we have ever had' they saw a petrol slick gradually spread out on thewater, and they took three cross-bearings on this point. This information wasgiven to the R.A.F.
154
By courtesy of] [United Press International (U.K.'} Ltdf
Line up for the International Life-boat Conference: life-boats of the R.N.L.I, assemblingat East Cowes in May, 1967, before setting out for the 10th international conferencein Dinard and St. Malo from 5th-9th June. Shown (from left to right) are the 70-footsteel life-boat, the 48-foot 6-inch Oakley life-boat, the 44-foot steel life-boat and the
new Hatch boat.
TENTH INTERNATIONAL LIFE-BOATCONFERENCE: MANY NATIONS
DINARD and St. Malo provided the setting for the tenth international life-boatconference, which was held from 5~8th June, 1967. This was the second occasionon which the French have acted as hosts, the earlier occasion being that of thesecond international conference, which was held in Paris in 1928. The organizingbody was the Societe Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufrages and the chairman ofthe conference sessions was its president, Vice-Admiral d'Harcourt. Sixteendelegations took part. The conference was formally opened by the SecretaryGeneral of the French Mercantile Marine, M. Morin.
In addition to the French and the delegation from the R.N.L.I. and H.M.Coastguard 10 European countries and four countries outside Europe wererepresented. The countries outside Europe were Canada, Japan, New Zealandand the United States of America. The other European countries were Belgium,Denmark, Finland, the German Federal Republic, Iceland, the Netherlands,Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the U.S.S.R.
THE LATEST CRAFT
Four of the R.N.L.I.'s latest rescue craft made the journey, arriving in St.Malo together. They were the yo-foot steel life-boat Charles H, Barrett (CivilService No. 55), which has been operating in the Bristol Channel area; the 48-foot
155
6-inch Oakley life-boat, which has been built for the new life-boat station atTrevose Head, Padstow; the 44-foot Gorleston and Great Yarmouth life-boatKhami; and an 18-foot Hatch boat.
Rescue craft from five other countries were also present. These were theNorwegian rescue cruiser Ambassador Bay and new Dutch, German, and Swedishlife-boats. The Dutch boat was the 21-metre Breskens life-boat namedjavazee ofthe South Holland Life-boat Society. The Germans showed a beach boatnamed Paul Denker which is equipped with a daughter boat and whose station isMaasholm. The Swedish life-boat Dan Brostrom is a 23.8 metre cruising life-boat built for the west coast of Sweden. The life-boat from the French stationat St. Servan was also present.
Commander F. R. H. Swann, O.B.E., R.N.V.R., Deputy Chairman, led theBritish delegation, and Lieut.-Commander the Hon. Greville Howard, V.R.D.,R.N.R., also represented the Committee of Management. In addition to theSecretary, Mr. Stirling Whorlow, O.B.E., and the Chief Inspector of Life-boats,Lieut.-Commander W. L. G. Dutton, R.D., R.N.R., there were other seniorofficials of the Institution and Commander P. J. H. Bartlett, O.B.E., R.N. (Retd.),of H.M. Coastguard.
EIGHT PAPERS
Eight papers were submitted by the R.N.L.I. delegation. One by the Secretarywas on fund raising and publicity for a voluntary society. Others described thefour rescue vessels which were exhibited, and there were also papers on thedevelopment of electronics in the life-boat service, on inflatable boats and onlife-jackets and protective clothing.
The rescue vessels shown to the delegates by other nations were also describedin papers submitted. In addition, the United States Coast Guard submittedpapers on the Coast Guard Auxiliary, on search and rescue operations in coastalareas, on helicopters, and on equipment for coastal search and rescue. Like someof the R.N.L.I. papers, these were supported by films.
The Swedish Life-boat Society submitted papers on the Geneva MaritimeConvention and on proposals for an international sea rescue service. Japanesepapers were on automatic distress signal transmitter and direction findingstations, on rescue activity in Japanese waters, on ships' boats for tankers and ona disastrous fire which took place on board a Norwegian tanker in Japan. TheNorwegian delegation produced a paper illustrated with slides on the Deccanavigation chain; the North and South Holland Society on fast life-boats; theIcelandic Society on helicopter activity and mobile rescue squads; and the Fin-nish Society on safeguarding life at sea and voluntary rescue and searchflotillas.
The delegates were privileged to enjoy warm hospitality both from the hostsociety and from the municipalities of Dinard and St. Malo. On 9th June all therescue craft exhibited left in company for Jersey, where the delegates and crews
Continued on page 204.
156
NAMING CEREMONIES
By courtesy of] [Eastern Daily Press
Mrs. R. M. Reed arriving on Cromer pier for the life-boat naming ceremony. With heris Coxswain Henry 'Shrimp' Davies and members of the life-boat crew.
CromerTHE new 48-foot 6-inch Oakley life-boat Ruby and Arthur Reed was named atCromer on 2ist June, 1967. She was given to the R.N.L.I, and her replacementprovided for in perpetuity by Mrs. R. M. Reed, of Eastbourne, in memory ofher husband, Mr. A. E. Reed, of Stamford, Lincolnshire. Between now and 196910 of this type - two in wood and eight in steel - will be built for the life-boatservice.
'GREAT TRADITION'
Mrs. Reed, in the course of the naming ceremony, said: 'I know it will carryon the great tradition of the Cromer station.'
Her interest in the life-boat service started in the early days when she and herhusband went cruising. They had done a great deal for charity in many fieldsover the years, mostly in an anonymous way.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Reed decided to live at Eastbourne.'And I happened to live very near to the life-boat station, so I see a lot ofactivity there. That made me think "This is something worthwhile". So, with
157
what spare cash I have, I thought I would like to have a boat and Cromerhappened to be next on the list,' said Mrs. Reed.
Mrs. Reed presented the boat to Commander H. F. P. Grenfell, D.S.C., R.N.,a member of the Committee of Management and a vice president of theInstitution, who accepted it on behalf of the Institution.
Accepting the £60,000 life-boat on behalf of the Cromer branch, Dr. PaulBarclay, the honorary secretary, said that the station was 'second to none'.
Mrs. Reed was presented with a bouquet by n year-old Theresa Lee, grand-daughter of Coxswain Henry 'Shrimp' Davies. Mrs. Reed later placed thebouquet on the grave of Henry Blogg, the Cromer life-boat hero.
By courtesy of} \Eastern Evening NewsThe naming ceremony at Gorleston on 17th May, 1967, of the new 44-foot steel
life-boat Khami. This was given by Mr. & Mrs. T. 6- Bedwell.
GorlestonTHE naming ceremony and service of dedication of the 44-foot steel life-boatKhami took place at Gorleston on iyth May, 1967, when the donors, Mr. andMrs. T. G. Bedwell, of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, were present, the actualnaming being performed by Mrs. Bedwell. The Khami, bearing the number44-003, is based on a design provided by the United States Coast Guard and isone of six of her type built for the R.N.L.I. by Brooke Marine Ltd. at Lowestoft.
RHODESIAN LINKMr. and Mrs. Bedwell chose the name to commemorate a place where they
spent many years in Rhodesia. The Bedwells lived there in the early years of theirmarriage and all their homes since have been named Khami.
158
After Mrs. Bedwell had presented the new life-boat - it cost £43,000 - to theR.N.L.I., it was in turn given by Capt. the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N.,chairman of the Institution, to the Yarmouth and Gorleston branch.
Five men who had been coxswain of the retiring life-boat, the Louise Stephens,the Gorleston life-boat for 28 years, were present. They were William Parker,Bert Beavers, Paul Williment, George Mobbs and Percy Beavers.
By courtesy of] [Newcastle Chronicle & JournalThe Newbiggin-on-Sea life-boat Mary Joicey takes to the water after being named by
Viscountess Ridley of Blagdon.
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
THE Viscountess Ridley of Blagdon named the new 37-foot Oakley life-boatMary Joicey at a ceremony at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on loth June, 1967.Provided out of a donation from the trustees of the estate of the late Mrs.Mary Joicey, of Sunningdale, Berkshire, this type of life-boat is now the stan-dard type for launching off a carriage from an open beach.
BIG CROWD
The life-boat - it cost £37,000 - was presented by Mr. Alex Thompson onbehalf of the Trust.
Field Marshal Sir Francis W. Testing, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., a member ofthe Committee of Management, accepted the life-boat on behalf of theInstitution.
An estimated crowd of more than 3,000 people watched the ceremony.
159
By courtesy of] [Associated Newspapers Ltd.
The Chairman of the R.N.L.I., Captain the Honourable V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N.,presenting the gold medal to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, at the reception heldat St. James's Palace, London, on 11th July, 1967, to commemorate her 25th year
as President.
A ROYAL RECEPTIONA reception was held at St. James's Palace on nth July, 1967, to mark the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the day on which Princess Marina, Duchess ofKent, became the Institution's President. The Committee of Management hadvoted Her Royal Highness the R.N.L.I.'s gold medal, and Captain the Honour-able V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., the Chairman, presented it during thereception.
LARGE GATHERING
Some 600 men and women actively associated with the life-boat service invarious capacities were present from many parts of Britain and Ireland, extend-ing from the Shetlands to the Channel Islands. Among those presented toPrincess Marina were two gold medallists, ex-coxswain Thomas King of St.Helier and Lieut.-Commander H. H. Harvey, V.R.D., R.N.R., district inspector.
Continued on page 165160
Photograph by courtesy of the Evening Argus, Brighton
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This illustrates one ofour electrically drivenwinches as supplied tothe Tynemouth Life-boat Station for haul-ing up the life-boat.Many other winchesof similar design havebeen supplied to theInstitution, for eitherelectric or petrol enginedrive.
Photograph by courtesy of theRoyal National Life-bootInstitution.
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NEW COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT MEMBERSMR. N. R. BARRETT, M.A., M.B., M.Chir., F.R.C.S., Air Marshal Sir AnthonySelway, K.C.B., D.F.C., and Lieut.-Commander Jeremy Tetley, R.N.R., havebeen co-opted members of the Committee of Management of the R.N.L.I.
Mr. Barrett is Senior Surgeon at St. Thomas's Hospital, London. He livesin Richmond, Surrey.
Air Marshal Selway was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, R.A.F. CoastalCommand from 1962 to 1965, and Commander-in-Chief Far East Air Forcefrom 1960 to 1962. His other appointments have included those of Commandant,Central Flying School, from 1951 to 1953, and Air Attache, Paris, from 1953 to1955. His home is in Burchetts Green, Berks.
Cdr. Tetley, who is aged 36, joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1949 and qualifiedas a pilot the next year. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in1964 and now farms in Cornwall. His home is in Grampound, Cornwall.
PORT TALBOTIt is regretted that a gift made to the Port Talbot branch of £700 was
inadvertently left out of the Supplement to Year Book 1967 listing branchcollections for 1966.
164
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Silver Medal For Irish CoxswainFOR an outstanding service following a call to a ten-year-old boy who wasseriously ill Coxswain Philip Byrne of Arranmore has been awarded the silvermedal for gallantry.
At 5 o'clock on the afternoon of 29th November, 1966, the priest on ToryIsland telephoned the Arranmore honorary secretary, Mr. Bernard Gallagher,saying that a ten-year-old boy was seriously ill with suspected appendicitis. Mr.Gallagher spoke with the doctor at Bunbeg, who confirmed that the child'scondition was serious and that an operation was necessary. Dr. Can had alreadycontacted the Royal Air Force at Ballykelly, but weather conditions were suchthat a helicopter could not be sent.
Mr. Gallagher then made contact with the lighthouse keeper on Tory Islandto discuss how the boy could be taken oif. The lighthouse keeper said that thiswould be impossible until the tide had fallen sufficiently to uncover a rock ledge,which would afford some protection at the jetty. This would not be until after10 o'clock.
POOR CONDITIONSThe maroons were fired at 7 o'clock. Wind and sea conditions were such that the
crew had considerable difficulty in reaching the life-boat. There was a northwesterly gale, the sea was very rough and visibility was poor. It was just afterhigh water.
The Arranmore life-boat, W. M. Tilson, which is one of the 46-foot 9-inchWatson type, slipped her moorings at 7.45. The 2i-mile journey to Tory Islandwas completed in about 2-^ hours.
As the life-boat approached the island parachute flares were used to light upthe shore. In heavy seas Coxswain Byrne felt his way in towards the jetty, which issurrounded by rocks. Because of these rocks and the shoal water it was impossiblefor the life-boat to be brought alongside the jetty, and she had to stand by while alocal boat tried to bring the sick boy out.
This was a large curragh which had four men aboard. The curragh left theslight shelter afforded by the jetty and with great difficulty her crew rowed herthrough the heavy seas to the life-boat. The sick boy and his father were thenput aboard the life-boat, but as this was being done an oar was broken and thethole pins on one side of the curragh snapped. As a result it was not possible tokeep the boat head to wind and sea. An anchor was dropped, but it failed to hold,and the curragh began to drag quickly on to the rocky lee shore.
FLARE FIREDCoxswain Byrne realized the full dangers of the situation but without hesita-
tion ran the life-boat in towards the curragh. A line was passed, and the curraghwas towed clear by means of the nylon securing rope. She was towed as close tothe pier as possible and was then let go. A parachute flare was fired to light herway in.
166
By courtesy of ] [Dennis CouttsWhen the Aberdeen trawler Juniper ran ashore on 19th February, 1967, the Aithlife-boat rescued the crew. Special awards were made to the life-boat crew (page 208).
The sick boy was made as comfortable as possible in the fore cabin and thelife-boat left Tory Island about midnight. She had an extremely uncomfortablereturn passage to the mainland in rough seas and gale force winds, but she
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reached Burtonport at 3.30 in the morning. An ambulance was waiting to takethe boy to hospital.
The life-boat then returned to her moorings at Arranmore but her crew wereunable to go ashore in the boarding boat for a further hour because of the weatherconditions. They finally landed at 5.45 after having been on service for ic-J hours.The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to the otherseven members of the crew: Second Coxswain Philip Boyle, Bowman EdwardGallagher, Motor Mechanic Charles Boyle, Assistant Mechanic Neil Byrne,Crew Member John Burne, Crew Member Brian Byrne and Crew MemberBernard O'Donnell.
IAB. Bounces Over RocksFOR a service in which Bridlington inshore rescue boat literally had to bounceover rocks on her way in to rescue two young men who had fallen over cliffs theInstitution's thanks inscribed on vellum have been accorded to the IRB helms-man, Mr. Harry T. Wood. A framed letter of thanks, signed by the Chairmanof the Institution, Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., has been sentto the other member of the crew, Mr. R. Cooper.
At 7.56 on the evening of 26 March, 1967, the coastguard informed theBridlington honorary secretary that two young men had fallen over the cliffs atsouth landing, Flamborough Head. The help of the Bridlington IRB was askedfor and also that of the Flamborough life-boat, Friendly Forester. Both boats putout. There was a west south westerly wind of force 5 with a very choppy sea. Itwas two hours after high water. The Bridlington life-boat, Tillie Morrison,Sheffield II, which is one of the 35-foot 6-inch Liverpool type, had just returnedfrom service and it was decided that she should escort the inshore rescue boat.The two boats put out from their station at 8.5.
DANGEROUS SEA CONDITIONSThe IRB arrived off the south landing at 8.45 and found the Flamborough
life-boat standing by but unable to go close enough in to effect a rescue. Becauseof the dangerous sea conditions and the number of offshore rocks it was agreedthat the IRB should be checked in to the shore from the Flamborough life-boatby veering lines and that the life-boat searchlight should be used to illuminatethe scene. The IRB crew found that it was too difficult to handle their boat withlines attached and they therefore cast the lines off. They then bounced their boatover the rocks. Their propeller was damaged as they did so but they managed toreach the foot of the cliffs with the IRB half full of water.
The C.R.E. Company were already on the spot, and they helped to embarkthe two young men, who were injured, into the IRB and also to re-launch theboat. After leaving the shore the IRB again hit rocks, which did further damage tothe propeller, but the fabric of the hull remained whole.
The two young men were put aboard the Bridlington life-boat, which left the
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area at 9.35, arriving at Bridlington with the IRB in company at 10 o'clock. TheFlamborough life-boat remained until it had been confirmed that the rescue hadbeen carried out. She then left and returned to her station, which she reached at9.30.
By courtesy of] [The Press Association Ltd.
The deadly oil slick - an aerial view of the tanker Torrey Can/on whose strandingon the treacherous Seven Stone Rocks near the Scilly Isles on 19th March, 1967, wasthe most expensive loss of its kind in maritime history. The St Mary's and Penlee
life-boats gave valuable help (page 210).
RESCUE FROM FRENCH Y4CHTACTING Coxswain Eric Grandin of St. Helier, Jersey, has been accorded theInstitution's thanks inscribed on vellum for the rescue of four people from theFrench yacht Kraken which went aground on 26th March, 1967. The St. Helierhonorary secretary, Mr. Peter Baker, learnt from the duty harbour official at2.50 p.m. that the Kraken of Caen was aground on the Dog's Nest Reef, south ofSt. Helier. The life-boat, Elizabeth Ripon, which is one of the 12-foot 9-inch
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Watson class, was launched at 3.10 with Mr. Eric Grandin, who is normally thebowman, in command.
There was a west north westerly wind of force 6, with a choppy sea. It was onehour after low water. The weather was cloudy, but visibility was good.
A local boat, Bettina, belonging to Mr. B. Leblanc, with the owner and Mr.Le Guyader on board, had put out to the casualty and a boat of the zodiac typeoperated by the fire service had also been launched.
The yacht was on the west side of the reef, and Mr. Leblanc took his boat towindward of her. Mr. Le Guyader manned a dinghy and an attempt was made toveer this down to the yacht in order to pass a tow line. The dinghy broke away
(continued on page 206)
By courtesy of}[Arthur W. Dick
The Flamborough life-boat returning from aservice in June, 1967.
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Life-boat services round the Coast
LAUNCHES AND LIVES SAVED BY LIFE-BOATS AND IRBs1st March to 31st May: Launches 404, lives saved 272
MARCH
SCOTTISH DISTRICT
Stronsay, Orkneys - At 4.15 p.m. on3rd March, 1967, news was received thata sick child at North Ronaldsay requiredimmediate hospital attention. The patientwas embarked on the life-boat The JohnGellatly Hyndman which slipped hermooring at 4.30 in a strong west southwesterly wind and a moderate sea. It washigh water. She proceeded to Kirkwalland transferred the patient to an ambul-ance. The life-boat arrived back atStronsay at 2.10 a.m. on 4th March, 1967.
Islay, Inner Hebrides - At 7 a.m. on7th March, 1967, it was reported that them.v. Emerald of Glasgow was aground onFeolin Spit in the Sound of Islay but wasin no immediate danger. The mechanicwas maintaining R/T contact with thevessel. During the morning the weatherdeteriorated and at midday the life-boatHenry Blogg, on temporary duty at thestation, slipped her moorings in a stormforce south easterly wind and a very roughsea. It was four hours after high water.She stood by while the vessel's sister shipsAmber, Lochiel, and Lochard endeavouredto refloat her at high water, but the attemptwas not successful. In the evening theweather improved and the life-boat wasrecalled to her station at 7.15 p.m. Nextday a tug arrived to make a further attemptto refloat the grounded vessel, and thelife-boat proceeded at 2 p.m. to stand byduring the operation. The m.v. Emeraldremained firmly aground, and the life-boat returned to her station at 6.15 p.m.when the attempt was abandoned.
At 4.40 a.m. on loth March, 1967, it wasreported that red flares had been sightedat the south end of the Sound of Islay.There was a fresh south-westerly breezewith a moderate sea. It was just afterhigh water. The life-boat Henry Blogg, ontemporary duty at the station, proceededat 5.5 and soon found the tug Flying Spraywhich had grounded on a rock a mile anda half from McArthur lighthouse. As thetug was in danger of capsizing as the tideebbed the life-boat took off her crew ofseven and returned to Port Askaig. At therequest of the owners of the Flying Spraythe life-boat returned to her at 11.46 withthe tug's crew and stood by. The FlyingSpray was refloated at 5.47 p.m. with theassistance of three other tugs, and afterher crew had been put on board, the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at6.30.
Arbroath, Angus - At 6.17 p.m. on27th March, 1967, three crew members ofthe fishing boat Drena were seen to bewaving their oilskins to attract attention.The Drena was lobster fishing in a posi-tion about half a mile from Arbroathharbour. The life-boat Duke of Montrosewas launched at 6.24 and soon came upwith the Drena which had lost herpropeller. There was a moderate southeasterly breeze with a choppy sea. It wastwo hours after high water. The life-boat took the fishing boat in tow andbrought her safely into harbour, returningto her station at seven o'clock.
At 12.30 p.m. on 9th March, 1967, fiveArbroath fishing boats were approachingthe harbour and, as the wind and sea hadrisen suddenly, the harbour entrance was
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By courtesy of] [J. Carter
The Bridlington life-boat escorting a local fishing boat into the harbour on 23rdJanuary, 1967.
dangerous. The life-boat The Duke ofMontrose was launched at 12.35 in a galeforce easterly wind and a very rough sea.It was one hour after high water. Sheescorted the boats into the harbour andreturned to her station at 2.20.
Stornoway, Outer Hebrides - At 11a.m. on 2yth March, 1967, a message wasreceived that the fishing cruiser Minna hadasked for immediate medical assistancefor a member of her crew who had fallenoverboard off Kepoch Head. He had beenpicked up shortly afterwards and wasreceiving artificial respiration on board.The vessel was steaming at full speedtowards Stornoway. The life-boat TheRankin, on temporary duty at the station,slipped her moorings at 11.15 with adoctor on board. There was a strong togale force north easterly wind and amoderate sea. It was two and a half hoursafter high water. She met the cruiserabout four miles outside the harbour andput the doctor aboard. After examining
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the man he confirmed that he was dead.The Minna, accompanied by the life-boat, arrived at the harbour at 12.15 P-m-The life-boat returned to her station at12.25.
Barra Island, Outer Hebrides - At4.15 a.m. on I2th March, 1967, anexpectant mother had to be taken tohospital at South Uist. The life-boat R. A.Colby Cubbin No. 3 proceeded at 4.50 in astrong gusting to gale force westerly windand a rough sea. The tide was flooding.The life-boat landed the woman at SouthUist and returned to her station at 11.30.
Anstruther, Fife - At 4.36 p.m. oni6th March, 1967, a message was receivedthat the wife of one of the light-keepers onMay Island required urgent medicalattention. The life-boat The Doctorslaunched at 4.50 with a doctor on board.There was a fresh west north westerlybreeze and moderate sea. The tide wasflooding. Owing to the critical condition
of the patient it was decided to take her tohospital at Crail by helicopter. The life-boat returned to her station at 7.20.
Lerwick, Shetland - At 9.46 p.m on9th March, 1967, a fishing vessel wasreported nearly ashore in the south har-bour. At 10.10 the life-boat Claude CecilStaniforth proceeded in a rough sea. Thetide was flooding. The C.R.E. Companywas also called out. The life-boat came upwith the motor fishing vessel Sorel ofDenmark and towed her to the breakwater.While towing the vessel into the basin thelife-boat suffered damage to the bowpudding, fender and steering gear. TheFife-boat returned to her station at 11.45.
Dunbar, East Lothian - At 6.39 p.m.on 22nd March, 1967, the motor fishingvessel Seton Queen was reported to berunning short of fuel. She had beenfishing between Barr Rock and May Islandand was overdue. This had been reportedby the motor fishing vessel Kittywake. Ahelicopter from Leuchars took off at 6.39and the life-boat Margaret slipped hermoorings at 6.48 in a westerly wind and aslight sea. The helicopter reported that thefishing vessel was heading towards Dunbarunder her own power. The life-boatfound the vessel about seven miles northof Dunbar and escorted her into theharbour accompanied by the Kittywake.She returned to her station at 8.10.
NORTH-EASTERN DISTRICT
Sunderland, Co. Durham - At 8.19a.m. on I7th March, 1967, the coble GirlLynn was reported in difficulties in roughseas about two miles off Roker. The life-boat William Myers and Sarah Jane Myerswas launched at 8.30 in a gale force westsouth westerly wind and a rough sea. Itwas an hour and a quarter after highwater. She found the coble in the positionstated and escorted her into Sunderland.The life-boat returned to her station atten o'clock.
Amble, Northumberland - At 7.2a.m. on iTth March, 1967, news wasreceived that the coble Provider was still
When one MUST lead
at sea to the eastward of Amble and con-ditions were bad. The life-boat MillieWalton slipped her moorings at 7.40 in astrong gale force wind and a moderatesea with a heavy swell. It was just afterhigh water. She found the coble threemiles east of Coquet Island and escortedher into Amble, arriving back on stationat 9.5.
Flamborough, Yorkshire - At 7.37p.m. on 26th March, 1967, news wasreceived that a youth had fallen over thecliff one mile south of FlamboroughHead. The life-boat Friendly Forester waslaunched at 7.45 in a gale force south west-erly wind and a choppy sea. The tide wasebbing. On reaching the position it wasfound that the Bridlington inshore rescueboat had arrived in the meantime. Withthe help of the Flamborough life-boatcrew the youth was taken aboard theinshore rescue boat and was later trans-ferred to the Bridlington life-boat Tillie
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Morrison, Sheffield II. The Flamboroughlife-boat returned to her station at 9.30.
At 5.40 a.m. on 24th March, 1967,news was received that the trawlerLepanto of Grimsby was on fire about18 miles east north east of FlamboroughHead. There was a fresh west bynortherly breeze with a moderate sea.It was two hours after high water. Thelife-boat Friendly Forester launched atsix o'clock and at 8.5 came up with thetrawler. As the fire was getting worse thetrawler headed for Bridlington Bayescorted by the life-boat. In the bay theywere met by the Bridlington life-boatwhich had embarked firemen and theirequipment. The firemen were transferredto the trawler. As the Bridlington life-boat was standing by, the Flamboroughlife-boat returned to her station, arrivingat noon.
Bridlington, Yorkshire - At 6.25a.m. on 24th March, 1967, a ship wasreported to be on fire off FlamboroughHead. The Flamborough life-boat hadalready been launched to provide life-saving assistance if required. As it was
necessary to dispatch fire-fighting equip-ment to the casualty, and as no other boatwas available, the life-boat Tillie Morrison,Sheffield II was launched at 7 o'clock in astrong westerly wind and a moderate sea.It was two hours after high water. Sheembarked two officers and seven firemen,together with their equipment. The casu-alty, the Lepanto of Grimsby, was reachedat 9 o'clock and in difficult conditions thefiremen and their equipment were trans-ferred to the trawler. She was thenescorted by both life-boats to BridlingtonBay. By 10.45 tne nre had been extin-guished. The life-boat then drew along-side the Lepanto and took off the firemenand their equipment. She returned to herstation at 11.49. A helicopter assisted inthe operation.
At 5 p.m. on 2ist March, 1967, adinghy with two people aboard was repor-ted drifting out to sea. Launch of the life-boat Tillie Morrison, Sheffield II wasrequested in support of an R. A.F. helicop-ter which had also been alerted. Thelife-boat was launched at 5.20 in a strongsouth west wind and a choppy sea. Itwas one hour before low water. Almost
By courtesy of \ [Roger M. SmithA fine action study of the Iste of Wight life-boat towing in the yacht Alchemist off the
Needles on 26th March, 1967.
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THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET146 station life-boats 96 inshore rescue boats
2 70-foot steel life-boats on operational trialsLIVES RESCUED 88,158
from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to 31st May, 1967
immediately after launching the coast-guard reported that the dinghy's crewhad been rescued by the R.A.F. heli-copter and that the dinghy had beentowed ashore. The life-boat returned toher station at 6.18.
At 9.38 a.m. on 22nd March, 1967, newswas received that the motor fishing vesselMadame Sands was proceeding to Brid-lington Bay with a mine on board. Thelife-boat crew stood by until 10.42when a message was received from thecoastguard that in view of the proximityof the Madame Sands to the harbourit was advisable that those on board betaken off. The life-boat Tillie Morrison,Sheffield II was launched at 11.10 in alight west north westerly wind and a slightsea. It was four hours before high water.At the request of the coastguard theMadame Sands moved two miles out tosea escorted by the life-boat. Her crewwere then taken off by the life-boat andlanded at Bridlington. Arrangements werethen made for the crew to re-assemble at3.30 to embark the Royal Naval MineUnit. At 3.20 the coastguard againrequested the assistance of the life-boatto investigate an unidentified objectfloating two hundred yards off the eastpier. On identifying the object as a dere-lict wooden cart the life-boat returned toharbour. At 6.10, having confirmed thatthe object on board the Madame Sandswas a mine, the life-boat crew stood bywith the mine disposal unit, finally return-ing to her station at 11 o'clock.
SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICT
Lowestoft, Suffolk - At 1.30 p.m. onloth March, 1967, the Belgian coasterPatrick was reported to be aground onHolm Sand one mile to the east of thecoastguard lookout. The life-boat Frederick
Edward Crick slipped her moorings at 1.40in a gale force south westerly wind and arough sea. It was two hours before lowwater. She proceeded to the vessel and thecoxswain asked the master if the crewwished to be taken off. He was told thatthey would stay on board in the hope ofrefloating their vessel on the flood tide. Afifteen-year-old girl had been taken off byhelicopter before the life-boat arrived. Atthe master's request the life-boat stood bythe vessel until she refloated on the floodtide five hours later. The coaster thencontinued her passage and the life-boatreturned to her station at 6.45.
Walton and Frinton, Essex - At i.iop.m. on I7th March, 1967, news wasreceived that a party of students wereabout to leave the beach at Frinton on araft to go to the radio transmitting stationRadio London. They were told that itwas considered that such a trip in theweather conditions prevailing would beinadvisable and the honorary secretarywent to the beach. On arrival he foundthat the raft had left with eight people onboard, and as they were then approachingbroken water and the raft was low in thewater, the life-boat Edian Courtauld lefther moorings at 1.40. There was a strongto gale force westerly wind and a roughsea. It was two hours before high water.The raft was reached one and a half milesoff the beach and the eight students weretaken on board. The raft was taken intow to the Eastcliff breakwater, and thelife-boat reached her station at 3.38.
Aldeburgh, Suffolk - At 5 a.m. on 9thMarch, 1967, it was reported that themotor fishing vessel Energy had asked forassistance a mile north east of the Ship-wash lightvessel. The life-boat The Alfredand Patience Gettwald was launched at5.32 in a strong easterly breeze and a
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moderate sea. The tide was flooding. Thelife-boat came up with the vessel, with acrew of three on board, and took her intow. The vessel, which had engine trouble,was towed to Harwich. The life-boat re-turned to her station at 2.30 p.m.
Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 6.54p.m. on 9th March, 1967, a barge wasreported in difficulties near the BlackTail Spit buoy. The life-boat Cecil amdLillian Philpott, on temporary duty at thestation, was launched at 7.21 in a stormforce wind and a very rough sea. It wastwo hours after low water. She proceededtowards the position and was informed bythe tug Kennet that she was near the bargeRepertor and would secure a tow rope assoon as possible and make for Sheerness.At 11.10 the tug reported that she had thebarge in tow and did not require assistance.As the weather was deteriorating thecoxswain decided to escort both tug andbarge into Sheerness. When they weresafely in Sheerness the life-boat waited forthe wind to ease and returned to herstation at 7 a.m. on loth March, 1967
At 10.52 p.m. on 25th March, 1967,news was received that the small powerboat Tinkerbelk Peter had left KewBridge at 10.30 that morning boundfor Wallersay Bay Marina and had notbeen seen since. At 5.12 a.m. on 26thMarch further information was receivedand the life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott,on temporary duty at the station, launchedin a gale force south westerly wind anda rough sea. It was three hours after lowwater. A search was being carried outfrom Burnham-on-Crouch to Southend-on-Sea. As a fishing boat had reportedthat she had seen the missing boat at4.30 p.m. on 25th March to the east ofSouthend-on-Sea the life-boat searchedin that direction. A helicopter took offat first light to help. When the life-boatwas nearing the north east Maplin shewas informed that a vessel resemblingthe missing boat was reported to be inthe vicinity of the Tongue Towers,proceeding towards the south eastShingles. The life-boat went to theposition indicated. When she was nearing
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the North Knob, the helicopter told herthat the vessel was secured to the SouthBuxey buoy. She found the boat, whichhad lost her propeller, and took off thethree members of her crew. Two membersof the life-boat crew were then putaboard the Tinkerbelle Peter and the life-boat towed her to Wallersay Bay. Whenshe was safely moored, the life-boatreturned to her station, arriving at fouro'clock.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Bembridge, Isle of Wight - At 1.25p.m. on 3ist March, 1967, the m.v.Summer Isle reported that she wished tohand over a body which had beenrecovered from the sea. She was makingfor Nab tower. The life-boat Jesse Lumbwas launched at 3 o'clock. There was amoderate north easterly breeze with acorresponding sea. It was high water. At3.50 the body was transferred to the life-boat which proceeded to South Camber,Portsmouth. The life-boat arrived backat her station at 6.50.
Weymouth, Dorset - At 3.25 a.m. on26th March, 1967, the yacht Wombat,lying a mile and a half south south east ofPortland breakwater light, reported toNiton radio that she was taking in waterand had run out of fuel. There was a galefrom the north west with a rough sea. Itwas high water. The life-boat FrankSpiller Locke proceeded at 3.45 and cameup with the yacht. She escorted the yachtto Weymouth, returning to her station at5.15.
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - At 8.57a.m. on 26th March, 1967, a yacht, in aposition three miles south east of theNeedles, was seen firing red flares. Thelife-boat The Earl and Countess Howe pro-ceeded at 9.18 on a flooding tide. Therewas a gale from the west with a rough sea.Four miles south east of the Needles thelife-boat came up with the auxiliary cutterAlchemist whose sails had been carriedaway. Her engine had failed. The yachtwas taken in tow and brought safely intoYarmouth harbour, arriving at 12.55.
Sal combe, South Devon - At 12.58p.m. on I2th March, 1967, a motor fishingvessel and a cabin cruiser appeared to bein difficulties off Lannicombe Bay. Con-ditions were deteriorating and a galewarning was in force. The life-boat TheBaltic Exchange slipped her moorings at1.5 in a moderate to fresh south easterlywind and choppy sea. It was low water.She found the motor fishing vessel Sprayand cabin cruiser Dolphin off Moorsands.Both were making slow progress. Thelife-boat escorted both vessels into Sal-combe harbour and returned to herstation at 2.5,
Swanage, Dorset -At 5.2 p.m. on 26thMarch, 1967, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that a man had beenseen at the base of the Old Harry rocks.The life-boat R.L.P. launched at 5.14 in agale force westerly wind and a choppy sea.It was one hour after low water. She pro-ceeded to the position indicated andcarried out an intensive search of the area.Her rubber dinghy was also used to searchinshore. A helicopter and two motor boatsjoined in the search which was continuedfor two hours. By this time a policesearch party was searching the cliffs andthey indicated the position where theman was last seen. The rubber dinghywent inshore and found a rucksack on thebeach. While the dinghy crew were collect-ing this they found a dead man in shallowwater in a small cove. Artificial respirationwas tried without success. The search wascontinued until the light failed in casethere was a second casualty. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.20.
At ro.20 a.m. on nth March, 1967,news was received that two canoes hadcapsized off Swanage pier and that twomen were in the water. The life-boatR.L.P. was launched at 10.25 m a southsouth westerly gale and a choppy sea. Itwas high water. The life-boat recoveredthe two canoes and one man who wasbeing carried out to sea by the offshorewind. The other man was able to swimashore. The life-boat returned to herstation at 10.55.
Torbay, South Devon - At 5.10 p.m.on 8th March, 1967, it was reported thatthe motor fishing vessel Excellent'spropeller had been fouled by a trawl. Shewas within half a mile of the WesternBlackstone rock off the mouth of theriver Dart and had asked for any ship inthe vicinity to go to her assistance. Them.v. Brendonia had indicated that she wasoff Prawle Point and would assist thefishing vessel. As the Excellent was on arocky lee shore and the weather wasdeteriorating, it was decided that the life-boat should be launched. The life-boatPrincess Alexandra of Kent slipped hermoorings at 5.25 in a strong south easterlywind and a rough sea. It was high water.She proceeded to the position indicatedand found that the m.v. Brendonia hadsecured a line to the fishing vessel and wastowing her. The life-boat took up stationalongside the m.f.v. Excellent and escortedher into Brixham harbour. The m.v.Brendonia then resumed her passagewhile the life-boat towed the m.f.v.Excellent into the inner harbour. Shereturned to her station at 7.30.
SOUTH-WEST DISTRICTSt. Ives, Cornwall - At 10.45 a-m-
on 18th March, 1967, a French fishingvessel was reported to be in difficultieshalf a mile north west of St. Ives Head.The life-boat Edgar, George, Orlando andEva Child was launched at 11.5 in a strongnonh north westerly breeze and a roughsea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boatcame up with the vessel Ginette of Audi-erne, with a crew of six, four cablesnorth of Clodgy Point dragging heranchor towards the rocks. A line was pass-ed to the Ginette and she was towed to St.Ives Bay. The life-boat returned to herstation at 11.55.
Angle, Pembrokeshire - At 4.47 a.m.on loth March; 1967, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that them.v. Hadrian Coast was in difficulties offthe Small's rocks, three miles south southwest of the station. There was a gale fromthe south west with a very rough sea. Thelife-boat Richard Vernon and Mary
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Garforth of Leeds launched at 5.25 andproceeded to the position. After carryingout a search of the area the life-boat cameup with the Hadrian Coast in tow of a tugtwo miles south of Grassholm island. Thelife-boat escorted the vessels to MilfordHaven, returning to her station at 3.5 p.m.
Life-boat 70-001. Bristol Channel -At 12.10 p.m. on 28th March, 1967, aspeedboat was reported in a position onemile south of Mixon shoal buoy. There wasa strong north west by westerly breezewith a choppy sea. It was two hours beforelow water. The life-boat Charles H.Barrett (Civil Service No. 55), which wasin Swansea bay, immediately proceededand located the speedboat one mile and ahalf south of Mumbles lighthouse. Theboat, which had drifted away from moor-ings off Mumbles yacht club, was taken intow and returned to Mumbles pier. Thelife-boat returned to her anchorage inSwansea bay at 1.45.
Penlee, Cornwall - At 8 p.m. on 6thMarch, 1967, the honorary secretaryinformed the coxswain that the life-boatwould be needed at 6 a.m. the followingmorning to take a doctor out to the m.v.Arvidsjauer of Stockholm which had asick man on board. The life-boat SolomonBrowne was launched at 6.10 on 7th Marchin a gale force southerly wind and a veryrough sea. It was low water. She embarkeda doctor and ambulance crew at Newlynand then proceeded to meet the vessel.The life-boat came alongside the vesselfour miles south of Penzance at 7.35. Theweather had deteriorated and was toorough to take the patient off. The Arvids-jauer therefore decided to continue toFalmouth where the man was landed andtaken to hospital. The life-boat returnedto Newlyn at 7.55.
Minehead, Somerset - At 2.30 a.m.on loth March, 1967, the m.v. Farringaywas reported aground off Minehead andbumping heavily. The life-boatB.H.M.H. was launched at 3 o'clock in afresh north westerly wind and a rough sea.It was two hours after low water. Sheproceeded to Warren Point where she
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found the vessel aground. The life-boatwent alongside the vessel which continuedto operate her engines. Three of the m.v.Farringay's crew were taken off but theremainder stayed on board in the hope ofrefloating her safely. The life-boat landedthe three men and returned to stand bythe vessel, but when she arrived the vesselwas afloat. When the master was satisfiedthat his vessel was not taking in water thelife-boat went back to Minehead harbour,picked up the three men she had pre-viously landed, and returned them to theirship. The life-boat arrived back on stationat 9.50.
Appledore, North Devon and Life-boat 70-001 - Off the Mumbles - At4.20 p.m. on I3th March, 1967, theAppledore coxswain was informed thatthe m.v. Stan Woolaway had a bad listand was thought to be sinking at MortPoint. An R T message advised that hercrew had been picked up and that them.v. William Woolaway was standing bythe vessel. The coxswain informed thehonorary secretary and he decided to sendthe life-boat in case her assistance wasrequired. The life-boat Louisa AnneHawker slipped her moorrings at 4.30 in astrong to gale force north westerly windand a very rough sea. It was four hoursafter low water. She proceeded to MortPoint, and found the casualty a quarterof a mile to the west of Bull Point. Thecoxswain informed life-boat 70-001 ofher exact position and stood by until6.20 when the life-boat Charks H. Barrett(Civil Service No. 35), which had pro-ceeded at 4.5 arrived. The Appledorelife-boat then returned to her station,arriving at 9 o'clock. The life-boat 70-001stood by until 6.50, and then proceeded toIlfracombe and was moored in the har-bour at 7.40.
NORTH-WEST DISTRICT
Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire -At 2.30 a.m. on 3oth March, 1967, newswas received that the fishing boat GayStar with a crew of two was in difficultiestwo miles west of Bardsey Island. Thelife-boat Charles Henry Ashley launched at
By courtesy of][Marinegraphic, Margate
A big lump of sea risingover the bow of themotor barge Roino whichran aground off Margate
on 14th April, 1967
3~o'clock on an ebbing tide. There was astrong north westerly wind with a roughsea. The life-boat came up with the GayStar, which had engine trouble and wasdrifting six miles south east of BardseyIsland. The Gay Star was taken in tow bythe life-boat to Pwllheli, arriving at 8 a.m.After the fishing boat was safely mooredthe life-boat returned to her station,arriving at 2 p.m.
Rhyl, Flintshire - At 2.45 p.m. on5th March, 1967, a small dinghy withthree people on board was reported to bein difficulties about one mile to seaward ofLlandulas, and the crew were waving toattract attention. The life-boat AnthonyRobert Marshall was launched at 3
o'clock and proceeded to the position. Asmall boat was sighted on the beachmounted on a trailer, and the coxswainwent inshore to inquire if they had been introuble. He received no reply. The life-boat therefore moved out to continue hersearch. She came up with a small speed-boat which was making for the shore, andthe life-boat escorted her safely to thebeach through heavy surf. The life-boatreturned to her station at 5.15.
Holyhead, Anglesey - At 7.44 p.m. on24th March, 1967, the look-out at CemaesBay reported a small boat making forHolyhead in a very rough sea. It wastwo hours before high water. The life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland, on
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By courtesy of] [Evening ChronicleWhen the Amble life-boat went on exercise in April, 1967, with an R.A.F. helicopterAir Vice Marshal A. V. R. Johnstone (right), Air Officer Commanding, 18 Group,
Coastal Command, was lowered into the life-boat
temporary duty at the station, launchedat 8.58. She carried out a search of thearea and at 9.40 located the ketch EveningSong with a crew of four on passage toHolyhead. The life-boat escorted theketch to harbour, arriving back at herstation at 10.38. She was unable torehouse until 2.30 p.m. on 25th Marchowing to the severe weather conditions.
At 5.46 p.m. on 5th March, 1967, newswas received that the Holyhead pilot boathad broken down and required assistance.The life-boat Lady Jane and MarthaRyland, on temporary duty at the station,was launched at 6 o'clock in a fresh tostrong south westerly wind and a roughsea. It was almost high water. She took aLiverpool pilot off the pilot boat andproceeded to the Blue Funnel vessel Ajax.After putting the pilot aboard the vesselshe returned to the pilot boat and took herin tow. The life-boat towed her into theinner harbour and was about to return toher station when the coastguard reported
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that another boat owned by a Holyheadpilot had broken down near the Holyheadbreakwater. The life-boat proceeded to theposition and found the boat, which wasdrifting, with one man aboard. She towedthe boat into the inner harbour and re-turned to her station, arriving at 7.46.
At 11.9 p.m. on 5th March, 1967,information was given that three men whowere climbing to the west of South Stackwere overdue. Their car had been foundin the South Stack car park. The HolyheadC.R.E. Company and mountain rescueteams had been called out and the life-boatwas needed to search at the foot of thecliffs. The life-boat Lady Jane and MarthaRyland, on temporary duty at the station,was launched at 11.24 ^ a storm forcesouth westerly wind and a very rough sea.It was almost low water. She proceededto the position indicated and carried outa search between North and South Stacksusing both flares and searchlight but didnot find anything. The heavy seas preven-
ted her from going very close to the cliffs.Forty seven minutes after midnight thecoastguards reported that three profes-sional climbers had arrived to assist in thesearch and at 1.23 a.m. some climbing gearwas found at the top of the cliff. The life-boat was standing by and illuminating thecliffs by firing flares. The climbers werelocated in the light of the flares at 2.42about 400 feet down the sheer cliff wallin a little bay between the North and SouthStacks. They were assisted to the topof the cliff by the cliff party and the life-boat returned to her station at 4 o'clock.
Troon, Ayrshire - At 9.30 p.m. on22nd March, 1967, a message was receivedthat blood plasma was urgently requiredat Lamlash. The life-boat James andBarbara Aitken, with the plasma aboard,slipped her moorings at 10.6 in a strongwesterly breeze and a choppy sea. Thetide was ebbing. The life-boat arrived atLamlash at 12.8 a.m. on the 23rd Marchand she returned to her station at 2o'clock.
Lytham-St. Anne's, Lancashire -At n p.m. on 2ist March, 1967, newswas received that the m.v. Farringay wasaground on Salters Bank and a tug wasawaiting high water to tow her off. Inview of the prevailing weather conditionsthe life-boat crew were alerted. At 5.10a.m. on 22nd March the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that themaster of the Farringay had requestedthat the life-boat stand by as the windhad increased to force six and seas werebreaking over the vessel's decks. At 5.35the life-boat Sarah Townsend Porrittlaunched in a strong westerly breezeand a choppy sea. It was three and aquarter hours to high water. The life-boat stood by while the tug towed thecoaster off. The tow line parted fourtimes while the vessel was being towedoff. The Farringay's engines had brokendown, her two anchors were lost and therudder had jammed. The pilot cutterSt. Anne from Preston assisted the tug bypassing tow lines to the Farringay. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 8.30.
Fleetwood, Lancashire - At 9.30 a.m.on 26th March, 1967, the owner of themotor fishing vessel Hamoaze informedthe honorary secretary that a crew onboard his vessel were attempting tosalvage her as she was aground on Pillingsands. In view of the bad weather forecastthe life-boat crew assembled in the boat-house where they were able to keep theHamoaze under observation. There was awesterly gale with a rough sea. It was onehour and a quarter before high water. AtII o'clock the Hamoaze was seen to beafloat and being driven ashore. The life-boat Ann Letitia Russell immediatelylaunched and put a line aboard the vessel.In view of the prevailing weather, sea andtidal conditions the life-boat was unableto tow the Hamoaze clear. When the tidestarted to ebb the salvage attempt wasabandoned and the life-boat rescued thefour people on board the Hamoaze,returning to her station at 1.15 p.m.
At 11.56 a.m. on ifth March, 1967, thecoastguard informed the honorary secret-ary that the motor fishing vessel Nonhfleetwith a crew of three, was firing red flaresin the Wyre Channel by No. 9 buoy. Shehad been towing the larger motor fishingvessel Hamoaze from Fleetwood toGlassan dock when her engine brokedown. The Hamoaze had anchored butthe Nonhfleet was driving over the Pillingsands into shoal water. The life-boatAnn Letitia Russell was launched at 12.2p.m. in a gale force west by northerlywind and a very rough sea. It was anhour and a half before high water. Shereached the Northfleet which was inshoal water and bumping badly. A towrope was secured and the life-boat startedto tow her clear. The tow parted severaltimes but she was eventually towedclear and moored in Fleetwood harbour.The life-boat then proceeded to theHamoaze, whoseanchor cablehad jammed,and she had started to drag into shoalwater. The life-boat made several attemptsto tow her clear but without success, andthe crew of four were taken aboard thelife-boat just after high water. The life-boat returned to her station at 3.10.
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IRISH DISTRICTGalway Bay - At 4.35 p.m. on 6th
March, 1967, the local doctor informedthe honorary secretary that a patient onInishere Island had acute appendicitisand needed to be taken to hospital. Thelife-boat Mabel Marion Thompson slippedher moorings at 5.30 in a gale force south-erly wind and a rough sea. She proceededto Inishere and took the patient aboard.The life-boat then conveyed the patient toGalway docks, as conditions at Rossaveelwere not suitable for landing him, and hewas taken to hospital. The life-boatarrived back on station at 3 o'clock.
At 11.40 a.m. on iyth March, 1967, thethe local nurse told the honorary secret-ary that a man who was seriously ill neededto be taken to hospital on the mainland.The man was embarked and the life-boatMabel Marion Thompson slipped hermoorings at 12.15 P-m- m a fresh westnorth westerly wind and a moderate sea.It was two hours before low water. Sheproceeded to Rossaveel where the manwas transferred to an ambulance. Thelife-boat then returned to her station,arriving at 3.45.
At 11.30 a.m. on 24th March, 1967,the local nurse told the honorary secret-ary that an expectant mother needed to beconveyed to hospital from Kilronan.There was a strong south westerly windwith a rough sea. It was two hours beforelow water. The life-boat Mabel MarionThompson embarked the patient andnurse and proceeded at 12.30 p.m. Thepatient was landed at Rossaveel and thelife-boat returned to her station, arrivingat 4 o'clock.
Peel, Isle of Man - At 8.40 p.m. onI4th March, 1967, a fishing vessel whichwas drifting north east from the Peelbreakwater was reported to be flashing atorch. The life-boat Helena Harris -Manchester and District XXXI waslaunched at 9.48 p.m. in a gale force southwesterly wind and a rough sea. It was onehour after low water. She. proceeded tothe position indicated and found themotor fishing vessel Manx Clover drifting
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as her engines had failed. The life-boatsecured a line to the fishing vessel andtowed her into Peel inner harbour. Shereturned to her station at 10.40.
The following life-boats were also called outin March:
Bembridge, Isle of Wight - 26th.Boulmer, Northumberland - i6th and
27th.Bridlington, Yorkshire - 2ist and 26th.Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - nth.Dover, Kent - 2ist.Dungeness, Kent - igth.Eastbourne, Sussex - 9th.Lerwick, Shetlands - 4th.Lytham-St. Anne's, Lancashire-24th.New Brighton, Cheshire - 29th.Penlee, Cornwall - 26th.Peter Head, Aberdeenshire - loth.Rhyl, Flintshire - 5th.St. David's, Pembrokeshire - ist and
IRB LAUNCHESRescues by IRB's in March were carried
out by the following stations:
NORTH-EASTERN DISTRICT
Filey, Yorkshire - At 3.5 p.m. on28th March, 1967, news was received thata small boat had capsized in the bay andhad fired a flare. The IRB was launched at3.10 in a strong north westerly wind and asmooth sea. It was two hours before highwater. She found the boat and took oneman aboard. The boat was righted andtowed to the beach, where the man waslanded. The IRB returned to her stationat 3.20.
Bridlington, Yorkshire - At 1.35p.m. on z6th March, 1967, the coastguardinformed the coxswain that a dinghy hadcapsized off Atwick, eight miles south ofBridlington. The IRB was launched at1.40 in a gale force south westerly windand a choppy sea. The tide was flooding.On arrival at the scene of the casualty, theIRB crew saw a helicopter rescuing oneof the dinghy's crew of two by winch,while the other 'man swam ashore. Theirdinghy was taken in tow by the IRBand beached. While returning to thestation, the crew saw a small motor boatwith five people on board in difficultieswith engine failure. The boat, which wasbeing swept out to sea, was taken in towby the IRB to Atwick beach. The Bridling-ton life-boat Tillie Morrison Sheffield IIlaunched at 4.30 to see if the IRB requiredassistance. No assistance was needed andthe life-boat returned to her station. TheIRB returned to her station at 4.55.
SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICTSkegness, Lincolnshire - At 1.50 p.m.
on 26th March, 1967, a report was received
that a dinghy had capsized about two and ahalf miles to the north east of Skegnesspier. The IRB was launched at 1.57 in afresh south westerly wind and a moderatesea. The tide was ebbing. She proceededto the dinghy and took aboard two men,one of whom was suffering from exposure.The sea was too choppy to right and towtth dinghy, so the IRB landed the men onthe beach. Information was then receivedthat another dinghy had capsized a mileand a half to the north. The IRB foundthe dinghy, took a man aboard and towedthe dinghy to the beach at Jackson'sCorner. The IRB crew were then told of athird dinghy which had capsized in aboutthe same position as the first one. Theywent at once to the position given andarrived at the same time as a helicopter,which lifted two men from the sea andlanded them on the beach. It was still toorough for the IRB to save the dinghy, soshe returned to her station, arriving at 4.45.
Margate, Kent - At 3.40 p.m. on30th March, 1967, the motor mechanicinformed the honorary secretary thatthree people were cut off by the tide at
By courtesy of ] 13. P. Morris
The Llandudno inshore rescue boat returning from the service on 3rd June, 1967when she saved two boys from the Little Orme.
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By courtesy of][Kentish Express
Helpers at Dungenessmoving skids in positionin preparation for haul-ing up the life-boat to itsnew boat house built on a
shingle mound.
Whiteness Point. There was a light westnorth westerly breeze with a calm sea. Itwas about half an hour before high water.The IRB was launched at 3.49 and pro-ceeded to the position indicated. A girlwas standing on a small ledge on thecliff face, about five feet above the sea.There was sufficient water for the IRBto go close in and the girl was helped intothe boat. She said that her two sisters hadtried to get round the point to reach herbut were unable to do so. The IRB wasbeached a short distance from the pointand the other two girls were placed in theIRB which returned to her station at 4.30.
See page 20$ for other IRB Launches
APRILNORTH-EAST DISTRICT
Humber, Yorkshire - At 11.52 a.m.on 28th April, 1967, it was learned thatthe master of the Dowsing lightvessel had
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been injured in a fall and that medicalassistance was required. With a doctoraboard, the life-boat City of Bradford IIIwas launched at i p.m. in a light westerlywind and a calm sea. It was one and ahalf hours before low water. On reachingthe lightvessel at 4.40 the doctor treatedthe injured man. Doctor and patient werelater transferred to the life-boat andlanded at Spurn. The life-boat returnedto her station at 8.45.
At 11.10 p.m. on 30th April, 1967, theowner of the trawler Sunningdale ofGrimsby informed the coxswain that thevessel had run short of fuel and requiredassistance. The vessel was at anchor eightmiles south south east of Spurn light-vessel. The life-boat City of Bradford IIIwas launched at 11.20 in a strong westnorth westerly wind and a rough sea. Itwas one hour after high water. The life-boat located the casualty at i o'clock andtransferred a quantity of fuel to thetrawler in difficult conditions. She then
escorted the trawler to Grimsby at theskipper's request, reaching port at 4.30.Owing to unsuitable tidal conditions thelife-boat remained at Grimsby until 8.45,returning to her station at 9.45.
At 1.40 p.m. on 20th April, 1967, it wasreported that a cabin cruiser with threemen aboard had been taken in tow byTrobe, a vessel attending to the oil rigSea Quest, and that assistance was re-quired. The life-boat City of Bradford IIIwas launched at 4.30 in a strong west bynorth wind and a rough sea. It was twohours after high water. Rendezvous wasarranged with the Trobe at the Spurnlightship. The life-boat took over the towof the casualty, the cabin cruiser StellaPeacock, two miles east of the Humberlightship at 9.30. The cruiser was towedto Grimsby and the life-boat returned toher station at 2.15 a.m.
Whitby, Yorkshire - At 9.45 a.m. on5th April, 1967, concern was felt for asmall fishing coble off Kettleness in therapidly deteriorating weather conditions.There was a gale from the west northwest with a rough sea. It was two and ahalf hours after low water. The life-boatMary Ann Hepworth launched at 10o'clock and stood by while the coblecrossed the bar and entered the harbour.After the coble was safely berthed the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at10.55.
At 9 a.m. on i8th April, 1967, it wasdecided that, owing to a sudden deterior-ation in weather conditions, the life-boatshould stand by for the return of themotor fishing vessels Provider, OceanVenture and Success which were at sea.The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth waslaunched at 9.15 in a squally northwesterly wind and a rough sea. It was twohours before high water. The life-boatescorted the three boats safely across thebar and returned to her station at 3.15p.m.
Tynemouth, Northumberland - At10.56 a.m. on i8th April, 1967, it wasreported that a fishing coble, with twomen aboard, was anchored about two
miles south of the harbour on a lee shorein heavy seas. She was flying a distresssignal. The life-boat Tyneside was laun-ched at 11.10 in a strong northerly windand a moderate sea with a correspondingswell. It was two hours after high water.She proceeded to the position indicatedand found the coble Golden Chancewhose engine had broken down. After aline had been secured, the coble's crewcut their anchor rope and the life-boattowed the fishing vessel to her mooringat South Shields. The life-boat returnedto her station at 12.40 p.m.
At 11.30 a.m. on 3oth April, 1967, newswas received that a small dinghy hadbroken down one and a half miles offshore. The IRB was launched and thecoastguard then reported that a red flarehad been sighted from another boat. TheIRB -was seen to approach the dinghyoriginally in trouble and then proceed ina seaward direction. The coastguardrequested the launching of the life-boatto assist in the search to seaward. Thelife-boat Tynesider was launched at noonin a gale force west north westerly windand a rough sea. The tide was on the ebb.The IRB had already located the casualty,the motor-boat Team of Newcastle, andhad taken off a young boy who was veryill. The life-boat arranged by radio for anambulance to meet the IRB, and thentook the casualty with her remaining crewof three in tow and returned to her stationat i p.m. A helicopter also assisted.
Newbiggin, Northumberland - At7.25 a.m. on i8th April, 1967, it was feltthat deteriorating weather conditionsround Newbiggin Church Point threat-ened the safety of 10 cobles fishing in thearea. The life-boat Mary jfoicey waslaunched at 7.40 in a strong northerlywind and a rough sea. It was two and ahalf hours before high water. The life-boat was manned by a scratch crew asseveral members of the regular crew wereaboard the cobles. For almost two hoursthe life-boat escorted the cobles roundChurch Point to the shelter of the bay.The life-boat returned to her station atii o'clock.
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Amble, Northumberland - At 7.21a.m. on i8th April, 1967, two cobleswere reported at sea with conditions onthe bar bad. At 7.58 the cobles were seento be approaching the harbour, and thelife-boat Millie Walton slipped hermoorings five minutes later to escort themin. There was a fresh to strong northnorth westerly wind and a rough sea. Thecobles New Dawn and Silver Coquet wereescorted to Blyth harbour as the condit-ions were not suitable for them to putinto Amble. The life-boat remained atBlyth, while some minor repair waseffected, and returned to Amble thefollowing day, arriving back on station at2.30 p.m. on ipth April, 1967.
At 4.30 p.m. on I4th April, 1967, newswas received that the fishing boat LivelyHope had stranded north east of Ambleharbour without fuel. The life-boatMillie Walton was launched at 9 o'clockin dense fog in a light north-westerly windand a moderate sea. The tide was ebbing.Contact was made with the casualty at9.50 and 50 gallons of oil were transferredfrom the life-boat. The Lively Hope thenproceeded under her own power to NorthShields. The life-boat returned to herstation at n o'clock.
Runswick, Yorkshire - At 1.40 p.m.on 19th April, 1967, three Staithes fishingcobles were reported at sea and there wasa heavy inshore swell on the bar atStaithes harbour. The life-boat TheElliott Gill was launched at 1.50 in astrong southerly wind and a moderatesea. It was one and a half hours after highwater. She proceeded to Staithes andescorted the cobles Star of Hope, OceanWonder and Breadwinner into the har-bour. The life-boat returned to herstation at 4.45.
SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT
Sheringham, Norfolk - At 8.25 a.m.on :8th April, 1967, it was noted that theSheringham crab boats were at sea andconditions were deteriorating rapidly.The life-boat The Manchester Unity ofOdd Fellows was launched at 8.45 in a
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north north easterly gale and a rough sea.It was shortly before low water. By 9.2all the Sheringham boats had returnedsafely. The life-boat was then requestedby the coastguard to proceed to EastRunton where the crews of two furthercrab boats The Rose Marie and theWilliam Robert were provided with life-jackets. On getting closer to the shore, andwhen the life-boat could no longer pro-vide direct assistance, the Rose Mariecapsized throwing its three occupantsinto the water. The coastguard called outa rescue helicopter from Coltishall butthe three men reached the shore safely.The life-boat escorted the remainingboat to Cromer and returned to herstation at 10 o'clock.
Margate, Kent - At 2.46 p.m. on gthApril, 1967, news was received that themotor launch Skylark was in difficultiesabout 400 yards off Herne Bay. The life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11)was launched at 3.14 in a north easterlygale and a rough sea. It was one hour afterhigh water. The motor launch was locatedanchored in shallow water at 4.45. Inaddition to the skipper there were fourmen and two boys on board and the cox-swain's offer to take off the passengers wasdeclined. The life-boat stood by for 15minutes. The skipper of the Skylark thenstated that he required no assistanceand the life-boat returned to Ramsgate at8.15 as tidal conditions prevented a directreturn to Margate. Owing to continuingbad weather the life-boat was unable toreturn to her station until 4.30 p.m. onI ith April.
At 1.20 p.m. on I4th April, 1967, amotor barge was reported aground on asandbank west of Margate pier. The life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. n)was launched at 1.45 in a strong north eastbreeze and a rough sea. It was threehours before high water. Owing to theposition of the casualty, the motor bargeRoina, it was decided to launch the IRBalso. The coastguard rescue equipmentcompany also stood by. With heavy seaswashing over the barge the IRB succeededin getting a tow line secured. This was
passed to the life-boat which towed thebarge off the sandbank to deeper water.The life-boat then stood by until therewas enough water for the barge to enterMargate harbour. This she did under herown power at 3 o'clock and the life-boatreturned to her station at 3.48. The ownerof the motor barge made a monetary giftto the life-boat crew.
At 8.28 p.m. on igth April, 1967, it wasseen that the Dutch coaster Lupia an-chored off Longnose Ledge was draggingher anchor. The vessel, showing only amast-light, made no response to shoresignals. The life-boat North Foreland(Civil Service No. u) was launched at9.46 in a moderate south westerly windand in a choppy sea. It was high water.On reaching the vessel at 10.15 the hfe~boat coxswain received no response to hiscalls on the loud hailer and put three ofthe life-boat's crew aboard to investigate.After some delay, as the vessel was intotal darkness, the skipper and crew ofthree were eventually located in the aftercabins. The Lupia had anchored at 5.30p.m. on receiving unfavourable weatherreports and the skipper and crew had allapparently fallen asleep. They had noidea that they had dragged anchor andhad drifted about four miles into theshipping lanes. The skipper, who spokevery little English, said he would weighanchor and stay close to shore untilresuming his passage at midnight. As allnow appeared to be in order the life-boatreturned to her station at 11.40.
Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 8.25p.m. on i6th April, 1967, it was noticedthat a vessel was flashing a distress signalwest of the boom on the Kent side. Thelife-boat Greater London II (Civil ServiceNo. 30) was launched at 8.59 in a gentlenorth-easterly wind and a choppy sea.She proceeded to the position indicatedand found the motor boat Mako withfour men on board. Her engine hadbroken down. The Medway patrol boatMedway Leader was attempting to takeher in tow. The life-boat stood by untilthis was accomplished and then returnedto her station, arriving at 9.30. The motor
boat was towed to Sheerness by the patrolboat.
At 11.10 a.m. on i6th April, 1967, asmall boat which had left Shoebury forWallersay bay, was reported overdue.The life-boat Greater London II (CivilService No. 30) was launched at 11.20 ina moderate northerly wind and a choppysea. It was five hours after high water.She proceeded towards the Maplin Sandsand Whittaker Channel. A fishing boatthen informed her that a small yacht wasin difficulties on the Whittaker Spit. Thelife-boat found the yacht Zeus with twomen on board. The yacht had lost herrudder and was taking in water. After aline had been secured to the Zeus, thelife-boat took her in tow and proceededtowards Wallersay. Information was thenreceived that the original casualty wasaground but did not require assistance.The life-boat moored the yacht at Waller-say and returned to her station, arrivingat 8 p.m.
Lowestoft, Suffolk - At 10.55 P-m-on 29th April, 1967, it was reported thata motor yacht was aground off Lowestoftlighthouse and in danger of capsizing.The life-boat Frederick Edward Crickslipped her mooring at 11.5 in a lightsouth easterly wind and a calm sea. It wastwo hours before high water. She pro-ceeded to the position indicated and fireda parachute flare as it was thought thatthe casualty, the yacht Four Rivers, wasaground on the beach. Shortly afterwardsa message was received from the skipperof the casualty stating that she wasaground on the Gorton sandbank and wasbumping badly. A few minutes later theskipper signalled that he was off the bankbut taking in water. The life-boat met thecasualty at East Newcombe buoy andescorted her to harbour. She returned toher moorings at 12.50 a.m. on 30th April,1967.
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston,Norfolk - At 12 noon on 23rd April,1967, when the life-boat Louise Stephenswas at sea the coxswain noticed thatconditions on the bar would be likely to
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cause difficulties for seven small boatsfishing in the area. There was a fresheast north easterly wind and a choppysea. It was two hours after high water.The life-boat escorted the boats theMarie Rose, Beatty, G.B.H., Red Herring,I'll Try, Bettsey and one other safely toharbour and returned to her station at12.55.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - At 1.35p.m. on 9th April. 1967, the British Railsteamer Faringford informed the hono-rary secretary that a small dismastedsailing boat was drifting rapidly towardsHurst. The life-boat The Earl andCountess Howe slipped her moorings at1.39 in a strong north easterly wind anda rough sea. The tide was ebbing. Sheproceeded to the Hurst Narrows andfound a dismasted sailing dinghy with acrew of two. The life-boat towed her toYarmouth and returned to her station at2.30.
At 12.42 a.m. on 22nd April, 1967,it was reported that a yacht had beenseen firing distress flares near the ShinglesBank. The life-boat The Earl and CountessHowe was launched at 12.58 in a moderatenorth westerly breeze and a slight sea.The tide was ebbing. The yacht Outlawwith ii people aboard was found agroundin the middle of the Shingles Bank. Anunsuccessful attempt was made to towher off. As the wind had decreased, andthe crew of the yacht did not wish to betaken off, the life-boat returned to Yar-mouth having informed the crew of theyacht that they would return in threehours. This was done and the life-boatstood by as the yacht floated off on theflood tide. The life-boat returned to herstation at 7.45. A monetary gift was madeto the life-boat crew.
Plymouth, Devon - At 10.10 p.m. onist April, 1967, a yacht was reported to bein difficulties inshore and dangerouslyclose to rocks near the Royal Westernyacht club. She appeared to be trying,without success, to pick up a mooring.
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The life-boat Thomas Forehead and MaryRowse proceeded to the position at 10.30in a south south westerly gale and arough sea. It was an hour and a quarterbefore high water. On reaching the posi-tion it appeared that the yacht Trumpeterhad given up her attempt to pick upmoorings in this exposed spot and wasmaking her way across the Sound towardsJennycliff. When off Mount Batten break-water the life-boat escorted her safely tomoorings alongside Trinity pier, Millbaydocks. The life-boat returned to herstation at 11.45.
At 10.27 a-m- on 24tri April, 1967, itwas reported that a dinghy was in diffi-culties off the pier. The outboard motorwas out of action and the dinghy wasdrifting out to sea. The life-boat ThomasForehead and Mary Rowse slipped hermoorings at 10.43 in a light north north-westerly wind and a slight sea. It wasthree hours after high water. She pro-ceeded towards the position given andon her arrival took over the tow of thedinghy from the harbour launch whichhad arrived on the scene first. The life-boat towed the dinghy to Mutton Cove.She returned to her station at 12.35 p.m.
Torbay, Devon - At 10.28 a.m on 9thApril, 1967, it was reported that fouryouths were rowing from Teignmouth toDartmouth in a 16-foot racing skiff. Theirescort boat had gone aground and theyouths had continued without it. As thesea was too bad for this type of craft thecoastguard requested that the life-boatlaunch in view of the increasing wind andsea conditions and advise them not toproceed any further. The life-boat Prin-cess Alexandra of Kent slipped her moor-ings at 10.45 m a strong north east bynortherly wind and a moderate sea. Itwas three hours after high water. Shefound the youths aboard their escort boatin Oddicombe Bay. The escort boat,which was a converted ship's life-boat,had refloated and caught them up. Theywere baling out their skiff. After per-suading them not to go any further thelife-boat escorted the boats to Torquay
harbour where the youths went ashoreand returned to Teignmouth by road.The life-boat returned to her station at12.5 p.m.
Salcombe, Devon - At 8.32 p.m. on20th April, 1967, news was received thata boy was missing from a youth hostel atOversteps and was presumed to havefallen over the cliffs at Lambrey Point.The life-boat Baltic Exchange, with adinghy in tow, was launched at 8.38 in alight north westerly wind and a smoothsea. It was an hour before low water. At9.45 the dinghy took off the injured boyaccompanied by an ambulance man whohad reached him before the life-boat'sarrival. The life-boat then took them toEast Portlemouth where an ambulancewas waiting. The life-boat returned to herstation at 9.55.
Dungeness, Kent - At 10 a.m. on30th April, 1967, a yacht was reportedashore at St. Mary's Bay between thegroynes and close to the sea wall. Thelife-boat Mabel E. Holland was launchedin a moderate south west wind and asmooth sea. It was one and a half hoursafter low water. The skipper of the yachtboarded the life-boat from the LittlestoneIRB. It was suggested to him that heshould attempt to refloat the casualty, theyacht Skald II, by using his own engine to-gether with the assistance of the IRBpulling on his bow. This proved success-ful and she was refloated shortly beforehigh water. On being assured that all waswell and that no further assistance wasrequired the life-boat returned to herstation at 4.20 p.m.
St. Helier, Jersey - At 6 a.m. on 3othApril, 1967, the motor cruiser Kyloe wasreported overdue on a voyage from Car-teret on the French coast. The life-boatPeter and Sarah Blake, on temporaryduty at the station, slipped her mooringsat 6.35 in a slight north east wind andsmooth sea. It was one hour after lowwater. The life-boat contacted the motorcruiser Pepita, with the casualty in tow,one mile west of La Corbiere lighthouse.
She had drifted throughout the night.The life-boat then took the casualty intow to St. Helier and returned to hermoorings at 8.20.
At 5.46 p.m. on 25th April, 1967,information was received that a fishingboat returning from the Minquiers hadengine trouble and was taking in water.The life-boat Peter and Sarah Blake, ontemporary duty at the station, slippedher moorings at 6 o'clock in a strong northeasterly wind and a moderate sea. It wastwo hours before high water. A local boathad already made contact with the casu-alty, the fishing boat Shallow Waters ofJersey, but had been unsuccessful inmaking a tow rope fast. The life-boattook the casualty in tow to St. Helier andreturned to her moorings at 7.15.
Bembridge, Isle of Wight - At 1.24a.m. on 3Oth April, 1967, news wasreceived that distress flares had beensighted three miles from Bembridge look-out. The life-boat Jesse Lumb was laun-ched at 1.47 in a light south southwesterly wind and a calm sea. It was twohours before high water. The life-boatreached the casualty, the motor-boatCarol of Ipswich, at 2.17. A rope hadfouled her propeller and the Nab pilotcutter was standing by. The life-boattowed the casualty to Bembridge andreturned to her station at 3 o'clock.
Weymouth, Dorset - At 3.25 p.m.on 2 ist April, 1967, a fishing boat wasreported to be ashore in the middle ofthe Portland breakwater. The life-boatLloyd's, on temporary duty at the station,slipped her moorings at 3.40 in a strongto gale force west north westerly wind anda moderate sea. She found the motorfishing vessel Tiza of Weymouth an-chored about three feet off the break-water. Her engine had failed when a netfouled the propeller. The life-boat secureda tow rope to the Tiza but this parted.After some manoeuvring the fishingvessel's anchor was raised and she wastowed to Weymouth. The life-boatarrived back on station at 5 o'clock.
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SOUTH WEST DISTRICT
Life-boat 70-002 at the Mumbles -At 4.15 p.m. on 23rd April, 1967, whilerounding Mumbles Head on exercise, thecoxswain of the life-boat Grace PatersonRitchie noticed four people cut off by thetide on Lighthouse Island. There was alight westerly wind and a slight sea. Itwas two hours before high water. TheIRB, which is carried aboard the life-boat,was launched and took off the strandedpeople. They were landed at Mumblespier and the life-boat returned to hermoorings at 4.35.
Fishguard, Pembrokeshire - At9.37 p.m. on 9th April, 1967, news wasreceived that the motor fishing vessel GayStar had requested assistance eight milesnorth west of Strumbie head. Apparentlyher engine had failed. She carried a crewof three. The life-boat Howard Marryatwas launched at 10 o'clock in a moderatenorth east wind two hours after highwater. The casualty was reached in anorth north easterly gale and a veryrough sea at 12.55 a-rn- on I0tn April,1967. At 1.25 a line had been securedand the vessel was taken in tow. Unfortu-nately, owing to extensive chafing aboardthe Gay Star, the tow-line parted at 3.12and again at 5.10. The coxswain thensecured the casualty with the life-boat'smanilla mooring line in addition to theusual nylon rope and the life-boat andtow reached harbour at 8.2.
At 7.48 p.m. on nth April, 1967, it wasreported that a boy was stranded on thecliffs at Aberbach, Dinas Cross. The life-boat Howard Marryat was launched at8 o'clock in a strong north north easterlywind on the ebb tide. On reaching theposition it was found that a rescue couldbest be effected from the shore and thelife-boat stood by as the boy was success-fully taken up the cliff by the C.R.E.Company. The life-boat returned to herstation at 9.30.
Padstow, Cornwall - At 9.28 p.m. onist April, 1967, red flares were reported
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at a position eight miles north of KillanHead. The life-boat Joseph Hiram Chad-wick proceeded at 10 o'clock in a strongsouth westerly wind and a choppy sea. Itwas high water. She arrived at the positionat 11.30 and found the motor vesselVigilante with engine trouble and a sickwoman on board. The Vigilante was inthe tow of the motor vessel Chester Brookto Padstow. The life-boat escorted bothvessels and on arrival at Padstow at 2.20a.m. a doctor was waiting to give medicalaid to the sick woman. The life-boatreturned to her moorings at 3 o'clock on2nd April, 1967.
NORTH WEST DISTRICT
Barmouth, Merionethshire - At1.12 p.m. on 30th April, 1967, it waslearned that a boat was on fire oppositeDyffryn, seven and a half miles north ofBarmouth. The coastguard had beenadvised of the incident by a local resident.The life-boat The Chieftain was launchedat 1.30 in a fresh south westerly wind anda choppy sea. It was high water. Thecoastguard also requested the assistanceof two local speedboats and a helicopter.The life-boat reached the casualty, thefishing boat Welsh Lady which wascarrying a crew of five, at 2.25. It wasascertained that the boat's engine hadfailed, but there was no fire on board.Owing to the state of the tide and hisboat's proximity to the causeway, theskipper requested a tow to Barmouth.The life-boat towed the casualty to port,returning to her station at 4 o'clock.
New Brighton, Cheshire - At 9.30a.m. on i6th April, 1967, while the life-boat Norman B. Corlett was on exercise,information was received that the coasterMiddledale H. had run aground offLangton dock. She had a line ashore andwas waiting for the flood tide. The life-boat immediately proceeded to the vesseland stood by until high water. A line waspassed to the coaster and the life-boattowed her clear. The vessel was mooredalongside the river wall and the life-boatthen returned to her station, reaching it at12.30 p.m.
Holyhead, Anglesey - At 7.51 a.m.on 8th April, 1967, a small vessel wasreported to be firing distress rockets offWylfa head. A helicopter reported thatthe vessel was down by the head. Thelife-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland,on temporary duty at the station, waslaunched at 8.15 in a strong north easterlybreeze and a rough sea two and a halfhours before high water. Contact wasmade with the casualty, the motor launchBlue Falcon, at 8.53. One of the crew ofthree was taken aboard and the casualtytaken in tow at 9.13. Course was set forCemaes Bay. Progress was slow as windshad reached gale force and the casualty,awash from bow to bridge, went agroundin the bay. However, she was refloatedand eventually berthed safely by the life-boat at Cemeas Bay pier. The life-boatreturned to her station at 12.4 p.m.
Fleetwood, Lancashire - At i p.m.on 25th April, 1967, a converted prawnerwas endeavouring to sail up river but wasnot making much progress against theebbing spring tide. The yacht was keptunder observation and by 6 o'clock shehad drifted to a position off Blackpool.The coastguard asked the Blackpool IRBto investigate and she reported that thethree youths on board the yacht MissModesty were awaiting a favourableweather report before sailing back toFleetwood. The life-boat Ann LetitiaRussell was launched at 6.34 in a lightvariable wind and a slight sea. It was lowwater. She proceeded to Blackpool andtowed the yacht back to Fleetwood. Whenshe was safely moored the life-boatreturned to her station, arriving at 11.5.
Port St. Mary, Isle of Man - At na.m. on igth April, 1967, news wasreceived that the motor yacht Pandorahad broken down about 14 miles southeast of Port St. Mary and the freighterCaxton was standing by. The life-boatR. A. Colby Cubbin No. 2 was launched at11.25 in a strong south westerly wind anda moderate sea. It was two hours beforelow water. The Pandora was reachedabout 1.15 p.m. She was sheltering in the
lee of the Caxton. The life-boat took herin tow to Port St. Mary, arriving back ather station at 4.40.
Arranmore, Co. Donegal - At 4 p.m.on 26th April, 1967, the nurse on ToryIsland informed the honorary secretarythat an elderly man was seriously ill andneeded to be moved to hospital on themainland for treatment. The life-boatW. M. Tilson slipped her moorings at4.45 in a fresh north westerly wind and arough sea. It was two and a half hoursafter low water. The patient was taken onboard at 7.20 and transferred to Burton-port, where an ambulance was waiting totake him to hospital. The life-boat re-turned to her moorings at 11.30.
Ramsey, Isle of Man - At 3.49 p.m.on 3Oth April, 1967, news was receivedthat the motor launch Bobbie was firingdistress signals three to four miles eastsouth east of Ramsey harbour. The life-boat Thomas Corbett was launched at 4.5p.m. in a north westerly gale and a roughsea. It was half an hour before high water.On reaching the position indicated it wasfound that the motor fishing vessel Peepof Dawn had taken the Bobbie's crew offour on board and was attempting to takethe casualty in tow. The life-boat wassuccessful in making a line fast andtowed the casualty to Ramsey. She re-turned to her station at 5.40.
Cloughey-Portavogie, Co. Down -At 5.30 a.m. on 22nd April, 1967, a reportwas received that a fishing boat wasleaking and in danger off Strangford bar.The life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow waslaunched at 5.45 in a light south westerlywind and a smooth sea. It was low water.The casualty was reached at 7.30 and thelife-boat escorted her to a safe berth atStrangford, returning to her station atII.10.
Donaghadee, Co. Down - At 2.48p.m. on 8th April, 1967, information wasreceived that a member of the crew of thecommercial radio vessel Comet was seri-ously injured and required medical
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assistance. The life-boat John R. Webb, ontemporary duty at the station, waslaunched at 3.18 with a doctor on boardin a squally north-easterly wind and anebbing tide. The Comet was reached at4.25 and the doctor went aboard andtreated the injured man. He was thentransferred to the life-boat and broughtto Donaghadee where an ambulance waswaiting to transfer him to hospital. Thelife-boat returned to her moorings at6 o'clock.
SCOTTISH DISTRICT
Mallaig, Inverness-shire - At 12.5a.m. on 4th April, 1967, it was learnedthat the fishing launch Lively was over-due. The life-boat E. M. M. GordonCubbin was launched at 12.25 in a gentlewesterly breeze. It was one hour afterhigh water. After a three and a hah0 hoursearch the launch was found broken downat the mouth of Loch Hourn. The crewof two were safe. She was taken in tow bythe life-boat to Mallaig. It was 6.5 whenthe life-boat arrived back at her station.
The following life-boats were also called outin April:
Barry Dock, Glamorganshire - 3oth.Beamaris, Anglesey - 22nd.Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - iyth.Cromarty, Ross & Cromarty - I2th.Dungeness, Kent - i3th.Fleetwood, Lancashire - 22nd.Hastings, Sussex - ipth.Mallaig, Inverness-shire - 4th.Minehead, Somerset - 4th.Mumbles, Glamorganshire - 9th and
IRB LAUNCHESRescues by IRB's in April were carried
out by the following stations:
SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Torbay, Devon - At 3.35 p.m. on istApril, 1967, it was learned that a sailingdinghy had capsized off Paignton. TheIRB was launched at 3.47 in a moderateto fresh south by westerly wind and aslight sea. It was low water. She proceededtowards Paignton head but was unable tofind anything in that area so she moved tothe Torquay side of the bay. A dinghywith an outboard motor was also search-ing for the casualty. After some time theIRB found the capsized dinghy with twomen sitting astride. They had been unableto right the dinghy, which had drifted upas far as Meadfoot, and both men weresuffering from cold and exposure. Theywere taken aboard the IRB whose crewhelped them right the dinghy. She wasthen taken in tow. The men were landedat Torquay and the IRB returned to herstation at 5.5.
Poole, Dorset - At 4.45 a.m. on i6thApril, 1967, a local tug master informedthe honorary secretary that a motor boatwas stranded outside the harbour entrance.The tug and pilot boat were unable to goalongside, due to the shallow water. TheIRB was launched at 4.55 in a gentlenorth easterly breeze and a smooth sea.The tide was flooding. The IRB came upwith the motor boat Two Ways and tookoff the four people on board. She returnedto her station at 6.45.
SOUTH WEST DISTRICT
The Mumbles, Glamorganshire -At 11.30 a.m. on ist April, 1967, it wasreported that two men were in the waterfrom a capsized dinghy one mile north ofthe IRB station. The IRB was launchedat 11.33 in a moderate sea and a moderatenorth easterly breeze. The two men weretaken aboard and landed at the WestCross beach, where they were taken to
hospital. The IRB then returned to thedinghy and brought her back to the IRBstation, arriving at 12.30 p.m.
Port Talbot, Glamorganshire - Atabout 12.10 p.m. on i5th April, 1967, theIRB crew saw a sailing dinghy in diffi-culties one mile west of the station. TheIRB was launched immediately in agentle northerly breeze and slight sea.The tide was ebbing. The IRB came upwith the sailing dinghy Sea Bee with oneoccupant. The halyards had been carriedaway and the sail could not be hoisted.The IRB took the dinghy in tow toAberavon beach and returned to herstation at 12.45.
Holybead, Anglesey - At 12.1 p.m.on 26th April, 1967, it was learned that asmall boat was in difficulties half a mileeast of Breakwater light. The IRB waslaunched at 12.8 in a fresh south westerlybreeze and a slight sea. The tide wasebbing. The small boat with two peopleon board could not be rowed ashoreagainst the wind and tide. The crew wereembarked and the IRB towed their boatto harbour. The IRB returned to herstation at 12.30.
SCOTTISH DISTRICT
North Berwick, East Lothian - At3 p.m. on 29th April, 1967, while under-going training, the IRB went to the assis-tance of a sailing dinghy which had beendismasted and was in danger of beingwashed on to the Platcock rocks. Therewas a strong westerly breeze and amoderate sea. The tide was flooding. TheIRB towed the dinghy with two people onboard to the beach and carried on traininguntil 3.15 when all dinghies preparing fora race returned to harbour.
Kinghorn, Fife - At about 7.45 p.m.on ist April, 1967, information was giventhat a yacht was in difficulties off Aber-dour about five miles west of the station.The IRB was launched at 7.55 in amoderate southerly breeze and a slightsea. The tide was ebbing. The IRB cameup with the yacht Iris with two people on
board drifting towards the shore. Aftertaking the yacht in tow, the IRB crewdecided to make for Aberdour harbour,but because of the rocks in Aberdour bayand not being sure of the state of the tidethey towed the yacht into the channelagainst the wind to enter the harbourfrom the south. After safely mooring theIris the IRB returned to her station,which was reached at 11.15.
Broughty Ferry, Angus - At 6.31p.m. on I5th April, 1967, a member ofthe IRB crew informed the coxswain thata speed boat was sinking a quarter of amile south of Broughty Castle rock andthat her crew of three were in the water.The IRB was launched two minutes laterin a light northerly breeze and a calm sea.It was high water. The three people weretaken on board the IRB and their speedboat, which had struck a submerged log,was towed to Broughty Ferry sands. TheIRB returned to her station at 7.3.
NORTH EASTERN DISTRICT
Humber Mouth (Cleethorpes) Lin-colnshire - At 2 p.m. on 5th April, 1967,it was learned that four children werestranded in a moored boat four milesnorth of the station. In view of the risingtide and north westerly gale it was decidedto launch the IRB to bring them ashore.The IRB launched at 2.15 and took thefour children on board. She reached herstation at 3.15.
Filey, Yorkshire - At 2.15 p:m. on•joth April, 1967, during a yacht club race,it was decided in view of the prevailingconditions to have the IRB standing by.At 2.42 the IRB was launched in a gentlenorth westerly breeze and a calm sea.It was low water. The IRB rescuedone man who had fallen into the sea andassisted four sailing dinghies to the shore.She returned to her station at 4.40.
SOUTH EASTERN DISTRICT
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston,Norfolk - At 4.42 p.m. on 24th April,1967, it was reported that a member of
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the crew of the Lowestoft trawlerShereffmuir had been overcome by fumeswhen fire had broken out on board thetrawler. The trawler was near Gorlestonand had asked for a doctor. At 5.01 theIRB with a doctor on board left for thetrawler. There was a moderate southeasterly breeze with a moderate swell. Thetide was ebbing. The patient was em-barked and given oxygen on the wayback to the station. The IRB arrived ather station at 5.23 and an ambulancetook the man to hospital.
At 11.20 a.m. on 9th April, 1967, it wasreported that a rowing boat, with twomen on board, was in difficulties south ofthe harbour. The IRB was launched at11.22 in a moderate north easterly breezeand a moderate swell. The tide was ebb-ing. The rowing boat was making noheadway due to the offshore wind andebbing tide and was in danger of beingswamped. The IRB took her in tow andreturned to her station at 11.45.
Wells, Norfolk - At 4 p.m. on 6thApril, 1967, information was receivedthat two men were missing on the marsheseast of the life-boat house. The men wereseen on the sandhills. In view of theexceptional tide, caused by the onshoregale, the two men would not have beenable to cross the marshes until well afterdark. The IRB was therefore launchedat 4.30 in a north westerly gale and corres-ponding sea. It was high water. The twomen were taken on board the IRB and shereturned to her station at 5.15.
See page 205 for other IRB launches
MAYSOUTH WESTERN DISTRICT
Life-boat 70-002 - Bristol Channel- At 1.35 p.m. on 7th May, 1967, amember of the crew of the life-boatGrace Paterson Ritchie lying at anchor offIlfracombe saw a red flare at the east endof Ilfracombe bay. There was a moderatewesterly wind and a slight sea. The tidewas flooding. The IRB carried by the
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life-boat, which was collecting stores atIlfracombe, was recalled. With a crew oftwo she proceeded to investigate. At 1.45she located the casualty - the fishing boatBoy David - with eight people on boardat anchor close to rocks. Her propellerhad been fouled by the mooring line of alobster pot. The casualty raised anchorand was towed safely to Ilfracombe. TheIRB returned to the life-boat at 2.20.
Penlee, Cornwall - At 6 a.m. on 6thMay, 1967, news was recieved that theSolomon Browne would be needed to takea sick man to hospital from the Germanship Clivia which was approachingMount's Bay in a choppy sea and poorweather. At 6.45 the life-boat waslaunched and proceeded to Newlyn topick up a doctor. At 7.25 she met theship and put the doctor aboard. Thesick man was transferred to the life-boatwhich arrived at Newlyn at 9.10. Thelife-boat was moored at Newlyn, owingto swell at the slipway, until 3.30 p.m.the next day.
Fowey, Cornwall - At 11.5 p.m. on5th May, 1967, a report was received of ared flare two to three miles south ofGorran Haven. The life-boat DeneysReitz slipped her moorings at 11.38 in afresh south south westerly wind and amoderate sea. It was one and a half hoursafter low water. The casualty - the fishingvessel Yves Chantral of St. Malo - witheight people on board was found two anda half miles south of Gorran Haven at1.59 a.m. on 6th May, 1967. Her enginehad failed. She was taken in tow to Foweyand the life-boat returned to her station at5-34-
St. Ives, Cornwall - At 8.17 p.m. onI3th May, 1967, it was reported that anoutboard Gemini craft had left Porth-meor Cove at 2.30 and had not beensighted since. The life-boat Edgar,George, Orlando and Eva Child waslaunched at 8.50 in a slight wind and acalm sea. The tide was flooding. The IRBwas launched, and a helicopter also assis-ted in the search. At 10.30 a flare was
seen in a position seven miles north northwest of St. Ives Head. The life-boat pro-ceeded to the position and found thecasualty with the IRB standing by. Thecrew - a Royal Marine Commandoinstructor and five W.R.N.S. - weretaken on board and the Gemini crafttaken in tow. The life-boat towed thecasualty to St. Ives and returned to herstation at 11.50. A letter of appreciationwas received from the commanding officerat Melville Camp.
St. Mary's, Scilly Islands - On22nd/23rd May, 1967, the life-boat Guyand Clare Hunter was launched to theassistance of the yacht Braemar. A fullaccount of this service will appear in theDecember number of the journal.
NORTH WESTERN DISTRICT
Portpatrick, Wigtownshire - At8.11 p.m. on 9th May, 1967, it waslearned that the fishing vessel Star ofFreedom had engine trouble and wasdrifting seven miles south by east ofPortpatrick. The life-boat Henry Blogg,on temporary duty at the station, slippedher moorings at 8.20 in a moderate southwesterly wind and a slight sea. It was twohours after low water. The life-boatfound the casualty at 9.28 and took her intow to Portpatrick. She returned to hermoorings at 11.55.
Rhyl, Flintshire - At 1.14 p.m. on20th May, 1967, it was learned that anupturned dinghy was drifting in thedirection of Rhyl one mile off the GoldenSands holiday camp. The life-boatAnthony Robert Marshall was launchedat 1.25 in a gale force westerly wind and arough sea. It was one hour before lowwater. A helicopter which co-operated inthe search found the casualty with bottomripped out three quarters of a mile westof the river entrance. The life-boat pro-ceeded to the position indicated, towedthe casualty to deeper water and, as thehull was breaking up, recovered the out-board engine. The life-boat returned toher station at 4.10.
Holyhead, Anglesey - At 9.10 p.m.on I4th May, 1967, information wasreceived that the motor fishing vesselFydlyn Bay, on passage from MorecambeBay to Holyhead, had developed enginetrouble but was expected to arrive at2.30 a.m. At 11.10 the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that they wereconcerned about the vessel but the fatherof the owner said that the vessel would beall right. At 12.10 a.m. on i5th May,1967, the weather conditions had deterio-rated and at 12.32 the life-boat Lady Janeand Martha Ryland, on temporary dutyat the station, was launched. There wasan east north easterly gale and a roughsea. It was two hours before high waterand visibility was poor because of heavyrain. The vessel was found at 2 o'clockseven miles north east of Point Lynas andshe was escorted to Holyhead, arriving at5.26. The life-boat could not be re-housed until 16th May because of theadverse weather conditions.
IRISH DISTRICT
Valentia, Co. Kerry - At 5.15 p.m.on 15th May, 1967, Valentia radio in-formed the honorary secretary that thefishing vessel Beal Inse of Dublin was inurgent need of assistance two miles south-west of Valentia. The life-boat MaryStanford, on temporary duty at thestation, slipped her moorings at 5.30 in alight northerly wind and a smooth sea.The tide was on the ebb. The casualtywith a crew of five was within fifty yardsof the rocks when the life-boat reachedher at 6.30. The life-boat took her in towto Valentia and returned to her mooringsat 8.30.
Galway Bay - At i p.m. on 30th May,1967, the local doctor requested the ser-vice of the life-boat to take an elderlywoman on Inishmaan Island to hospital.The life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson,with a crew of five and a doctor on board,was launched at 2 o'clock. There was amoderate westerly breeze and a smoothsea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boatproceeded to Inishmaan, took the patienton boa d, and proceeded to the mainland
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where the patient was landed at Rossaveeland taken to hospital. The life-boatreturned to her moorings at 6.30.
Kilmore, Co. Wexford - At 6 p.m.on 27th May, 1967, the honorary secre-tary was asked by the Irish Lights Officeif the life-boat would bring ashore amember of the crew of the Coningbeglightvessel whose mother was seriouslyill. The life-boat Cecil Paine was launchedat 6.5 with a relief lightvessel crew mem-ber on board. The man was put aboardthe lightvessel and the second man,whose mother was ill, was landed at 9o'clock.
Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford -At 11.25 a.m. on 3istMay, 1967, Lloyd'sagent at Wexford told the honorary secre-tary that there was an injured man onboard the m.v. Naess Louisiana. Thelife-boat H. F. Bailey, on temporary dutyat the station, was launched at 12.30 p.m.in a gentle southerly breeze and a calmsea. It was high water. The life-boat cameup with the vessel three quarters of amile north east of the South Shear buoyand embarked the injured man. He waslanded at Rosslare at 2.15 where a doctorand an ambulance were waiting to takehim to hospital at Wexford.
SCOTTISH DISTRICT
Anstruther, Fife - At 3.12 p.m. on20th May, 1967, news was received that ayacht had been seen flying distress signalsoff Fifeness. The life-boat The Doctorswas launched at 3.30 in a fresh westsouth westerly wind and a rough sea. Itwas three hours after high water. Thelife-boat found the casualty, the yachtValiant, with a crew of two, at 4.45. Theyacht had been damaged by a successionof heavy seas and the crew were ill. Thelife-boat took the casualty in tow andplaced members of the crew on board inorder to continue baling. As tide wasat full ebb the honorary secretary in-structed the life-boat to lie off until therewas sufficient water to enter harbour withthe casualty in tow. Valiant was then
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towed to the east pier and the life-boatwas rehoused at 7.55.
Thurso, Caithness - At 5 p.m. on22nd May, 1967, it was learned that therewas a sick man on board the S.S. Matina.The life-boat Pentland (Civil Service No.31) proceeded at 9.18 in a strong southeasterly breeze and a moderate sea. Itwas high water. The Matina was met twomiles north of Holborn Head and the sickman was embarked. The life-boat re-turned to her station at 11.20.
At 11.48 a.m. on 20th May, 1967, itwas reported that the motor fishing vesselEmulate II had fired a flare between Brims-ness and Dounresy and was drifting onto rocks. The life-boat Pentland (CivilService No. 31} was launched at 12 noonin a moderate south easterly breeze and amoderate sea. The tide was ebbing. Thelife-boat came up with the Emulate IIwith three people on board, and took herin tow to Scrabster. The vessel wasdisabled with a fouled propeller. The life-boat returned to her station at 3.35 p.m.
Lerwick, Shetlands - At 10.58 p.m.on 8th May, 1967, it was reported that themotor fishing vessel Day Dawn of Lerwickhad broken down off Bard Head, Bressay,and was in danger of being driven on tothe rocks. The life-boat Claude CecilStaniforth slipped her moorings at 11.23in a fresh west south westerly wind and amoderate sea. It was shortly before highwater. She reached the casualty, whichcarried a crew of five, at 11.55. A ropewas secured and she was taken in tow toLerwick. The life-boat returned to hermoorings at 1.15 a.m. on 9th May.
Wick, Caithness - At 5.15 p.m. onigth May, 1967, the local lobster boatTrust was reported to be showing distresssignals two miles south of Sarclet Head.The life-boat City of Edinburgh waslaunched at 5.25 in a fresh west northwesterly breeze and a moderate sea. Thelife-boat came up with the Trust with afouled propeller and took her in tow.There was a crew of three on board. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 6.45.
NORTH EASTERN DISTRICT
Whitby, Yorkshire - At 6.30 a.m. onI5th May, 1967, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that a fishingvessel was still at sea, and in view of theheavy swell which had built up on thebar with a strong flood after heavy rain, itwas decided to launch the life-boat toescort her in. The life-boat Mary AnnHepwonh was launched at 6.34 in a strongnorth easterly breeze and proceeded tothe harbour bar to await the motor fishingvessel Success. The Success was escortedinto the harbour and the life-boatreturned to her station at 7 o'clock.
North Sunderland, Northumber-land - At ii a.m. on 6th May, 1967, thelife-boat mechanic informed the honorarysecretary that heavy seas were breakingacross the harbour mouth and that themotor fishing vessel Children's Friend wasmaking her way to harbour. The life-boatGrace Darling was launched at 11.5 in amoderate south easterly wind and a roughsea. It was three hours after low water.The life-boat proceeded half a mile fromharbour and escorted the vessel safely toport. She returned to her station at 12.5p.m.
Tynemouth, Northumberland - At11.25 a.m. on I2th May, 1967, it waslearned that the coble Guiding Light witha man and a young boy on board wasoverdue from a fishing trip. The coast-guard searched to the limit of visibilitybut could not see the coble. The life-boatTynesider was therefore launched at 11.45.There was a moderate to fresh northerlybreeze and a corresponding sea. It washalf an hour before low water. The life-boat carried out a search assisted by adredger and the coble was found by thelife-boat four miles north east of theTyne. Her owner was still hauling linesand was escorted back to harbour,arriving at the fish quay at 1.55 p.m.The Life-boat reached her station at 2.5.
Sunderland, Co. Durham - At 10.13a.m. on 2oth May, 1967, the fishing cobleElizabeth was reported to be in difficulties
one and a half miles east of Whitburn andwas flying distress signals. The Life-boatWilliam Myers and Sarah Jane Myerswas launched at 10.29 in a fresh southwesterly wind and a moderate sea. It wasthree hours after low water. The casualty,which carried a crew of three, was foundat 10.58. Her engine had failed. The life-boat took her in tow to Sunderland andreturned to her station at 11.45.
Dunbar, East Lothian - At 12.9 p.m.on 2nd May, 1967, news was receivedthat a canoe had capsized outside theharbour entrance. The life-boat Margaretslipped her moorings at 12.11 in a strongnorth westerly wind and a rough sea. Itwas two and a half hours after high water.The canoeist was picked up 200 yardsfrom the harbour mouth and the life-boatreturned to her moorings at 12.34.
Runswick, Yorkshire - At 9.45 a.m.on the 16th May, 1967, it was noted thatfive fishing cobles from Staithes were stillat sea and the strong northerly gale whichhad blown up was making conditions atStaithes harbour mouth dangerous. Thelife-boat The Elliott Gill was launched at10.05 in a rough sea. It was high water.She proceeded to Staithes and escortedthe five cobles into harbour. The life-boatreturned to her station at 12.50 p.m.
SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT
Cromer, Norfolk - At 10.55 P-m- on
29th May, 1967, the coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that a Danishfishing vessel had a sick man on boardwho required a doctor. The no. 2 life-boat William Henry and Mary King waslaunched at midnight with a doctoraboard. There was a south south westerlybreeze and a moderate sea. The tide wasebbing. The Life-boat met the fishingvessel Karin Hoegh three miles northnorth east of the Haisbro lightvessel andtook the sick man on board. The sick man,who was the skipper, was landed atCromer at 8.20 a.m. where an ambulancewas waiting to take him to hospital.
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Lowestoft, Suffolk - At 8 p.m. on13th May, 1967, the yacht Contango ofWoodbridge was reported aground on theNewcombe sandbank and was flying adistress signal. The life-boat FrederickEdward Crick was launched at 8.25 in afresh north easterly wind and a slight sea.It was three hours before high water. Thelife-boat proceeded to the position indi-cated and found the yacht which had acrew of six. Her skipper reported that theengine had failed. The coxswain let go ananchor and veered down on to the casu-ally in very shallow water. After a linewas secured the life-boat towed thecasualty clear of the sandbank and safelyto harbour. She returned to her station at
At 9.20 p.m. on loth May, 1967, a redflare was reported to have been seen halfa mile off Pakefield rifle range. The life-boat Frederick Edward Crick slipped hermoorings at 9.30 in a fresh easterly windand a choppy sea. The tide was flooding.She reached the casualty, the local long-shore boat Success, carrying a crew of twoat 9.50. A herring net had fouled herpropeller. The life-boat towed her toLowestoft and returned to her mooringsat 10.40.
Aldeburgh, Suffolk - At 1.40 a.m. on14th May, 1967, news was received that asmall yacht was drifting off the Sizewellbank with her engines out of action. Thelife-boat Alfred and Patience Gottwaldwas launched at 2.10 in a fresh northeasterly wind and a moderate sea. It wasshortly after high water. As visibility wasonly about 100 yards the life-boat's searchwas a rather protracted one and the casu-alty, the cabin cruiser Sujan HI with acrew of two, was not found until 6.20 a.m.She was then a mile from Sizewell powerstation. The life-boat took her in tow toLowestoft and returned to her station at12.30 p.m.
At 3.50 a.m. on 24th May, 1967,information was received that the yachtZerobe, with her sails gone, was in townine miles south east of Southwold. The
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tow line had parted twice. The life-boatAlfred and Patience Gottwald was laun-ched at 4.40 in a moderate south southwesterly breeze and a moderate sea. Thelife-boat came up with the yacht withthree people on board in tow of thecoaster Avoyelles. The tow was trans-ferred to the life-boat and the yacht wastaken to Lowestoft. The life-boat re-turned to her station at 12 o'clock.
Ramsgate, Kent - At 10.5 a.m. on28th May, 1967, it was learned that theyacht Dorus Mhor was in difficulties witha lost rudder one mile north west ofthe Sandettie lightvessel. The life-boatEdward and Isabella Irwin, on temporaryduty at the station, slipped her mooringsat 10.25 m a moderate south westerlybreeze and a corresponding sea. It waslow water. After a search the yacht wassighted off Broadstairs and a line waspassed. The yacht with six people onboard was towed to Ramsgate and thelife-boat returned to her moorings at6.5 p.m.
Walton & Frinton, Essex - At 2.4a.m. on 25th May, 1967, it was learnedthat there was a sick man on board thetanker Daleward who needed to bebrought ashore for medical attention. Thelife-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott, ontemporary duty at the station, slipped hermoorings at 2.38 in a gentle west southwesterly breeze and a choppy sea. Thetide was ebbing. The Daleward was metat the Rough Towers buoy and the sickman embarked. The life-boat then pro-ceeded to Harwich, arriving at 4.57,where an ambulance was waiting to takethe man to hospital. She returned to herstation at 7.48.
At 5.34 p.m. on 26th May, 1967, it waslearned that Deal coastguard had inter-cepted a call from the wireless trans-mitting station Radio Caroline asking forassistance to bring ashore a crew memberwith a badly burned arm. The life-boatCecil and Lilian Philpott, on temporaryduty at the station, slipped her mooringsat 6.8 in a gentle westerly breeze and a
choppy sea. The tide was ebbing. Theinjured man was embarked and taken tothe pier where an ambulance was waitingto take him to hospital. The life-boatreturned to her moorings at 7.6. Theowners made a donation to the Insti-tution's funds.
At 9.44 p.m. on soth May, 1967, it waslearned that a small boat had brokendown near the Stone Banks buoy. After itwas ascertained that a shore boat couldnot assist and in view of the weather fore-cast the life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpot,on temporary diity at the station, slippedher moorings at 10.35 in a smooth sea.The tide was ebbing. The life-boat tookthe motor boat with a crew of two in towto Walton river where the tow was handedover to the coxswain's motor boat,manned by two helpers. The life-boatreturned to her moorings at 12.50 a.m. on3ist May, 1967.
Margate, Kent - At 5.40 p.m. on i4thMay, 1967, a report was received of ared flare off Nayland rocks. The IRBwas launched to investigate and report.Two red flares fired by the IRB were seenshortly afterwards. The life-boat NorthForeland (Civil Service No. u), waslaunched at 6.11 in a light northeasterly wind and a moderate sea. Itwas two and a half hours after highwater. The casualty, the cabin cruiserShy Girl, with a crew of two, was reachedin a few minutes. She had struck therocks and sustained damage to her steer-ing. The casualty was towed to Margateharbour. Owing to tidal conditions it wasnot possible to rehouse the life-boat until2.15 a.m. on I5th May, 1967.
At 8.22 a.m. on 26th May, 1967,information was received that a smallvessel had fired flares about five milesnorth of Grenham Bay, Birchington. Thelife-boat North Foreland (Civil ServiceNo. 11) was launched at 8.44 in a slightsouth easterly breeze and a smooth sea.The tide was ebbing. When the life-boatwas off Westgate a helicopter informedthe crew that the vessel, a yacht withfour people on board, was west of Hook
sands. It transpired that the actualposition was west of Margate Sandsbeacon. The life-boat came up with theyacht which had a heavy list to port. TheIRB, which had also put out, kept contactbetween the yacht and Jife-boat as, due toinsufficient water, the life-boat could notcome alongside. Tow lines were passed tothe yacht by the IRB and she then re-turned to her station. The life-boat towedthe yacht off at 11.10 and then returnedto Margate harbour which was reached ati o'clock. Owing to low water in theharbour the yacht was moored alongsidethe harbour wall. The life-boat was leftin the harbour until there was sufficientwater to rehouse her at 4.50.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Exmouth, Devon - At 4.11 p.m. on3rd May, 1967, it was learned thatthe skipper and six men aboard apontoon laying a new sewer outfall atDawlish Warren were marooned. Themotor boat, which normally serviced thepontoon, was unable to make contactowing to the onset of high winds andheavy seas. The life-boat Michael Stevenswas launched at 4.29 in a south southeasterly gale and a rough sea. It was onehour after high water. The casualty wasreached at 5.20. Approach was madedifficult by the presence of a fixed irongantry protruding from the pontoon atcockpit level. After two attempts all thecrew were taken aboard. Shortly after-wards the anchor cables on the 200 tonpontoon snapped and the vessel went onthe rocks near Langstone Point. The menwere landed at Exmouth and the life-boatreturned to her station at 6.45.
Plymouth, Devon - At 7.30 a.m. on15th May, 1967, information was receivedthat the German ship Unkas of Hamburgwas towing the yacht Vingen with a crewof two down channel. The yacht hadsignalled for assistance owing to enginetrouble. The life-boat Thomas Foreheadand Mary Rowse slipped her moorings at7.55 in a light northerly wind and a calmsea. It was two hours before highwater. A meeting was arranged off the
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Eddystone light. However, the life-boatmet the casualty four miles south of StokePoint. The tow was transferred to thelife-boat and the crew of two taken toSutton harbour. The life-boat returned toher moorings at 10.55.
Swanage, Dorset - At 1.58 p.m. on2Oth May, 1967, a message was receivedthat a dinghy was in need of assistance offPoole Bar buoy. Later two other din-ghies were reported in trouble. The life-boat R.L.P. was launched at 2.30 in afresh south westerly wind and a choppysea. It was two hours after low water. Adinghy with four people on board waseventually found. The crew were taken onboard the life-boat and the dinghy wastaken in tow. The life-boat then over-hauled the motor cruiser Viveuse with asecond dinghy in tow. The crew of fourhad been taken on board the cruiser. Thetwo dinghies and their crews were putsafely ashore at Studland Bay. The life-boat returned to sea in order to locate twofurther dinghies which were reported tobe still at sea. The life-boat found theseand escorted them safely to shore. Shereturned to her station at 4.35.
At 8.28 p.m. on 8th May, 1967, it waslearned that a swimmer from Swanagebeach was being carried out to sea to-wards Peveril Point. The life-boat R.L.P.was launched at 8.35 in a slight westerlywind and a smooth sea. It was one hourbefore high water. The swimmer wasfound about 100 yards offshore about aquarter mile from the pier. He said hewas in no danger, but felt rather cold andhad gone further than he intended. Hewas taken on board the life-boat andlanded safely. The life-boat returned toher station at 9.30. A helicopter also tookpart in this operation.
At 1.57 p.m. on 3rd May, 1967, it wasreported that a dinghy with a crew of twohad capsized in Swanage Bay. The life-boat R.L.P. was launched at 2.8 in astrong south westerly wind and a choppysea. It was three hours before high water.The sailing dinghy Faust was reached at2.16 and the two boys who made up the
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crew were taken aboard the life-boat. Asthe stern buoyancy bag had brokenadrift it was not possible to right thedinghy. The dinghy was towed to theboathouse and beached close by. Theboys, having been given a hot drink,changed their clothes at the sailing cluband returned home. The life-boat re-turned to her station at 3.10.
Torbay, Devon - At 12.20 a.m. onI4th May, 1967, it was reported that acar had been seen to run over the head-land close to the look-out. The life-boatPrincess Alexandra of Kent slipped hermoorings, with the small boarding boatin tow, at 12.50 in a light north easterlywind and a slight sea. It was one hour anda half after low water. The driver of thecar was found at the base of the cliff. Withpolice and coastguard assistance the manwas taken on a stretcher into the boardingboat and then transferred to the life-boat.He was landed at Brixham where anambulance was waiting to take him tohospital. The life-boat returned to hermoorings at 2 o'clock.
The following life-boats were also called outin May:Beamaris, Anglesey - 2ist.Buckie, Banff shire - loth.Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - I4th.Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin - 6th,
IRB LAUNCHESRescues by IRBs in May were carried out
by the following stations:
NORTH WEST DISTRICT
Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - At6.40 p.m. on 3oth May, 1967, it was learnedthat a boy, who had fallen off the GreatOrme, would have to be taken off by boatas it would be very difficult to haul himup the cliff face. The IRB was launchedat 6.45 in a slight north westerly breezeand a slight sea. The tide was ebbing. Theinjured boy was embarked together with amember of the mountain rescue team, andthey were brought ashore. The IRB thenreturned to the Great Orme and em-barked four boys who were stranded, twoother members of the mountain rescueteam and a police sergeant. The IRBreturned to her station at 8 o'clock.
Holyhead, Anglesey - At 2.35 p.m.on I4th May, 1967, a small craft wasreported to be in difficulties in the outerharbour. At 2.40 the IRB was launchedin a strong easterly breeze with a moderatesea. The tide was ebbing. The dinghy'screw of two were unable to right theirboat. After taking them on board the IRBcrew righted the dinghy and took her intow to the yacht club slipway. Whilereturning to the station the IRB crew sawa sloop in difficulties half a mile north ofthe station. The IRB stood by while thesloop with five people on board got clearof the breakwater. The IRB finallyreturned to her station at 4 o'clock.
Moelfre, Anglesey - At 3.5 p.m. on14th May, 1967, news was received that asailing dinghy was being swept out to sea.The IRB was launched at 3.15 in a fresheasterly breeze and a rough sea. It washigh water. The IRB took the dinghywith three people on board in tow andreturned to her station at 4.5.
West Kirby, Cheshire - At noon on2 ist May, 1967, a dinghy was seen indistress off Leasowe. The IRB was takenby Land Rover and launched at 12.17 at
the north east end of Meols Parade. Therewas a strong south easterly breeze and achoppy sea. The tide was ebbing. TheIRB came up with the catamaran Bucca-neer, with a crew of two, and took her intow. The Buccaneer's sails had beencarried away and she was dismasted. TheIRB brought the catamaran and crewashore at Hoylake at i o'clock. She re-turned to her station at 2 p.m.
Morecambe, Lancashire - At 11.15a.m. on 24th May, 1967, it was learned thata yacht had capsized one and a half mileseast of the station. The IRB was launchedin a strong south westerly breeze and aslight swell. It was high water. The IRBrescued the occupant of the dinghy andbrought him ashore where an ambulancewas waiting to take him to hospital. TheIRB returned to her station at i o'clock.
Holyhead, Anglesey - At 10.30 a.m.on 2ist May, 1967, a catamaran was seento capsize half a mile north west of thestation. The IRB was immediatelylaunched in a south westerly gale and amoderate sea. The tide was ebbing. Thecatamaran's crew of two were embarkedand the IRB then returned to her stationwhich was reached at 11.40. A TrinityHouse tender took the catamaran, namedTearaway, in tow.
Aberdovey, Merionethshire - Atabout 11.15 a.m. on 291)1 May, 1967, adinghy was seen to capsize half a milesouth of the station. The IRB was laun-ched at 11.15 and rescued the dinghy'screw of five. She returned to station at11.30.
Moelfre, Anglesey - At 4.45 p.m. on29th May, 1967, it was learned that adinghy had capsized one mile off Benllechand the three crew were clinging to herkeel. The IRB was launched at 4.55 in amoderate south westerly breeze and amoderate sea. The tide was ebbing. Thethree men were embarked and the dinghytowed to the beach. Meanwhile the cox-swain received information of anothercasualty three miles north of the station.
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When the IRB was within hailing distancethe IRB crew were told of a motor boat,with engine trouble, drifting out to sea.The IRB came up with the motor boatand embarked her crew of four. The boatwas towed to Moelfre beach and the IRBreturned to her station at 6.20.
IRISH DISTRICT
Port St. Mary, Isle of Man - At 3p.m. on 20th May, 1967, it was learnedthat a sailing dinghy was in difficulties inthe bay. The IRB was launched hi astrong westerly breeze and a moderatesea. The tide was ebbing. The IRB cameup with the dinghy with three people onboard drifting towards the rocky shore.The dinghy was taken in tow to the life-boat slipway which was reached at 4o'clock.
SCOTTISH DISTRICT
Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire - At6.15 p.m. on 20th May, 1967, it wasreported that a sailing dinghy had cap-sized and the occupant was in the water.The IRB was launched at 6.20 in a strongnorth westerly breeze and a slight sea.The man was taken on board the IRBwhere he was treated for exposure. TheIRB returned to her station at 6.40.
At 9.10 p.m. on igth May, 1967, infor-mation was received that a dinghy hadcapsized half a mile north west of thestation. The IRB was launched at 9.15in a moderate north westerly breeze anda moderate sea. The IRB embarked thedinghy's occupant who was in the waterand took him ashore. The IRB then sal-vaged the dinghy, returning to her stationat 945-
At 12.45 p.m. on 20th May, 1967, newswas received that a sailing dinghy hadcapsized. One of the crew was clinging tothe dinghy, which was drifting to leeward,leaving the second man in the water. TheIRB was launched at 1.20 in a westerlygale and a rough sea. The tide was ebbing.The IRB embarked the man in the waterand then proceeded to the man clinging
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to the dinghy and brought them ashore.After the dinghy had been towed ashorethe IRB returned to her station, arrivingat 2.5.
NORTH EASTERN DISTRICT
Tynemouth, Northumberland - At3.11 p.m. on 20th May, 1967, it waslearned that a canoeist was waving for helpone mile east of the station. The IRB waslaunched at 3.15 in a south westerly galewith a choppy sea. The tide was ebbing.On arrival at the scene of the casualty thecrew saw that a motor boat had alreadyreached the canoeist and they escortedboth boats to the shore. On reaching herstation the IRB crew saw two dinghiescapsize. The IRB proceeded to the firstdinghy and took her crew of two off therocks and took the boat in tow. A rescueboat, which had broken down, was alsotowed to safety. A second rescue boatwith a fouled propeller was taken in tow,and when the engine was restarted thedinghy's two crew were put aboard her.The IRB stood by while the second dinghywas refloated. On returning to theirstation the coastguard informed the crewthat a canoe appeared to be in difficultieshi Herd Sand. On investigation the canoewas found to be ashore. The IRB finallyreturned to her station at 4.15.
Redcar, Yorkshire - At about 6.40p.m. on 29th May, 1967, it was reportedthat the crew of a small fishing boat weresignalling for assistance off Green Lane,Redcar. The IRB was launched in amoderate south easterly breeze and aslight sea. The tide was flooding. TheIRB came up with the fishing boat King-fisher with two people on board. Theengine had broken down. The IRB tookthe Kingfisher in tow and returned to herstation, reaching it at 7.5.
At 12.55 p.m. on 2ist May, 1967, itwas learned that two boys were cut off bythe tide at Huntcliff. The IRB waslaunched at i o'clock in a gentle southsouth westerly breeze and a slight sea.The tide was flooding. The two boyswere embarked and the IRB then started
back to her station. At this point thehandgrip parted from the starter cord andthe IRB had to be rowed ashore. TheIRB was beached at Saltburn and re-turned to her station at 4.30.
SOUTH EASTERN DISTRICT
Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 8.13p.m. on 4th May, 1967, information wasreceived that a small boy was stranded ona boar 500 yards east of the station. TheIRB was launched at 8.16 in a southerlygale with a rough sea. The tide wasflooding. The IRB took the boy on boardand returned to her station at 8.30.
Harwich, Essex - At 1.50 p.m. on 2istMay, 1967, news was received that adinghy had capsized off Landguard Point.The IRB was launched at 1.52 in a moder-ate south south westerly wind and acorresponding sea. The tide was ebbing.She proceeded to Landguard Point andfound the overturned dinghy with fouryoung people clinging to her. The sur-vivors were taken aboard the IRB whichreturned to the shore and landed them.After receiving first aid treatment theywere conveyed to hospital by ambulance.They were taken home by car after treat-ment. The IRB arrived back on stationat 2.10.
Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 1.20p.m. on 7th May, 1967, it was reportedthat a yacht had capsized south east of theLow Way buoy. The IRB was launchedat 1.25 in a fresh south westerly breezeand a moderate sea. The tide was ebbing.The IRB found two men and took themon board. After they had been landed theIRB returned to the yacht and anchoredher. She returned to her station at 2.30.
West Mersea, Essex - At 3 p.m. on3 ist May, 1967, information was receivedthat a dinghy had capsized off SeaviewPoint. The IRB was launched in a freshnorth westerly breeze and a slight swell.The tide was flooding. The IRB pro-ceeded to the area and rescued threeyouths, one of whom was on a submergedbank. They were taken to the beach and
the IRB then returned to her station,arriving at 3.35.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Plymouth, Devon - At 8.15 p.m. on24th May, 1967, while the IRB was onexercise in Plymouth Sound, the crewsaw a man on board a motor boat tryingto recover a man from the sea. The IRBwent alongside the motor boat and two ofthe crew went aboard to help haul theman inboard. The man had fallen over-board from his yacht Eskimo Nell whiletrying to retrieve the anchor. He hadtried to swim ashore but had been sweptback by the tide. The IRB proceeded tohis yacht, lowered the sails, retrieved theanchor and then passed a tow line to themotor boat. The two boats were escortedto Sutton harbour and the IRB then con-tinued with the exercise at 9 p.m. .Therewas a moderate south westerly breezewith a moderate sea. The tide was ebbing.The IRB returned to her station at 9.15.
Eastney, Hampshire - At 5.37 p.m.on 27th May, 1967, it was learned that asailing dinghy was in difficulties north ofthe Langstone Fairway buoy. The masthad gone overboard and the crew of twowere signalling for assistance. The IRBwas launched at 5.40 in a gentle easterlybreeze and a slight swell. The tide wasebbing. The IRB took the dinghy in tow.She reached her station at 6.25.
At 11.53 a.m. on 2ist May, 1967, acabin cruiser with four people on boardwas reported to have broken down northof Langstone Fairway buoy. The IRBwas launched at 12 o'clock in a strongsouth westerly breeze and a heavy break-ing swell. The tide was ebbing. The IRBattempted to approach the casualty fromthe windward but had to lie off as en-tangled ropes would have fouled the pro-peller. The helmsman then took the IRBin on the leeward side and successfullytook three of the crew on board. Thefourth member would not leave the cabincruiser at this time. He eventually aban-doned the boat 50 yards from the con-fused seas on the East Winner. The IRB
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took him on board and returned to herstation at i o'clock. For this service, hisfirst in command of the IRB, the helms-man was sent a letter of appreciation.
At 10.43 a-m- °n 7* May, 1967,assistance was asked for a sailing dinghywhich had capsized two miles from thestation. The IRB was launched at 10.45in a strong southerly breeze with a moder-ate swell. The tide was ebbing. The IRBcame up with the dinghy and took hercrew of two, who were clinging to thedinghy and were very cold, on board.After landing them on the beach thesailing dinghy Elusive was seen to capsizeone mile offshore. The IRB righted thedinghy after her crew had cut away thesails and towed her to Eastney. On enter-ing the harbour a third dinghy was seento capsize. After beaching the dinghyElusive the IRB, together with the coast-guard rescue boat, then proceeded to herassistance. The dinghy righted herselfand was escorted to safety by the IRB.The IRB returned to her station at 12.30p.m. A helicopter was overhead duringthe service.
Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent - At 3.59p.m. on 28th May, 1967, a member of thepublic informed the crew that a fishingdinghy was in difficulties about one mileoff shore. The IRB was launched at 4
o'clock in a fresh west south westerlybreeze and slight sea. It was high water.The dinghy's engine had broken downand her crew of two were unable to makeany headway by rowing against the tide.The IRB took the dinghy in tow andreturned to her station at 4.30.
Poole, Dorset - Shortly before 8.45p.m. on 22nd May, 1967, the coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that asmall cabin cruiser was in difficulties withone man on board off Hamworthy. TheIRB was launched at 8.45 in a southwesterly gale and a rough sea. The tidewas flooding. The IRB found the cabincruiser with a broken rudder and tookher in tow to Poole quay, arriving at 9.15.
Exmouth, Devon - At about 3.30p.m. on 4th May, 1967, a sailing dinghywas seen to capsize. The coxswain, withhis brother, immediately went to the IRBhouse while the second coxswain con-tacted the emergency mechanic. The IRBwas towed by car to the north side of thedock and was launched at 3.30 in a southsouth easterly gale and a moderate sea. Itwas one hour before high water. Thedinghy's crew of two were picked up andbrought ashore. The IRB then towed thedinghy ashore and returned to her stationat 5 o'clock.
See page 205 for other IRB launches.
NOTES OF THE QUARTER (continued from page 156)
were entertained to a reception by the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Villiers, K.C.B., O.B.E., and then to a luncheon by theStates of Jersey and a tea party at the yacht club. The Jersey life-boat put outto meet the fleet arriving from St. Malo. A visit to St. Malo was also paid bythe St. Peter Port life-boat.
In the course of the conference it was agreed that the eleventh internationallife-boat conference would be held either in the United States of America or inthe Netherlands.
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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 182, 792, and 201, the. following launches on service were made during the months Marchto May, 19673 inclusive:
Abersoch, Caernarvonshire - April 3Oth and May 26th.Amble, Northumberland - April 3oth and May 3oth.Atlantic College, Glamorganshire - April i8th and May 7th.Bangor, Co. Down - May 6th and 20th.Barrow, Lancashire - May I4th.Blackpool, Lancashire - April 25th and May lyth.Blyth, Northumberland - May igth.Bridlington, Yorkshire - March 27th, April i6th, 23rd, and May 28th.Brighton, Sussex - March 29th and May 2gth.Broughty Ferry, Angus - April 3Oth, May aoth and 2ist.Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex - March 29th, April i6th and 2ist.Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - May 2ist.Conway, Caernarvonshire - March 25th, May 2ist and 3ist.Eastbourne, Sussex - May 25th and 28th.Eastney, Hampshire - March 27th, April 9th, 2Oth, 23rd, and May 7th.Exmouth, Devon - April 22nd, 23rd, and May 29th.Filey, Yorkshire - May 28th.Fleetwood, Lancashire - May 25th.Flint, Flintshire - May 3oth.Happisburgh, Norfolk - May 3oth.Harwich, Essex - March 29th (twice), 3ist, April 9th, May I3th, I4th and 28th..Hastings, Sussex — March 24th, April I2th, 23rd, and May 2yth.Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire - April 23rd3 3oth, and May igth.Holyhead, Anglesey - May 7th and 2Oth.Howth, Co. Dublin - May I2th and 2Oth.Humber Mouth (Cleethorpes), Lincolnshire - May 2oth and 24th.Kinghorn, Fife - March i8th, April i6th and I7th.Largs, Ayrshire - March 2ist, April i6th, May 7th, I4th (twice) and 2oth.Littlehampton, Sussex - May 7th.Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent - April 3Oth and May 28th (twice).Lymington, Hampshire - March 27th.Margate, Kent - March 26th, April I4th, 23rd, May I4th, I7th, 2ist and 27th.Moelfre, Anglesey - May 3151.Morecambe, Lancashire - May 29th.Mudeford, Hampshire - May I4th and 2ist.Newquay, Cornwall - April 23rd and May I7th.Poole, Dorset - March 5th, 25th, April 5th and 22nd.Porthcawl, Glamorganshire - April i8th, May 7th and 29th.Port Talbot, Glamorganshire - May I4th.Redcar, Yorkshire - March 3Oth.St. Ives, Cornwall - May I3th.Skegness, Lincolnshire - April 3Oth.Southend-on-Sea, Essex - March i3th, April 9th (thrice), I4th, igth, 3Othand May 22nd.Southwold, Suffolk - May I3th and 2oth.Sunderland, Co. Durham - April 9th.The Mumbles, Glamorganshire - April pth.Torbay, Devon - April i8th and 29th.Tynemouth, Northumberland - May I4th.Wells, Norfolk - May 3ist.West Kirby, Cheshire - March 29th, April i6th, 29th, May ist, 8th and 23rd.West Mersea, Essex - March 26th (twice), April 3Oth and May 7th.Whitby, Yorkshire - May I2th, 2Oth and 25th.Whitstable, Kent - March 26th, 3ist (thrice), April 27th, May 2Oth, 2ist, 23rd and 28th.Worthing, Sussex - April 29th.Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - May 21 St.
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RESCUE FROM FRENCH YACHT (continued from page 170)and drifted on to the reef where it became a total wreck. Although he could notswim Mr. Le Guyader managed to reach the rocks.
The fire service boat tried to close the yacht but was damaged on the rocksand had to withdraw and stand by.
The St. Helier life-boat, which had her boarding boat in tow, reached thescene at 3.30. By this time the Kraken had been carried well on to the reef by thewind and by the tide which was running at some 4 to 5 knots in the gullies betweenthe rocks. The sea here was rough.
Acting Coxswain Grandin made his first approach from the westward. Arocket line was fired but it failed to reach the yacht. The life-boat then touchedbottom, and it was clear that no approach could be made from the west. Theyacht was being driven further on to the reef and Acting Coxswain Grandindecided that he must try to save her crew from the east side. He therefore advisedthem to abandon their yacht and make for the rocks, which they did.
BOARDING BOAT USEDThe life-boat made for the east side of the reef and closed in as far as she
safely could. Her boarding boat was then sent in manned by four of the life-boat crew. The yacht's crew of three and Mr. Le Guyader were taken aboard theboarding boat and transferred to the life-boat, which then returned to herstation, arriving at 5 o'clock.
Certificates recording their part in the service were issued to the other membersof the life-boat crew: A. De St. Croix, acting bowman R. Nicolle, motor mech-anic Royston Berezai, assistant mechanic Philip Richardson and crew membersGordon Coom, David Coom and G. Mercier.
Framed letters of thanks signed by the Secretary of the Institution, Mr. StirlingWhorlow, were sent to Mr. Leblanc and Mr. Le Guyader.
A letter of thanks was also sent to the Chief Fire Officer at St. Helier.
VELLUM FOR TRINITY HOUSE PILOTA Trinity House pilot at Alderney, Mr. Nicholas James Allen, has been accordedthe thanks of the Institution incsribed on vellum for the rescue of 20 members ofthe crew of a Greek tanker.
At 11.30 on the morning of 23rd January, 1967, the St. Peter Port harbourmaster, Captain J. Allez, who is also the honorary secretary of the St. Peter Portlife-boat station, informed the harbour master at Alderney that the Greek tankerConstantia S was ashore on the Casquets, and needed help immediately and thatthe St. Peter Port life-boat had put out.
CONFUSED SEAThe Alderney harbour master alerted two Trinity House pilots, Mr. Allen
and Mr. Jack Quinain, who mustered a crew and manned the 50-foot Trinity
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House tender Burhou. She put out at noon with Mr. Allen in command. Therewas a south westerly wind offeree 6 to 7 with a rough confused sea. It was half anhour after low water. The Burhou reached the tanker at 12.50. Several other shipswere standing by but they were unable to close the tanker. The British Railwayssteamer Sarnia, which was on passage from Guernsey to Weymouth, also madefor the scene.
The Constantia S was aground on Point Collotte at the eastern end of theCasquets. She had struck a little to the southward of the lighthouse but had beendriven east by wind and tide. She had developed a heavy starboard list and wassinking.
Mr. Allen took the Burhou close in to the tanker and spoke to the master, whowas ashore on the rocks. The master told him that two ship's boats had beenlaunched and had been swept away to the south east.
Although the sea conditions were very difficult the two boats were quicklylocated two miles south south east of the lighthouse. The Sarnia, although shewas rolling heavily, succeeded in rescuing ten men from one boat.
'ENGLISH SAILORS TERRIFIC'Mr. Allen, handling the Burhou with considerable skill, reached the second
boat and rescued the twenty people aboard her. The Greek second officer of thetanker, who was in charge of this boat, made the comment that 'the Englishsailors were terrific'. The chief officer of the Sarnia also expressed his admira-tion for the manner in which the rescue was carried out.
Certificates recording their part in the service have been issued to the othermembers of the Burhou's crew: Pilot J. Quinain, Harry Quinain, John Allen,and A. Johns.
Framed letters of thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Captainthe Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., were sent to the master and chiefofficer of the Sarnia, Captain Henry Walker and Mr. Cecil Paul Baker.
NEW WAYS OF RAISING MONEYA collecting box placed at Mashford's Boat Yard, where Sir Francis Chichester's
Gipsy Moth IV was berthed after her record breaking voyage back to Plymouth.,raised £85 for the R.N.L.I.
* * *The CranleighYouth Club, Guildford, Surrey, have given to the Institution half of
the proceeds they raised in the course of a comic pram race from Cranleigh to Brightonon 28th May, 1967. The amount was £18 i8s.
* * *When South Gloucestershire had its flag day Messrs. Corona Soft Drinks, through
their area manager, Mr. B. E. G. Newman, provided a lorry for the day on whichwas mounted an IRB which toured the area from Kingswood to Downend andChipping Sodbury. This, apparently, was found to be of 'very effective assistance tothe numerous collectors'. Mr. Newman, incidentally, is a member of the newly formedFishponds and Downend branch.
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Hazardous PassageFOR a service, in which he had to take his life-boat through a narrow,unchartered channel, infested with rocks, to a trawler whose bow was hardaground, Coxswain John Nicolson of Aith, Shetlands, has been awarded theR.N.L.I.'s silver medal for gallantry. The other seven members of his crew haveeach been accorded the Institution's thanks inscribed on vellum.
At 5.3 on the morning of ipth February, 1967, the Lerwick coastguardtelephoned Mr. Robert Fraser, the Aith honorary secretary, to say the Aberdeentrawler Juniper was aground on Papa Stour, Fogla Skerry. Mr. Fraser immedi-ately agreed to launch the life-boat and telephoned the mechanic, Frank Johnston,who fired the maroons.
Because of the strong southerly winds the maroons could hardly be heard inthe village, and Mr. Fraser had therefore to summon the various members of thecrew by telephone. This caused some delay and as the second coxswain'stelephone was out of order Mr. A. J. R. Tait, the assistant honorary secretary,volunteered to make up the crew.
The southerly wind was gusting to force 8 in squalls, and there were heavyshowers of rain and sleet. In Aith Voe there was a strong choppy sea. It wasstill dark, and high water had been at 5 o'clock.
The life-boat John and Frances Macfarlane, which is one of the 52-footBarnett class, put out at 5.48. At 7.15 she closed the north side of Papa Stour.where she saw no fewer than seven trawlers standing by the casualty, butbecause of the rocks none of them was able to go to her help.
The Juniper was aground in Lyra Sound between Lyra Skerry and PapaStour and partially obscured by the rocks and the stacks between her and thelife-boat. The Papa Stour C.R.E. Company had taken up position on the clifftop but they were unable to get a line across.
SLEET AND RAIN
The wind veered to the south south east, the sky was overcast, and the sleetand rain showers continued. Sunrise was at 7.34, and dawn was beginning. Therewas a considerable sea in the sound, but it was not breaking, probably becausethe wind and the tide were together.
Because of the rocks and skerries Coxswain Nicolson decided it would beextremely hazardous to approach the trawler from the north, and he thereforetook the life-boat around the west side of Fogla Skerry, his plan being to anchorto the southward of the casualty and veer down on her. The life-boat approachedthe Juniper, but there was a big sea running and the rocks presented so manyhazards that Coxswain Nicolson decided there was no chance of veering downsuccessfully. He therefore turned the life-boat back to the northward, and sherolled heavily as she came round. The time was then about 7.30.
Coxswain Nicolson consulted the chart, which was on a small scale butindicated that there was a clear channel close to Lyra Skerry. Although he
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was very familiar with the long coastline of the west coast of the Shetlands hehad never been through this passage before. It is known that the natives of PapaStour occasionally use it in their small boats but only in fair weather around highwater.
Acting Bowman James Manson was stationed forward to look out for rocksand the coxswain took the life-boat at slow speed through the channel. Therewere dark patches of kelp alternating with holes, and the surface of one rock wasonly a few feet to the starboard side of the life-boat. There was a strong surgecoming through the skerries, and as the life-boat approached the trawler herecho sounder indicated virtually no water under the keel.
The Juniper was lying in the middle of the sound heading north west.Her bow was fast on the rocks and her stern afloat. She was drawing n feet.Her engine room and fishing hold were flooded, giving her a list to port. Herupper deck forward was almost awash, and the seas were breaking over thebulwarks and washing loose gear about the deck.
HULL GROUND ON ROCKSThe trawler was rolling and lifting in the seas, and her hull ground on the
rocks as she fell in the trough. Her two inflatable life rafts had been launched,but they were not manned as the crew thought it likely they would be capsized ortorn on the rocks to leeward.
About 7.40, as dawn was breaking, Coxswain Nicolson put the port bow of thelife-boat alongside the port quarter of the trawler. Acting Second CoxswainAndrew Smith hove the nylon securing rope aboard, and this was rove through ablock in the port after-gallows and secured to a handrail on the superstructure.As the life-boat surged alongside the Juniper the tide kept her stern clear, andActing Second Coxswain Smith veered and hauled on the securing rope whilethe coxswain worked the engines to prevent it from parting. Orders were givenrapidly and the mechanics followed them skilfully under difficult conditions.
In groups of three and four the twelve men aboard the trawler were all takenoff. At one stage the life-boat struck the capping of the trawler's bulwark. She wasdamaged on the water-line and her stem band was twisted. As she remainedalongside, the life-boat rose and fell some 12 to 15 feet, and in the trough therewas probably not much more than a foot under the life-boat's keel.
As the last group of trawler men tried to come aboard, the trawler rolled toport and crashed against the life-boat. The life-boat's forward guard rails wereknocked flat and the foot rail was split. By 7.50 all twelve men had been taken offand the nylon securing rope was cut.
Coxswain Nicolson decided it would be too dangerous to try to turn and hetherefore took the life-boat under the Juniper'?, stern and out through the soundto the southward, safely negotiating the many hazards.
Most of the trawler's crew were badly shaken and some had little clothing on.During the passage back to Aith they were given rum and hot soup. The life-boat reached her station at 9.35, where the survivors were cared for by localpeople and the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.
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The seven members of the crew to whom the thanks inscribed on vellum wereaccorded were: Acting Second Coxswain Andrew Smith, Acting BowmanJames Manson, Motor Mechanic Frank Johnston, Acting Assistant MechanicWilbert Clark, and crew members William Anderson, Kenneth Henry andA. James R. Tait.
Long Service To 0/1 TankerWHEN the 61,000 ton Liberian tanker Torrey Canyon went aground on theSeven Stones on the i8th March, 1967, two life-boats were called out. Bothspent many hours at sea.
The first report to reach a life-boat station came at 9.17 on the morning of18th March, when the coastguard informed the St. Mary's, Scilly Islands,honorary secretary, Dr. W. D. Bell, that the tanker was aground and neededhelp immediately. The maroons were fired at 9.25, and three minutes later thelife-boat, Guy and Clare Hunter, which is one of the 46-foot g-inch Watson type,was launched. There was a force 4 north-westerly breeze with a slight to moderatesea. Visibility was good and it was one hour after high water.
Once clear of the island Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge set course for theSeven Stones, and about 10.35 tne life-boat arrived off the casualty. CoxswainLethbridge estimated that the tanker was on Pollard Rock and took the life-boat along her starboard side to discover what the master intended to do. After afew minutes the life-boat Jay off, and sent a radio message to the coastguardstating that she would stand by and that the tanker's master was awaiting thearrival of tugs.
Contact between the life-boat, the Torrey Canyon, and the tug Utrecht, whichwas approaching the tanker, was established by very high frequency radiotelephone. About 12.10 the life-boat took two men from the tug and put themaboard the tanker, Coxswain Lethbridge bringing the life-boat alongside themain deck of the tanker on the starboard side. About 1.30 the Torrey Canyonbegan to discharge oil, and the life-boat stood off clear to windward.
At 2.25 the life-boat sent a radio message that the oil was spreading, that thetanker had taken a list to starboard and that she was unlikely to refloat. TheUtrecht made repeated attempts to get a line aboard until 9,20, when operationswere discontinued. The life-boat therefore stood by close to windward through-out the night.
SEVERE LIST
At 6.57 on the morning of i9th March the life-boat signalled that the TorreyCanyon now had a severe list, that her starboard deck was awash and she wasdown by the head. The wind continued north westerly, strength 4 to 5, and therewas a corresponding sea.
At 8.6 the master of the Torrey Canyon asked the life-boat to transfer fourteenmen and their gear to the Trinity House tender Stella, which was also standing
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by. The life-boat went alongside, took the men and their gear off the starboardside of the tanker and transferred them to the tender.
The life-boat continued to stand by, and the Utrecht did succeed in getting aline aboard, but when the slack was taken up the line parted. The wind strength-ened to force 6, and about 12.30 p.m. it veered to the north north west. TheTorrey Canyon began to yaw about 5° either side of her original heading. Themaster then asked the life-boat to take off eighteen more men.
About 12.50 Coxswain Lethbridge brought the life-boat alongside the star-board main deck of the Torrey Canyon as the heavy list prevented the use of theport side. Conditions were rapidly growing worse, and although the sea was notbreaking because of the thick covering of oil the swell built up to a height ofsome 12 to 15 feet. The life-boat was made fast fore and aft alongside the tanker,and as she ranged heavily her port fender was damaged. At times she was liftedto the level of the tanker's main deck rails, and the coxswain continually usedhelm and engines to maintain position.
One at a time eight men jumped aboard the life-boat as she rose to thetanker's main deck. The ninth man misjudged his jump and fell into the sea, andCoxswain Lethbridge ordered the life-boat full astern to avoid crushing him.The man managed to grab the life-boat's outside life-line and was recoveredthrough the use of the scrambling net. He was taken below, wrapped in a blanketand treated for shock. An officer from the Utrecht, who was on the deck of theTorrey Canyon at the time, later reported that but for the prompt action andgood seamanship of the coxswain the man would have been crushed between thetanker and the life-boat.
RELIEF LIFE-BOATAt 1.6 the life-boat signalled she had taken off nine of the tanker's crew but
that the remainder preferred to wait for a helicopter. At 2.4 a helicopter took offfive men, and seven minutes later a second helicopter took off four more andlanded them on the Scilly Isles. There were still six men on board the tanker.These were the master, three of her crew, and two officers from the tug. Cox-swain Lethbridge therefore decided to continue to stand by until he was relieved.
The district inspector of life-boats, Lieutenant P. F. Gladwin, R.N.R., hadbeen in constant touch with the whole operation and he had arranged for thePenlee life-boat to relieve the St. Mary's boat at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. ThePenlee life-boat, Solomon Browne, which is one of the 4y-foot Watson type, waslaunched at 2 p.m. She reached the tanker about 4.50 and the St. Mary's life-boat returned to her station, which she reached at 6.35. The Penlee life-boatstood by the tanker throughout that night and most of the next day. She wasrelieved by the St. Mary's boat at 5 p.m. on 2oth March and reached her stationat 8 p.m.
Once again the St. Mary's life-boat stood by all night, and at 7.15 on themorning of 2ist March she left to return to her station as weather conditionswere now such that helicopters could give adequate cover during daylight hours.
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Dr. Bell and the honorary secretary of the Penlee station, Mr. D. L. Johnson,were advised that the life-boats would not be needed unless the weather deterior-ated.
At 12.20 p.m. on 2ist March the St. Mary's coastguard informed Dr. Bellthat the Torrey Canyon was on fire aft and advised him to launch. The life-boatput out at 12.30, with Dr. Bell, who is honorary medical adviser as well ashonorary secretary, accompanying the crew. At 1.12 she received a radiomessage that everyone had been taken off the tanker, but Coxswain Lethbridgedecided to close the casualty. At 1.55 it was confirmed that all those who hadremained with the Torrey Canyon were now on board a tug en route for Penzance,and the St. Mary's life-boat therefore returned to her station, which she finallyreached at 3.20 p.m.
The St. Mary's life-boat had been at sea for a total of 54 hours and the Penleeboat for 30 hours. A letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of theR.N.L.I., Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., was sent to CoxswainLethbridge and the crew of the St. Mary's boat. Additional monetary awardswere made to the members of both crews.
Following the service carried out by the St. Mary's life-boat to the tankerTorrey Canyon, whose subsequent loss was described as the most expensive of itskind in maritime history, her crew left the sum of £31 js. to cover the cost ofmaking and erecting a plaque in the life-boat house to commemorate the service.
The plaque will be worded:'Following the grounding of the tanker Torrey Canyon on the Seven Stoneson the i8th March, 1967, members of the crew who were landed at St.Mary's thank the Life-boat Institution and Hugh Town community fortheir assistance and very kind hospitality.'
RESCUE IN PORTLAND RACETHE Chairman of the R.N.L.I. has sent a letter of thanks to Coxswain AlfredPavey and the crew of the Weymouth life-boat for their part in rescuing twopeople from a catamaran in the Portland race on the night of 23rd/24th January1967.
At 11.49 that night the Weymouth honorary secretary, Mr. K. H. MooringAldridge, received an anticipatory message from the coastguard at Wyke thatred flares had been sighted off Portland Bill. He was told that enquiries werebeing made to discover whether naval exercises were in progress.
Five minutes later it was confirmed that the flares had been seen two milessouth of the Bill. At 12.15 tne life-boat, Frank Spiller Locke, which is one of the52-foot Barnett class, left her moorings. There was a squally west south westerlywind of force 6, and the weather was overcast. Visibility was moderate to good.It was one hour after low water.
A message was received that the British Railways steamer Winchester wouldstand by until the arrival of the life-boat and that the frigate Whitby was beingdiverted to where the flares had been seen. The life-boat came up with the
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catamaran Ranger of Essex 2^ miles south of Portland Bill at i.io. Twentyminutes later she had the catamaran in tow.
Coxswain Pavey decided to round the Shambles bank rather than attempt thepassage inshore of Portland race. The life-boat towed the catamaran for somethree miles, but the catamaran then over-ran the tow rope, which parted.Another tow was passed, and the boat was safely brought into Weymouth har-bour.
The rescue was witnessed by the crew of H.M.S. Whitby. At the time thecatamaran was taken in tow the wind was against the tide, and the CommandingOfficer of H.M.S. Whitby congratulated the coxswain on the standard of sea-manship displayed.
Rescue From Caps/zed SpeedboatTHE two members of the crew of the Easmey, Hampshire, inshore rescue boat,Helmsman Robert Faro and Roy Richards, have each been accorded the thanksof the R.N.L.I. inscribed on vellum for rescuing two people from a speedboatwhich capsized in a strong west south westerly wind on the afternoon of Sunday,26th March, 1967.
A report that a speedboat had capsized was made by the coastguard at 2.56that afternoon. The position given was ̂ mile south of Gunner Point. The coast-guard asked for the help of the IRB. The IRB put out two minutes later.
The strength of the wind was estimated at force 7. In the fairway and at theapproaches to the harbour entrance the sea was rough. It was two hours afterhigh water.
The helmsman kept to the east side of the channel, where conditions wereeasier, and at 3.5 the IRB reached the speedboat. She found her almost sub-merged with one survivor hanging on to a line and supported by a kapok cushion.He said that his companion had swum ashore.
ALTERED COURSE
Mr. Faro, who knows these waters extremely well, decided to make a searchin the direction of Hayling Island. Here the sea was extremely rough and con-fused and it was clear that the survivor would have been unlikely to swim throughit. The IRB therefore altered course to the eastward and a head was sighted inthe water. As the IRB closed the survivor he was seen to be clinging to a poly-thene fuel container. At the second attempt the IRB crew succeeded in dragginghim aboard.
Mr. Faro decided the best way to return to the station would be directly acrossthe East Winner, close to Hayling Island, as sea conditions on the southern sidewere very bad and there was a strong adverse tide. He therefore took the IRBon the two-mile return passage through rough confused seas and reached thestation at 3.30. The two men rescued received treatment for severe shock.
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BIRTHDAY HONOURSThe following were among those honoured by the Queen in the BirthdayHonours-
C.B.E.
Aid. J. T. Fletcher, of Aislaby, Yorkshire (chairman of the Redcar branch).
O.B.E.
Lady Traherne, Chief Superintendent for Wales of the St. John Ambulance(president of the Cardiff ladies' life-boat guild).
Airs. J. B. Coulthurst, of Gargrave, Yorkshire (president of the Skiptonladies' guild and associated with the Bradford branch).
M.B.E.
Commander C. A. de W. Kitcat, R.N. (retd), of Cullercoats, Northumberland(formerly H.M. Coastguard, North East Division).
B.E.M.
Mrs. A. G. Hart, of Wymondham, Norfolk (R.N.L.I. helper).
Best Wreck ServiceThe Rt. Hon. Douglas Jay, M.P., President of the Board of Trade, has awarded
the shield for the best wreck service of the year 1966/67 to the Belhelvie andCollieston Coastguard Rescue Companies for their rescue of six men by breechesbuoy from the stranded fishing boat Semnos II on the east coast of Scotland oni6th December, 1966. (THE LIFE-BOAT, June, 1967, page 118).
Describing the circumstances leading to the award, Commander P. J. H.Bartlett, Chief Inspector, H.M. Coastguard said: 'The two companies workedwell together in bitterly cold conditions and, once communication was estab-lished, the crew were brought off in record time from the vessel. I can givenothing but praise for the hardy and indomitable way in which these east coastmen tackled this particular service.'
DEATH OF LIFE-BOATMAN
WHEN an explosion wrecked their fishing boat off the South Devon coast onI5th June, 1967, one of the two men lost was Mr. Francois L. Janssens, ofBrixham, who was a regular crew member of the Torbay life-boat. His father,Mr. Albert Janssens, is the life-boat's bowman.
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BOOK REVIEWS• In Rescue Call (Kaye & Ward, 2is.) Angus Mac Vicar has written an admirablebrief history of the life-boat service. It is extremely readable and a great deal ofinformation has been packed into no more than 128 pages. Many of the familiarstories are retold, including the exploit of Grace Darling and her father and therescues from the Indian Chief in 1881, the Rohilla in 1914 and the Daunt Rocklightvessel in 1936. Mr. MacVicar has, however, called on his own first handknowledge to recount rescues which are less well known. Most of these tookplace off the south west coast of Scotland where he himself was a member of theSouthend (Kintyre) Life-Saving Apparatus Crew.
Having made the point that St. Columba must have been a superb seaman, hebrings home the hazards facing those who have carried out rescues on this partof the coast. One curious tale tells of how the Campeltown life-boat saved twomen who were being towed out into the Atlantic by a basking shark which theywere anxious to capture.
Other rescues are recalled in the words of the former coxswain, DuncanNewlands. These accounts are particularly vivid, and at one point the ex-coxswain describes how a member of his crew lifted and heaved men from theUnited States liberty ship aboard the life-boat 'like a hammer-thrower at theHighland Games'. A moment of crisis is also recalled when the coxswaindeclined to take a case of whisky aboard in addition to more than 50 survivors.
One of the problems facing all historians of the life-boat service is to keep thestory up to date in view of the many changes taking place. Mr. MacVicar hasbeen able to include a description of the yo-foot steel life-boat, and at one pointhe calls attention to the type of protective clothing used by the United StatesCoast Guard and comments:
'It seems to me they allow much more freedom of action than do stiff oil-skins and bulky life-jackets. Is there an idea here for the Institution ?'
He was not to know when he wrote this of the R.N.L.I.'s latest developmentsin protective clothing and life-jackets.
The book is well printed, with attractive chapter headings, and has some excel-lent illustrations, including one of the Sumner life-boat in New Zealand rescuingthe one-man crew of a bath-tub.
Mr. MacVicar is guilty of one slight inaccuracy when he states that theR.N.L.I. has always been supported entirely by voluntary contributions. Therewas, of course, a period from 1854 to T^^9 when a Government subsidy had tobe accepted.
• One of many magnificent photographs in The Sea by Robert C. Miller(Nelson, 4 guineas), a beautifully illustrated work, is a picture of a Dutch life-boat at sea.
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• Britain and America - an English language primer by Dr. Maria Alpers andDr. Herbert Voges (Velhagen & Klasing Berlin und Bielefeld) includes anaccount of a service by the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boat to theDutch oil tanker Georgia November in 1927. It wrongly attributes theaward of the gold medal to the Great Yarmouth coxswain. The gold medalfor this service was, in fact, awarded to Coxswain Henry Blogg of Cromer.—P.H.
• The Sea, Thine Enemy by Captain Kenneth Langmaid, D.S.C., R.N. (Jarrolds,355.) is in fact a comprehensive survey of coastal lights and life-boat service.This is undoubtedly a book which may be read with profit and interest by allseamen, professional or amateur.
There are three main sections under the headings (I) Lighthouses (II) Lightvessels and (III) Life-boats. In each of these even the most knowledgeableseafareris almost certain to find much absorbing information. For instance, one canhardly fail to be impressed by the amazing ingenuity, persistence and bravery ofthe early lighthouse engineers and builders, many of whom lost their lives intheir endeavours. And not only disasters but mysteries such as the disappearanceof all the keepers of the lonely light on Eilean More, which almost suggests avisit from outer space.
The steady growth of the life-boat service and the splendid courage and deter-mination of the coxswains and crews are recorded in seamanlike terms. The closeassociation of Trinity House and the R.N.L.I. - which many people are apt tothink of as one organization - is clearly emphasized by the accounts of life-boatassistance to lightships and lighthouses. These indeed are very real examples ofthe brotherhood of the sea.
• Wreck and Rescue in the Bristol Channel by Grahame Farr (D. Bradford BartonLtd., Truro, 305.) tells in the first of two volumes the story of the English life-boats in those waters.
Of the life-boat stations detailed in the book - Clovelly, Appledore - NorthamBurrows, Braunton Burrows, Motre bay, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Minehead,Watchet, Burnham-on-sea and Weston-super-Mare - six are no longer inexistence. In the main, as the author states, this is due to the advent of the motorlife-boat with its increased range and capabilities, but the decline of coastwiseshipping and the passing of sail have also contributed largely. To speak of thepassing of sail is not entirely correct as it may be noted that life-boat services tovessels under sail - yachts, nowadays - have increased considerably of recent years.
To many people the difficulties and dangers of navigating the Bristol Channelwill be well known, but even so this astonishing record of the bravery, enduranceand humanity of the seamen in these waters must have a tremendous impact.This is a book which those who love the sea will read with pride, and humility.
• The Third Boat by Leila Mackinlay (Ward Lock & Co. Ltd., I2s. 6d.) takes itstitle from a Manx superstition and this pleasant but somewhat fragmentary taleis rarely out of sight or sound of the sea. Moving from Morecambe Bay to theIsle of Man, with a brief visit to London, the story opens with a young author
216
intrigued by an old painting of a beautiful young woman. It traces the history ofher family with more than one tragic incident and ends with the narrator fallingin love with a descendant - the living image of the old portrait.
Life-boats figure prominently and there is much to interest anyone, who knowsMorecambe Bay and the Isle of Man; and, indeed, those who do not.
• Sea Rescue by Gardner Soule (Macrae Smith Company, Philadelphia) iswritten by a journalist and brings an urgent, exciting interest to a wide range ofdramatic sea stories. Ranging from the recovery of splashed-down spacemen tobroken tankers and solitary fishermen, there is something of vital interest foranyone who knows or wishes to know the meaning of disaster at sea. The authorhas included several chapters dealing with the Royal National Life-boat Insti-tution and shows a picture of the first American life-boat donated by the Britishorganization in 1871. A chapter on the recovery of the H-bomb from the sea bedoff Palomares gives some indication of the problems which have to be facedtoday and of the highly sophisticated craft and equipment in use.
• Rescue At Sea by John M. Waters, Jr. Captain U.S. Coast Guard (D. VanNostrand Company Inc.) This well produced and strikingly illustrated bookwritten by a senior officer of the U.S. Coast Guard makes fascinating andabsorbing reading of the work of sea rescue in all its wide applications today.Rescues by ship, boat, helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and skin divers are des-cribed in crisp detail. The emphasis, however,is on helicopter work. It is interest-ing to note the large number of casualties at sea which are due to illness oraccident rather than wind or weather and some hazardous rescue trips werenecessary in order to render assistance to people with appendicitis and a varietyof other acute attacks, some real, some imaginary. Cuban refugees and someactivities in support of the law which would not normally be described as 'rescuework' also come within the scope of the U.S. Coast Guard service. In all, a mostinteresting book for all who like sea stories and one of considerable value in thestudy of present day sea rescue work. —E.W.M.
Service to HumanityThe Evening Herald, Dublin, paid this tribute to the work of the R.N.L.I.
in their edition of 25th January, 1967. 'There are very few voluntaryinstitutions left with a tradition of service to humanity to match that of the RoyalNational Life-boat Institution. The crews at stations all over Ireland are ready atany minute of the day and night not only to rescue lives at sea but to risk their ownin doing so. Very many of them throughout the years have given their lives thatothers might live. They will go on doing so.
'We can never repay the men, but at least we should be able to meet the cost ofthe service.'
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'Life-boatmen Know Best*
The leading article in Yachting & Boating for 2Oth April, 1967, had this to say:'We . . . hear complaints that some of the rescued do not wish to be rescued. Butlike the surgeon, the life-boatman diagnoses and then operates ....
'The least the yachtsman can do ... is to see that these men and the servicethey represent are not hamstrung for lack of money. Every owner should beprepared to make an annual contribution to the R.N.L.I. - say £5 - as auto-matically as he renews his insurance policy'.
Rewards To Life-boatmenFor their services to the Norwegian vessel Kings Star, which went aground on
the North Shoal - a dangerous rock eight miles off the Orkneys - on 28th May,1966 (THE LIFE-BOAT, September, 1966), Coxswain A. K. Sinclair, of theStromness life-boat, has been given a gold watch and a cheque for £100 by theowners and underwriters. Each member of his crew has been given a chequefor j£io.
Awards to Coxswains and Members of Life-boat Crews
The following coxswains and members of life-boat crews have been awarded certificates ofservice and in addition those entitled to them by the Institution's regulations have been awardedan annuity or a retirement allowance and a gratuity.
NameROBERT ANDERSON. .
ROBERT ANDERSON D.S.M.
StationAberdeen
AnstrutherAith
PETER LAURENCE FRASER .. Aith
DAVID MARKWELL HANDYSIDE Amble
JOSEPH JAMES WATKINS
PHILIP ANDERSON ..
ALEXANDER GARDNERBASIL MARSHALL
Angle
Anstruther
AnstrutherAppledore
ALEXANDER BEATTIE SMITH Arbroath
THOMAS BEATTIE .. Arbroath
MATTHEW THOMAS HEENEY Arklow(posthumous)
NEIL BYRNE .. .. ArranmoreMICHAEL O'DRISCOLL .. Baltimore
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ServiceMotor mechanic 4! years.Reserve mechanic 11 months.Member of crew 7 years.Coxswain 17 years.Bowman 2 years.Member of crew 13 years.Motor mechanic 23^ years.Assistant mechanic 2f years.Member of crew 5^ years.Coxswain 12^ years.Member of crew 16 years.Coxswain 9^ years.Bowman loj years.Coxswain 6 years.Second coxswain ij- years.Member of crew 29 years.Member of crew 14^ years.Shore signalman 17^ years.Second coxswain 9 years.Bowman 8 months.Member of crew 7 years.Coxswain 2^ years.Member of crew i6| years.Coxswain lof years.Member of crew 19! years.Assistant mechanic 37! years.Coxswain 5^ years.Second coxswain 7! years.Bowman 6J years.Member of crew 6 years.
IHYS DAVID JONES
OHN VAUGHAN
OSEPH CLAYTONIAROLD JONES
[OHN LOUGH
[AMES CARSS
FREDERICK HENRY KING
WILLIAM FRANK NEALS
MICHAEL LEVINS(posthumous)
JOHN TALLON
WALTER SEMPLE
GEORGE YOUNG
STEPHEN HEADON
PATRICK O'NEILL(posthumous)
GEORGE MORRISONJOHN TRIMBLE
ROBERT MARR
EDWIN FAIR
FREDERICK J. RICHARDSONROBERT GEORGE TARTSAM HUGHES
Barmouth
Barrow
BeaumarisBeaumaris
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Boulmer
NORMAN JOSEPH HOLLAND Boulmer
JAMES ROBINSON .. .. BridlingtonGEORGE WILLIAM WELBURN Bridlington
Caister
Clacton-on-Sea
Clogher Head
Clogher Head
Cloughey ..
Cloughey ..
CHARLES EDWIN SHACKSON Clovelly
Clovelly
Courtmacsherry
Cromarty ..Donaghadee
Dunbar
Dungeness ..
Dungeness ..Dungeness ..Dun Laoghaire
Coxswain 17 years.Second Coxswain 3^ years.Bowman if years.Member of crew 20 years.Bowman 16 years.Member of crew 3 years.Member of crew 25 years.Coxswain I2:| years.Second Coxswain 7 years.Bowman 2 months.Member of crew 14! years.Assistant mechanic 22j years.Member of crew I8J years.Coxswain 9J years.Second coxswain 10 years.Bowman i| years.Member of crew 13^ years.Second Coxswain 4! years.Bowman 3^ years.Member of crew 27! years.Motor mechanic 24^ years.Coxswain 5} years.Second Coxswain 8 months.Assistant mechanic 3j years.Member of crew 38 j years.Assistant mechanic 25! years.Member of crew 3J years.Motor mechanic 20^ years.Member of crew 15 years.Motor mechanic 6J years.Assistant mechanic 8 years.Bowman 6 months.Coxswain 19 years.Second coxswain 8^ years.Bowman 5j years.Member of crew 9 years.Coxswain nf years.Bronze Medal 1962.Coxswain 5 years.Motor mechanic 30 years.Member of crew 12^ years.Bronze Medal 1939.Motor mechanic 30! years.Second coxswain 6 months.Bowman 3^ years.Member of crew loj years.Head launcher 16 years.Member of crew 454 years.Motor mechanic roj years.Assistant mechanic 4 years.Member of crew u years.Reserve mechanic 8 years.Assistant mechanic 16 years.Coxswain 7^ years.Second coxswain 54 years.Bowman 4! years.Member of crew 30! years.Second coxswain ij years.Bowman 2j years.Member of crew 49! years.Winchman 32J years.Member of crew 16 years.Member of crew 16 years.Member of crew 14 years.Bowman 10 years.Member of crew 4! years.
219
By courtesy of ] [ The Shields Gazette
When the Willie Woodhave publichouse was demolished during theredevelopment of South Shieldsmarket place this fine painted win-dow of the 18th-century life-boatdesigner, William Woodhave, wassaved and placed in South Shields
Museum.
JOHN JENKINS
KEVIN TORMEY
PATRICK POWER
RICHARD MURPHYJOHN BASSETT
TIMOTHY SHEEHAN
WILLIAM RICHARD CHAPMAN
CHARLES ROBINSONTHOMAS CAMMISH WILLIS,
S.B.O. St. J.
220
Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire
Dunmore East
Dunmore EastEastbourne
Fenit
Filey
FileyFiley
Coxswain 16 years.Member of crew 13 J years.Assistant mechanic 6J years.Member of crew y| years.Coxswain 20 years.Second coxswain I2j years.Bowman 6 years.Member of crew 3 years.Motor mechanic 38 years.Bronze Medal 1941.Clasps 1951, 1961, 1964.Coxswain 5 years.Second coxswain if years.Bowman ii years.Member of crew 12 years.Assistant mechanic 35! years.Shore signalman 7 years.Coxswain 4} years.Second coxswain 4 years.Bowman 10 years.Member of crew 18 years.Assistant mechanic 15? years.Motor mechanic 25! years.Member of crew i8i years.
JAMES ARTHUR TAYLOR ..
RICHARD BAYES COWLING
DENIS LEE KENNEY
WILLIAM CHARLES STEVENS
THOMAS MCQUISTON
GEORGE FREDERICK MOBBS
WILLIAM H. PARKER
FRANK ANDREWS ..THOMAS EDWIN DOUGLAS
JOSEPH McLouGHLiN(posthumous)
DAVID McGowAN
COLIN STAVES(posthumous)
MARK BATES
JOHN KING
JOSEPH SASSOON
ROBERT ARTHUR LAURENSON
ALBERT EDWIN JANEGEORGE HENRY ROSEGEORGE CHRISTIEGEORGE EDWARD LAWRIE
IAN BRUCE WATTDENIS RICHARD PRICE
HAROLD E. BUSHEN
WILLIAM JOHN PASSMORETUCKER
JOHN MILLS GRANT
JOHN LISLE ROBINSONPATRICK LENEGHAN
STEPHEN HOLDEN
HAROLD CHARLES MOON ..
DONALD RHOSLAN DAVIES
Flamborough
Flamborough
Fowey
Fowey
Girvan
Great Yarmouth andGorleston
Great Yarmouth andGorleston
HartlepoolHoly Island
Howth
Hoylake
Humber
Kilmore
Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright
Lerwick
LizardLowestoftMallaigMallaig
MallaigMargate
Minehead
The Mumbles
Newbiggin Hauxley andAmble
NewbigginNewcastle
Newhaven
Newhaven
New Quay
Bowman ij years.Member of crew 33 years.Coxswain 20 years.Second coxswain 3^- years.Bowman lof years.Member of crew 9 years.Assistant mechanic y j years.Member of crew 7 years.Second coxswain n years.Member of crew 19 years.Bowman 4} years.Member of crew yj- years.Coxswain y j years.Motor mechanic i8i years.Member of crew 9 J years.Bronze Medal 1941.Coxswain 3 years.Bowman i year.Member of crew 42 J- years.Member of crew i6y years.Coxswain 5; years.Second coxswain i6| years.Member of crew 23 years.Coxswain 5^ years.Bowman 4^ years.Member of crew i| years.Bronze Medal 1964.Assistant mechanic 2j years.Member of crew 13-! years.Bowman i^ years.Member of crew 10^ years.Coxswain 16 years.Member of crew 13 years.Silver Medal 1958.Bowman 5^ years.Member of crew 6 years.Second coxswain 15^ years.Member of crew ii years.Motor mechanic 23! years.Assistant mechanic 3! years.Member of crew 2o|- years.Member of crew 59 years.Member of crew i8| years.Assistant mechanic n j years.Member of crew 3 years.Coxswain i8J years.Coxswain 19^ years.Member of crew 16 years.Silver Medal 1952.Coxswain 9^ years.Assistant mechanic nf years.Member of crew 22| years.Assistant mechanic 8J years.Member of crew 2| years.Member of crew 54 years.
Assistant mechanic I2j years.Assistant mechanic 9 years.Member of crew 4! years.Member of crew 19! years.Bronze Medal 1944.Second coxswain 3 years.Bowman yj years.Member of crew 11 years.Bronze Medal 1944.Coxswain yj years.Second coxswain 9 months.
221
DAVID ARDEN EVANS. .
RICHARD LISLE .. .
HENRY RAYMOND RUTTER
New Quay ,
North Sunderland
North Sunderland
JAMES GALLAGHER WALKER N >rth Sunderland
WILLIAM HENRY BLEWETT
WILLIAM ARNOLD GARTRELL
OWEN LADNER
CLARENCE B. WILLIAMS ..
JAMES GEDDES STRACHAN
DAVID LANGTON FAULKNER
ALUN RICE HUGHES
Penlee
Penlee
Penlee
Penlee
Peterhead ..
PorthdinllaenRhylPorthdinllaen
Winchman zl- years.Member of crew 36 years.Coxswain loj years.Second coxswain 2 years.Bowman 5f years.Member of crew 10 years.Coxswain 17 years.Second coxswain 3 years.Second coxswain IJ- years.Bowman loj years.Member of crew 4j years.Second coxswain 10] years.Bowman 4^ years.Member of crew 28J years.Second coxswain 3^ years.Member of crew 27.! years.Bowman 12$ years.Member of crew 24 years.Emergency mechanic 7^ years.Member of crew 2\ years.Assistant mechanic 17] years.Member of crew loj years.Coxswain nj years.Bowman 2j years.Motor mechanic 4^- years.Motor mechanic 3$ years.Bowman i6-J years.Member of crew 24 years.
MIANK-. BE TO GOD
- > ' FLAMBOROUGH LlFtBX?' ' • !'>f>r> AND A L1FELO
CHRISTIAN
By courtesy of] [Arthur W. Dick
A memorial to Richard Cowling, who was coxswain of the Flamborough life-boat for20 years, was unveiled in Flamborough church on 18th June. Here the Vicar (the Rev.E. Appleyard) is pointing to the memorial stone which shows Mr. Cowling at the wheel
of the local life-boat.
222
JAMES HUNTER
ROBERT HUNTER
ANTHONY PATERSON LOCKGEORGE ALLAN POVAH
FRANCIS VERRILL
JACOB NlSBET AlTCHISON . .
ROBERT DAVID JAMES
WILLIAM HENRY COOM ..WILLIAM GEORGE DAVEY ..
DONALD HENRY HANSFORDREGINALD JOHN NICOLLE
HORACE JAMES LAWRENCE
HENRY NICHOLAS
JAMES HENRY BISHOP
EDWARD CHARLES CRASKE
ALFRED E. PAGECECIL LANCELOT GRUXNILL
Portpatrick
Portpatrick
PortpatrickRhyl
Runswick ,
St. Abbs ..
St. David's ..
St. Helier ..St. Helier
St. Helier ..St. Helier . .
Selsey
Sennen Cove
Sheringham
Sheringham
Shoreham HarbourSkegness
WILFRED LANGFORD GRUNNILL Skegness
WILFRED PERRIN ..
MURDO MACLEANTHOMAS WAKEROBERT CHARLES BROWN
WALTER JOHN BROWN
ARTHUR JAMES HARDYJOHN STONEHOUSE
Skegness
StornowaySunderlandSwanage .
Swanage
SwanageTeesmouth
Redcar
PATRICK V. R. CROCKFORD Tenby
THOMAS E. LEWIS D.S.M. Tenby
ANGUS SINCLAIR MACINTOSH ThursoALEXANDER INKSTER THOMSON Thurso
Second coxswain 6J years.Bowman 6 years.Member of crew 5 J- years.Bowman 7{ years.Member of crew 14^ years.Member of crew 13 years.Assistant mechanic 26 years.Member of crew i6j years.Coxswain 13̂ years.Second coxswain 8 months.Bowman 4! years.Assistant mechanic n^ years.Member of crew 7^ years.Motor mechanic 3 years.Assistant mechanic 7 years.Member of crew 2O-i years.Motor Mechanic 14 years.Assistant mechanic i|- years.Bowman 14^ years.Member of crew 21 years.Bronze Medal 1949.Second coxswain 6 years.Bowman 8J years.Member of crew 28| years.Coxswain jt, years.Motor mechanic 313 years.Assistant mechanic 5i years.Member of crew 4 years.Assistant mechanic i8J years.Member of crew 30 years.Motor mechanic 25^ years.Assistant mechanic 4! years.Member of crew 13! years.Member of crew 20 years.Assistant mechanic 32f years.Member of crew 12 years.Motor mechanic 51 years.Head launcher 12} years.Tractor driver helper i8J
years.Member of crew 7 years.Coxswain 18 years.Second coxswain 13 years.Member of crew 13! years.Member of crew I4f years.Member of crew 33 years.Coxswain 24.^ years.Second coxswain ?J years.Assistant mechanic 54 years.Member of crew 11 years.Bowman 10 years.Member of crew 23J years.Member of crew 33! years.Coxswain 20 years.Second coxwain 6J years.Bowman 4} years.Member of crew 10} years.Member of crew 6 years.Bronze Medal 1961.Bowman 4f years.Member of crew 24^ years.Assistant mechanic I2j years.Winchman 7 years.Member of crew 27^ years.Coxswain 30 years.Second coxswain 2j years.Bowman 7 years.
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Member of crew 21 years.RICHARD T. HARRIS .. Torbay .. .. Motor mechanic 2?J years.
JAMES WILSON .. .. Troon
PATRICK WILLIAM HARRIS WalmerROLAND RAINES .. .. Walmer
Shoreham Harbour Motor mechanic 9 years.Second coxswain 6 years.Member of crew yj years.Member of crew 14 years.Member of crew 4f years.Shore helper 2| years.
WILLIAM GEORGE LOVIE .. Whitehills .. .. .. Second coxswain 6j years.Bowman 2j years.Member of crew 7 years.
WILLIAM DUNN .. .. Workington .. .. Bowman 24 years.Assistant mechanic 6| years.Member of crew 6] years.
Experimental R/T Sets for IRBSNine inshore rescue boats are being fitted experimentally with very highfrequency radio telephones. The boats selected are stationed at Bangor, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Bridlington, Eastney, Holyhead, The Mumbles, Southend-on-Sea, Torbay and Whitstable. This experimental installation will cost about£1,800 in all.
The sets to be installed are 3-channel pocket sized transistors manufacturedby Storno Limited of Camberley, Surrey. They are completely transistorisedand have crystals for working on the maritime very high frequency (frequencymodulation) band. The stations selected will all be able to communicate withCoastguard stations which are equipped with the necessary transmitting andreceiving facilities.
Communication is likely to be possible up to about 7 miles. The set is installedin a watertight metal container
Future policy for equipping inshore rescue boats with radio telephone sets willbe decided in the light of experience gained.
OBITUARYCommander Alphonsus J. O'B. Twohig, K.M., M. Inst. T., A.R.I.N.A. diedon 3ist July, 1967, at the age of 73. From February, 1951, to February, 1961,Commander Twohig was honourary treasurer of the Dublin branch of theR.N.L.I. He was co-opted onto the Committee of Management in November,1956. For many years he was the Dublin harbour master and pilotage super-intendent.
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