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

VOL. XXXVIII MARCH 1965 No. 411

CONTENTSPORTRAIT OF A COXSWAIN .. .. 258

NOTES OF THE QUARTER .. .. .. .. 259

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL .. .. .. .. 261

WINNING JOURNALIST 262

FOCUS ON SUNDERLAND .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 263

MEDAL FOR SECOND COXSWAIN .. .. .. .. .. .. 267

AWARD FOR COXSWAIN .. .. .. .. 268

SEVENTEEN HOURS IN GALE .. .. .. 269

SEARCH IN HIGH WIND 271

NEW APPOINTMENTS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 272

SOS ... AND THE DOCTOR IS THERE .. .. .. .. .. 273

PRAISE FROM THE PENSIONERS .. .. . . .. .. . . 274

SUMMARY OF SERVICES 274

NEW WAYS OF RAISING MONEY .. .. .. .. .. .. 275

A GREAT RESCUE RECALLED .. .. . . .. .. .. 276

ON PASSAGE WITH THE R.N.L.1 277

STAFF RETIREMENTS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 280

NEW YEAR HONOURS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 280

SIDELIGHTS ON STATIONS 281

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING .. .. .. 28l

A BOOK FOR REVIEW .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 282

OBITUARY 283

RECORD OF RESCUES IN 1964 .. .. .. .. .. .. 284

SUMMARY OF SERVICES IN 1964 . . .. .. .. .. .. 284

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 284

NATURE OF SERVICES BY LIFE-BOATS .. .. .. .. .. 286

NATURE OF SERVICES BY INSHORE RESCUE BOATS 287

LIFE-BOAT SERVICES ROUND THE COAST .. .. .. .. .. 288

INSHORE RESCUE BOATS ON SERVICE .. .. .. .. .. 3IO

I.R.B. SERVICES IN BRIEF 311

42, Grosvenor Gardens, London S.W.1

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Portrait of a Coxswain

Coxswain George Ernest Ellis is seen in the photograph. He has been coxswainof the Clacton-on-Sea life-boat since 26th December, 1953, and previouslyserved as second coxswain from October, 1945, until his appointment ascoxswain. He joined the crew in 1934. The Clacton-on-Sea life-boat has beenlaunched on service 250 times and has rescued 142 lives since he became aboat's officer.

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NOTES OF THE QUARTER

RESCUE craft of the R.N.L.I. were launched on service more often in 1964 thanin any other year since the Institution was founded in 1824. The number oflaunches by life-boats was 929 and by inshore rescue boats 238. Lives saved bylife-boats numbered 453 and by inshore rescue boats 71.

Figures alone can tell little of the work of the volunteers who man our life-boats and other rescue craft, but what the figures do tell is a story of successwhich can hardly be disputed. The inshore rescue boats in their second year ofservice have proved their worth beyond question; yet in spite of this new andcomplementary fleet, whose services have been primarily to the aid of smallboat owners, the conventional life-boats have had an exceptionally large numberof calls on their services.

Figures, too, show the success of the inshore rescue scheme, launched jointlywith H.M. Coastguard with the object of enlisting the help of private boatowners. The lives of 323 people were saved in 1964 by private boats putting outfrom the shore in services recognized by the Institution. Of this number 204were rescued by boat owners registered under the inshore rescue scheme.

VISIT TO NETHERLANDS

The life-boat which the Institution obtained from the United States CoastGuard completed nearly 5,000 miles of sea trials around the coasts of Britainand Ireland before the end of 1964. She was then sent on a visit to the Nether-lands, a visit which provides a further example of the happy cooperation whichexists between the life-boat societies of the world. Under the command of theInstitution's Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats, Commander D. G. Wick-steed, R.N.R., she carried out evaluation trials for the benefit of the Royal SouthHolland Life-boat Society and visited life-boat stations at the Hook of Holland,Stellendam, Ouddorp, Burghsluis and Breskens.

VOLUNTARY SYSTEM

Although the advantages of the voluntary system are today readily acceptedby virtually everyone connected with the life-boat service or with any seriousknowledge of its work, the question of possible State control is still occasionallyraised. A revealing comment on this question was recently made at a dinner heldby the Linlithgow branch, when the guests of honour were Mr. Tarn Dalyell,Labour member of Parliament, and his wife. In his speech Mr. Dalyell men-tioned that State finance of the service had been tried in the past, but after ashort period it had been found advisable to return to the voluntary system.The intention of the present Government, he went on, was to encourage in everyway voluntary societies, and especially one such as the R.N.L.I., whose world-wide influence helped understanding between all countries because it made nodistinction between nationalities.

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NEW R.N.L.I. ENSIGN

A new ensign which life-boats are now entitled to wear is being issued tolife-boat stations. This is the outcome of a warrant granted by the Ministry ofDefence in December, 1964, permitting the wearing by the Institution's life-boats of a red ensign defaced by the Institution's house flag in the fly. In lay-man's language this means that the ensign will have a red background, withthe Union flag in one quarter; the Institution's house flag will occupy the otherhalf of the ensign from a point about half way down the Union flag endingabout three-quarters of the way down the ensign.

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET

Another great figure long associated with the life-boat service has celebratedhis icoth birthday. This is Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Oliver, G.C.B.,K.C.M.G., M.V.O., who was born on 22nd January, 1865. His distinguishednaval career began in 1878. At the age of 35 he was appointed Rear-Admiral,and for three years in the first world war he was Chief of Admiralty War Staff.He commanded in turn the Home Fleet, the Reserve Fleet and the AtlanticFleet, and he was promoted Admiral of the Fleet in 1928. It was in the next yearthat he joined the Committee of Management of the Institution and 10 yearslater he was elected a Vice-President.

We have to announce with deep regret the death on I3th January of Mr.J. R. Barnett, whose looth birthday was recorded in the last number of THELIFE-BOAT. An obituary notice will appear in the June, 1965, number.

TIE AND BADGES

The right to wear the Institution's tie, blazer badge and small lapel badgehas now been extended to include those who man the Institution's inshorerescue boats. In 1958 it was decided that the privilege of wearing the tieand blazer badge should be confined to regular members of life-boat crewsand helpers; officers and committee members of branches; members of theCommittee of Management and the Institution's staff. The extension of the rightis in recognition of the extremely valuable contribution to life-saving at seawhich the crews of inshore rescue boats have made in the last two years.

UNIVERSITY SUPPORT

Support for the life-boat service from our older universities seems to bemuch less widespread than it was 100 years ago. On page 282 appears anaccount taken from a recent book on Cornish life-boats of how the first life-boatstationed at Hayle in 1866 was provided by a fund collected at Oxford Univer-sity. A year earlier a life-boat was sent to Tramore in County Waterford aftercarrying out harbour trials in the Regent's Canal dock at Limehouse. This boatwas the gift of the Cambridge University Boat Club, subscriptions having beenstarted some four or five years earlier among the college boat clubs. The namegiven to the life-boat was Tom Egan to commemorate the originator of the idea,who was himself a former president of the C.U.B.C.

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SIR WINSTON CHURCHILLSIR WINSTON CHURCHILL illuminated so many aspects of our life with themajesty of his words that it is hardly surprising that some of the most stirringsentences ever spoken about a life-boat were uttered by him.

The occasion when he made his great speech on the subject of life-boatswas a dinner held at the Hotel Cecil in London on 2nd July, 1924, to celebratethe looth anniversary of the foundation of the Institution. The Prince ofWales, the future King Edward VIII, presided, and there were five speakers:Winston Churchill; the Prime Minister, J. Ramsay MacDonald; the SpanishAmbassador, A. Merry del Val; the Minister for the Netherlands, R. de Mareesvan Swinderen; and the Superintendent of the Tynemouth life-boat. MajorH. E. Burton, who was a gold medallist.

WORK OF SELF-SACRIFICE

The concluding words of Winston Churchill's speech were:"We live in a valiant age, an age which, although peculiarly a nervous age,

nevertheless has proved capacities of daring, of self-abnegation, self-sacrifice,dauntless defiance to the brute powers of nature and of death, which no formerage has excelled, which we may perhaps reasonably contend no former age hasequalled; but there is something about the work of saving life which raises it,in certain aspects, above any form of peril and self-sacrifice which is combinedwith taking life. It is a great problem to balance the self-sacrifice of the soldierand the self-sacrifice of the life-boatman. Still, one feels that the life-boatmanmay plead that he represents the cause of humanity, and not that of any singlenation or any single cause which may in the march of events from time to timearrive.

THREE WORDS OF INSPIRATION

'* 'Man the life-boat' - it is an inspiring call. It may, as the Spanish Ambass-ador has suggested to us, have other applications in daily life. When a friend isin trouble or in sickness 'Man the life-boat!' If a class is submerged, ill-treatedor exploited 'Man the life-boat!' If a small nation is fighting for its life 'Manthe life-boat!'

"All these are applications of the same idea, but the finest of all is the simpleactual sphere by the seashore. There is the glorious sphere of heroism andchivalry in human nature. The wreck lies on the reef, great waves are breakingover it, the timbers are going to pieces, the plates are buckling every hour, thecrew and the passengers, women and children, are lashed to the rigging, cling-ing on to any coign of vantage which gives them shelter, or huddled in somestructure which has survived the fury of the elements.

THE LIFE-BOAT DRIVES ON VALIANTLY

"There they are, out in the night, in the sea, in the tempest. They haveno hope in this world except the life-boat, but their signals have not been

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unperceived. The order has gone forth 'Man the life-boat!' - an order which isnever disobeyed. Great waves may thunder on the shore, winds may drive andbeat with their utmost fury, the boat goes out, thrusts its way ahead to the wreck,it is twisted and turned by the convulsions of the sea, it is swamped with water,it is driven back, again and again it returns, it pursues and perseveres on itsmission of rescue, of salvation, to those who are in peril.

"It drives on with a courage which is stronger than the storm, it drives onwith a mercy which does not quail in the presence of death, it drives on as aproof, a symbol, a testimony, that man is created in the image of God3 and thatvalour and virtue have not perished in the British race."

As early as 1915 Winston Churchill became a Vice-President of the CivilService Life-boat Fund. Blyth life-boat which was built in 1948 today bearsthe proud name Winston Churchill (Civil Service No. 5). On 30th January, 1965,the day of Sir Winston Churchill's funeral, Blyth life-boat was launched incompany with a number of local boats, and a service was conducted on boardthe life-boat.

Princess Alexandra, who visited the R.N.L.I, stand when opening the International Boat Showat Earls Court on 6th January, 1965, talks with Mr. J. Hodder, a reserve mechanic. Captain theHon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., Chairman of the Committee of Management, is seen with them.

Winning JournalistMr. Michael Tosh has become the first man to receive the Institution'saward for the best factual newspaper account of a service by a life-boat. Hisreport appeared in the Dundee Courier and Advertiser on nth November,1964. In it he described a sea and air search for the yacht Nimble- Iki in whichthe Broughty Ferry life-boat took part. The official account of this serviceappears on page 305. The award of a certificate for the best newspaper report ofa life-boat service is to be an annual one.

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Focus on ....SUNDERLAND

THE oldest existing life-boat station in England lies half-hidden behind a scrapmetal yard on the Sunderland docks. The road to the life-boathouse twistsand bends between low-lying warehouses and shipyard buildings towards theriver Wear, and the landscape is a study in monochrome: dark grey hulks ofwharfside sheds against grey water, tall and brutal cranes puncturing the greysky.

Abruptly the road ends, several tons of rusting metal on the bare patch ofground ahead, a ship repair yard on one side. A life-boathouse - but where'?Major N. Dugdale, honorary secretary of the station, turns to a small gatewayon the left of the scrap metal yard. A narrow path of trodden earth is separatedfrom the rusting metal by high palings. A few yards along it, unbelievably, canbe seen the familiar Persian red and cream paint of the boathouse.

"Sunderland is the oldest station in the country, established by 1800, butvery few people in Sunderland know where the life-boat is," says Major Dug-dale.

SHIPYARD MEN COME RUNNING

Those who know the station best, apart from the life-boat crew, are theshipyard men who work nearby. As soon as the maroons are fired they comerunning. "If the life-boat is called out in the daytime you get any number of menround the docks who are ready to go out," says Bill Milburn, the life-boatmechanic. "They come out of curiosity and they're willing to help."

There is a crew of 14 at Sunderland - almost twice as many as needed to manthe 47-foot Watson life-boat William Myers and Sarah Jane Myers but a wisedoubling-up when many of the crew live a few miles from the station. CoxswainDick Lisle lives nearly four miles away and often thumbs a lift to the dockswhen the life-boat is called out. "I've arrived here in a 'black Maria' when thepolice have brought me. I've had a lift in an ice-cream van and once I came in ahearse." Several other members of the crew, living two to four miles away, havetheir own cars.

Members of the Sunderland crew are "very close, with hardly a wrong wordbetween them" as one of them explains. Every Tuesday evening they meet atthe boathouse to clean their life-boat, then reward themselves with pint glasses -"very strong beer we've got in Sunderland" - at a local bar.

MISCELLANEOUS BUT A GOOD TEAM

In the summer they go away together on a day's outing, at Christmas-timethey hold a crew dinner. Together in a group they banter and joke, quick onrepartee, usually poised for laughter.

The spirit that exists between them is the more impressive because they comefrom occupations of wide dissimilarity. The coxswain is a school caretaker,

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By courtesy of] [North of England Newspaper Co.

Members of the Sunderland crew at the life-boat naming ceremony in July 1963

John Todd, the second coxswain, is a crane driver, while Jimmy and John Todd,his brother and son respectively, are butchers by trade. Leslie Davison is aworks manager whose family have been members of the crew for over a century.George Whitfield is a postman, Kenneth O'Neill a cabinet maker. Others in-clude two shipwrights, a forgeman, and a dock gateman. "We are a miscellan-eous crowd but a good team when we get together," Coxswain Lisle once said.

Years ago, before the second world war, most of the crew were fishermen,but Sunderland's fishing community gradually dwindled as its sons looked to

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the shipyards and factories for a less rigorous livelihood. Today not one memberof the life-boat crew is a fisherman, although the coxswain did earn his livingby fishing before the war.

FAMILY WITH A CENTURY'S SERVICE

Many, like Leslie Davison, join because they come from families with longtraditions of life-boat service. Leslie Davison's grandfather was coxswain of theSunderland life-boat for 35 years and another of his ancestors, Coxswain W.Davison, was awarded the Institution's silver medal for long service hi 1858.The Davisons are distantly related to the Todds, and Leslie Davison's grand-father was John Todd's uncle.

The oldest member of the crew, Tommy Wake, joined in the 19305 in thetime of the depression. "I joined when coal was us. 6d. a half ton - and I couldearn I2S. 6d. a quarter as signalman," he explains.

Tommy Wake can remember the Henry Vernon, the life-boat which servedthe station between 1918 and 1935 but those who wish to delve deeper into thestation's past must consult Major Dugdale. "When I became honorary secretaryI thought I ought to learn something about the history. With the help of oldrecords and books on Sunderland I have put together a short history of the life-boat station."

Major Dugdale has a copy of the first balance sheet of the Sunderland life-boatfund. It dates back to May, 1800, and shows that the town's first life-boat hadalready been delivered to her station. The boat was built by a Monkwearmouthman, William Wake, for the sum of £185 os. io^d.

SUNDERLAND'S CELEBRATED LIFE-SAVER

Down to that last halfpenny the money for the life-boat came from a fundraised primarily by Lord Dundas. Had he not been impressed with the life-saving exploits of Martin Douglas, a Sunderland keelman and self-styled"celebrated life-saver", Sunder land's claim to being the oldest life-boat stationin continuous service since 1800 might never have been possible.

One stormy day in 1799 the 30O-ton collier Ajax, sailing on her maidenvoyage from the river Wear, was wrecked in the sudden violence of a storm.She was driven on to rocks a mile north of Sunderland harbour.

Martin Douglas and three others put out in their cobles and with one notableexception - the customs house officer - saved the crew of the Ajax from drown-ing. Douglas, a man of no immoderate modesty, later described the rescue in aprivately-published account of his "life and adventures".

"I was," he writes, "a young man of undaunted courage and great skill as apilot. I boldly ventured to go right out to sea in a coble. Nothing could stay mein my eagerness to save life, though experienced seamen warned me that nobodycould live in such high seas." On the last of his three trips to take off the crewof the wrecked collier he claims that his coble was under water with only theheads of the occupants showing above the surface. He and the other seamenclung to the thwarts below the water and were swept into the harbour by the sea.

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BOATS EMPTY WITHIN A MINUTE

Extravagant his claims might be - but his exploits drew the attention ofLord Dundas and others who gave him £300 and asked him to have a life-boatbuilt.

Little is known of Sunderland's first life-boat nor of the two which followed.The second was built in 1808 at the cost of £106 and the third was built in 1817for £128 I2s. id. Sunderland life-boats in general, however, were said to differin principle from many others and it was claimed that when they were filled withwater they could empty themselves in one minute. The interiors of the life-boatswere divided into watertight compartments and in the bottoms of the boatswere four apertures which opened to disperse the water and closed when thewater had drained away.

Captain Manby, who invented the line-throwing mortar, visited Sunderlandand reported, "The life-boats here are particularly worthy of notice, having asuperior advantage over every other boat I have seen or heard of."

RUN BY FISHERMEN AND SHIPOWNERS

The early life-boats were run by local committees of shipowners and seamen,but in 1865 the R.N.L.I. supplied a 33-foot life-boat Florence Nightingale at therequest of the Sunderland fishermen whose two boats were out of order. TheSunderland branch of the Institution was founded in the same year.

In the following year there was a cholera outbreak in the town. The life-boathouse was temporarily used as an isolation hospital at the request of thehealth authorities and the life-boat lay afloat.

In 1871 the Institution took over the local life-boat society run by the ship-owners, who handed three life-boats and the sum of £150 into the managementof the R.N.L.I. Soon afterwards a new life-boathouse and slipway were builtat the south entrance to the Sunderland docks and a 36-foot, 12-oared boat wasadded to the Sunderland life-boat fleet in 1872. From 1873 until 1887 fourlife-boats were stationed at Sunderland simultaneously.

The first experimental motor life-boat in the Institution's fleet was sent toSunderland in 1911. The J. McConnell Hussey was fitted with a 12 h.p. two-cycle motor and had a speed of six knots. Previously she had been stationed atFolkestone and Tynemouth, and she remained at Sunderland until the firstworld war.

TOOK PART IN HOSPITAL SHIP RESCUE

At the end of the first world war the Henry Vernon., a 4O-foot, 40 h.p. life-boat,was sent from Tynemouth where she had taken part in the famous rescue ofpeople from the hospital ship Rohilla in 1914 together with the Whitby life-boat.

The Henry Vernon was replaced in 1935 by the Edward and Isabella Irwinwhich during the 28 years she was at Sunderland saved over 80 lives. The pre-sent life-boat William Myers and Sarah Jane Myers arrived on her station inMay, 1963. Like her predecessor, she is high in the crew's affection. "A littleangel," says Coxswain Lisle.

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MEDAL FOR SECOND COXSWAINFour Rescued from Yacht

THE second coxswain of the Appledorelife-boat, John Richard Bowden, whotook command of the Appledore life-boat in the temporary absence of theregular coxswain, Sidney Cann, onnth September, 1964, has beenawarded the bronze medal for gal-lantry for the rescue of four peoplefrom a yacht.

At 2.34 p.m. on nth September thecoastguard informed the honorarysecretary, Captain Patrick Brennan,that a yacht was stranded on the barnear the river entrance. She did notappear to be in any immediate dangerand a helicopter from the Royal AirForce station at Chivenor had alreadytaken off. Nevertheless Captain Bren-nan, who believed the yacht mightwell be in danger when the tideturned, decided that the life-boatshould be launched.

LANDED ON SANDBANK

There was a reserve life-boat ontemporary duty at the station. Thiswas the 45-foot 6-inch life-boat Ceciland Lilian Philpott, which was former-ly stationed at Newhaven. She putout at 2.54.

There was a westerly wind with aslight sea and swell. The weather wascloudy with good visibility, and it wasan hour before low water. To forestallthe danger which might occur whenthe flood tide made, Second CoxswainBowden decided to land two of hiscrew on the sandbank. They reachedthis with the assistance of anotherboat, and advised the crew of theyacht Volunteer to abandon their boat.The yacht's crew consisted of two men

and two women, who decided to stayaboard and wait to be refloated on therising tide. The two members of thelife-boat crew gave the yacht's owneradvice on how to lay out his groundtackle and how to manoeuvre when theyacht refloated.

DECIDED TO STAND BY

The R.A.F. helicopter returned tobase, but both Captain Brennan andSecond Coxswain Bowden took theview that the life-boat ought to standby the yacht. The wind increasedslightly in strength, and conditions onthe bar, which were aggravated by aconfused sea, steadily grew worse.At 5.50 the coastguard at WestwardHo became concerned at the way theyacht was pounding, and the helicopterwas therefore recalled and reached thescene at 6 p.m.

As the life-boat crew were preparingto fire a rocket line the yacht's cableparted, her rudder carried away, andshe was swept broadside up on to thebank. She was clearly now in serioustrouble and Second Coxswain Bowdentried three times to bring the life-boatclose enough to pass a line, but he wasunable to do so.

FOUR TAKEN ON BOARD

He therefore decided to try anapproach from the north-east. Thehelicopter passed a line from the bowof the life-boat, but as the yacht'screw were making this fast the life-boat ranged alongside, and the fourpeople were taken on board. The twowomen by then were in a distressedcondition.

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In addition to the bronze medal forActing Coxswain Bowden a letter ofthanks was sent to Captain Brennan.

Medal service certificates wereissued to the other members of thecrew: Acting Second Coxswain

Richard H. Cann, Acting BowmanWilliam Bowden, Reserve MechanicW. Evans, Acting Assistant MechanicLeon G. W. Richards, and crewmembers Alexander G. Craner,George E. Powe and Lawrence Ford.

AWARD FOR COXSWAINCOXSWAIN David Cox, of Wells,Norfolk, has been accorded the thanksof the Institution on vellum for anattempted service to the yacht Kiskadeeon the night of 29th-3oth August, 1964.

A report that a yacht was burning ared flare half a mile west of theentrance of Blakeney harbour came toCoxswain Cox from the Cley coast-guard at 8.21 p.m. Nine minutes laterthe maroons were fired. There was anorth-westerly wind with a heavy swelland moderate visibility. It was twohours after low water.

The Wells life-boat Cecil Paine, oneof the 35-foot 6-inch Liverpool type,was launched at 8.45. Half an hour latershe approached the Kiskadee, a smallauxiliary sloop, which was aground ona sandbank about half a mile west ofBlakeney Point. She was lying beamto in a confused sea which was washingover her. There was a heavy breakingsurf and the night was very dark.

COULD NOT REACH HER

Coxswain Cox decided to anchorand veer down on to the yacht. Hetherefore tripped and recovered thedrogue on turning head to sea, andlet go the anchor. The full length ofthe cable was paid out but the life-boat was still unable to close the yacht.The anchor was hove up, but the catrope fouled the starboard propeller.This was quickly cleared and a secondattempt was made to reach the yacht,

but this too was unsuccessful. Onceagain the life-boat tried to close theyacht, but this time she hit thebottom.

A parachute flare was fired, whichshowed that the yacht had now beenwashed over a sand bar by a freak oftide into comparatively smooth waterand that she was in no immediatedanger.

MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS

When the tide rose the life-boatsoon came off the bank and she made afourth attempt to reach the yacht. Asin the earlier attempts the life-boatwas working in heavy breaking surfwhich was continually sweeping overher from stem to stern. Once again shewas unable to reach the yacht.

Meanwhile another boat manned byMr. S. Long, who is a member of theinshore rescue scheme, had also putout, and this boat succeeded in takingthe Kiskadee in tow.

The life-boat stood by while thiswas being done and finally reached herstation at 2.30 a.m.

In addition to the award of thankson vellum to Coxswain David Cox,vellum service certificates were issuedto other members of the Wells crew:Acting Second Coxswain John Cox,Acting Bowman A. Warner, MechanicAlbert Court, Assistant MechanicAlan Cox and crew members D. Caseand A. Fulford.

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SEVENTEEN HOURS IN GALE

Five were Rescued from Yacht

A SERVICE carried out in a north-easterly gale and lasting 17 hours hasled to the unusual award of the col-lective thanks of the Institution onvellum to the coxswain and crew of theArranmore life-boat. The service wasto the yacht Espanola of Ramsgate on18th August, 1964, and resulted inthe rescuing of five lives.

COXSWAIN'S REPORT

The honorary secretary of theArranmore station, Mr. BernardGallagher, first learnt that a yacht wasin distress by a report he received fromthe coxswain, Philip Byrne, at 2.50p.m. The yacht Espanola was anchoredin Arran roads and was flying adistress signal.

Ten minutes later the maroons werefired. The north-easterly gale causeda very rough sea, and there was con-siderable broken water in the roads.The weather was overcast, but visibilitywas good. It was half an hour afterhigh water.

TOWED BY TRACTOR

Conditions were so bad that it wasimpossible to launch the life-boatboarding boat from Leabgarrow pier.The boat was therefore put on atrailer, which had been borrowed, andtowed by a local tractor to a pointabout three quarters of a mile north ofthe life-boat's berth.

The crew put out in a boarding boatat 3.20 and rowed under double-banked oars through broken water tothe life-boat, which was about three

quarters of a mile away. They thenboarded the life-boat W. M. Tihon,which is one of the 46-foor p-inchWatson cabin type.

The life-boat reached the Espanolaat 3.40 about a quarter of a mile southof Calf Island, just as the crew werepreparing to abandon the yacht. Theyacht's samson post had broken, andthe fairlead through which the cablewas rigged had come adrift. As a resultthe chain cable was cutting badlyinto the stem.

TOWED THE YACHT

Coxswain Byrne brought the life-boat alongside and passed a line to theyacht. The life-boat towed her to ananchorage in the lee of the west end ofCalf Island, for it was thought unwiseto make for Burtonport in the pre-vailing conditions.

The life-boat anchored and held theyacht throughout the night. By 6.30a.m. the conditions had moderatedand the life-boat towed the yacht toBurtonport which was reached at8 a.m. The life-boat returned to herstation at 8.45.

COLLECTIVE THANKS

The members of the crew to whomthe collective thanks were accordedare: Coxswain Philip Byrne, SecondCoxswain Philip Boyle, Bowman EddieGallagher, Mechanic Charles Boyle,Assistant Mechanic Neil Byrne, Re-serve Mechanic Peter Meredith, andcrew members Gerard Rodgers, PhilBoyle and Brian Byrne.

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COXSWAIN AT THE WHEEL

By courtesy of] [Keystone Press Agency

Staff Coxswain Sydney Hills at the wheel of the new 44-foot steel life-boatafter completion of her trials in December

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Search in High WindFOR a search carried out in a north-westerly wind of storm force, when awind speed of over 107 miles per hourwas recorded, letters of commendationhave been sent to the members of thecrew of the St. Helier life-boat and of aJersey pilot cutter.

At 6 p.m. on 9th October, 1964,the St. Helier deputy harbour master,Captain R. S. Taylor, learnt that acraft was in danger off NoirmontPoint. She was later identified as themotor yacht Maricelia.

In exceedingly severe conditions,with a very rough confused sea andpoor visibility, particularly in squalls,Captain Taylor decided to put out inthe pilot cutter La Rosiere. The tidewas half flood and setting to theeastward.

COXSWAIN ABOARD CUTTER

The pilot cutter, which is a 50-footsingle screw boat of the motor fishingvessel type, put out at 6.5. Among hercrew were the coxswain of the St.Helier life-boat, Edward Larbalestier,and one other member of the life-boatcrew.

The yacht was soon found near theend of the breakwater, steaming incircles. Her deck had been swept cleanof mast, spars, wheelhouse, and guardrails but her engine was still running.The pilot cutter closed with the yacht,but there was no sign of life on boardher.

The pilot cutter then searched to thesouth of St. Helier in the hope of find-ing survivors. Not long afterwards theyacht Maricelia struck rocks nearDogs Nest beacon and sank. Darknessbegan to fall and visibility became

nearly nil. At 7.40 the search wascalled off, the pilot cutter returning toharbour.

MAROONS WERE FIRED

Meanwhile the St. Helier life-boathad also been launched. The assistanthonorary secretary, Captain W. G.Furzer, had received a radio messagefrom the pilot cutter that the yacht'screw were missing, and at 6.35 themaroons were fired.

Five minutes later the St. Helierlife-boat Elizabeth Rippon, which isone of the 46-foot 9-inch Watson type,put out with Second Coxswain S. LeRiche in command. She searched thearea from Noirmont Point to Demiede Pas light beacon without success.When darkness fell she too had toabandon the search and reached herstation at 7.50.

The next day an intensive search, inwhich the St. Helier life-boat wasjoined by H.M.S. Curzon, the fishingboat Boy Tad, a fast rescue boat of thefire service, aircraft of the Royal AirForce and a French helicopter, wascarried out.

ONLY A LIFE RAFT

Conditions were still very bad witha gale force wind from the west-south-west blowing. The life-boat put outat 7.10 with the coxswain in command,but all that was discovered was a liferaft close to the French coast nearSurville, which the helicopter spotted.This had belonged to the yacht butthere was nobody on board the life raft.

At noon it was learnt that a survivorfrom the Maricelia had achieved theremarkable feat of swimming ashore

271

near Belle Hougue Point on the northcoast of Jersey. The search wascontinued until 6 p.m. when the life-boat returned to her station.

The survivor was a girl of 21, whohad swum or drifted for 18 miles afterthe crew of the Maricelia had beenswept into the sea during a violent storm.Their yacht, with engines still running,had motored on, leaving the crew inthe water.

After clinging on to floating wreck-age of the yacht for about three hours,Alison Mitchell and the one other re-maining survivor of the yacht's originalcrew of five decided to swim for shore.The other survivor was drowned butAlison Mitchell floated for about 16hours in the gale-swept sea.

CLIMBED STEEP CLIFF

By the time she struggled ashore,apart from being exhausted, nearlyfrozen, cut, bruised and battered, shewas blind. Her eyes had become soswollen that she could only see byforcing her eyelids open with herfingers. Her body was swollen from herlong immersion in the sea. Yet she foundthe will and the strength to climb thesteep cliff and crawl and stagger up thewinding narrow path, pausing every fewyards to lift her eyelids with her fingers

to see where she was going. The longclimb must have taken her almost twohours. Somewhere near the top ofthe hill she sank down and almostgave up hope of finding the help shedesperately needed. Encouraged bythe sound of a dog's barking shestaggered and stumbled on.

Her ordeal was now very nearlyover for in this condition she col-lapsed into the arms of Farmer de laMare at Egypt Farm, St. John's,Jersey. She was at once rushed tohospital.

LETTERS WERE SENT

The crews, to whom collectiveletters of commendation were sent,signed by the Chairman of the Com-mittee of Management, Captain theHon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N.,were: Coxswain Edward Cyril Lar-balestier, Second Coxswain SilverHarry Le Riche, Bowman DonaldHenry Hansford, Mechanic WilliamGeorge Davey, Assistant MechanicRoyston Leslie Berezai, crew membersW. Stuart, A. Deste Croix, G. Coom,W. Coom, E. Grandin, D. Seymour,and J. Bisson, deputy harbour masterCaptain R. S. Taylor, and crew mem-bers of the pilot cutter R. Parris andH. Brewer.

NEW APPOINTMENTSMr. Laurence C. H. Cave, a member of the Committee of Management since1947, has been elected a Vice-President of the Institution. His election took placein December, 1964. Mr. Cave became a member of the finance committee in1947 and joined the establishment committee in the following year.

Surgeon Commodore F. W. Baskerville, C.B.E., L.M.S.S.A., R.N., joined theCommittee of Management as a co-opted member in December, 1964. He isDeputy Medical Director General of the Royal Navy.

Mr. B. V. Howell, M.B.E., honorary secretary of Pwllheli station branch, hasbeen appointed an honorary life governor of the Institution. He has beenhonorary secretary since 1929 and was awarded the gold badge for his servicesto the branch in 1960.

272

SOSand the doctor is there

The following article by Alex Dickson appeared in the Scottish Daily Mail inDecember. It is reproduced here by courtesy of the Scottish Daily Mail.

Beside every life-boat there hangs an extra set of bright yellow oilskins. They arethere because of the Hippocratic Oath. Reserved for the HMA. . . .

The 31 doctors who are honorary members of Scotland's life-boats receive nopay. They wear no badges, have no rank and are on 24-hour voluntary call.Special men are the honorary medical advisers of the Royal National Life-boatInstitution.

The maroons go off and the telephone rings. Crews scramble from bed withthe haste of fighter pilots. And, if required, a GP or a hospital intern is runningfor the slipway with them.

When a Dunbar doctor returned home after a mercy dash to a crippledtrawler adrift in the North Sea the other day, he washed, changed and did hisrounds.

Inspector Praises ThemThe winds had been gale force, waves 20 feet high. But he had patients wait-

ing for him on dry land. Even if he had been tossed around for nine hours."They do a marvellous job," said Commander Andrew Forbes, district

inspector of life-boats for the R.N.L.I., in Edinburgh last night."Often they must be ill themselves. I don't doubt that on occasions they must

be in agony from seasickness all the way to a ship and a man in trouble. Butthey always manage to rise to the occasion."

More than 140 life-boats are pointed towards the seas around Britain. Each ofthem has its own doctor on call.

The medical men treat an invitation to become an HMA as a great honour.Not once has a doctor been asked to take on the job and turned it down.

Women are among the Scots who proudly answer the call when a mercymission begins. Young and newly qualified. Middle-aged, with sons followingin the profession.

Doctors take RisksAn Aberdeen doctor has been going down to the sea in ships for 34 years.

More than 100 times he has jumped into a tiny boat and risked his life to helpan injured or ill seaman.

Three weeks ago he received the M.B.E. from the Queen for his work."I wouldn't have missed it for anything," he told me from his surgery. "You

have to like the sea, I suppose. No, that's not necessarily the case for every timeI went out I felt queasy - seasickness. But I beat it.

273

"We are always ready to go out, no matter how hard a day it's been. Pay ?That's never even thought of. . ..."

Life-boat doctors have a special "black bag". It stands in the hall or is lockedin the car boot. Permanently.

Oilskins are Ready"Everyone has his or her idea of what to take along; different drugs, equip-

ment and so on. And our oilskins ^are always ready for us. I wouldn't dream ofgiving up the job," said the doctor.

Training is compulsory. If six weeks go by without a call-out, a life-boat takesher doctor to sea for exercises. The aim is to make them as realistic as possible.

Two members of every crew are trained in first-aid by the doctors. But life-boats send for their honorary member whenever he might be necessary. Mostof the unpaid specialists make a point of going out as often as possible - evenwhen they are not required.

"There is no difficulty in filling the job when one is vacated," CommanderForbes told me. "When a doctor is away on holiday, or sick himself, there isalways someone standing by to fill in.

"We can't speak too highly of them. They are proud to be ready to come outwith us. And believe me, we are proud to have them aboard."

PRAISE FROM THE PENSIONERSTwo letters of appreciation of the life-boat service, both enclosing donations,have recently been written to the Institution by old age pensioners.

Eighty-two year old Mrs. Emily Stabback, of Greenwich, London S.E.io,wrote after seeing the film Life-boat Heroes on television.

Her letter reads: "I have just been watching the telly . .. and have beenfeeling very proud of those men. Unless we see these heroes at their wonderfulwork we do not realise what goes on, we just live in our own little circle. ThankGod we have such gallant men to call on in times of distress.

"So tomorrow, Thursday morning, when I go to get my old age pension, I'llget a postal order of five shillings, not much; but with my blessing."

The other letter came from an old age pensioner in Midlothian who sent apostal order for as. and wrote, "I'd like to say how much we women of the U.K.understand the perils of all who man the life-boats - we pray for them - andknow them for their courage and endurance as God's good men. May He blessyou all."

Summary of ServicesThe summary of the year's services by life-boats which has previously appearedin the March number of THE LIFE-BOAT will in future be published as a separatesupplement. The supplement will be incorporated in all the bound volumes.

Readers who wish to have the supplement should inform the Editor of THELIFE-BOAT and it will be sent to them when published.

274

By courtesy of} [J. W. Congrave

A Dutch fairground organ, 65 years old, has recently raised over £50 for the R.N.L.I. It belongs toMr. A. B. Mason of King's Lynn, Norfolk, and travels round the Brancaster area towed by a land

rover, with Mr. Mason in attendance.

The skippers of Aberdeen trawlers who are rewarded by the Department ofAgriculture and Fisheries for Scotland when they recover tagged fish give theirrewards to the R.N.L.I. They direct the Department to send the money to thehonorary secretary of the Aberdeen branch.

Guess the burning time - this was the theme of a competition run at the WhiteSwan Hotel, Alnwick, Northumberland, during Christmas week. A Christmascandle burned in the foyer of the hotel and over £6 was collected from competitors.

Elsewhere in Northumberland, at Craster village, a lo-year-old girl, MargaretHall, collected, cleaned and sold sea urchins to summer visitors. She raised £10.

Mrs. M. B. Merry, of Wolverhampton, has recently knitted her i,oooth rabbitfor the R.N.L.I. When she first began to knit the rabbits she sold them at an averageof 55. each. Now she can sell them for ?s. 6d. and they are in great demand.

Captain W. C. M. Awcock, master of the motor vessel Springbank, recentlysent three Seaman's Money Order forms to the Institution. They totalled £15 55. 6d.He wrote, "These contributions represent fines imposed on three of my juniorofficers for minor infringements of discipline during the past voyage".

275

A Great Rescue RecalledON Sunday, ist November, 1964, the 50th anniversary of one of the greatestof all life-boat services was commemorated at Whitby. This was the rescue fromthe hospital ship Rohilla.

The Rohilla, a vessel of 7,365 tons belonging to the British India SteamNavigation Company and used at the time as a hospital ship, went aground nearSaltwick Nab early on the morning of 30th October, 1914. She had 229 peopleon board.

THREE GOLD MEDALS GIVEN

The rescue was a remarkable combined operation, which showed conclusivelythe advantages which the early motor life-boats had over pulling boats, for noless than 50 of the 145 survivors were rescued by the Tynemouth motor life-boat, which had to make a journey of 44 miles to reach Whitby.

Three gold medals were awarded for the services rendered, two of them tomembers of the Tynemouth crew, Coxswain Robert Smith and Captain H. E.Burton, and one to Coxswain Thomas Langlands of Whitby.

At a civic reception on ist November, 1964, given by the Mayor and Mayoressof Whitby, Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing, representing the Committee ofManagement of the Institution, laid a wreath at Whitby cemetery. Among thosepresent were two survivors from the Rohilla and two members of the Whitbycrew of 1914, two brothers named Richardson.

A FLOTILLA OF VESSELS

After a service at St. Mary's parish church, the Whitby life-boat Mary AnnHepworth was launched and led a flotilla of fishing vessels and other craft to theplace where the Rohilla foundered. Wreaths were lowered into the water as theRector of Whitby gave a blessing and the last post was sounded.

To commemorate the occasion a special exhibition was organized at theWhitby life-boat museum by the honorary secretary of the station, Mr. EricThomson.

NOTICEAll contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary

secretary of the local branch or guild, or to Stirling Whorlow, Esq., Secretary,Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.I.

All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal shouldbe addressed to the Secretary.

The next number O/THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in JUNE, 1965.

276

ON PASSAGE WITH THE R.N.LI.The passages of two new life-boats to their stations are described here by men whowere aboard. The first account, reproduced by courtesy of the Eastern Daily Pressin which it appeared on 28th October, 1964, is written by Dr. P. S. Barclay,honorary secretary of the Cramer branch. The second is taken from the report ofMr. G. R. Walton, now district inspector for Ireland, who was assistant districtinspector for Scotland at the time.

What more literal execution of the idiom "a round trip" could it be possible tocontrive and what more exciting experience thereby provided than the oppor-tunity of making the passage from Cowes in the new sy-foot Oakley life-boatWilliam Henry and Mary King round the coast to Cromer No. 2 Station ?

Going foreign, the familiar countryside flashes past the train until the Nor-folker is plumped in the metropolitan antithesis of his natural environment.Having struggled across to Waterloo he eventually finds himself in countryonce more, unfamiliar but attractive, until at last he sees, hears and smells thesea again with the added fascination of Southampton docks, the Itchen andthe Solent viewed from the ferry to Cowes.

TO A SECLUDED JETTY

The day of departure dawns still but grey and misty and after being depositedby taxi at White's Boatyard where, alas, the O.N. 980 has been the last life-boatto be built, we find our way through a maze of busy shops to a secluded jettywhere lies, freshly bright in spite of the day, the new Cromer No. 2 life-boat.

All the trials have long been completed and without any preliminaries orsophisticated farewells other than handshakes, she is cast off to thread her way,on her own at last, down the river past the ferry pier and R.Y.S. headquartersout into the Solent where very soon all that can be seen of the island is a mistygreen shadow over the starboard quarter.

At eight knots she throbs beautifully through the calm sea with the sound ofher two 52 h.p. diesels roaring out of the exhaust ports like a distant squadron ofLancasters. For hours we see no land until Selsey Bill is just visible out of themist and the south coast passes by as one long stretch of ribbon building fromBognor Regis to Brighton and then Newhaven where the life-boat is berthedfor the night opposite the motor vessels, Falaise and Brighton, of the longerChannel crossing.

PAST THE SUSSEX COAST

Off to a good start with the tide at 8.45 the following morning, out of theharbour into the open sea with the justified promise of sunshine later. RoundSeaford Head the meeting of wind and tide stirs up a slop that for a short timesets the life-boat very much alive before settling down to the more raggedsunlit swell only to be broken occasionally again by other major promontories.Past the Seven Sisters, round, almost under, Beachy Head, and once again thecontinuous ribbon of buildings along the low coast line until Hastings gives way

277

to Rye bay, where the shore lies almost invisible until the enormous rectangularpile of the atomic power station looms up on Dungeness.

Steady on 50 degrees, the familiar white cliffs identify Folkestone and Dovercoming up on the port bow, stirring up nostalgic memories of Continentalholidays, until all this is over the stern and course is altered round the SouthForeland. Heading for the night's harbour at Ramsgate we pass a fleet of fishingboats from Walmer, their sharp counter sterns bristling with rods and line allunconcerned, presumably, with the weather forecast of north-westerly galeforce winds imminent!

So they were! The quiet start of the third day's passage which belied thebrightly blustering sky under the lee of the North Foreland drove across theThames estuary into the blast of a north-westerly gale over the port bows wherethe life-boat showed her paces and delight of the sea tossing, pitching, androlling in her natural element that appeared dramatically wild at least to alandsman; spray and cascades of water showering everywhere except the shelterof the gyrating canopy.

ONLY A CAP IS RESCUED

At the Outer Tongue buoy a cap is blown overboard, the restoration of whichprovides the only rescue of the trip before the land behind drops below thehorizon. Five hours or so later, after passing and hailing the Kentish Knock andShipwash lightvessels, Orfordness was our landfall and in a comparativelyquieter sea we pass Aldeburgh, Thorpeness and Southwold to the last lap of theday.

To the west the sun was sinking behind a low bank of clouds throwing up theland in a silhouette of molten lead, while ahead the sky, like the base metal itself,made the sea appear almost pale. Daylight faded and the lights of Lowestofttwinkled and slowly emerged over the bows, offering us the welcome of a safeharbour which we reached just after the rain started.

Up at 5.30 on the last morning to leave port at 7 a.m. Daylight breaks reluct-antly through ragged clouds and running up through the Yarmouth roads weleave behind a scattered fleet of vessels still riding at anchor and break out intothe open as we turn north-west past Caister.

ALIVE WITH WELCOMING CROWD

If the elements tried us yesterday it was, this morning, as if they were com-bining to welcome us to our own hunting ground with traditional force of themost superlative quality. Punching through and over turmoils of water and spraythe William Henry and Mary King saw her own coastline for the first time.Palling church, Happisburgh lighthouse and all the familiar landmarks blinkingbetween the waves until Cromer church and pier hove up ahead to tell herthat she had reached home at last. The beach was alive with the welcomingcrowd to see her run up with the rushing surf on to the beach to a perfect land-ing, where the carriage and tractor, manipulated by scores of willing hands, indue course pulled her up into the boathouse.

Four memorable and happy days, exhilarating hours: sun, sea and wind

278

blowing away the cobwebs of previous nights' conviviality with hospitable life-boatmen of other stations.

A rugged boat, O.N. 980, for a splendid station. She will continue and main-tain a history and tradition that is second to none round the coasts of the BritishIsles.

'

By courtesy of] {North Norfolk Neva

Cromer's new No. 2 life-boat waiting to be drawn up the beach by tractor

ON PASSAGE TO ST. ABBSThe new St. Abbs 37-foot Oakley life-boat, Jane Hay, sailed from Osborne'syard, Littlehampton, at 8 a.m. on 3ist October, 1964. Captain the Hon. V. M.Wyndham-Quin, R.N., Chairman of the Committee of Management, wasamong those on board.

The first part of the voyage to Dover was uneventful, with slight seas and alight south-easterly wind. At 8 a.m. the next morning the boat sailed fromDover and, after passing South Foreland, made her way through the InnerDowns between the Goodwin sands and the Kent coast. She crossed the Thamesestuary and passed the Kentish Knock lightvessel where a bundle of Sundaypapers was thrown aboard for the lightvessel's crew to read. Landfall was madeagain at Orfordness.

SLOW MOTION IN FOG

At South wold fog banks reduced visibility to a few yards. Course was set, andwhen the life-boat's position was one mile south of Lowestoft course was alteredto the westward to make land.

279

A mile further on, when our estimated position was 400 yards from the beach,the boat's engines were stopped so that we could hear if any fog signals weresounding from the land. Nothing was heard. The engines were started and theboat proceeded slowly for another 200 yards. Still nothing was heard. Themanoeuvre was repeated and this time a dog's bark was heard and the lapping ofwaves, then people's voices. A hail was given asking for our position and aftergreat difficulty we were able to ascertain that we were off the holiday camp to thesouth of Lowestoft harbour entrance.

DIM LIGHTS WERE SEEN

Course was set to a position half a mile to the east of Lowestoft piers. Whetthe life-boat reached the position the same procedure was adopted: dead slowstop, listen. Eventually the reed fog signal was heard and on the final manoeuvnthe dim lights of the pier-head were sighted above us some 20 yards away. Thtboat was able to reach her berth with the help of the lights on the harbour quays.

On the next day the boat made her way northward to Sheringham. From therea north-westerly course was set for Spurn Point, which was reached after arough passage with force 6 to 7 winds.

We continued the passage next day to Whitby. Alongside the quay, on arrival,we discovered that in the dark the propellers had become entangled with asalmon poacher's net. A number of people appeared and helped to cut the netclear, disappearing very quickly once it was cleared with nearly all the fish. TheChairman and crew lunched well the next day.

THREE CHEERS ON ARRIVAL

On the day after arrival at Whitby the propellers were cleared and on thefollowing day, Thursday, we arrived in Berwick. The St. Abbs coxswain, Mr. J.Wilson, joined us the next morning for the final few miles to St. Abbs. We werewelcomed on arrival by members of the St. Abbs committee, along with most ofthe population, who raised three cheers for the arrival of the new life-boat.

STAFF RETIREMENTSMEMBERS of the Institution's staff who retired in 1964 after more than 15 years'service were:

Mr. B. Rickard, 40years; Mrs. F. E. Johnson (Miss Tolley), 39 years; Mr.W. L. Cook, 36 years; Mr. C. T. Hornabrook, 34 years; Mrs. C. A. Dalli-more, 23 years; Mr. D. MacMillan, 18 years.

New Year HonoursBrigadier C. C. Fairweather, O.B.E., T.D., D.L., chairman of the Teesmouth

station branch, has been made C.B.E. in the New Year Honours list.Major K. G. Graves, J.P., chairman of the Ramsey station branch, has been

awarded the O.B.E.

280

'Sidelights on StationsWHEN Miss Grace Monro gave £1,000to be divided largely between thelife-boat crews and helpers at HolyIsland, North Sunderland, Penlee andSennen Cove during 1964, the HolyIsland crew decided to express theirgratitude by sending her a painting oftheir life-boat.

They commissioned the well-knownGrimsby artist, Charles Davis, to paintthe Gertrude on service in rough seasoff Inner Fame, and 17 of themcontributed to the cost. The painting,sent to the Bristol home of MissMonro, brought an unanticipated res-ponse. Miss Munro, a valued sup-porter of the Institution for some time,sent another £100 to Holy Island—tobe divided between the 17 con-tributors.

Sir James Harman, while LordMayor of London, went aboard East-bourne life-boat in September. Inflying spray and wind he went with thelife-boat crew and branch officials inthe direction of Beachy Head. SirJames, who has a house at Eastbourne,was an ex-officio member of theInstitution's Committee of Manage-ment during his term as Lord Mayor.

Mr. John McDonough, of Fleet-wood life-boat crew, has made a doll's

bungalow which raised £20 in acompetition organised by the Fleet-wood ladies' life-boat guild and whichcost only £2 IDS. in building materials.Woodwork is his hobby and onewhich he regularly turns to theInstitution's profit. A needlework box,upholstered stool and two dolls' houseshave been made for previous money-raising efforts held by the guild.

Every five years - sometimes morefrequently - the life-boat at Islay,Argyllshire, is called out on "political"service. On I5th October, 1964, thelife-boat The Rankin, on temporaryduty at the station, carried the Parlia-mentary election ballot boxes fromColonsay to the mainland. The servicewas carried out uneventfully in amoderate sea and gentle westerlybreeze.

Fifty-four years after he had beenrescued from a yawl-rigged fishingsmack during a storm, 83-year-oldMr. George Austin went back toLlandudno life-boat station this sum-mer, hoping to meet some of the menwho had saved his life. He was wel-comed by several members of thepresent life-boat crew but found hehad outlived all his former rescuers.The last had died in 1963.

Annual General MeetingThe annual general meeting of the Institution will be held at the Central Hall,Westminster, at 3 p.m. on 6th April, 1965.

Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, who is President of the Institution, willpresent medals and other awairis.

281

A BOOK FOR REVIEWTHE first in a series of books which will undoubtedly become standard works onthe history of the Cornish fife-boats. Wreck and Rescue Round the Cornish Coastby Cyril Noall and Grahame Farr (D. Bradford Barton, 2is.), is both an ad-mirable piece of scholarship and a most readable work. In this first volume theauthors tell the stories of the life-boat stations at Bude, Port Isaac, Padstow,Newquay and Hayle.

They are particularly interesting on the history of the Padstow station, yet inspite of all their research they are unable to state with certainty when the stationwas founded. Although they hold the view that the first Padstow life-boat wasbuilt in 1827 they call attention to the fact that this Institution's records statethat the station was established before 1825, although the Institution's annualreport for the year 1824-1825 mentions a life-boat being "planned" for thePadstow district. There was, it seems, a six-oared gig built as early as 1790largely for rescue on the north Cornish coast, but this was not truly a life-boat.In the authors' words "the pilots scorned the addition of aircases and cork".

FUTURE KING CONTRIBUTED TO THE COST

The Padstow life-boat built in 1855 cost £160. Towards this sum the futureKing Edward VII contributed £25, and he gave permission for the life-boat tobe named Albert Edward. Padstow also had one of the few steam life-boatsbuilt for the Institution and a 6i-foot motor life-boat named in July, 1930,which, apart from one boat stationed at Dover, was the largest motor life-boathitherto completed.

Colourful accounts, a number of them extracted from local newspapers,describes early happenings at other stations. When a life-boat was first placedat Port Isaac one of the first actions taken was to capsize her deliberately withher crew on board in order to show that she could become upright "in less thana minute and free of water in a few seconds". The daughter of the chairman ofthe local committee then named the boat but before doing so placed below thefoundation stone of the boathouse a bottle containing coins and documents.

When the first life-boat arrived at Newquay it was reported that of the localpopulation, then numbering less than one thousand, all who could walk troopedout to meet her.

LIFE-BOAT MANNED BY OXFORD CREW

Hayle's first life-boat was provided by a fund collected at the University ofOxford, and in April, 1866, after being drawn on her carriage through theprincipal streets of Oxford, she was taken to the towing path of the river andmanned by the Oxford boat race crew, who not long before had defeatedCambridge. The wife of the Vice-Chancellor then named the life-boat Isis.

Mr. Noall and Air. Farr have many moving accounts of rescues carried outby the different life-boats at these north Cornish stations, and all too oftenamong the accounts of successful rescues are tales of life-boat disasters. Of the

282

By courtesy of] (R. C. H. GtVto

Newquay's oared life-boat Willie Rodgers in 1893.The station is now closed.

consequence of a disaster at Padstow in 1867 they rightly comment: "As isalmost always the case after a life-boat disaster, there was no lack of volunteersto make up a fresh crew."

The next two volumes of this series will deal first with the life-boat stations inthe Lands End area and then those on the south Cornish coast.

There are a number of excellent illustrations in this first volume includingthe famous picture which shows how the Port Isaac life-boat had to be draggedthrough the narrow streets.

OBITUARYCOLONEL THE HON. HAROLD ROBSON, T.D., D.L., J.P.

Colonel the Hon. Harold B. Robson, a Vice-President of the Institution, died on13th October, 1964, at the age of 76. He joined the Committee of Managementin 1933 and was elected a Vice-President in 1955. He served on the generalpurposes and publicity committee from 1938 and on the establishment com-mittee from the following year. In 1949 he became a member of the financecommittee and in 1956 chairman of the general purposes and publicitycommittee, a post he resigned a year later because of ill health.

COXSWAIN EDWARD PARKER

Coxswain Edward Parker, who died on i5th October, 1964, was a former cox-swain of Margate life-boat who was awarded the D.S.M. for the part he and hiscrew played at Dunkirk when the Margate life-boat rescued over 600 Britishservicemen from the beaches. He served in the Margate life-boat crew for 41years. During the last 16 years, from 1930 until his retirement in 1946, he servedas coxswain.

283

RECORD OF RESCUES IN 1964

1964month

JanuaryFebruaryMarchApril . .MayJune ..July ..AugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

Number of timeslife-boats calledout on service

1964

414351539981

126128128736442

929

Average1946-1964

(45)(38)

(44)(55)(62)(86)

(106)(77)(52)

(53)(48)

(707)

Lives saved bylife-boats

1964 i Average

13263420602443

10469

136

1946-1964

(43)(18)(37)(28)(34)(33)(50)(64)(46)(27)(28)(35)

453 ! (443)

&

esS -OCO 1

u~

1964

I959

2112

1939231444

1 60

f> «O 3

J|

ill•2 2 S3•s s "o o cS3-0 o

§3

1964

——2

IO30

36

516624ii62

238

C/}

«>. 0.0.0

•o au 3

S up* «

33.3

1964

———7

46

2020

9i4

7i

sIn£lo 3

Is" l-l

i1964

———23i89422

—

31

i|

•i"0

E>> Cj _O

£'33

^C?"M (J cco (a >q

u «

1964

9—4

41

373160862983

15

323

SUMMARY OF SERVICES IN 1964

Number of times life-boats called out on serviceNumber of times inshore rescue boats called out on service

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

929238

1,167

4537t

323

847

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET148 life-boats 27 inshore rescue boats

LIVES SAVED 85,502from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to 31st December, 1964

284

By courtesy of] [Sport and General

The new 44-foot steel life-boat in the Thames at London

Newhaven life-boat on the slipway

285

NATURE OF SERVICES BY LIFE-BOATS

CLASS

Fishing boats -all types

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

Sailing yachts, sailingdinghies, sailingboats, motor cruisersand motor yachts

Aircraft

fSmall boats, canoes,rubber dinghies, etc.

Landing sick personsand taking out doctors,help to bathers, peopleon cliffs, rocks, or cutoff by tide

Miscellaneous ; rocketsand flares, lightvesselreliefs, etc.

1963

No. % oftotal

169 20-5

123 14-5

164 I9'9

ii 1-4

130 15-9

125 15-3

102 12-5

824 loo-o

1964No. % of

total

178 I9'6

119 12-6

232 25

I9 2

113 I2-I

149 16-1

119 12-6

929 lOO'O

% of total services

0 10 20 30

(1963)

1964

(1963)

1964

(1963)f '" :s s ^V •• * !* , , , • 1964

1(1963)1964

(1963)... ^ j 1964

(1963)1964

(1963)1964

..:».

0 10 20 30% of total services

286

NATURE OF SERVICES BY INSHORERESCUE BOATS

CLASS

Fishing boats —all types

Motor vessels,motor boats, etc.

Sailing yachts, sailingdinghies., sailingboats, motor cruisersand motor yachts

Aircraft

Small boats, canoes,rubber dinghies, etc.

Landing sick personsand taking out doctors,help to bathers, peopleon cliffs, rocks, or cutoff by tide

Miscellaneous ; rocketsand flares, etc.

1963

No. % oftotal

I 2-6

4 10-2

14 35-9

_ —

9 23-1

8 20-5

3 77

39 loo-o

1964

No. %oftotal

15 6-3

31 13-0

63 26-5

— ' —

63 26-5

37 15-5

29 12-2

238 loo-o

% of total services

0 10 20 30

11963)

1964

(1963)

1964

(1963)

1964

(1963)

,' ' '< „- ; '' - 1964ut...* •*"*•-- *-,..fni(A"ni.i

(1963)

1964

(1963)

- / Z9fi4

0 10 20 30% of total services

Note: In 1963 there were 8 inshore rescue boats in service and in 1964, 27.

287

Life-boat services round the Coasts

LAUNCHES AND LIVES SAVED1st October to 31st December: Launches 179, lives 60

NORTH-EAST ENGLANDBoulmer, Northumberland. At 9.40

a.m. on i6th October, 1964, the coast-guard told the honorary secretary that oneof a small fleet of cobles which weremaking for shelter in the harbour hadbeen delayed. The sea was moderate withlight airs from the north-west and thetide was over two hours flood. The life-boat Robert and Dorothy Hardcastle waslaunched at 9.52 to investigate the delay.She found the coble. Jacqueline Stevenson,with three men on board, at 10 a.m. andescorted her into harbour. The life-boatreturned to her station at 10.15.

OUT OF CONTROLAt 9.7 a.m. on 26th October, 1964, the

coble Rose of June, with a crew of three,was reported to be out of control in aslight sea and light airs from the south-west. The tide was half an hour after highwater. At 9.26 the life-boat Robert andDorothy Hardcastle was launched. TheRose of June was found drifting on theebb tide, with her engines out of control.The life-boat towed her to Boulmer5 andreturned to her station at 2.30 p.m.

THIRTEEN AT SEAFiley and Flamborough, Yorkshire.

At 1.20 p.m. on 3Oth December, 1964,the coastguard told the Filey honorarysecretary that the wind was reachingstorm force. As there were 13 local fishingcobles at sea the Filey life-boat The Isa &Penryn Milsted was launched at 1.40. TheFlamborough life-boat Friendly Foresterwas also launched five minutes later assome of the cobles were fishing offFlamborough Head. Both life-boats es-corted the cobles to safety. The Flam-borough life-boat returned to her station

at 3.45 and the Filey life-boat arrived ather station at 4.10.

The Filey life-boat was also called outon igth October.

AID FOR SKIN DIVERSFlamborough, Yorkshire. At 11.30

a.m. on I5th November, 1964, the life-boat coxswain saw five skin divers enterthe -water at the north landing and swimstraight out to sea. The weather wasdeteriorating with a north-westerly windof near gale force and a rough sea. It washigh water. Soon afterwards the coxswainsaw them struggling at the foot of thecliffs trying to get ashore. From hisknowledge of the cliffs the coxswainknew it would be impossible for thesemen to climb up so he reported thesituation and the life-boat crew wereassembled in readiness to launch if thisbecame necessary. Ten minutes later thecoastguard reported that the skin divershad been contacted and they did notrequire any help. Three men eventuallyswam back to the north landing and weremet by the coxswain. He was asked if itwould be possible to help the other twomen as they were not strong swimmers.The life-boat Friendly Forester waslaunched at 2.40 p.m., picked up the twoskin divers and returned to her stationat 3.40.

IN SOUTHERLY GALEAt 12.45 P-ni. on yth December, 1964,

the coxswain decided to launch the life-boat Friendly Forester as several local fish-ing cobles were at sea in deterioratingweather. The life-boat put out in asoutherly gale and a rough sea to aposition east-south-east of FlamboroughHead where the cobles were known to beworking. One coble was making for the

288

By courtesy of] [Hull Daily Mai:

Three skin divers rescued by Flamborough life-boat in November

north landing when the coxswain con-tacted her skipper and was given theposition of the remaining three. Thesecobles were eventually escorted safely in.The life-boat reached her station at 3.15.

RESERVE LIFE-BOATHumber, Yorkshire. At 1.30 p.m. on

4th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe coxswain superintendent that thereserve life-boat The Cuttle had brokendown in a slight sea and gentle south-easterly wind five miles north of SpurnPoint. At 1.35 the life-boat City ofBradford HI was launched and thereserve life-boat was soon found abouttwo miles east of Withernsea. The Cuttlewas towed to the life-boat station by 5.21.

TOWED TO MOORINGSAt 7.30 a.m. on 6th October, 1964, the

nightwatchman reported that the reservelife-boat The Cuttle appeared to bedragging her anchor inside Spurn Point,in the rough seas and near gale force wes-terly winds. At 7.50 the station life-boatCity of Bradford HI was launched. As itwas over an hour past high water the

combined effect of wind, sea and tide wasto break The Cuttle free of her moorings,and she was well out to sea in brokenwater before a tow line could be taken toher by the Humber life-boat's secondcoxswain, who jumped from one life-boatto the other. Because of the weather thereserve life-boat was towed into Grimsby,where she was moored safely at n a.m.The City of Bradford HI stood by untilthe weather moderated. While she wasthere a shipping agency reported that aman on board a vessel in Spurn anchoragerequired medical assistance. It was notuntil 3.45 p.m., however, that a malenurse arrived, since no doctor couldmanage the trip at the time. At 5 p.m.the nurse was put aboard the cargo vesselThorpe Grange of London. The injuredman was then transferred to the life-boatand landed at Grimsby at 6.25. TheHumber life-boat towed the reserve life-boat to moorings at Royal Dock, returningto her station the following morning.

RUSSIAN VESSELAt 9.50 a.m. on I4th October, 1964,

a shipping agency in Hull telephoned the

289

coxswain superintendent saying that awoman aboard the Russian cargo vesselJushnij Bug was severely ill and neededmedical attention. At 10.30 the life-boatCity of Bradford III was launched with adoctor on board. There was a slight seaand gentle south-westerly breeze. It wastwo hours before low water. When thelife-boat came alongside the Russianvessel the doctor boarded her to attend tothe woman. Twenty minutes later hereturned to the life-boat with the woman.She was transferred to an ambulance andlater to hospital. The life-boat returnedto her station at 12.15 p.m.

FROM GREEK SHIP

At 5.25 p.m. on 6th November, 1964,the coxswain superintendent received atelephone message from a Hull shippingagent saying that a member of the crewof the Greek vessel Artigas was injuredand needed hospital treatment. At 5.35the life-boat City of Bradford III waslaunched into a smooth sea and lightnorth-westerly breeze. The tide was atone hour before high water. At 6.10 theinjured man was transferred from theArtigas, which was in Spurn anchorage,to the life-boat and landed at Grimsby at7.5. The life-boat returned to her stationat 8 p.m.

AFTER A COLLISION

At 6.40 p.m. on 28th November, 1964,the coastguard informed the coxswainsuperintendent that the motor vesselRoyal Gate had been in collision one milewest of Chequer buoy and was makingfor the beach in a moderate southerlywind with a slight sea. At 6.40, low water,the life-boat City of Bradford III waslaunched. She came alongside the RoyalGate which had a crew of nine, and foundthat the vessel was badly damaged amid-ships on the port side. At 8.30 the vesselmade her way towards Grimsby, keepingclose to the shore, accompanied by thelife-boat. Before she reached Grimsbyhowever she developed a heavy list andwas beached again. The tide held her inan upright position and the Royal Gatesignified that no further assistance wasrequired. At 11.15 tne life-boat returnedto her station.

COBLE WAS ESCORTEDNewbiggin, Northumberland. At

9.50 a.m. on 23rd October, 1964, thecoxswain told the honorary secretary thatthe weather was becoming worse andthat two cobles were still at sea. At 10.10the life-boat Richard Ashley was launched.Twenty minutes later the coble Adventurewas contacted and escorted into New-biggin. Tne other coble made for Blythwhich she reached safely. At 11.30 thelife-boat returned to her station.

BARGE WAS TOWED

At 2.30 p.m. on 8th November, 1964,the coxswain told the honorary secretarythat a boat had fired a red flare while in achoppy sea on the Outer Carrs. At 2.40,three hours before high water, the life-boat Richard Ashley was launched into alight south-easterly breeze. The vessel,the river barge Crescent Brand with acrew of two, was less than a mile from thelife-boat station. The life-boat towed thebarge to Blyth and returned to her stationat 7.5.

FOUR WERE STRANDED

Skegness, Lincolnshire. At 8.10 a.m.on 2nd November, 1964, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that two menand two boys were stranded on the InnerDowsing lightvessel. They had securedto the vessel in fog but their two boatshad broken adrift while they were aboardthe lightvessel. At 9.5 the life-boatCharles Fred Grantham was launched intoa choppy sea and moderate northerlybreeze. The tide was i i hours before lowwater. The four people were taken aboardthe life-boat and landed. The life-boatreturned to her station at 1.25 p.m.

The life-boat was also called out on3rd November.

LIFE-BOAT ESCORTTynemouth, Northumberland. At

12.2 p.m. on 27th December, 1964, anumber of the life-boat crew and helpersat the watch-house saw a red flare beingfired by a small boat fishing at the harbourmouth. The life-boat Tynesider waslaunched at 12.5 in a south-easterly windof near gale force and a rough sea. It was11 hours after high water. The life-boat

290

reached the boat, which had broken down,just after a pilot cutter had put a tow ropeaboard her. The life-boat escorted bothboats up river to a safe anchorage. Amessage was then received from anotherpilot cutter that a motor boat was indifficulties on the harbour bar. The life-boat found the motor boat Magnet, withfour people on board, anchored in a verydangerous position at the south pier head.The Magnet weighed anchor and wasescorted by the life-boat up river. Thelife-boat returned to her station at i.io.

COASTER REFLOATEDWhitby, Yorkshire. At 4 a.m. on 2nd

October, 1964, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that a small coasterwas ashore at Happy Valley, in a slightsea and light southerly airs. The tidewas at two hours ebb. When the life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at4.30 she found the coaster S.S. Queensgateof Goole almost high and dry. Thecaptain of the Queensgate said that thelife-boat's help was not needed and at4.55 the life-boat returned to the harbour.She went back to the coaster at n a.m.and stood by when local boats tried un-successfully to refloat her. At 4.30 p.m.she returned to harbour. At 12.45 a.m.the Queensgate'' s owners asked the life-boat to stand by while further attempts torefloat her were made. The coaster wassuccessfully refloated and at 4.15 the life-boat returned to her station.

BERTHED SAFELYAt 1.30 p.m. on 23rd October, 1964,

the coxswain told the honorary secretarythat heavy seas were running on theharbour bar and two fishing boats werestill at sea. There was a north-westerlygale with very rough seas and it was ijhours past low water. At 1.31 the life-boatMary Ann Hepworth was launched. Shereached the bar in time to escort themotor fishing vessel Ocean Venture intoharbour. The other vessel, Lead Us,which was farther from the bar, wasadvised to make for Scarborough butdecided to enter Whitby. She almostbroached to at the entrance but, regainingcontrol, berthed safely. The life-boatreturned to her station at 3.50.

ENGINE BREAKDOWNAt 8.22 a.m. on 25th October, 1964, the

coastguard told the coxswain that theskipper of the fishing-vessel Golden Hopehad radioed, asking for his vessel to bekept under observation because herengine had broken down. The sea wasmoderate with a gentle north-westerlybreeze, but the tide was over two hourspast high water and there was a heavyswell. At 8.50 the life-boat Mary AnnHepworth was launched to stand by dur-ing the tow which had been arranged withanother fishing vessel. As the other vesselwas not seen near the Golden Hope thelife-boat towed the fishing vessel toWhitby harbour and moored her. At 10a.m. the life-boat returned to her station.

The life-boat was also called out oni6th October and 22nd November.

Other life-boats called out in the lastthree months of 1964 were:

Redcar, Yorkshire - 5th Novemberand 15th December.

Teesmouth, Yorkshire - 28thOctober.

SOUTH-EAST ENGLANDAldeburgh, Suffolk. At 11.30 a.m.

on 4th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a small motorlaunch was sending up red flares offSizewell in moderate seas and a gentleeast-south-easterly breeze. The life-boatThe Alfred and Patience Gottwald waslaunched at 11.35. I* was two hours afterhigh water. The launch Zingari, whosecrew of two were unable to start theengine, was towed into Lowestoft. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 5.55p.m.

The life-boat was also called out on4th November.

ON CAISTER SHOALCaister, Norfolk. At 6.30 a.m. on i ith

October, 1964, when the mechanic wasfishing at sea he saw a small vessel agroundon Caister shoal. The honorary secretarywas told and at 7.5 the life-boat TheRoyal Thames left in a slight sea with agentle south-westerly breeze. The tidewas beginning to rise and the life-boat

291

stood by until the motor vessel Elationrefloated. She took a length of thick ropefrom the Elation and anchored herself tohold the vessel steady as the tide rose.The Elation., which had a crew of three,was listing heavily to starboard. At 10a.m. she was refloated and continuedsafely on course. The life-boat returnedto her station at 10.30.

CREW OF EIGHTAt 1.50 a.m. on 2oth November, 1964,

the coastguard told the coxswain that avessel was aground one mile south ofthe North Caister buoy. At 2.10, when thetide was two hours before low water, thelife-boat The Royal Thames was launchedinto a smooth sea and light westerlybreeze. At 2.45 she found the trawlerAda Kirby aground with a crew of eighton board. Her skipper had launched hisinflatable raft, fearing that the trawlermight capsize. The life-boat took his towwire and rope and siood by until thetrawler refloated at 4.10. The life-boatpiloted the trawler clear of danger andreturned to her station at 4.45.

DRIFTING TO SEAClacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 12.15

p.m. on 16th October, 1964, the coast-guard told the honorary secretary thatthree people in a small dinghy weretrying to attract attention. Their craftwas off Holland Haven drifting seawardson the tide, which was two hours beforelow water. The sea was choppy with amoderate north-westerly breeze when thelife-boat Sir Godfrey Baring was launchedat 12.30. A motor fishing vessel picked upthe three people who were transferred tothe life-boat and landed at Clacton pier.The life-boat reached her station at 1.35.

YACHT AGROUNDAt 12.8 p.m. on i3th November, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat a yacht was reported aground inheavy seas on the West Barrow sands. Nodistress signals were seen but, because ofa strong south-westerly wind and deteri-orating weather, the life-boat Sir GodfreyBaring was launched at 1.5. The tide wasone hour past low water. As the life-boatapproached, the yacht began to refloat.

292

She was undamaged and with her crew ofthree made for Burnham on Crouch. Thelife-boat returned to Brightlingsea whereshe moored for the night because of badweather. She returned to her station thenext day.

FLARES WERE SEENDungeness, Kent. At 8.35 p.m. on

22nd October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that red flares hadbeen seen off Dengemarsh. There was amoderate westerly breeze with a roughsea. At 9.30 the life-boat Mabel E. Hollandwas launched. It was just past low water.The life-boat found the yacht Anne aboutfour miles south-west of the life-boatstation. There were two people aboardher and her engine was broken down. Shewas towed to a safe mooring. The life-boat then investigated another flare fivemiles south of Dungeness but after anunsuccessful search returned to herstation at 2.30 a.m. A donation was madeto the crew.

The life-boat was also called out on13th December.

TWO PICKED UPEastbourne, Sussex. At 5.35 p.m. on

24th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a small vesselthree miles south of the station wassignalling for help. The sea was smoothwith light airs from the north-west and itwas two hours before low water. At 6 p.m.the life-boat Beryl Tollemache waslaunched. At 6.29 two young men werepicked up from the fishing boat Which-a-Way which was drifting with her enginebroken down, while a member of thelife-boat's crew joined the third memberof the fishing boat's crew to help him toarrange a tow line. The Which-a-Waywas towed to safety and beached, thelife-boat reaching her station at 6.55. Adonation was made to the Institution'sfunds.

CRIES FOR HELPGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston,

Norfolk. At 12.10 a.m. on nth Decem-ber, 1964, the coastguard told the honor-ary secretary that a police constable on

duty near the Pier Hotel had heard criesfor help which seemed to come from theriver side of the south pier. The life-boat'ssecond coxswain and motor mechanic,together with the police and coastguard,searched both the river and sea sides ofthe pier. A police car patrol officer estab-lished that there was a small boat indifficulties somewhere outside the pier,and the life-boat Louise Stephens waslaunched at 1.4 in a thick fog. There werelight westerly airs with a smooth sea andit was almost high water. An outboardmotor skiff was found anchored half amile east-north-east of the harbourentrance with three men on board. Theyhad been fishing but because of fog hadbeen unable to find their way back to theharbour. The skiff was taken in tow andthe life-boat reached her station at 1.35.

WASHED ASHOREHastings, Sussex. At 7.25 a.m. on 6th

October, 1964, the skipper of the fishingboat Patricia Peggy telephoned the hon-orary secretary to say that because ofengine failure his boat had been washedashore at low water in the moderatewesterly breeze and choppy seas atDungeness. The life-boat Fairlight waslaunched at 7.42. She found the PatriciaPeggy five miles east of Rye harbour andpassed a tow line to her by using rockets.The boat was towed into Hastings andthe life-boat reached her station at 1.2p.m.

YACHT WAS FOUNDAt 5.18 p.m. on 22nd October, 1964, the

coastguard told the honorary secretarythat a red flare had been seen off Jury'sGap, Dungeness. The sea was moderatewith a corresponding south-westerlybreeze. It was almost low water. At 5.32the life-boat Fairlight was launched. Onher way to Jury's Gap she found a smallyacht which was waiting to enter harbour.The coxswain advised the yachtsmen tomake for Dungeness because there wouldnot yet be enough water for them to enterthe Hastings harbour. Soon afterwardsthe fishing vessel William and Edwin wasfound close inshore. One of the life-boat'screw was put aboard to help her crew ofone to arrange a tow line, but as the man

was nearly exhausted he was taken aboardthe Fairlight. Another member of thelife-boat crew was also put on the fishingvessel, which was towed to Hastings andsafely berthed. The life-boat reached herstation at 9.45.

The life-boat was also called out on 8thand 22nd October, and I5th November.

TOO MANY FISHLowestoft, Suffolk. At 6.55 p.m. on

26th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a small boatwas sinking in a slight sea and a lightvariable wind off Pakefield beach. Thelife-boat Frederick Edward Crick put outat 7.12 and found a longshore boat with aman on board. She had a very large catchof fish in her nets and consequently wassinking. The life-boat beached the catchand towed the longshore boat to harbour,returning to her station at 9.30.

The life-boat was also called out on istand 3ist October.

BUMPING HEAVILYMargate, Kent. At 8.45 p.m. on 4th

October, 1964, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that a vessel wasburning red flares off Foreness Point.There was a choppy sea with a moderateeast-south-easterly wind. At 8.58 the life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. u)was launched on a flooding tide. Shefound the motor launch Christina bump-ing heavily on the rocks even though heranchor was down. As the sole occupantwas unable to start her engine the life-boat towed the Christina into Margate.She returned to her station at 11.30.

IN POLISH TRAWLER

At 10.12 p.m. on i6th November, 1964,the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat the Polish trawler Lyna, sheltering inMargate roads, had an injured man aboardand had requested medical help. At 10.43,one hour after high water, the life-boatNorth Foreland (Civil Service No. n) waslaunched Into a rough sea and near galeforce westerly wind. At 11.30 the injuredseaman was put aboard the life-boat andlanded at Margate, where he was taken tohospital. The life-boat moored in the

293

harbour soon after midnight and wasrehoused the next day.

The life-boat was also called out on2nd November.

SLOOP CAPSIZED

Ramsgate, Kent. At 4.38 p.m. on 3rdOctober, 1964, the east pier watchmantold the coxswain that two small boatswere in difficulties in a rough sea andfresh north-easterly breeze off Brakesands. One was believed to have capsized.At 4.46 the life-boat Michael and LilyDavis put to sea. A few minutes later shefound the sloop Gay Guy, which hadcapsized but had been righted by hercrew, one of whom was still in the water.All the crew were taken aboard the life-boat. At 5.45, with the Gay Guy in tow,the life-boat entered harbour. The othersmall boat did not need help.

LOST HER SAILS

At 11.27 a-m- on 7th October, 1964,the east pier watchman told the honorarysecretary that a yacht was in difficultiesoff Dumpton Gap and she was firingflares. The sea was very rough with astrong south-westerly gale gusting tostorm force. One hour before high water,at 11.36, the life-boat Michael and LilyDavis put to sea. At 11.55 she found theyacht Belvoir, which was out of control,with her engine out of action and her sails•carried away by the violence of the storm.She was in danger of being broken up bythe heavy seas on the shore. Two membersof the life-boat's crew jumped aboard theBelvoir to assist her crew of four toattach a tow line to the life-boat. Thiswas done and at 1.37 p.m. the two boatsentered Ramsgate harbour, where thelife-boat was remoored. The owner madea donation to the Institution's funds.

TOW FOR MOTOR BOAT

At 1.55 p.m. on 24th October, 1964,the east pier watchman told the honorarysecretary that a motor boat had brokendown and was drifting in moderate seasand a corresponding north-westerlybreeze off Ramsgate. At 2.5, high water,the life-boat Michael and Lily Davis putout to sea. She found the motor boatStephen, which had a crew of two, drifting

11 miles north-east of the harbour. Themotor boat was towed into the harbourand the life-boat returned to her stationat 3.10.

IN SHALLOW WATER

At 11.11 p.m. on the same day thecoastguard informed the honorary secre-tary that a ship was aground in a moderatesea three miles off North Foreland. It wasone hour after low water and there was amoderate westerly breeze. At 11.30 thelife-boat Elizabeth Elson, on temporaryduty at the station, put to sea. She foundthe Lebanese vessel Kapitan Vanghelisaground in water too shallow for the life-boat to come alongside. After standing byfor some time the German tug Hermesarrived and towed the vessel clear. Towinglines were taken by the life-boat from theHermes to the Kapitan Vanghelis, thewater being sufficient for the fife-boat todo this by the time the tug arrived. Thetug towed the vessel to Dover and thelife-boat returned to her station at 3.30a.m.

SWIMMER WAS WEARY

At 11.38 a.m. on nth December, 1964,the police told the honorary secretarythat cries for help had been heard to sea-ward of the western undercliff by a localdoctor. Visibility was very poor due tofog. At 11.46 the life-boat Michael andLily Davis put out with the boarding boatin a light west-north-westerly wind and asmooth sea. It was two hours after lowwater. The life-boat searched the areaand at 12.5 p.m. found a man almostexhausted from swimming. He had beenshrimping on a rising tide and, having lostall sense of direction in the fog, wasswimming out to sea. He was picked upby the boarding boat and transferred tothe life-boat. He was given first aid, forwhich the crew were complimented bythe hospital to which the man was takenlater. The life-boat reached her station at12.25.

TOW TO RAMSGATE

At 10.32 a.m. on the following day thewatchman on the east pier told thehonorary secretary that a yacht was

294

By courtesy o)\ [Sussex Photo Agency

The crew of the John Howard III whose boat was rescued by ShorehamHarbour life-boat in November

making heavy weather on passage offRamsgate. The life-boat Michael and LilyDavis put out at 10.45 i° a south-westerly gale and a rough sea. It wasalmost low water. A helicopter fromMansion which was airborne reportedthat the yacht was not in difficulty, butat 11.20 when the life-boat found theyacht Sirius the coxswain advised hercrew of three to return to Ramsgate. Theyacht did so, escorted by the life-boat.As progress was slow the yacht was latertaken in tow. The life-boat reached herstation at 1.20 p.m.

DRIFTING SLOOPShoreham Harbour, Sussex. At 2.55

p.m. on 3ist October, 1964, the coast-guard told the honorary secretary that ayacht was firing red flares one mile east ofWorthing pier. The sea was choppy witha gentle breeze from the east. At 3.7, twohours after low water, the life-boatDcrothy and Philip Constant was launched.She found the sloop Jewel, which had acrew of two, drifting with her engines out

of action. The sloop was towed by thelife-boat to Shoreham Harbour and thelife-boat returned to her station at 5.15.

FOULED PROPELLERAt 5.46 p.m. on 8th November, 1964,.

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat a fishing boat was in distress i \ milesoff west pier, Brighton, in a choppy seaand fresh north-easterly breeze. It wasone hour before low water when, at 5.56,the life-boat Dorothy and Philip Constantwas launched. By using parachute flaresthe life-boat quickly found the fishingboat John Howard III, which was partlywaterlogged. Her propeller had fouled ona fishing net. Her four occupants weretaken aboard the life-boat, which towedthe fishing boat to Shoreham Harbour.The life-boat arrived at her station at 7.20.

The life-boat was also called out on24th October and 25th November.

DRAGGING ANCHORSouthend-on-Sea, Essex. At 7 p.m.

on ist October, 1964, the coxswain was

295

informed that the wife of the owner of thecabin cruiser Baltic Lily had asked forhelp to save the boat, in which they lived.The Whitstable inshore rescue boat hadleft at 6.50 to rescue the owner but hadbeen unable to tow the vessel to safety.The Baltic Lily had anchored off theStreet buoy with her mainmast, sails andrigging lost overboard. There was a freshnorth-easterly wind and a choppy sea andas the Baltic Lily was dragging heranchor the life-boat Greater London II(Civil Service No. 30) was launched at7.16. The tide was flooding. The life-boatcoxswain put two of the crew aboard thecabin cruiser and towed her to Sitting-bourne. The life-boat reached her stationat 5.30 a.m.

HAD APPENDICITISAt 11.30 a.m. on yth November, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat one of the personnel of Radio Invicta,a transmitting station on RedsandTowers, had appendicitis and neededmedical treatment. There was a rough seawith a strong north-easterly breeze when,11 hours before high water, the life-boatGreater London II (Civil Service No. 30)was launched at 12.50 p.m. The honorarymedical adviser accompanied her and onreaching Redsand Towers went aboardto see the sick man. The man was trans-ferred to the life-boat and from there to ahospital at Southend. The life-boatreturned to her station at 4.35.

NO FOOD ON BOARDAt 6.47 p.m. on loth November, 1964,

the honorary secretary was told that theTilbury ferry Edith, on passage fromHarwich to Tilbury, was anchored nearSouth Shoebury buoy because of thickfog without food, water or sleepingaccommodation on board. Consequentlythe life-boat Greater London II (CivilService No. 30) was launched at 6.56.There were light north-easterly airs anda smooth sea. The life-boat found Edithwith the help of the motor vessel Bally-rush, which used her radar to guide the life-boat to the position. Three members ofthe life-boat crew were put aboard theEdith. The life-boat, again helped by the

Ballyrush's radar, escorted the Edith toSouthend pier, and returned to herstation at 9.30. A donation was made tothe funds of the Institution.

RUSSIAN SEAMANAt 10 a.m. on nth November, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat a seaman in the Russian vesselVetlugales needed medical aid. The vesselwas moored near middle Shoebury buoyin a smooth sea and light airs from thesouth-west. It was one hour before lowwater when, at 11.46, the life-boat GreaterLondon II (Civil Service No. 30) waslaunched with a doctor aboard. There wasa thick fog but, helped by the radar froma nearby vessel, the life-boat found theVetlugales and brought a sick seamanashore. She returned to her station at1.30 p.m.

The life-boat was also called out on6th December.

HUNGER CALLAt 1.15 p.m. on 2ist December, 1964,

the chairman of the branch was askedby the manager of Radio Invicta, awireless transmitting station on Red-sand Towers, if the life-boat would takefood to the radio station as no othervessel could reach it in the bad weather.The life-boat Greater London II (CivilService No. 30} was launched at 1.50 in anorth-east wind of near gale force and amoderate sea. It was high water. The life-boat picked up stores at Sheerness andthen made for Radio Invicta. It was nowsnowing and visibility was poor. Thewind had increased to gale force and thesea was very rough. The stores were de-livered to the radio station and the life-boat returned to her station at 6.45.

TOWED BY TUGWalmer, Kent. At 3.30 p.m. on 9th

October, 1964, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that he was watchingthe German motor vessel Widder, as sheappeared to be in difficulties in the roughsea near Goodwin Fork. A local fishingboat was also in trouble, trying to rideout the south-easterly gale. At 4.15 thelife-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.

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32} was launched. It was two hours afterhigh water. The fishing boat was escortedto the harbour safely and then the life-boat made for the Widder, a small Germancoaster laden with timber. She was beingdriven helplessly before the wind whichwas by now gusting to a strong gale. Thelife-boat reached her at the same time asthe German tug Hermes. It was verydifficult to get the Widder's anchor in andthe life-boat stood by until she was takenin tow by the tug. The tug and her towdecided to ride out the storm in the Downsand the life-boat returned to her station818.40.

ENGINE TROUBLEAt 4.46 p.m. on 14th October, 1964, the

coastguard told the honorary secretarythat a local fishing boat had been havingrepeated engine trouble over one milenorth of Sandown Castle, in a moderatesea and strong south-easterly breeze. At5 p.m. the life-boat Charles Dibdin (CivilService No. 32) was launched into a hightide. She found the motor boat Violetbroached to in Sandwich bay. Her sixanglers and one boatman were takenaboard the life-boat and the boat wastowed to safety. The life-boat returned toher station at 6.30.

CLOSE TO SANDSAt 10.13 P-m- on 29tn December, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secre-tary that the South Goodwin lightvesselhad reported that a vessel needed helpbecause she was driving towards theGoodwin sands. Later the coastguardreported that the vessel required a tugand asked if the life-boat would launchand stand by until the tug arrived. Thelife-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil ServiceNo. 32) was launched at 10.50 in a strongto gale force south-westerly wind and arough sea. It was high water. At 11.45 thelife-boat arrived alongside the motorvessel Costeiro Terceiro of Lisbon, whichhad an engine breakdown. Soon after-wards the small Dover harbour tugDiligent and the French tug Jean Banarrived. By then the Costeiro Terceiro hadmanaged to anchor about 500 yards offthe sands. The life-boat remained along-

side the vessel until the French tug hadgot her hi tow. The life-boat returned toher station at 1.45 a.m.

NOBODY ON BOARDWalton and Frinton, Essex. At 7.45

a.m. on 6th December, 1964, the coast-guard told the honorary secretary thatthe Cork lightvessel had reported a yachtdrifting about a quarter of a mile south-west of the lightvessel, apparently with-out anyone on board. The life-boat EdianCourtauld left at 8.18 in a gentle west-south-westerly breeze and a slight sea. It was twohours after low water .The life-boat reachedthe yacht at about 9.5 and confirmed thatnobody was on board. The coxswaintook the yacht in tow to the Waltonriver, where she was moored. The life-boat returned to her moorings at 11.2.

Other life-boats called out in the lastthree months of 1964 were:

Cromer (No. i), Norfolk - 9thOctober.

Cromer (No. 2), Norfolk - 2ndNovember.

Newhaven, Sussex - iyth October.

CHANNEL ISLESSt. Peter Port, Guernsey. At 5.10

a.m. on 5th December, 1964, the use ofthe life-boat was requested to transfer asick person from Herm Island to Guern-sey. At 5.32 the life-boat EuphrosyneKendal put out into a smooth sea and alight north-westerly breeze and carriedout the service accompanied by a doctorand three members of the St. John Ambu-lance Brigade. She returned to her stationat 6.45. The life-boat was also called outon 16th November.

St. Helier, Jersey. See page 271.

SOUTH-WEST ENGLANDAppledore, North Devon. At 11.30

a.m. on i8th November, 1964, thehonorary secretary was told that theauxiliary yacht Sea Jack, which had acrew of three, had lost all her canvas andhad engine trouble. She was being towedby another yacht to Bideford. The sea was

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smooth with a moderate south-westerlybreeze and it was i| hours after lowwater. The life-boat Louisa Anne Hawkerput out at 1.15 p.m. to meet the twoboats and escort them over the harbourbar. She escorted them over the bar andup river to Bideford, returning to herstation at 5.45.

NEEDED MEDICAL AID

Clovelly, North Devon. At 11.45 p.m.on 29th October, 1964, the honorarysecretary was told by a Bideford doctorthat a woman on Lundy Island neededimmediate medical attention. At 12.30a.m. the life-boat Clara and EmilyBarwell, on temporary duty at the station,was launched into a moderate sea andgentle easterly breeze. It was one hourbefore high water. The doctor accompan-ied the life-boat to the is'and which wasreached at 2.45. At 5.45 the life-boatreturned to her station. The doctorremained on Lundy with his patient untilthe following day.

SAILS WERE TORNExmouth, South Devon. At 1.30 p.m.

on 4th November, 1964, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that a yachtwas dragging her anchor in rough seas andnear gale force north-easterly winds closeto Seaton. A fishing boat from Beer hadbeen unable to tow her. At 3.50 the life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott, on tem-porary duty at the station, put out on aflooding tide. At 6.25 she reached theketch Cap Lizard which had a crew oftwo. As the engine of the ketch had failedand her sails were torn, the Cap Lizardwas towed to Brixham. The life-boatreturned to her station at 8.15 a.m.

NO ONE FOUND

At 10.1 a.m. on 26th November, 1964,the coastguard told the honorary secre-tary that a naval aircraft had crashed inLyme bay and asked the life-boat tosearch for survivors. The sea was choppywith a gentle south-westerly breeze. At10.20, one hour before high water, thelife-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott, ontemporary duty at the station, put to seaand searched the area for several hours.

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A helicopter and other aircraft assistedand the Weymouth life-boat also launchedbut no trace of survivors was found. At5.50 p.m. the life-boat returned to herstation.

The life-boat was also called out on26th November.

HELICOPTERS HELPEDFowey, Cornwall. At 4.46 p.m. on

2ist October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a small boathad been reported ashore on the east sideof Dodman Point. One body had beenrecovered but another was missing. Thesea was slight with light airs from thenorth-east. At 5.5, one hour before highwater, the life-boat Deneys Reitz put outto search for the missing person. Twohelicopters also searched but despite theuse of a rubber dinghy for close inshorework by the life-boat, no trace of themissing person was found. At 9 p.m. thelife-boat returned to her moorings withthe dinghy on board.

INJURED SEAMANPenlee, Cornwall. At 9 p.m. on i8th

November, 1964, the honorary secretarytold the coxswain that the motor vesselClarkeden was approaching with aninjured man aboard. At 12.45 a.m. thelife-boat Solomon Browne was launchedinto a slight sea and gentle south-westerly breeze. It was two hours afterlow water. At Newlyn the life-boat pickedup a doctor and ambulance team. Shethen made for the Clarkeden whichshe met about four miles south ofPenzance. At 1.40 the doctor went aboardthe Clarkeden, and it was decided to landthe injured seaman. At 2.38 the life-boatreturned to her station.

TOWED TO LOOEPlymouth, South Devon. At 5.20

p.m. on 26th November, 1964, the coast-guard told the honorary secretary that ared flare had been sighted about four milessouth-east of Banjo pier. It was low waterwith a slight sea and moderate southwesterly breeze. At 5.38 the life-boatThomas Forehead and Mary Rowse put tosea but was recalled when it was reportedthat a naval helicopter from Culdrose was

By courtesy of} [Western Morning News

Plymouth life-boat returns after her annual survey

towing the cabin cruiser Aphrodite toLooe. The cabin cruiser, which had a crewof two, was safely berthed in Looe andthe life-boat returned to her station at 6.5.

The life-boat was also called out on23rd October, and 2ist and 26th Novem-ber.

CREW OF THREESalcombe, South Devon. At 5.2 p.m.

on 9th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a sailing yachtappeared to be in distress two mileswest-north-west of Bolt Tail. She wastossing in a moderate sea and strongnorth-westerly breeze. At 5.20 the life-boat Baltic Exchange put out on a floodtide. She reached the yacht Sweet Sue,which had a crew oif three. As theyacht was not in difficulty the life-boatescorted her into harbour, reaching herstation at 7.40.

MOTOR CRUISERSwanage, Dorset. At 6.33 p.m. on 5th

October, 1964, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that a large motorcruiser appeared to be in difficulties

about six miles off Kimmeridge. Therewas a choppy sea with a fresh south-easterly breeze when, at 6.40, the life-boat R.L.P. was launched. It was threehours before high water. The motorcruiser was found to be the Shoanne. Bothher engines had broken down and the oneman aboard could not repair them. TheShoanne was towed to Poole where thelife-boat was moored until the followingmorning because of the weather. Shereturned to her station at 9.45 a.m.

RED FLARESAt 5.15 p.m. on ist December, 1964,

the coastguard told the assistant honorarysecretary that a small cabin cruiser offBroad Bench had fired red flares. Therewas a choppy sea with a moderate to freshnorth-easterly wind. The life-boat R.L.P.was launched at 5.35, i| hours beforehigh water, and found the cabin cruisertwo miles off Arish Mell Gap. Her crewof two were unable to start the engine andthe life-boat towed her in to Weymouthwhere she was moored at 9.35.

The life-boat was also called out on istand 22nd November.

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IN ROUGH SEASTorbay, South Devon. At 11.28 a.m.

on 9th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a large yachtwas anchored off Teignmouth in roughseas and a strong easterly wind. It wasthree hours after high water and too roughfor the yacht to enter the harbour. Atmidday the life-boat Princess Alexandra ofKent put out to find if help was needed bythe yacht, which was in a dangerousposition. The two men aboard the yachtNell decided to make for Brixham but astheir progress was very slow the life-boattowed them to Brixham and returned toher station at 3.18 p.m.

The life-boat was also called out onnth October and i3th November.

DETAILS TO COMEOn 22nd December, 1964, the life-boat

Princess Alexandra of Kent stood by theDanish coaster Northzvind. A fullaccount of this service will appear in theJune number of THE LIFE-BOAT.

NEAR PORTLAND BILLWeymouth, Dorset. At 8.30 p.m. on

9th November, 1964, the coxswain wastold by a shipping agency that the Dutchmotor vessel Ramona was drifting inchoppy seas and a moderate south-easterlywind five miles south of Portland Bill. At8.57 the life-boat Lloyd's, on temporaryduty at the station, put out on the floodtide. At 9.18 the life-boat located theRamona, which had now managed to getunder way again. One of the crew of thelife-boat was put aboard to pilot thevessel in. The life-boat escorted her intoWeymouth where she arrived at 10.15.

CRASHED INTO SEAAt 9.55 a.m. on 26th November, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat the Royal Naval authorities atPortland had asked the life-boat to helpin searching for a naval aircraft believedto have crashed into the sea west of thestation. At 10.3 the life-boat Frank SpillerLocke put out into a choppy sea and gentlesouth-westerly breeze to search for sur-vivors. It was high water. The life-boat,

together with the Exmouth life-boat andaircraft, searched unsuccessfully forseveral hours. At 5.10 p.m. the life-boatreturned to her station.

The life-boat was also called out oni6th and 26th October.

Other life-boats also called out in thelast three months of 1964 were:

Bembridge, Isle of Wight - 29thNovember.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - 4thOctober.

WALESMoelfre, Anglesey. At 5.35 p.m. on

3rd October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe coxswain that a shipping agency hadasked for a doctor to be taken out to theSwedish tanker Anco Spur to attend to aninjured man. It was one hour after lowwater with a rough sea and a moderateeasterly breeze. The life-boat WatkinWilliams was launched at 5.50 with alocal doctor aboard. She reached thetanker at 6.40. The doctor boarded herand attended the sick man who decidedto remain on board his ship. The life-boatsheltered in Beaumaris at n p.m. untilthe weather abated the following morning.Then she returned to her station.

MAN WINCHED ABOARDAt 10.50 a.m. on 6th December, 1964,

the coastguard reported that a rowingboat with three men aboard had beenswamped at Lligwy beach. The life-boatWatkin Williams was launched at 10.57to search for the rowing boat. There wasa south-westerly near gale force wind,and rough sea. It was one hour beforehigh water and visibility was good. Arescue helicopter and the Liverpool pilotboat were also searching. The helicopterfound a body fairly close to the shore,winched the man aboard, and took him toa field adjoining the life-boathouse. Arti-ficial respiration was applied by the heli-copter crew and by the life-boat's honorarymedical adviser who had been asked toattend, but without success. The life-boatcontinued her search until it was knownthat the other two people from the rowingboat had swum safely ashore. The rowing

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By courtesy of] [Cambrian News

Criccieth life-boat and her crew

boat and some articles of clothing whichwere found were taken aboard the life-boatand brought back to the boathouse on com-pletion of the service at 1.15 p.m.

HORSES IN WATERThe Mumbles, Glamorganshire. At

ip.m.on i8thOctober, 1964, the coxswainof the life-boat was told that two horseshad entered the sea at Southend, TheMumbles, and were swimming away fromland. Several local boats tried to head thehorses towards the shore but failed. At2.45 the life-boat William Gammon,Manchester and District XXX, with anR.S.P.C.A. inspector on board, waslaunched into a smooth sea and a lightsouth-easterly breeze. It was one hourbefore high water. At 3.45 one horse wasfound still swimming, but the animaldied before it could be taken aboard thelife-boat. The second horse was notfound. At 4.30 the life-boat returned toher station.

The life-boat was also called out on20th November.

SAW RED FLARE

Rhyl, Flintshire. At 4.20 p.m. on nthOctober, 1964, the coastguard told the

honorary secretary that the motor fishingvessel Little Orme had sighted a redflare near the river Clwyd. The sea wasmoderate with a heavy swell and it was11 hours past high water when, at 4.35,the life-boat Anthony Robert Marshallwas launched into a fresh north-westerlybreeze. On arrival alongside the LittleOrme the life-boat crew were told that thefishing vessel Seawitch had engine trouble.There were six people in the Seawitch.Five were put aboard the life-boat whileone of the life-boat crew went aboard theSeawitch to help her skipper. She was thentowed to harbour. A donation was madeto the crew's welfare fund.

The life-boat was also called out on2ist October and i5th December.

CUT OFF BY TIDETenby, Pembrokeshire. At 9.35 a.m.

on 24th October, 1964, the coastguardtold the life-boat mechanic that a manand a dog were cut off by the tide aboutfive miles south-east of Pembrey. The tidewas one hour past high water, and thesea was smooth with a gentle north-westerly breeze. At 9.58 the life-boatHenry Comber Brown was launched buta helicopter from the nearby naval air

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station rescued the man and dog beforeshe arrived. The life-boat returned to herstation at 12.30 p.m.

Other life-boats called out in the lastthree months of 1964 were:

Fishguard, Pembrokeshire - I5thOctober.

Holyhead, Anglesey - yth December.Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - 2fth

December.Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire -

15th October.St. David's, Pembrokeshire - 4th

and loth October and 24th November.

NORTH-WEST ENGLANDFleetwood, Lancashire. At 6.35 p.m.

on pth November, 1964, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that a con-verted ship's life-boat was three hoursoverdue with eight people on board,including three young children. The seawas smooth with a gentle south-easterlybreeze and fog. At 7 p.m., one hour beforelow water, the life-boat Ann LetitiaRussell was launched with a relative ofthe children aboard. An intensive searchwas made in company with two otherboats but the missing boat was not founduntil the fog lifted at 10.30. The boat wastowed to Fleetwood and the life-boatreturned to her station soon after mid-night. The Blackpool life-boat was also'launched.

SMALL BOAT ADRIFTNew Brighton, Cheshire. At 6.40

p.m. on 7th October, 1964, the stagemantold the honorary secretary that a smallboat was adrift in midstream off Brazilbuoy, in the river Mersey. Three menwere on board and she was drifting out tosea. It was low water with a rough sea anda north-westerly gale. At 6.55 the life-boat Norman B. Corlett put out butmeanwhile the boat's engine had beentemporarily repaired and she had madeher own way to New Brighton landingstage. The life-boat found her there andas requested by the three men, towed thecraft back to the sand dredger John L.K.from which they had sailed. The life-boatreturned to her station at 7.45.

INDIAN SEAMAN

At 12.45 a-m- on ist November, 1964,the honorary secretary heard that anIndian seaman on board a vessel anchorednear the Bar lightvessel was in urgent needof medical treatment. There was a smoothsea with very little wind and the life-boatNorman B. Corlett left at i a.m. for Prince'sStage to embark a doctor. It was twohours past high water. On the way to theanchored vessel the doctor was passedover to the pilot launch which carried him'to her. The life-boat returned to hermoorings at 1.45.

AIDED SURVEY SHIPPeel, Isle of Man. At 4.55 p.m. on 6th

October, 1964, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that the British surveyship Hamburg had sent out a distress callstating that she had run into a strongsouth-westerly gale with very heavyseas. It was also stated that she wasshipping a great deal of water and thather pumps were unable to cope, leavingthe vessel awash. The vessel Amber, ofGlasgow, which was nearby, stood byuntil the Peel life-boat Helena Harris-Manchester and District XXXI arrived totake over. The life-boat had launched twohours before low water at 5.8, and reachedthe Hamburg at 7.23 after travelling about20 miles through very rough seas. TheAmber did not proceed on her courseuntil her master was satisfied thatthe Life-boat and the Hamburg wouldreach Peel safely. The life-boat continuedto escort the survey ship until 8.40 whenshe reached Peel. At Peel pumps fromthe local fire brigade were used to dry outthe Hamburg. The Life-boat returned toher station at 8.46.

SHORT OF FUELRamsey, Isle of Man. At 4.15 p.m.

on 22nd October, 1964, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that themotor fishing vessel Zulu Warrior had putout to help the trawler Wanderobo Warriorwhich had run out of fuel with six peopleon board in very rough seas and a westerlygale. At 4.36 it was decided to launch theLife-boat and at 5.20 the Life-boat AnnieRonald and Isabella Forrest, on temporaryduty at the station, put out. She reached

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the trawler at 6.45. The WanderoboWarrior was towed by the life-boat toRamsey harbour and reached her station119.15.

DRIFTING VESSELAt 2.31 p.m. on gth November, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat the motor fishing vessel Children'sFriend was drifting in a moderate sea anda fresh south-easterly breeze off thePoint of Ayre. The tide was ebbing. At2.55 the life-boat Thomas Corbett waslaunched and found that the fishingvessel's engines had broken down. Thelife-boat towed her into harbour andreturned to her station at 5.16. A donationwas made to the Institution's funds.

HAD WOUNDED HANDAt 2.42 p.m. on 26th December, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secre-tary that one of the personnel of RadioCaroline, a wireless transmitting station3J miles off Ramsey, had a deep woundon his right hand and needed medicalattention. The life-boat Thomas Corbettwas launched at 2.45 in a strong south-westerly wind and a rough sea. It wasthree hours after low water. The injuredman was taken aboard and on arrival atRamsey he was taken to Ramsey hospital.The life-boat reached her station at 4.15.The owners of Radio Caroline made adonation to the Institution's funds.

ENGINE FAILEDWorkington, Cumberland. At 6.3

a.m. on 2nd November, 1964, the coast-guard told the honorary secretary that redflares had been seen one mile off Work-ington. There was a gentle north-easterlybreeze with a smooth sea. The tide wasflooding. The life-boat White Star, ontemporary duty at the station, put outat 6.15 and soon found the fishing boatQueen Alexandra of Workington, whichhad engine failure. The boat, with hercrew of two, was towed safely to Work-ington by 8.30.

AFTER FALSE ALARMAt 3.50 p.m. on 22nd November, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretary

that a red flare had been seen off White-haven. Although it was soon learned thatthis report was a false alarm, a search washowever carried out because a fishing boathad been reported overdue. There was amoderate westerly breeze with a smoothsea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boatManchester and SalfordXXIX put out at5.25 and after an extensive search foundthe missing fishing boat Carmen Mariawhich had engine failure. The CarmenMaria, with her crew of three, was towedsafely to Workington. The life-boatreached her station at 10.30.

The life-boat was also called out on1st November.

Another life-boat called out in the lastthree months of 1964 was:

Blackpool, Lancashire - 9th Novem-ber.

SCOTLANDAith, Shetlands. At 3.10 p.m. on 5th

October, 1964, a local doctor told thehonorary secretary that a patient onFoula was seriously ill and needed urgenthospital treatment. At 3.35, when thedoctor boarded the life-boat, the John andFrances Macfarlane slipped her moor-ings. It was two hours past high waterwith a south-westerly breeze and thickfog. At 9.20 the life-boat reached Foula.The sea was choppy and visibility was nil.The coxswain therefore decided to lieoffshore to await better weather but at7.20 a.m. the life-boat entered Ham Voestill in dense fog. At 8.45 the doctorreturned with the patient who was putaboard the life-boat, which then left forAith. Conditions were improving and at12.20 p.m. the life-boat was moored ather station. The patient was taken byambulance to Lerwick hospital.

TRAWLER ASHOREBarra Island, Outer Hebrides. At

6.53 a.m. on i8th October, 1964, thecoastguard told the honorary secretarythat the Spanish trawler Tulipan wasashore near Monach Isles in a moderatesea and strong south-westerly breeze. Itwas three hours before low water whenthe life-boat R. A.ColbyCubbin No. ///putout at 7.25. At 12.10 p.m. she found the

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-v.By courtesy of] [R.A.F. Leuchars

'The Spanish trawler Tulipan aground off Monach Isles

By courtesy of] [R.A.F. Leuchars

The Tulipan's crew were rescued by a R.A.F. helicopter, and Barra Island life-boatwas also called out

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Tulipan ashore on Shillay Island offNorth Uist. A helicopter was ferrying the13 survivors to Benbecula but one of thetrawler's crew was missing. The life-boatcrew searched intensively on and aroundShillay but with no success. The life-boatreturned to her station at 9 p.m.

SPANIARD WAS ILLAt 4.30 p.m. on 23rd December, 1964,

the army authorities in Benbecula re-ported that a Spanish seaman on the Isleof St. Kilda was seriously ill with suspec-ted typhoid, and that as a helicopter couldnot help, the life-boat would probably beneeded. At 5.30 the coastguard asked forthe life-boat's help. The life-boat R. A.Colby Cubbin No. HI proceeded at 6 p.m.in a fresh northerly wind and smooth sea,arriving at St. Kilda at 2.30 a.m. By thattime there was a near gale force north-westerly wind and a rough sea. The sea-man was taken on board and taken toKilbride, Lochboisdale, on South UistIsland. There he was met by an armyambulance which flew him to a Glasgowhospital, where it was confirmed that hewas suffering from paratyphoid. The life-boat returned to her moorings at 12.30p.m. The life-boat crew were innoculatedagainst typhoid.

TRIMARAN OVERDUEBroughty Ferry, Angus. At 3 p.m.

on 10th November, 1964, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that a tri-maran named Nimble-Iki was overdue.There was a thick fog with a smooth seaand light airs from the south-west.Leuchars helicopter rescue unit searchedfor the boat together with the inshorerescue boat. The life-boat crew assembledto await further instructions, and soonafterwards, at the coastguard's request,the life-boat City of Bradford II, whichwas on temporary duty at the station, putout at 4 p.m. A Polish vessel later repor-ted that the trimaran was about 2\ milesnorth-west of the North Carr lightvessel.The life-boat made for the position, foundthe yacht, and towed her to Broughty Ferry.Two people were aboard and, becausethey had been unable to start their engineor make headway against the ebbing tidewith their sails, they had drifted off course.

The life-boat returned to her station at11.30. The trimaran's owners made adonation to the funds of the Institution.

TOWED RESCUE BOATAt 9.40 p.m. on 23rd November, 1964,

the Tay road bridge contractors' safetyofficer told the coxswain that his rescueboat had broken adrift in the strongsouth-westerly breeze and was driftingdownstream with the tide, which was onehour before low water. Two men wereaboard and they were trying to start theengine without success. At 9.54 the life-boat City of Bradford II, on temporaryduty at the station, put out to interceptthe boat. At 10.10 the life-boat towed theboat to Broughty Ferry, returning to herstation at 10.30.

The life-boat was also called out onloth October.

ESCORT FOR TWOBuckle, Banffshire. At 4.55 p.m. on

16th November, 1964, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that the seinenet fishing boat Heathery Brae was indifficulties eight miles north-north-east ofBuckie. The sea was very rough with agale from the north-west. At 5.10, twohours after low water, the life-boat LauraMoncur put out but found that the seinenet fishing boat Welcome had taken theother boat in tow. The life-boat escortedboth vessels back to the harbour. At8.35 the life-boat returned to her station.

BROKEN FUEL PIPEDunbar, East Lothian. At 4.40 p.m.

on yth October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a fishingvessel had broken down about four mileseast-south-east of Barnsness light-house.It was half an hour after high waterwith a smooth sea and a gentle south-westerly wind. The life-boat Margaretwas launched at 4.52. She found that thefishing vessel Yvonne Risager had not beenable to start her engines because of abroken fuel pipe, but her crew of fourwere eventually able to repair this and toget her under way. The life-boat escortedher into Dunbar, returning to her stationat 7 p.m.

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FOUND EMPTY CANOEAt 2.4 a.m. on 2oth November, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secre-tary that a i y-year-old boy was missing inthe Firth of Forth, and that he was lastseen in his canoe the previous morning.The police searched both sides of theFirth without success. As the weatherappeared to be deteriorating the life-boatMargaret was launched at 3.34 so that shecould be in the search area by dawn.There was a fresh north-easterly breezeand a moderate sea, and the visibility waspoor. The Northern Rescue Co-ordina-tion Centre at Pitrevie were asked tosend a helicopter at first light. The life-boat reached the Forth Bridge at 7 a.mand, with the helicopter, searched thearea. At 8.20 the helicopter sighted acanoe and the life-boat went to investigate.The canoe was identified but there was nosign of life. The search continued and at10.52 the district officer, coastguard,suggested it should be called off. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 3 p.m.

TWO INJURED MENAt 3.53 a.m. on 8th December, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat the trawler Arctic Adventurer of Hullhad two seriously injured men on boardand another man who had died. Thetrawler was about 90 miles east of Dunbarand had requested urgent medical help.The life-boat Margaret put out at 4.18with the honorary medical adviser onboard in a westerly wind of near galeforce and a rough sea. It was one hourbefore high water. The doctor was trans-ferred to the trawler Netherby which waswaiting as previously arranged one mileeast of Barnsness lighthouse. The Nether-by then made for the Arctic Adventurerwhile the life-boat returned to her moor-ings at 5.5. The coastguard informed thehonorary secretary at 8.36 that the twoinjured men on the Arctic Adventurer hadalso died and that the doctor was nolonger needed. The Netherby, then halfway to the Arctic Adventurer, turned aboutand the life-boat put out again at 12.18p.m. to meet the Netherby and bring thedoctor ashore. The life-boat reached herstation at 12.58. The owners of the ArcticAdventurer made a gift to the life-boat crew.

HAD GONE AGROUNDGirvan, Ayrshire. At 5 a.m. on nth

November, 1964, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that a motor vesselhad gone aground on Ailsa Craig. Therewas a moderate sea with a fresh south-westerly wind and it was low water. At5.20 the life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow, ontemporary duty at the station, put to seaand stood by the vessel Ability until a tugarrived to tow her to safety. The life-boat reached her station at 4.30 p.m.

WAS IN DISTRESSMay, Argyllshire. At 7.38 p.m. on

l6th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that the Britishship Hebrides had reported a weak radiodistress call giving a position south ofMull. This was soon confirmed by a callfrom the motor vessel Kaisadan whichreported that the Florentine, a lobster boatwith a crew of three, was aground southof Mull in a choppy sea and gentlenorth-westerly breeze. At 8.5, low water,the life-boat The Rankin, on temporaryduty at the station, put out and searchedbetween Mull and Colonsay with the helpof an aircraft. At 10.40 a.m. the Florentinewas found in Ardalanish bay on the southcoast of Mull, and towed to Oban by thelife-boat. At 12.25 a.m. on i8th Octoberthe life-boat returned to her station.

BY BREECHES BUOYLerwick, Shetlands. At 8.14 p.m. on

25th October, 1964, the coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that a vessel wasburning red flares and appeared to beashore at South Ness. At 8.28 the life-boat Claude Cecil Staniforth put outinto a moderate sea with a fresh southerlybreeze. It was two hours after low water.At 8.45 the life-boat found the trawlerDeevale ashore at South Ness. The life-saving apparatus team had managed toget a line to her and had taken off threemen by breeches buoy. The propeller andsteering gear were out of action but thetrawler was not making water. The life-boat, using a warp from the trawler,tried to tow the trawler clear but therope broke. At 10.20 the life-boat made athird and successful attempt to refloat theDeevale. The trawler was towed to

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Lerwick and berthed at Alexandra wharf.At II p.m. the Ufe-boat returned to herstation.

LOCH NEVIS SEARCHMallaig, Inverness-shire. At 3.45

p.m. on i6th November, 1964, the wife ofthe owner of the motor launch Queen ofScots told the honorary secretary that thelaunch was overdue from a trip to Inverie.The sea was moderate with a north-westerly gale blowing and it was one hourpast high water. At 4.5 the Ufe-boatE. M. M. Gordon Cubbin put out and aftersearching half of Loch Nevis found thelaunch which had been sheltering fromthe wind and sea. The life-boat escortedher to Mallaig, returning to her stationat 5.55.

The life-boat was also called out on30th November and 9th December.

HELP FOR WOMANStronsay, Orkneys. At n a.m. on ist

December, 1964, a local doctor tele-phoned the honorary secretary to say thatan expectant mother on the island of Edayneeded immediate medical attention. Itwas 2\ hours past low water with a smoothsea and gentle south-westerly breeze. At11.30 the life-boat The John GellatlyHyndman put to sea with the districtnurse on board. At 12.15 p.m. the life-boat left Eday with the patient who waslanded at Kirkwall and taken to hospital,where she gave birth to a daughter. Thelife-boat returned to her station at 5.20.

CREW TAKEN OFFAt 2.50 p.m. on 9th December, 1964,

the coastguard told the honorary secretarythat a trawler was aground on BorayHolm, Gairsay. The life-boat The JohnGellatly Hyndmanputoutat^.s in a strongsouth-westerly wind and a rough sea. Itwas one hour after low water. At 4.53 thelife-boat reached the trawler Avondow ofAberdeen, which was high and dry, andwas asked to stand by. Ten of the trawler'screw were taken to Kirkwall by the fishingboat Lotus while three remained aboard. At7.45 the life-boat was asked to take the 10men back to their vessel and this she didat 8.20. About two hours later the trawler

Grampian Hill arrived. At 11.30 theAvondow was listing badly and all hercrew were taken aboard the Ufe-boatalthough some returned later to try withthe help of the Grampian Hill to refloather. Their attempts were unsuccessful.The crew left in the Ufe-boat and werelanded at Kirkwall with the exception ofthe skipper who was transferred to theother trawler. The Ufe-boat returned toher station at 6.30 a.m.

The life-boat was also called out on26th November and yth December.

FIVE WERE MISSINGTroon, Ayrshire. At 6.30 p.m. on i ith

October, 1964, the coxswain heard thatfive men of the St. Michael Sub AquaClub had failed to return from a trip toLady Isle. The sea was smooth with alight north-easterly breeze. The life-boatJames and Barbara Aitken put to sea withtwo other members of the club aboard.The rubber dinghy was found, with all fivemen in the water beside it. The engine inthe dinghy had failed, leaving them i|miles offshore on an ebb tide. The menwere landed at Troon and the life-boatreturned to her station at 7.30.

IN SWEDISH VESSELWick, Caithness-shire. At 2 a.m. on

9th November, 1964, the coxswain re-ceived a radio message from the Swedishmotor vessel Garm that a member of hercrew had acute appendicitis. There wasa gentle south-westerly breeze with achoppy sea and it was three hours afterhigh water. The Ufe-boat City of Edin-burgh was launched at 3.45 and the patientwas transferred to her. The life-boatreturned to her station at 5 a.m.

Other Ufe-boats called out during thelast three months of 1964 were:

Anstruther, Fife - 29th November.Campbeltown, Argyllshire - nth

October.Cromarty - i6th November.Kirkudbright - ist November.Longhope, Orkneys - igth Decem-

ber.Stornoway, Outer Hebrides - 9th,

i6th and I7th November, and 8th, nthand 15th December.

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IRELANDBallycotton, Co. Cork. At 6.20 a.m.

on 2yth October, 1964, the coxswain wastold by a crew member of the Dutchfishing vessel Van Maria that anothermember of his crew had gone out in arubber dinghy but had not returned asexpected. It was about one hour beforehigh water with a. moderate sea andcorresponding southerly wind. At 6.30the life-boat Ethel Mary put to seaand searched for the missing man.Soon afterwards the man was seen stand-ing by a rubber dinghy on the shore, halfa mile east of the harbour. He had beenblown ashore. The life-boat returned toher station and the coxswain, motormechanic and local garda sergeant wentto the shore in a car. The man and dinghywere driven to Ballycotton and taken bylife-boat to the Dutch fishing vesselwhich was anchored 200 yards off thepier. The life-boat reached her stationat 8.30.

The life-boat was also called out onyth December.

NEAR LIGHTVESSELCloughey, Co. Down. At 2.25 p.m.

on loth December, 1964, the coastguardtold the honorary secretary that thefishing vessel Paragon was drifting nearSouth Rock lightvessel with her enginesbroken down. The life-boat ConstanceCalverley was launched at 2.55 in a lightwest-south-westerly breeze and a slightsea. It was half an hour before high water.The life-boat found the Paragon twomiles north by east of South Rock light-vessel with her propeller fouled by herfishing nets. She was taken in tow toPortavogie and the life-boat reached herstation at 4.50.

DISTRESS SIGNALSDunmore East, Co. Waterford. At

8.15 p.m. on 5th December, 1964, alocal barkeeper telephoned the honorarysecretary to report that distress signalshad been seen off Duncannon and that afishing boat was overdue. The sea wasrough with a strong north-westerlybreeze and it was two hours before lowwater. At 8.40 the life-boat Annie BlancheSmith put out and found the fishing boat,

which had a crew of three, at anchorseawards of the bar. The life-boat towedher into Duncannon and returned to herstation at 1.35 a.m.

TOOK SICK CHILDGalway Bay. At 3.15 p.m. on 24th

October, 1964, the nurse at Kilronan toldthe honorary secretary that a sick childwas in need of medical treatment at amainland hospital. The sea was slightwith a gentle north-westerly wind. At4 p.m. the life-boat Mabel MarionThompson left her station for Rossaveelwith the sick child on board accompaniedby her mother. At Rossaveel the motherand child were taken by ambulance tohospital and the life-boat returned to herstation at 7.30.

WAS SERIOUSLY ILLAt 8.15 p.m. on gist October, 1964, the

local doctor told the honorary secretarythat a woman who was seriously ill onInishmaan needed immediate medicalattention. It was low water with a moder-ate sea and a fresh easterly breeze whenthe life-boat Mabel Marion Thompsonleft for Inishmaan at 9 p.m. with thedoctor on board. Once the doctor had seenthe patient, he decided it was necessaryto take her to a mainland hospital. Bothdoctor and patient were landed at Ros-saveel where an ambulance was waiting.The life-boat returned to her station at3.30 a.m.

DOCTOR ON BOARDAt 10.20 a.m. on i5th November, 1964,

the local doctor told the honorary secre-tary that a seriously ill child on the islandof Inishere needed medical attention. Thesea was rough with a near gale forcenorth-westerly wind and it was threehours before high water when, at n a.m.,the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson putto sea with the doctor on board. Thechild was taken from Inishere to Ros-saveel. From there an ambulance tookhim into hospital for treatment forappendicitis. The life-boat returned toher station at 4.45 p.m.

DUTCH CREW AIDEDAt 8.35 p.m. on 5th December, 1964,

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Valentia life-boat at sea

Valentia radio station told the honorarysecretary that the Dutch motor vesselKarel had grounded on Mutton Island,near Galway docks. The life-boat MabelMarion Thompson left her moorings at9.15 in a strong south-westerly wind anda rough sea. The tide was ebbing. Thelife-boat reached the stranded vessel,which had a crew of 10, at 12.20 a.m. Asit was low water there was no immediatedanger. At 1.30 the Karel's captain askedfor the help of some fishing boats to tryand tow his vessel off. The life-boat leftfor Galway docks and returned with aharbour launch and a fishing trawler. Aline was passed but this parted. As thewind was now gale force, with a veryrough sea, the trawler and harbour launchreturned to harbour. Between 4 a.m. and7 a.m. the wind increased to force 9 withheavy rain squalls and thsKarel reportedfour to five feet of water in her holds buther engine room was dry. At 8.30 theweather improved. As there was no possi-bility of the life-boat approaching theDutch motor vessel on the falling tide she

put into Galway docks but returned to theKarel at 11 a.m. Her captain asked thatfour of his crew be taken to Galway. Thelife-boat returned once more to the docksfor a small boat to ferry the men fromMutton Island to the life-boat. This tookthem to Galway where they arrived at1.30 p.m. The small boat capsized onceand was slightly damaged. At 5.30 the life-boat returned to the motor vessel and wastold that there was no immediate danger.A tug had been summoned and the life-boat put back to Galway at 7 p.m. andremained there overnight. The tugarrived at the vessel at noon the followingday and the life-boat returned to herstation at 3 p.m. The life-boat put to seaon 8th December at 6 p.m. to stand by theKarel because the tug had left to seekshelter from the bad weather, but the life-boat's services were not required.

TAKEN TO HOSPITALAt 6 p.m. on 23rd December, 1964, the

local doctor told the honorary secretarythat he had a patient requiring hospital

309

treatment and as no other boat was avail-able requested the use of the life-boat.The life-boat John R. Webb, on temporaryduty at the station, put out at 6.45 withthe doctor and patient on board in a freshnorth-easterly breeze and poor visibilityand made for Rossaveel. The patientand doctor were landed and the life-boatreturned to her station at 10.10.

PATIENT TRANSFERREDKilmore, Co. Wexford. At 9.10 a.m.

on 14th October, 1964, the Irish LightsOffice requested the use of the life-boatto transfer a sick man from the Barrelslightvessel. The sea was smooth and it wastwo hours before high water. At 9.40 thelife-boat Ann Isabella Pyemont waslaunched. After carrying out the serviceshe reached her station at 12.30 p.m.

REQUEST FROM DUBLINAt 9.15 a.m. on 5th December, 1964,

the Irish Lights Office, Dublin, asked thelife-boat to take a sick man off theConingbeg lightvessel. The life-boat AnnIsabella Pyemont was launched at 9.55 in amoderate westerly breeze and a choppysea. The life-boat reached the lightvesselat 11.10 and took the sick man on board.She arrived back at the station at 1.35p.m. and the man was landed.

GERMAN GRATITUDEValentia, Co. Kerry. At 7.30 p.m. on

4th December, 1964, the Marine RescueCo-ordination Centre, Haulbowline, toldthe honorary secretary that the Germancargo vessel Waldemar Peter had on board

a sick man who needed medical help. Therewas a moderate sea with a correspondingnorth-westerly breeze. At 8 p.m. the life-boat Rowland Watts put out on the ebb tidewith a doctor on board. At 11.15 sne met

the cargo vessel 10 miles north-west ofValentia. The patient was transferred tothe life-boat where he died at 11.35because of cardiac failure. His body waslanded at Valentia and the life-boat wasremoored at r a.m. The German Embassysent a letter of appreciation to the localbranch.

The life-boat was also called out on3rd and 28th November.

SON HAD DIEDWicklow. On I5th November, 1964,

the inspector of the Irish Lights Officetold the coxswain that the son of themaster of the Codling Bank lightvesselhad just died and the master had askedto be brought ashore. The sea was roughwith a north-westerly gale and the tidewas ebbing. At 10.10 a.m. the life-boatJ. W. Archer was launched. The masterof the lightvessel was taken aboard thelife-boat and at 2 p.m. she re-entered theharbour where she landed the masterbefore returning to her station.

Other life-boats also called out in thelast three months of 1964 were:

Arranmore, Co. Donegal - 20thNovember and 5th December.

Donaghadee, Co. Down - 29thNovember.

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford -yth October.

Inshore Rescue Boats on ServiceFrom ist October to 3ist December, 1964, inshore rescue boats were launched onservice 19 times. On three occasions, described below, they were able to rescue peoplein difficulties.

Whitstable, Kent. At 5 p.m. on istOctober, 1964, the police informed thehonorary secretary that the wife of theowner of the cabin cruiser Baltic Lily wasconcerned about the safety of her husbandand the vessel. The Baltic Lily was an-chored off "The Street" buoy and it wasascertained that she had lost her main-

mast, sails and rigging over the side. At6.50 the inshore rescue boat launched ina fresh north-easterly breeze and moder-ate sea. The tide was flooding. She madefor the Baltic Lily which was now drag-ging her anchor and drifting towardsShellness and took off the one man onboard. The inshore rescue boat returned to

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zr station at 7.25. A helicopter was onandby at Mansion and the Southend-i-Sea life-boat launched to assist in thisirvice.

Mudeford, Hampshire. At 4.10 p.m.a 8th November, 1964, two boys in->rmed a member of the inshore rescueoat crew that a speedboat was in diffi-ulty off Hengistbury Head. At 4.15 theishore rescue boat launched in a lightorth-easterly wind and a smooth sea.rhe tide was ebbing. The inshore rescueioat found the speedboat Lady Sybil,/hich had a crew of two on board and hadngine trouble. The speedboatwas towed

in by the inshore rescue boat which re-turned to her station at 4.45.

Redcar, Yorkshire. At 8.25 a.m. onI4th November, 1964, the coastguard in-formed the coxswain that a small boatappeared to be in difficulties. The cox-swain went to the boathouse and saw thetwo occupants of the boat waving an oarto attract attention. At 8.27 a.m. the in-shore rescue boat launched in a strongwesterly breeze and calm sea. The tidewas flooding. She reached the smallboat Gin and towed her ashore. The in-shore rescue boat returned to her stationat 8.40 a.m.

By courtesy of] [Feature Photography

The R.N.L.I. inshore rescue boat at St. Donat's with other inflatable craft

I.R.B. Services in BriefDate

1964October iOctober 3October 4October 5October 8October 10October 17

Station

WhitstableWhitstableSouthwoldWest MerseaMudefordWorthingLargs

Casualty

Cabin cruiser BALTIC LILYCapsized dinghyCapsized dinghyFlareFishing vessel JOYDrifting vesselMotor boat

Service

Rescued IGave helpGave helpNo serviceNo serviceSaved boatStood by boat

311

Date

October 21

October 25October 29November i

November 8

November 10

November 14December 6December 10

Station

Pwllheli

PwllheliMudefordPwllheliGreat Yarmouth and

GorlestonMudefordMudefordBroughty FerryDroughty FerryRedcarBroughty FerryBroughty Ferry

Casualty

Capsized dinghy

Missing personCapsized speedboatFlares

Yacht JOYCESpeedboat LADY SYBILFlashing lightCries for helpTrimaran NIMBLE-IKISmall boat GINSand boat EDITHReported drifting boat

Service

Saved boat andlanded a body

No serviceNo serviceNo service

Escorted boatSaved boat and 2No serviceNo serviceNo serviceSaved boat and 2No serviceNo service

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