THE LIFE-BOAT The Journal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution

VOL. XXXV SEPTEMBER, 1960 No. 393

Notes of the Quarter ONCE again figures show that life-boats quality of those who have filled the post have been called out on service more of Secretary. Among the very able often in one particular month than in men who have done so were Richard the corresponding month in any year, Lewis, who was a young barrister when either in peace or war, since the Royal he was appointed Secretary in 1850, at a National Life-boat Institution was time when the Institution's finances founded in 1824. The significance of were in a poor state, and who remained this fact Jies not in the mere establish- Secretary until he died in 1883 ; Charles ment of a record, but in the clear light it Dibdin, the founder of the Civil Service throws on the nature of the life-boat Life-boat Fund, who came to the service today. The record month this Institution from the Savings Bank of year was June, when life-boats were the General Post Office ; and Sir launched on service 98 times. The George Shee, who played such an previous record figure for June of 84 important part in the successful develop- launches was set up as recently as 1959. ment of the service in the earlier years There were not in fact exceptional of the present century. Colonel weather conditions in June this year, Burnett Brown carried on this tradition and the establishment of yet another with outstanding ability. A note on record simply reveals that year by year, his work by his successor, Lieut.- in spite of all technical developments Colonel Charles Earle, appears on and aids to safety at sea, more and more page 481. calls are made on the life-boat service. LIFE-BOAT TO BE NAMED THE SECRETARY'S RETIREMENT " DUKE OF CORNWALL " The retirement of Colonel A. D. The Queen's decision to allow the Burnett Brown from the post of Secre- life-boat for the new station on the tary of the Institution ends a period of Lizard peninsula to be named Duke of twenty-nine years in the Institution's Cornwall has given particular pleasure active service. The essence of the life- to those associated with the establish- boat service is, of course, to be found in ment of the new station. The new its voluntary workers, in the crews who station is itself to be named the Lizard- man the life-boats and in those who Cadgwith, thereby incorporating in its raise money to make the service name the traditions of two very fine possible. The controlling body too, life-boat stations. A new life-boat of the Committee of Management, is the 52-feet Barnett type is being built composed of those who give their at Cowes. services voluntarily. However, it would clearly be impossible to co- SCHOOL HOUSES' NAMES ordinate the work of all the voluntary The esteem felt for its life-boat workers in all parts of the country, or to station by the people of Cromer has provide the facts and reasoned argu- been revealed in an interesting decision ments on which the Committee of taken by the Cromer Secondary Modern Management can base its decisions, School. There are four houses in this without an efficient secretariat. The school, which were previously dis- secretariat has always been a small one tinguished by having separate colours. in accordance with the Institution's They have now each been given names, policy of keeping its administrative and the names chosen are those of four costs as low as possible, but the Institu- life-boats which have served at Cromer : tion has been extremely fortunate in the H. F. Bailey, Louisa Heartwell, Henry 480 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 Blogg and Harriot Dixon. The last French life-boat society, Societe two are, of course, the names of the Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufrages, Cromer life-boats in service today. recording similar instances off the French coast. Among a number of BABIES BORN IN LIFE-BOATS births recorded was one which took place The report in the last number of the in 1939, when a baby boy was born on Life-boat that a mother had given birth board the life-boat Jean Charcot of the to a baby in the Barra Island life-boat, He Molene. The young man bears to- and that this was believed to be the day as one of his names " Charcot " as first birth to occur in a life-boat of the a memorial of the circumstances of his Institution, has elicited a letter from the birth.

Vellum Accorded to National Trust Warden ABOUT 9.45 on the morning of the siderable difficulty Mr. Eales reached 16th of April, 1960, a rubber and canvas the canoe, which was drifting in the collapsible canoe, which had left Burn- surf, and found one man holding on ham Overy Staiths for Blakeney, Nor- to it. The man was so exhausted that folk, capsized in the surf off Blakeney he could do nothing to help himself. Point. There were two men on board, With his boat lying across the wind who were brothers. The weather was in the trough of the sea in less than cloudy but clear with a fresh northerly seven feet of water Mr. Eales and the breeze blowing and a rough sea. other two men managed to haul the About 10.30 Mr. W. E. R. Eales, a man aboard. They then returned National Trust warden of Point House, through the same gap with the wind and Morston, was approaching the extreme sea astern and landed the survivor on tip of Blakeney Point in his 27-feet open the slipway of the life-boat station at motor boat to land passengers, when he Blakeney Point. saw an object in the surf some four hundred to five hundred yards off shore. Helicopter and Life-boat Called At first he thought it was a seal, but When the rescued man was able to then he realised it was a human being speak he asked what had happened to clinging to a floating object. He his brother, who had also been in the immediately beached his boat and canoe. This was the first indication landed the passengers, and after calling Mr. Eales had that there had been for two volunteers from among the another man aboard. He therefore passengers put out to help, accompanied telephoned the coastguard to ask for by Mr. Herbert Metson and Mr. Duncan the help of a helicopter. The Wells Waugh. It was then high wacer at life-boat Cecil Paine was also launched. Blakeney, but where the canoe had At eleven o'clock Mr. Eales put out capsized the ebb stream had begun to again. This time he had on board run north-eastwards. with him, in addition to the two men who had gone out before, Mr. Martin Through Narrow Cutting Pumphrey, an experienced seaman. As soon as the boat was clear of the They made a thorough search of the beach Mr. Eales headed to the west- inshore waters, but as conditions grew ward along the inshore edge of the worse with the ebb tide he decided to shingle spit for about three hundred return to the old life-boat station, not yards before turning northwards to wishing to expose the men who had bump his way through a narrow cutting come out with him to further risk. in the shingle about five hundred yards east of Far Point. The sea was break- Thanks on Vellum ing heavily on the spit, and the boat On returning ashore for the second touched bottom twice. With con- time Mr. Eales found that the rescued SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 481 man needed medical help, and after that the dead body of the second man making the necessary arrangements he was entangled in some ropes attached to took him in his boat to Morston quay, the canoe. from which a police car drove him to For this service the thanks of the hospital. Institution inscribed on vellum have Mr. Bales then returned to continue been accorded to Mr. W. E. R. the search for the missing man. The Eales. helicopter and the Wells life-boat had Letters of appreciation have been already reached the scene. About 1.55 sent to Mr. Herbert Metson, Mr. Mr. Eales found the canoe in shallow Duncan Waugh and Mr. Martin water. On wading out to it he saw Pumphrey.

The Secretary Retires COLONEL A. D. BURNETT BROWN, commanding battalions of the O.B.E., M.C., T.D., M.A.. retired from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire the post of Secretary of the Institution Light Infantry and the West York- on the 30th of June, 1960, after twenty- shire Regiment. nine years in the Institution's service. He came to the Institution in 1931 from Adapted to New Society the Treasury to fill the post of Deputy " Within two years of the end of Secretary on the appointment of Lieut.- the war he was appointed Secretary Colonel C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., as of the Institution at a time when the Secretary. In 1947, when Lieut.- aftermath of the war presented grave Colonel Satterthwaite retired, Colonel and pressing problems. A major Burnett Brown was appointed Secretary. task of reconstruction was called for, Colonel Burnett Brown is succeeded as the building of life-boats had as Secretary by Lieut-Colonel Charles virtually ceased during the war ; Earle, D.S.O., O.B.E., who has been something of a social revolution was acting as his personal assistant since occurring, and the Life-boat Institu- 1958. Details of the career of Lieut.- tion had to adapt itself to the new Colonel Earle, who served as an officer society which was emerging. in the Grenadier Guards, as Adjutant " In the year of Colonel Burnett of the Royal Military Academy, Sand- Brown's appointment as Secretary hurst, and in the War Office, were given the cost of the service amounted to in the June 1958 number of the Life- approximately £600,000. Thirteen boat on page 46. years later, when he retired, as much Lieut-Colonel Earle writes : as a million pounds had to be raised " Colonel Burnett Brown's career every year. That the service as a has been one of outstanding public whole overcame so many difficulties service. As a young man he served and problems with such conspicuous in the first world war, when he was success is in very large measure twice wounded, was awarded the attributable to Colonel Burnett military cross and was mentioned in Brown's unusual administrative despatches. When the war came to ability and the scrupulous care with an end he went up to Oxford, and which he served the Committee of after taking his degree filled import- Management throughout. ant posts in the administrative branch " I am sure all those associated of the Treasury. He left the Treasury with the Life-boat Service will wish to begin a long and valued career him many years of happy retirement, in the service of the Royal National and all who have been privileged to Life-boat Institution. This service know her will think too of Mrs. was interrupted when war broke out Burnett Brown, whose personal kind- again, and once more he served his ness and interest in the service have country with notable distinction, been so well known to so many." 482 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 Six Days Aboard Welsh Life-boats FROM the 22nd to the 29th of June, to bump fairly violently. . The cox- 1960, the B.B.C. broadcast each evening swain tells Wynford Vaughan- a half-hour programme in the Welsh Thomas that if we had left an hour Home Service. The composite title of later the sea would have been over the series was Over the Waves, the the mast. Wynford Vaughan-Thomas narrator being Mr. Wynford Vaughan- asks what would happen then, and the Thomas. The six items were later coxswain replies : " She comes up repeated in the B.B.C. Light Pro- again quite dry as if to laugh at the gramme. Mr. Wynford Vaughan- sea and say : ' What do you think of Thomas, together with a producer, a that ?' ". recording engineer and a cameraman, who was making a film which has since been shown on television, made a Porpoises Rising series of journeys along the Welsh We pass a trading schooner, coast mainly by life-boat. The editor Kathleen and May, of the kind known of the Life-boat accompanied them and as a Bideford man-o-war, a pretty recorded the following impressions in picture from the past. Porpoises are diary form : seen rising, which the crew state is a certain sign of better weather ahead. 22nd June : We reach the Breaksea lightvessel Departure at nine a.m. from the but consider the seas are too rough slipway at Barry Dock. On our way for taking recording equipment on from the Cardiff hotel we talk of the board. We do, however, deliver gales which had been blowing along newspapers. the Welsh coast throughout most of Arrival at the Mumbles about 2.15. the previous week and of reports of a The chairman of the branch, Mr. difficult service by the Mumbles life- David Johns, who is with the honor- boat over the week-end. Wind now ary secretary, Captain E. H. Slayter, blowing force 5: the sea a dull olive- and Coxswain Scott, to meet us, tells green tipped with white, and clouds us of a moment of anxiety felt on racing across the sky. shore during the recent service by the Mumbles boat. For a time they were out of R/T contact, and at a Pilots in Crew station that has known a disaster in Barry Dock is a station which I living memory anxiety is soon enough have visited only once, and then felt. briefly. As we talk to the crew we learn that they are not one of the crews of fishermen. Most of them Launch on Television News earn their livings in and around the I hear too late that there was a docks. Two of them are pilots, good picture of the launch from Barry including Coxswain Swarts. Dock on the television news. Wyn- It is not long before we are all well ford Vaughan-Thomas's broadcast soaked and have become familiar from the Mumbles studio describes with the feeling comparable perhaps the day graphically. Among those to that of receiving showers of gravel with whom he had recorded inter- over the face. The water soon seeps views was a man who described sail- down inside one's clothing, and I ing round Cape Horn, when, as he wonder once again why it is that any- put it, his " ears had been whipped by one ever goes to sea for pleasure. I hailstones as big as gooseberries". find the coxswain has a healthy dis- In the evening we meet the like for the sea when it is in an un- Mumbles crew, with whom we are to friendly mood, which he expresses sail tomorrow. There seems to be virulently. strong competition among amateur As we round Nash Point we begin yachtsmen to be members of the crew. SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 483 23rd June : wide stretches of empty sand, the Early departure from the Mumbles. gaily-coloured boats, the gulls and The wind has dropped to between the houses in which pinks and blues, force 3 and 4, there is more green in rare enough on the Welsh coast, vary the sea, and the clouds are wispier. the traditional pattern of grey is a We pass the green and grey bareness beautiful sight. We have the pros- of the Gower peninsula with no liv- pect of a perfect day ahead of us. It ing things but gulls, cormorants and will be ideal cruising weather. We puffins in sight. Our first call today appreciate too the relative comfort is at the Helwick lightvessel. Among of the most modern boats. Tea is the lightvessel's crew is a man whom soon produced with the help of the the Mumbles life-boat took off last paraffin pressure cooker, and shelter December in a gale. He tells can be had in the cabin. A journey the life-boat crew that he was such as this vividly reveals the steady in hospital for four months before progress made in recent years in the design as well as in the equipment of returning. life-boats. The district inspector, Lieut-Com- No Difficulty Getting Volunteers mander H. H. Harvey, has joined us Coxswain Scott is a most im- for this day's trip. Billy Eiler, the pressive, likeable figure. One of our coxswain, is a friendly, genial char- youngest coxswains, soft spoken, acter. The second coxswain, Ivor almost gentle in manner, his power of Crockford, another attractive figure, command is quite unquestionable. who has been Deputy Mayor of Other members of the crew include Tenby, entertains us with stories of an insurance agent, a fireman and a Polynesian life and of Zane Grey's policeman. They ask me whether yacht in the Pacific. they may perhaps be the youngest life-boat crew. In a flourishing yacht- Bird Sanctuaries and Firing Ranges ing centre they find no difficulty at all More rugged grandeur of limestone in getting volunteers. cliffs with the change after a time to The sea seems strangely empty. sandstone. We soon begin to see the Not a vessel is sighted for hours pinks and purples of the Pembroke- except the Trinity House tender, shire coast. Our first visit is to which reaches the Helwick lightvessel Skomer Island, where we have a at nearly the same time as we report of a gale warning. Grass- do. The second coxswain, a former holm is covered with gannets so trawlerman, tells me we have been thickly as to suggest a heavy snow- passing many good fishing areas, but fall. Still an empty sea. We pass no fishing boats are to be seen. He the former Aberystwyth life-boat, himself abandoned trawlers some which is now in the service of the time ago for a job in the steel works. naturalists who go to Skomer. We are also warned by an R.A.S.C. Boat called a Masterpiece launch of a firing practice. This Coxswain Scott describes his boat part of the Welsh coast seems to be to Wynford Vaughan-Thomas as " a given up almost entirely to bird masterpiece ". He speaks of im- sanctuaries and firing ranges. provements in design but adds that After passing the Bishop Rock the hulls, which could not be better, lighthouse we visit the Davies family, do not alter essentially. At Tenby the only inhabitants of Ramsey Coxswain Thomas, known as Billy Island, a contented, good-looking, Eiler, ferries us in his boat to the happy couple, who have some three slipway. or four hundred sheep as well as cattle. As I listen to Wynford 24th June : Vaughan-Thomas talking to them I Six a.m. departure from Tenby. reflect on his extraordinary skill as an Tenby in the early morning with the interviewer and broadcaster, and 484 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 wonder what is the secret. Some of to Pwllheli is to be by high-speed it lies in exceptional vitality, some in R.A.F. rescue launch. She is an an evidently deep interest in people impressive craft, 68 feet in length, and places. He is certainly a delight- with a comfortable cruising speed of ful travelling companion with some 29 knots. When flat out heading into deliciously funny stories. Alto- the sea the boat seems to become air- gether it is a happy party : Rowland borne, falling with thumps, which Lucas, the producer, a tall, grey- are more suggestive of an aircraft in haired man, had already impressed an electric storm than of a ship in me in London as someone who knew heavy seas. The skipper tells me that what he wanted and how to get it in conditions worse than a force 5 with charm ; the photographer, Tom wind and a corresponding sea the Hylton-Warner, startles me with his launch would be of little use. It is intrepidity in obtaining photographs sad to reflect that this type of craft while lying on his back in a pitching seems to have reached perfection life-boat ; the recording engineer, just about the time when it is becom- Mansell Davies, has the quiet and easy ing obsolete as a means of rescue and assurance of the expert technician. is being replaced by the helicopter. Yet this happens to be one of the days in which launches could be more Extraordinary Musical Instrument effective than helicopters because of On arrival at St. David's we are the bad visibility. entertained to eggs and bacon and The skipper, Flight-Lieutenant whisky by the chairman of the South Burgess, is a young ex-Merchant Wales Gas Board, Mr. Mervyn Jones, Navy officer. This branch of the who played a considerable part in the R.A.F. service affords little prospect preparatory stages of this programme. of promotion, for there is only one A visit to the Farmer's Arms in the group-captain in the division, yet evening. Coxswain Dai Lewis sings according to Flight-Lieutenant Bur- songs to the accompaniment of an gess the men are a contented lot. extraordinary musical instrument The service has solved the problem which he seems to have developed him- facing so many married seamen of self. Two powerfully built men from how to have a shore-based job and the Midlands inform me that their yet be able to go to sea. principal hobby is finding ingenious ways of raising money for charity. One of the delights of this trip is to Like Crouching Beasts discover again how very many people After calling at Fishguard harbour are interested in the life-boat service. we race northwards. Through the Everywhere we go we find people who mist St. Tidwal's Islands rise green seem to have listened to all the pro- and in the shapes of crouching beasts. grammes. Much of this, of course, The Pwllheli coxswain, William is attributable to Wynford Vaughan- Gould, guides us to a point where Thomas's remarkable following. we can anchor. He and Wynford Vaughan-Thomas immediately begin 25th June : talking Welsh. We are with our first life-boat crew who normally Transport by Fast Launch converse with each other in Welsh. The high winds in the night have In the evening 1 ask the barman at died down to about force 4, and our hotel why there is no life-boat there is a good deal of sea mist. The collecting box in the bar in view of the landlord of the Farmer's Arms drives importance of the life-boat station in us down to the St. David's slipway. Pwllheli. He tells me that there is Coxswain Dai Lewis and ex-Cox- and points to a collecting box for the swain William Watts-Williams are Missions to Seamen. When I sug- there to see us off. Today, because gest he may have made a mistake he of the distance involved, our transport answers : " It's all the same thing ". SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 485 26th June : coxswain, Tom Moore, wears his Seven a.m. departure from Pwllheli. authority lightly. Mr. Roberts tells The mayor has come down to the me that when the crew discovered boathouse to see us off. Our first that he had served as honorary launch on this trip by tractor. I am secretary for twenty-one years they impressed once again with the made a collection and presented him smoothness of this complicated with a barometer. One member of operation. the crew tells me of a service in which they took a negro seaman, who had Mist Settles on Sea been struck in the jaw by a piston, oft" Coxswain Gould, who is about to a ship. He adds that never before retire and who may even be on his had he been so glad to be in the life- last trip in the life-boat as coxswain, boat service. " The man meant confirms the impression he gave, nothing to us ", he said, " but we when I saw him in his own boat saved his life ". yesterday, of a man to whom a boat The scenery today is perhaps the seems the only natural setting. There most magnificent of any. We pass is practically no wind, and the mist the Rivals and in perfect weather settles over the sea. Visibility is come close in under the cliffs with about one hundred yards. There is a Snowdon capping the hills in the bad moment when the mist is at its background. thickest and the tide is running Transfer to Hoiv head Boat strongly, for there is trouble with the starboard engine. Fortunately the We reach Holyhead harbour, mechanic puts it right, and we reach where we transfer to the Holyhead Bardsey Island. Captain Jones, who boat. This time we have not only meets us there, tells us the strange the honorary secretary but the chair- story of the abandonment of the man of the branch and the honorary island. He describes it as having had secretary of the Cemmaes Bay branch " a perfect community, where a door aboard. We have too short a time to was never locked and no work was come to know the crew at all well, ever done on a Sunday " ; yet the but their pride in their boat is population suddenly decided to leave apparent. One could quite well use it and migrate en masse. the brasses as shaving mirrors. The mist clears in the afternoon, We call at the Skerries lighthouse, and it is pleasant to have half-an- where one of the keepers gives me hour's sleep on deck in the sunshine. much interesting information about The B.B.C. party, whose main job the habits of terns and oyster- has to be done on arrival, seem to catchers. Then the final stretch to work nearly a seventeen-hour day. Moelfre. We pass the still visible wreck of the Hindlea. It is difficult Entertained at Golf Club to believe on this peaceful day that she was the cause of perhaps the There is a considerable reception greatest life-boat service for a decade. committee at Porthdinllaen, including Old friends in the Moelfre crew, who the honorary secretary, Mr. John came to London earlier in the year Roberts, a powerfully built farmer. for their medals, are there to greet us. Porthdinllaen has as lovely a setting Tom Corrigan, the honorary secre- as any life-boat station I know. Our tary, and his wife entertain us in their afternoon entertainment is at the home. golf club, to which most of the crew In the final programme Wynford seem to belong. Vaughan-Thomas asks me what my 27th June : strongest impression has been. I tell We leave Porthdinllaen at seven him it is the quality of the men who o'clock with Mr. Roberts aboard. serve in our life-boats, which I The crew seems to have an extremely describe as " a perpetual redis- happy and friendly atmosphere. The covery ". It is. 486 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 Conference on Safety at Sea THE fourth International Conference veys of the hull and machinery of cargo on the Safety of Life at Sea was ships, in addition to the established held at Church House, Westminster, surveys of safety and radio equipment ; from the 17th of May to the 17th of more stringent requirements affecting June, 1960. The three earlier conferences the sub-division of some types of had been held in 1913, 1929 and 1948. passenger ships, their stability, water- There were some six hundred tight integrity, electrical installations participants at the conference, fifty- and methods of dealing with fires. four countries being represented, of In the field of life-saving applications which forty-seven sent delegations. he considered that the most spectacular The organising body was the Inter- change was the recognition of the Governmental Maritime Consultative inflatable life-raft. Other new pro- Organisation, the United Kingdom visions concerned the substitution of Government acting as host. Sir diesel for petrol engines in ships' boats Gilmour Jenkins, the former per- and the wider use of gravity davits. manent secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, presided, Not Applied to Fishing Vessels representatives of the United States For greater safety in navigation Coastguard and the Soviet Ministry of changes were made in distress and Merchant Marine acting as vice- rescue procedures, in the use of direc- presidents. tion finding apparatus and in the The conference adopted fifty-six transmitting of navigational warnings. recommendations on subjects connected A number of recommendations to with maritime safety. In his closing secure the improvement of air-sea speech summarising the progress made rescue arrangements and of means of Sir Gilmour Jenkins said : "I have communication between ships and air- never, in my long experience, seen a craft were also adopted. conference which faced and tackled so Provisions affecting the carriage of great a task with such speed and grain and other bulk cargoes and determination." dangerous goods were revised and brought up to date, and changes in Supersedes Earlier Convention regulations concerning collisions in- He described the new convention cluded the proper use of radar and adopted by the conference, which guidance in the training of navigating supersedes the convention of 1948, officers. A number of recommenda- as a substantial advance on its prede- tions concerning nuclear ships were cessor, for it took full account of the also adopted. lessons which experience had taught After considerable discussion the and of the scientific and technical conference decided not to extend the advances made in the last twelve years. provisions of the new convention to Among the agreements which he fishing vessels, but governments are singled out were the application of being recommended to apply the pro- provisions for carrying radio equipment visions of the convention as far as is in cargo ships of 300 tons and over ; reasonable and practicable both to a new requirement of periodical sur- fishing vessels and to smaller cargo ships.

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET 152 Life-boats LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Life-boat Service in 1824 to 30th June, 1960 - - 82,605 SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 487 Landmarks in Station Histories THE life-boat station at the Humber 414 lives. The life-boat City of Brad- this year celebrated the 150th anni- ford II, which was at the station from versary of its foundation. A certificate 1929 to 1954, had the remarkable distinc- inscribed on vellum, signed by H.R.H. tion of rescuing no fewer than 305 lives. the Duchess of Kent, President of the Three of the Humber life-boats have Institution, was presented to the station been presented by the Bradford branch. by Admiral Sir William R. Slayter, a The life-boat station at Margate member of the Committee of Manage- celebrated the hundredth anniversary of ment, at a ceremony held at the life- its foundation at a ceremony at the boathouse on the 22nd of June. A Rendezvous car park in Margate on service of thanksgiving was conducted the 28th of May. A service of thanks- by the Bishop of Hull (the Right Rev. giving was conducted by the Reverend G. F. Townley) assisted by the Rev. Canon S. A. Odom, Vicar of Margate L. F. Erving, Vicar of Easington. The and Rural Dean of Thanet, assisted by party, which then went afloat, included the Reverend D. T. Scotland, President among others the Lord Mayor and Lady of the Margate Free Church Council Mayoress of Hull and ex-Coxswain and Minister of the Union Crescent Robert Cross, now aged 84, who was Congregational Church. The Mayor twice awarded the Institution's gold of Margate, Alderman G. A. Kirby, medal for gallantry. was in the chair, and Captain the Hon. The Humber station at Spurn Point V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., deputy was established in 1810, and until 1908 chairman of the Committee of Manage- was maintained by the Hull Trinity ment, presented the vellum signed by House. In that year it came under the the Duchess of Kent. control of the Humber Conservancy In the past hundred years Margate Board, and not until 1911 was it taken life-boats have been launched on service over by the Institution. No complete 791 times and have rescued 886 lives. record exists of lives saved by the This impressive figure of lives rescued station before 1911, but there is docu- does not include the 600 men taken off mentary evidence indicating that more the beaches at Dunkirk by the Margate than 760 lives were rescued between life-boat in 1940. 1810 and 1854. Since the station came The last three life-boats to be under the control of the Institution stationed at Margate have all been Humber life-boats have been launched provided by the Civil Service Life-boat on service 400 times and have rescued Fund.

Portrait on the Cover THE portrait on the cover is of Cox- was awarded the bronze medal for an swain Robert Brown of Swanage, who outstanding individual act of gallantry has been coxswain since 1941. He was in March, 1934. In a strong southerly assistant mechanic from 1928 to 1934 gale a yacht went aground and one of and second coxswain from 1934 to her crew of two was flung into the sea. 1941. During his period of service Without hesitation Assistant Mechanic Swanage life-boats have been launched Brown went overboard and succeeded in on service 231 times and have rescued holding the man until the life-boat was 156 lives. able to pick them both up. The photo- When he was assistant mechanic he graph is by courtesy of Joan Muspratt. THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 New Teesmouth Life-boat Named LADY CRATHORNE named the new described the new boat Admiral Sir John Teesmouth life-boat Sarah Jane and Eccles, a member of the Committee of James Season at a ceremony at the Management, handed her over to the life-boat house on the 28th of May, branch, Mr. E. R. Copeman, honorary 1960. The life-boat, which is one secretary of the branch, accepting her. of the 47-feet Watson type, was pro- The life-boat was then dedicated by vided out of legacies from the late Mr. the Venerable William Palin, Arch- Arthur Season of Ilkley, Mr. Frederick deacon of Cleveland, assisted by the Wright of York, Miss Ellen Lax of Rev. C. Kettle, Tees Chaplain to the Leeds, and Mrs. Harriet Ellen Pearson Missions to Seamen, and the Rev. Carl of Sowerby Bridge, and the general Landahl, Chaplain to the Scandinavian funds of the Institution. Seamen's Mission. Colonel Thomas Eustace Smith, Music was provided by the Eston Silver chairman of the Teesmouth branch, Band conducted by Mr. A. W. Turner took the chair. After Commander and the Stainsby school choir, whose L. F. L. Hill, the district inspector, had choirmaster was Mr. Gwynne Morris.

Shield for Best Wreck Service MR. ERNEST MARPLES, Minister of was lying battered and broken 350 Transport, has awarded the shield for yards offshore, had to work knee deep the best wreck service for the year and sometimes up to their waists in 1959/60 jointly to the Rattray Head water. The lines fired to the vessel and Fraserburgh life-saving appliance were fouled by baulks of timber, which companies of H.M. Coastguard for the had snapped off. For three hours rescue of the crew of eighteen of the efforts were made to keep the lines Finnish cargo steamer Anna off the clear, and only when both electric Aberdeenshire coast in December 1959. generators had been clogged by flying The rescue took place in a gale of sand was it decided to suspend opera- extreme violence. The Anna, after tions until daylight. The next day drifting helplessly along the coast, ran the whole crew were taken off. aground off St. Combs about 7.40 Unfortunately the man who directed on the evening of the 7th of December. the operation, Mr. E. J. Clout, the The two life-saving teams, as they tried district officer, Peterhead, was taken to make contact with the Anna, which ill and died a few weeks after the rescue.

Royal Aeronautical Society Award FLIGHT SERGEANT B. BREACH, of Ferry life-boat capsized with the No. 228 Squadron R.A.F., has been loss of the whole of her crew on awarded the Alan Marsh medal for the 8th of December. The Alan the rescue of the crew of five of the Marsh medal can be awarded by the North Carr lightvessel in December Royal Aeronautical Society " to a 1959. It was after putting out in an British pilot in recognition of an attempt to render help to the North outstanding helicopter pilotage achieve- Carr lightvessel that the Broughty ment ". SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 489 Christmas Cards and Calendars THE Institution will again have a Supporters of the Institution living Christmas card and a pocket calendar in the Irish Republic are asked to order for sale. The card will be a repro- Christmas cards from the Dublin office, duction in colour of the picture 32 South Frederick Street, Dublin, on this page. It is a photograph C.2. of the 45' 6" Penlee life-boat W. The pocket calendar will have on the and S. launching. The photograph front a photograph of the Scarborough

By courtesy of] [Mr. G. M. Baker is reproduced by courtesy of Mr. life-boat launching on service. It can G. M. Baker, of Mousehole, Cornwall. be obtained in dozens. The price is 2s. The card will be of four pages, with for the first dozen and Is. 6d. for each the picture on page one, greetings on additional dozen. page three and the Institution's crest on There will also be a hanging calendar, page two. The price of the card, with the with a picture in colour, a reproduction envelope, will be 9d. Name and address of a photograph of the life-boat can be printed in, if not fewer than Kathleen Mary stationed at Newhaven, twenty-five are ordered, at an added cost Sussex. This calendar is not for sale of 16/- for 25 and under 50, 19/6 for 50 and is produced primarily for distribu- and under 100, 25/- for 100 up to 200. tion to solicitors' offices. Birthday Honours AMONG those associated with the life- M.B.E. ALDERMAN HARRY BLACKBURN, boat service upon whom honours were a member of the Fleetwood conferred in the Birthday Honours committee ; MR. B. V. were :— HOWELL, honorary secretary of the Pwllheli station branch ; O.B.E. MR. T. O. GRAY, deputy CAPTAIN J. J. KELLY, chairman treasurer and vice-president of of the Fishguard branch ; the Institution ; ALDERMAN MRS. S. E. NEWMAN, chairman H. L. GROVES, patron of the of the Warton Crag (Lanca- Lake District branch. shire) branch. 490 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 Services of the Life-boats in April, May and June 102 Lives Rescued APRIL secretary that the fishing vessel Fisher Lass of Sanday was overdue on passage DURING April life-boats were launched from Kirkwall to Sanday. At 6.20 the on service 55 times and rescued 32 lives. life -boat J.J.K.S.W., on temporary duty MAN TAKEN OFF CONVERTED at the station, slipped her moorings two SHIP'S BOAT hours before low water in a south-east- Hovvth, Co. Dublin. At 4.16 on the erly gale and a very rough sea. Visibil- afternoon of the 1st of April, 1960, the ity was poor because of heavy rain Garda informed the honorary secretary squalls. In Sanday Sound the life-boat that a boat was in distress off Malahide found the Fisher Lass making towards bar. At 4.36 the life-boat Elizabeth Stronsay for shelter. She escorted her Elson, on temporary duty at the station, into harbour and reached her moorings put out two and a half hours after high at 7.15. Rewards to the crew, £7 ; re- water in a strong easterly wind and a ward to the helper on shore, 12s. very rough sea. The life-boat found LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER REPORTS an 18-feet converted ship's boat with YACHT IN DISTRESS her engines broken down. The man St. Abbs, Berwickshire. At 6.16 on on board, who had attracted attention the evening of the 3rd of April, 1960, by waving a coat attached to an oar, the coastguard informed the honorary was exhausted. He was transferred secretary that the principal keeper at to the life-boat and given hot soup. St. Abbs Head lighthouse had re- The life-boat took his boat in tow to ported a yacht burning distress flares Howth, arriving at 6.10. Rewards to off St. Abbs Head. At 6.25 the life- the crew, £5 ; rewards to the helpers boat Howard D, on temporary duty at on shore, £1 16s. the station, was launched one hour ESCORT FOR TWO BOATS OUT before high water. There was a gentle LOBSTER FISHING south-easterly wind and a choppy sea Arbroath, Angus. On the morning with a slight haze. The life-boat found of the 2nd of April, 1960, anxiety was the yacht Southern Cross with her felt for the safety of two fishing boats, engine broken down. The yacht had Sunbeam and Bairn's Pride, which were a crew of three. The life-boat towed lobster fishing off the harbour. It was her into St. Abbs, arriving at 7.9. an hour and a half after high water, Rewards to the crew, £6 ; rewards to there was a strong south-easterly wind, the helpers on shore, £1 16s. and the sea was very rough. Weather NINE FISHING BOATS ANCHOR conditions were deteriorating rapidly, IN GALE and at 8.30 the life-boat The Duke of North Sunderland, Northumberland. Montrose was launched. She escorted On the evening of the 3rd of April, the Bairn's Pride into harbour, but by 1960, nine local fishing boats left for the time the Sunbeam appeared off the Berwick Bay. By midnight the weather harbour it was almost low water. had deteriorated, and the southerly The Sunbeam's skipper was advised to gale was accompanied by a very rough wait for the flood tide, and at one sea. The boats could not return to o'clock the life-boat put out again. harbour and had to anchor in the lee She escorted the Sunbeam into harbour of one of the Farne islands. By seven and reached her station at 2.50. Re- o'clock on the morning of the 5th of wards to the crew, £14 5s. ; rewards April the wind and sea had moderated to the helpers on shore, £1 16s. and the boats decided to enter harbour. FISHING VESSEL FOUND IN GALE The life-boat Grace Darling stood by as Stronsay, Orkneys. At 5.36 on the they crossed the bar. Rewards to the evening of the 2nd of April, 1960, the crew, £6 ; rewards to the helpers on coastguard informed the honorary shore, £6 13s. SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 491 COBLE ESCORTED THROUGH The life-boat found the dinghy, which HEAVY GROUND SEA was empty, as the motor fishing vessel Whitby, Yorkshire. On the 4th of Fragrant had rescued the skipper. The April, 1960, there was a heavy ground life-boat returned to her station at 11.5. sea on the bar, which made it dangerous Rewards to the crew, £7. for boats to enter harbour. As the local fishing fleet was still at sea, in- LIFE-BOAT FINDS SUBMARINE cluding a number of small cobles, it AGROUND was decided to launch the life-boat Campbeltown, Argyllshire. At 10.15 Mary Ann Hepworth at 9.15. There on the night of the 4th of April, 1960, was a light southerly breeze, and it was the coxswain told the honorary secre- shortly after high water. One coble tary that the keeper at Davaar light- was found four miles off Whitby and house had reported a submarine ashore was escorted back to harbour, and the at the entrance to Campbeltown har- life-boat stood by until all the other bour. At 10.35 the life-boat City of seven boats had returned. She finally Bradford II put out. It was low water reached her station at 1.22. Rewards and the weather was overcast with to the crew, £9 12s. ; rewards to the squally showers. A south-south- helpers on shore, £1 16s. westerly gale was blowing, and the sea was choppy. The life-boat found H.M. COBLE ESCORTED TO HARBOUR submarine Narwhal aground on the Scarborough, Yorkshire. On the Millbeg bank, and at the captain's morning of the 4th of April, 1960, con- request the coxswain read the sub- ditions at the entrance to the harbour marine's draft fore and aft and gave him were deteriorating, and it was decided his bearing and distance from the Fair- to launch the life-boat /. G. Graves of way buoy. The life-boat returned to Sheffield at 12.55 to escort the local her station at 11.50 as no further help fishing coble Betty into harbour. There was needed. The Narwhal was was a light north-westerly wind and a eventually refloated with the assistance heavy ground swell, and the tide was of two tugs at 7.10 on the morning of nearly half ebb. After escorting the the 5th April. The coxswain received coble in the life-boat reached her a letter of thanks from the captain of station at 1.35. Rewards to the crew, the Third Submarine Squadron at £5 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, Faslane. Rewards to the crew, £8 15s. ; £7 5s. reward to the helper on shore, 18s.

CREW OF FISHING VESSEL TOW FOR BOAT WITH GIRL AND RESCUED FOUR YOUTHS ABOARD Lerwick, Shetlands. At 9.45 on the Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 6.29 on evening of the 4th of April, 1960, the the morning of the 9th of April, 1960, assistant honorary secretary told the the coastguard informed the honorary honorary secretary that he had heard secretary that a small boat was along- the motor fishing vessel Gleaner of side the Mid Barrow lightvessel and Fraserburgh wirelessing for help as she that her crew were asking for the assist- was ashore at the south entrance to ance of a life-boat. At 6.50 the life- Lerwick harbour. At 10.10 the life- boat Sir Godfrey Baring was launched boat Claude Cecil Stan/forth put out two and a half hours before high water at low water in a strong south-south- in a gentle south-south-westerly wind easterly gale and a very rough sea. and a slight sea. She found the former Visibility was poor. The life-boat ship's boat Tot Morgen with a young found the Gleaner drifting towards the woman and four youths on board. Ness of Sound, and using his search- They had run short of fuel on passage light, the coxswain closed her port side. from Gravesend to the Channel Isles. Two of the fishing vessel's crew jumped The life-boat towed the boat to Bright- aboard the life-boat and told the cox- lingsea, where an ambulance took one swain that the fishing vessel's skipper of the youths and the woman, who were was adrift in an inflatable dinghy. exhausted and suffering from exposure, 492 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 to hospital. The life-boat reached her boat Southern Africa left her moorings station at 3.30. Rewards to the crew, at high water on a routine exercise with £15 Is. ; rewards to the helpers on the district inspector on board. There shore, £6 7s. was a fresh south-westerly wind and a rough sea. While the life-boat was on YOUNG MAN RESCUED FROM her way through the outer harbour, a JET SPEED-BOAT yacht was seen to capsize off the east Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire. At 12.50 cliff jetty, throwing her crew of two into on the afternoon of the 9th of April, the water. The life-boat made for the I960, the coastguard informed the position, a scrambling net was lowered, honorary secretary that a jet speed-boat and the two men were picked up. After with a young man aboard was adrift several attempts the yacht Impudence between Abersoch beach and Llanbe- was righted and towed on to a slipway drog point. As no other suitable boat in the camber. The life-boat reached was available, the life-boat Kathleen her station at 12.40. Rewards to the and Virgoe Buckland was launched at crew, £7- 1.47. It was low water, and there was a moderate wind between south-west STEAM TRAWLER REFLOATED and west-south-west with a slight sea. IN ROUGH SEA The man was taken on board the life- Fleetwood, Lancashire. At 5.50 on boat, which then towed the speed-boat, the evening of the 12th of April, 1960, which was without anchor or oars, to the coastguard informed the honorary Pwllheli. The life-boat reached her secretary that the steam trawler Spurn- station at 4.25. The father of the young ella, of Fleetwood, was ashore on the man made a gift to the Institution's banks of Lune Deep. The life-boat funds. Rewards to the crew, £6 ; Anne Letitia Russell was launched one rewards to the helpers on shore, hour before low water at 5.55 in a £8 9s. fresh west-south-westerly wind and a rough sea. She found the Trinity CANOEIST RESCUED IN NEAR GALE House vessel Argus standing by the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Nor- Spurnella, and with some help from the folk. At 12.52 on the afternoon of the life-boat the Argus refloated the trawler. 10th of April, 1960, the coastguard The life-boat then accompanied both informed the honorary secretary that vessels to an anchorage off Wyre light a man was adrift and in difficulties in before returning to her station at ten a canoe off Yarmouth beach, approxi- o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £12 mately one mile off shore. At 1.3 the 19s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, life-boat Louise Stephens was launched £4 4s. one hour before low water in a west- south-westerly wind of near gale force CREW TAKEN OFF SALMON YAWL and a moderate swell. The life-boat Youghal, Co. Cork. On the 13th of found the man lying exhausted in his April, 1960, the local fleet of open canoe three miles north-north-east of salmon yawls were fishing at the Gorleston pier. He was taken aboard entrance to the harbour. At 12.30 one and given first aid and food and drink, of the boats was carried out into the and the coxswain wirelessed for a doctor rough confused water on the bar, and to meet the life-boat on her arrival at the life-boat Herbert John was therefore Gorleston. After recovering the canoe launched at one o'clock. There was the life-boat returned to her station, a south-westerly gale with a very rough arriving at two o'clock. Rewards to sea, and it was one hour before low the crew, £11 5s. ; rewards to the water. The life-boat found the boat helpers on shore, £4 15s. off Cabin Point and took her crew of three on board. With the yawl in tow MEN PICKED UP FROM YACHT the life-boat returned to her station, DURING EXERCISE arriving at 3.30 in the afternoon. Re- Dover, Kent. At 11.35 on the morn- wards to the crew, £9 16s. ; rewards to ing of the 12th of April, 1960, the life- the helpers on shore, £4 5s. SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 493 BOAT ESCORTED AFTER OIL Fowey. At 8.13 the life-boat Deneys SPREAD ON WATER Reit: put out at high water in a gentle Appledore, Devon. On the 13th of north-westerly wind and a slight sea. April, 1960, the motor vessel Lundy The life-boat found the yacht Irene Gannet was returning from Lundy of Boston in tow of the coaster Lady Island to Bideford on the evening tide Sylvia. The life-boat took over the with six people on board, including tow of the Irene, which had a crew of four passengers, when the keel band two, and reached her station at ten came adrift and threatened to foul the o'clock. Property salvage case. propellers. The second coxswain of the Clovelly life-boat was the skipper NUMBER TWO LIFE-BOAT ESCORTS of the Lundy Gannet, and he asked for CRAB BOAT the Appledore life-boat to escort her Cromer, Norfolk. Shortly after noon over the bar. At 6.25 the life-boat on the 16th of April, 1960, weather Violet Armstrong put out two hours conditions began to deteriorate and before high water in a south-westerly some anxiety was felt for two Shering- wind of near gale force and a rough sea. ham crab boats fishing off Cromer. After oil had been spread on the water The Sheringham coxswain made en- the life-boat escorted the Lundy Gannet quiries about them and was told that safely into harbour, returning to her the Cromer coxswain had the boats station at eight o'clock. The owner under observation. Both boats were of the Lundy Gannet and one passenger hauling pots, the Windsor Rose half a made gifts to the life-boat crew. Re- mile north of Cromer and the June Rose wards to the crew, £7 ; rewards to the three quarters of a mile north-east of helpers on shore, £2 8s. Cromer. The weather grew steadily worse, and at 2.30 the no. 2 life-boat INJURED MAN TAKEN OFF Harriot Dixon was launched at low STEAMER water in a strong northerly wind and a Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. At five rough sea. She escorted the June o'clock on the afternoon of the 14th of Rose to Cromer. The Windsor Rose April, 1960, the shipping agents for the made for Sheringham and was s.s. Bosworth, of London, asked the eventually escorted into harbour by the honorary secretary if the life-boat Sheringham life-boat. The Cromer could be launched to bring ashore a life-boat reached her station at 3.15. man from the steamer who had been Rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards to badly burnt. At 6.20 the life-boat the helpers on shore, £6 15. Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched with a doctor on board two FISHING BOAT ESCORTED IN hours before low water in a gentle west- NEAR GALE south-westerly wind and a slight sea. Sheringham, Norfolk. At 1.45 on the The life-boat met the Bosworth six and afternoon of the 16th of April, 1960, a half miles east of Owers lightvessel. the coastguard informed the honorary The injured man, who was the ship's secretary that the local fishing boat cook, was transferred to her and landed Windsor Rose was trying to make har- at Shoreham at 10.45. An ambulance [ bour in worsening weather conditions. was waiting to take him to hospital. The At 2.15 the life-boat Foresters Centenary owners made a donation to the branch was launched in a north-easterly wind funds. Rewards to the crew, £14 16s. ; of near gale force and a rough sea. rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 9s. The tide was half ebb. One of the fishing boat's crew, who was suffering TOW OF YACHT TAKEN OVER from exposure, was transferred to the FROM COASTER life-boat, and the second coxswain Fowey, Cornwall. At eight o'clock was put aboard to replace him. The on the evening of the 14th of April, life-boat then escorted the Windsor Rose 1960, the coastguard informed the into harbour and reached her station at honorary secretary that a yacht was 2.50. Rewards to the crew, £9 ; re- firing red flares three miles south of wards to the helpers on shore, £19 4s. 494 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 CREWS RESCUED AND DINGHIES at 12.50, two hours before low water, TOWED ASHORE in a light north-easterly wind and a Nevvhaven, Sussex. At 3.57 on the moderate sea. She found the Dolphin afternoon of the 16th of April, 1960, one mile north of Staithes and towed the coastguard informed the honorary her to Runswick, arriving at 3.15. secretary that a sailing dinghy had Rewards to the crew, £6 ; rewards to capsized in Seaford bay a quarter of a the helpers on shore, £8 5s. mile off Buckle Inn. The life-boat Kathleen Mary was launched at 4.10, TWO YACHTS TAKEN IN TOW two hours after high water, in a light Swanage, Dorset. At 5.57 on the north-easterly wind and a slight sea. evening of the 17th of April, 1960, the The dinghy was righted and towed coastguard informed the honorary ashore, her crew of two having already secretary that the Anvil Point lighthouse been saved by a rescue boat belonging keeper had seen a yacht with a dinghy to the local sailing club. While they astern drifting to the westward, with were returning to their station the life- the yacht's crew waving for help. At boat crew saw another dinghy capsize, 6.19 the life-boat R.L.P. was launched and the coxswain altered course to make in a gentle north-easterly breeze. There for her. The dinghy's sole occupant was a slight sea and the tide was half was taken on board the life-boat. His ebb. The life-boat found the yacht dinghy was then righted, and the life- Goosander with a crew of four about boat towed it ashore to Buckle Inn, four miles west of Anvil Point. She where the man was landed. The life- had a broken boom track, and the life- boat reached her station at six o'clock. boat took her in tow. Another yacht Rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards to Barbar, with a crew of three, was found the helpers on shore £3 13s. weatherbound one mile south of Peveril Ledge with her engine broken down. TOW FOR YACHT ADRIFT WITH She was also taken in tow, and the CREW OF TWO life-boat reached her station at nine Bembridge, Isle of Wight. At 6.9 on o'clock. The owners of both yachts the evening of the 16th of April, 1960, made donations to the Institution's the coastguard informed the honorary funds. Rewards to the crew, £7 4s. ; secretary that a resident of Seaview had rewards to the helpers on shore, £2 16s. reported seeing a yacht apparently in distress off Seaview. At 6.15, when CAPSIZED DINGHY RIGHTED AND the tide was about half ebb, the life-boat BALED OUT Jesse Hunt was launched in a light Dungeness, Kent. At 7.10 on the north-easterly wind and a moderate sea. evening of the 17th of April, 1960, the The life-boat found the yacht Saint coastguard told the honorary secretary Iluce, with a crew of two, drifting with that a sailing dinghy had capsized off her engine out of action and her sails Dymchurch. Ten minutes later the carried away. She took her in tow life-boat Mabel E. Holland was launched to her station, arriving at 8.30. Re- in a moderate north-easterly wind and wards to the crew, £7 4s. ; rewards to a choppy sea. The tide was half ebb. the helpers on shore, £3 5s. The life-boat found the sailing dinghy, and the life-boat crew righted her and FISHING BOAT TOWED TO baled her out. The dinghy was then LANDING handed over to the occupants of a small Runswick, Yorkshire. About noon boat, who had earlier rescued her crew on the 17th of April, 1960, the weather of two. The life-boat reached her began to deteriorate, and as the fishing station at 9.20. Rewards to the crew, boat Dolphin of Staithes was at sea £8 8s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, with a crew of three, it was decided to £16 16s. launch the life-boat The Elliott GUI to escort the boat to Runswick, because FISHING YAWL TAKEN IN TOW it would have been dangerous to enter Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. At 8.17 Staithes harbour. The life-boat put out on the evening of the 17th of April, SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 495 1960, the coastguard informed the two to three miles off Lade. At 2.35 honorary secretary that a small vessel the life-boat Mabel E. Holland was was showing distress signals three and a launched two hours after low water in a half miles north-east of Peterhead. At gentle north-north-easterly wind and a 8.30 the life-boat H.C.J., on temporary moderate ground sea. The life-boat duty at the station, was launched two found the ex-fishing boat Morag with hours after high water in a light her engine broken down and water- southerly breeze and a smooth sea. logged. Her crew of three were rescued, The life-boat found the fishing yawl and the life-boat reached her station at Jewel with a crew of three and took her 3.55. The Morag later became a total in tow, arriving at Peterhead at ten wreck. Her owner made a donation o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £7 10s. ; to the Institution's funds. Rewards rewards to the helpers on shore, £3 8s. to the crew, £9 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £10 8s. YACHT TOWED INTO HARBOUR Newhaven, Sussex. At 9.12 on the TRAWLER TOWED AFTER ENGINE evening of the 17th of April, I960, the BREAKDOWN coastguard informed the honorary Newhaven, Sussex. At 11.10 on the secretary that a yacht needed help off morning of the 19th of April, 1960, the the west pier. At 9.30 the life-boat coastguard told the honorary secretary Kathleen Mary was launched at low that the fishing vessel Denrow of Shore- water in a light north-north-easterly ham, which had left Newhaven at 9.52 wind and a slight sea. She found the the morning before to fish to the west- yacht Geordie, which had six people on ward of Brighton, had not returned. board, with her engine broken down. At 11.30 the life-boat Kathleen Mary The life-boat towed the yacht to was launched in a moderate north- harbour, arriving at 10.15. Rewards easterly wind and a rough sea. It was to the crew, £8 15s. ; rewards to the low water. The fishing vessel, which helpers on shore, £5 2s. had a crew of two, was found nine miles south-west of Newhaven with her COBLE TOWED INTO HARBOUR engine broken down. The life-boat North Sunderland, Northumberland. took her in tow and reached her station At 12.40 on the afternoon of the 18th at 2.45. Property salvage case. of April, 1960, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Long- FAMILY OF FIVE TAKEN OFF stone lighthouse keepers had reported ROCKS a boat flying distress signals about half Plymouth, Devon. At 12.10 on the a mile south of the lighthouse. At afternoon of the 21st of April, 1960, the 12.55 the life-boat Grace Darling was coastguard informed the honorary launched an hour and a half before secretary that the police had asked if the low water in a gentle south-easterly life-boat could take off a family of five wind and a slight sea. She found the who were stranded on Renney rocks off fishing coble Glad Tidings of North Heybrook bay. The life-boat Thomas Sunderland, which had a crew of three, Forehead and Mary Rowse left her with her engine broken down. The moorings at 12.23 with the boarding life-boat towed the coble to harbour, boat in tow. The tide was half flood, arriving at 3.50. Rewards to the crew, there was a light southerly breeze, and £8 14s. ; rewards to the helpers on the sea was smooth. The life-boat shore, £9 9s. stood off the rocks, and the boarding boat manned by the motor mechanic THREE RESCUED BEFORE BOAT and the second coxswain went in and BECOMES WRECK took off a man and his wife and their Dungeness, Kent. At 2.14 on the three children. They were transferred morning of the 19th of April, 1960, the to the life-boat, which reached her coastguard informed the honorary station at two o'clock. Rewards to secretary that red flares had been seen the crew, £5. 496 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY RESCUED owner on board and took her in tow to FROM DINGHY Helford river, where she was beached. Tenby, Pembrokeshire. At 11.35 on The life-boat reached her station at the morning of the 23rd of April, 1960, 7.40. Rewards to the crew. £8 8s. ; the coastguard informed the honorary rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 16s. secretary that a boy was drifting out to sea in a dinghy off Amroth. Four DOCTOR TAKEN TO LIGHTVESSEL minutes later the life-boat Henry Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Comber Brown was launched with the Norfolk. At 12.13 early on the morn- second coxswain in command at low ing of the 26th of April, 1960, the coast- water in a moderate easterly wind and a guard informed the honorary secretary choppy sea. She found the boy. who that a member of the crew of the was six years old. two miles off the Smiths Knoll lightvessel was uncon- beach. She took him and his dinghy scious and needed a doctor. At 12.40 on board and then returned to her the life-boat Louise Stephens was station, arriving at 12.50. The owner launched with a doctor on board. It of the dinghy made a donation to the was two hours before low water. Institution's funds. Rewards to the There was a gentle north-westerly wind, crew, £7 ; rewards to the helpers on and the sea was smooth. The doctor shore, £3 15s. went aboard the lightvessel and found that the man had died. His body was TOW FOR FISHING BOAT WITH transferred to the life-boat and landed ENGINE BREAKDOWN at Gorleston at 7.20. Rewards to the Workington, Cumberland. At one crew, £19 5s. ; rewards to the helpers o'clock early on the morning of the on shore, £4 17s. Refunded to the 24th of April, 1960, the coastguard Institution by Trinity House. informed the honorary secretary that the fishing boat Beaver, which had SICK MAN TAKEN OFF SWEDISH sailed from Maryport the morning LINER before, had not returned. Flares had Stornoway, Hebrides. At 2.10 on been seen north of Maryport, and at the morning of the 27th of April, 1960, 1.15 the life-boat Manchester and the coastguard informed the honorary Salford XXIX put out in a fresh north- secretary that the liner Kungsholm of westerly wind and a calm sea. The Gothenburg, which was on passage tide was half ebb. The life-boat found to Sweden from the United States of the fishing boat Beaver with a crew of America, would be off Stornoway at six three miles north of Maryport. 4.30. She wanted to land a passenger The boat's engine had broken down, who was suffering from kidney trouble. and the life-boat towed her into The life-boat The James and Margaret Workington harbour, arriving at four Boyd put out at 4.25 with a doctor on o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £8 8s. ; board. It was low water, and there reward to the helper on shore, 14s. was a light variable wind with a slight sea. The life-boat reached the Kungs- FISHING BOAT TOWED IN AND holm and found that the passenger and BEACHED his wife had been put aboard a fishing Coverack, Cornwall. At 3.20 on the boat. They were transferred to the afternoon of the 25th of April, 1960, the life-boat, which reached Stornoway motor fishing vessel Jennie left Coverack at 5.50. Rewards to the crew, £6. for Falmouth to have her engine over- hauled. There was a gentle north- LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY TILL westerly wind and a smooth sea. Later LAUNCH REFLOATS she was seen a mile and a half south- Beaumaris, Anglesey. At 7.12 on the east of the Manacles with her engine evening of the 27th of April, I960, the broken down, and the life-boat William coastguard informed the honorary Taylor of Oldham was launched at 5.15. secretary that a motor launch on It was nearly high water. The life- passage from Mostyn to the Menai boat found the fishing vessel with her Straits with a crew of three was aaround SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 497

By courtesy of] [Chichester Photographic Service SELSEY LIFE-BOAT LAUNCHED FROM NEW SLIPWAY

By courtesy of] [ The Journal, Newcastle CANOEISTS LANDED FROM REDCAR LIFE-BOAT (See page 518) 498 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER. 1960

I

By courtesy of] [Scottish Daily Express THE QUEEN VISITS THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW The Dunbar life-boat is seen in the background

By courtesy of] [Northern Daily Mail TEESMOUTH LIFE-BOAT LAUNCHED DURING NAMING CEREMONY (See page 488) SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 499

By courtesy of ] [Northern Daily Mail HARTLEPOOL LIFE-BOAT ON EXERCISE

By courtesy of] \W. J. Webber MINEHEAD LIFE-BOAT AT SEA 500 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER. 1960

By courtesy of] [Planet News Ltd. EASTBOURNE LIFE-BOAT RETURNS FROM SERVICE TO LIGHTVESSEL (See page 514)

By courtesy of] [Harry C. Deal SICK MAN FROM LIGHTVESSEL LANDED AT EASTBOURNE SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 501

By courtesy of] [The Yorkshire Post SERVICE OF DEDICATION AT THE HUMBER (See page 487)

By courtesy of] [Herald of Wales LIFE-BUOY USED TO SIMULATE MAN OVERBOARD This was one of the last exercises carried out by the Ferryside life-boat 502 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960

LIEUT.-COLONEL CHARLES EARLE, D.S.O., O.B.E. The newly appointed Secretary of the Institution SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 503

By courtesy of ] I Hull Daily Mail ON BOARD THE HUMBER LIFE-BOAT Left to right : Coxswain Superintendent Robertson Buchan, Admiral Sir William Slayter; ex-Coxswain Robert Cross. (see page 487)

by sauries) ol ) [C. M. Civic ANSTRUTHER LIFE-BOAT AND A FISHING BOAT (see page 515) 504 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960

By courtesy of] [East Kent Times FIRING A MAROON AT RAMSGATE SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 505 on Dutchman Bank. At 7.45 the life- boat and landed at Hartlepool at 1.13. boat Field Marshal and Mrs. Smuts was Because of the state of the tide the life- launched at low water in calm weather. boat entered the Victoria dock and was The life-boat stood by the motor launch not rehoused until 3.15. Rewards to Montreal until she refloated and then the crew, £8 15s. ; rewards to the helpers returned to her station, arriving at 9.45. on shore, £2 11s. Rewards to the crew. £7 ; rewards to the helpers on shore. £1 19s. The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in FIVE MEN LANDED AFTER SHIP distress, were not needed, or could do CATCHES FIRE nothing : Torbay, Devon. At 9.29 on the even- Eastbourne, Sussex.—April 3rd.— ing of the 29th of April, 1960. the coast- Rewards, £22 5s. guard informed the honorary secretary Weston - super - Mare, Somerset. that a ship was on fire off the mouth of —April 4th.—Rewards. £19 6s. the River Dart. At 9.55 the life-boat Margate, Kent.—April 6th.—Re- Princess Alexandra of Kent left her wards, £11 4s. moorings at high water in a light Lytham - St. Anne's, Lancashire. — north-easterly wind and a smooth sea. April 12th.—Rewards, £7 5s. The casualty was further to seaward Walmer, Kent. —April 12th. — Re- than had been reported, and the life- wards, £20 5s. boat found her nine miles east-south- Valentia, Co. Kerry.—April 13th.— east of Berry Head. Her crew of five Rewards, £12. had abandoned their vessel, which was Baltimore, Co. Cork.—April 13th.— the auxiliary schooner J.T. & S., and Rewards, £16 13s. had taken to a small boat, from which Broughty Ferry, Angus.—April 13th/ they had been picked up by the tanker 14th.—Rewards, £45 Is. Esso Lambeth. They were later trans- Rhyl, Flintshire.—April 16th.—Re- ferred to the life-boat and landed at wards, £20 12s. Brixham at one o'clock. Rewards to Wells, Norfolk.—April 16th.—Re- the crew, £8 8s. ; rewards to the helpers wards. £15 4s. on shore, £1 10s. Newhaven, Sussex.—April 17th.— Rewards, £12 2s. YOUNG MAN AND CANOE TAKEN Stornoway, Hebrides.—April 18th.— ON BOARD Rewards, £9 12s. Hartlepool, Co. Durham. At 11.20 on Selsey, Sussex.—April 21st.—Re- the morning of the 30th of April, 1960, wards, £11 17s. the coastguard informed the honorary Humber, Yorkshire.—April 22nd.— secretary that the police at Seaton Paid Permanent Crew. Carew had reported that two boys and Torbay, Devon.—April 29th.—Re- two girls in a canoe were in difficulties wards, £8 6s. and drifting towards South Gare. The life-boat Princess Royal (Civil Service No. 7) was launched at 11.36, MAY two hours before low water, in a light north-westerly wind and a slight sea. DURING May life-boats were launched The coxswain found the canoe with on service 60 times and rescued 17 lives. one youth in it, the other three young people having been landed on Seaton MISSING BOYS FOUND AFTER sands. The youth was trying to paddle SEARCH the canoe round North Gare break- Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 11.15 water into the Tees when the life-boat on the night of the 4th of May, 1960, arrived. This was a dangerous the coastguard informed the honorary manoeuvre because of the strong spring secretary that two boys, who had been ebb tide and the rocks at the end of the fishing from a rowing boat fitted with breakwater. The young man and his an out board motor to the westward of canoe were taken on board the life- the pier, were reported missing. The 506 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 life-boat Cunard, on temporary duty helicopter, but he could not be found. at the station, was launched at 11.40, The life-boat reached her station at two hours before low water, in a light 5.25. Rewards to the crew, £9 16s. : south-westerly wind and a moderate rewards to the helpers on shore, £5 5s. sea. She searched the area indicated but found nothing and returned to the CABIN CRUISER TOWED AFTER pier for further information. She then LOSING RUDDER searched to the east of the pier and Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 8.50 on later made for Canvey Island, where the evening of the 8th of May, 1960, she found the two boys on Canvey the coastguard informed the honorary Point. They were taken aboard the secretary that a cabin cruiser needed life-boat, which returned to her station, help a mile and a half south-east-by- arriving at 3.30 in the morning. Re- south of the Bench Head buoy. The wards to the crew, £9 16s. ; rewards to life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring was the helpers on shore, £2 5s. launched at 9.10 in a light east-north- easterly wind and a slight sea. The SICK MAN TAKEN ASHORE FROM tide was half flood. The life-boat LIGHTVESSEL found the cabin cruiser Cheviot Wind Penlee, Cornwall. At 1.10 early on of Great Yarmouth, which had a crew the morning of the 8th of May, 1960, of four, anchored. She had lost her the port medical officer told the honor- rudder, and the life-boat took her in ary secretary that a member of the crew tow to Brightlingsea, reaching her of the Seven Stones lightvessel was ill station at two o'clock. Property salvage and asked if the life-boat could land case. him. At two o'clock, one hour before high water, the life-boat W. and S. was FISHING BOATS ESCORTED TO launched with the doctor and ambulance HARBOUR IN GALE men on board. The weather was fine North Sunderland, Northumberland. with a light south-easterly breeze and Around noon on the 12th of May, a slight sea. The life-boat reached the 1960, considerable anxiety was felt for lightvessel at 5.10. The sick man was two local fishing vessels which were transferred to the life-boat and landed overdue. At 12.30 the life-boat Grace at Newlyn at 9.30. Rewards to the Darling was launched two hours after crew, £15 17s. ; rewards to the helpers low water in an easterly gale and a very on shore £1 4s. rough sea. She found the fishing vessels Faithful and Twilight Star MAN PICKED UP AFTER FALL sheltering in the lee of the Inner Fame FROM CLIFF and escorted them into harbour. The Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. At life-boat reached her station at two 1.20 on the afternoon of the 8th of o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £7 4s, ; May, 1960, the police told the honorary rewards to the helpers on shore, £6 14s. secretary that a man had fallen into the sea from the cliffs at Brean Down. NINE BOATS ESCORTED IN GALE As the exact position was not known, Bridlington, Yorkshire. On the 12th the police made further enquiries, of May, 1960, nine local motor fishing which led them to give the position as boats put to sea at four o'clock in the the shoreward end of the down on the morning to enable the fishermen to Weston side. The life-boat reached attend to their crab pots. A fresh easter- this position and found a man on the ly wind was blowing, and during the shore. He was taken on board and morning the weather deteriorated. By told the coxswain that a companion, two o'clock in the afternoon the wind, with whom he had been bathing on the which was blowing from the south- Weston mud flats, had disappeared. south-east, had increased and there was The man was landed at Uphill and a correspondingly rough sea. At 2.25 handed over to the care of the police. the life-boat Tillie Morrison, Sheffield The life-boat then carried out a search II was launched at low water just as for the second man accompanied by a the fishing vessels arrived outside the SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 507 harbour. She escorted them all safely transferred to the life-boat. They were in. The life-boat was placed at moor- landed at Grimsby at four o'clock, and ings at 5.23 and rehoused at 9.40. Re- an ambulance took them both to wards to the crew. £11 8s. ; rewards to hospital. The life-boat reached her the helpers on shore £13 5s. station at 5.20. The girl's father, who was waiting at Grimsby, gave the cox- TOW FOR DINGHIES WITH ARMY swain a donation to the Institution's CADETS ABOARD funds. Paid permanent crew. Swanage, Dorset, At 1.30 on the afternoon of the 14th of May, 1960, COXSWAIN DIRECTS CLIFF SEARCH two sailing dinghies, one fitted with an FOR BOYS outboard motor and each with two Swanage, Dorset. At 8.55 on the people on board, left Swanage Bay for evening of the 15th of May, 1960, the Ringstead Bay near Weymouth. The coastguard informed the honorary dinghies belonged to the Army Sailing secretary that a number of boys were Association at Bovington Camp, stranded on the cliff face at Ballard Dorset, and the crews consisted of Head. A shore rescue party was trying three army cadets with a sergeant in to reach them, and the honorary charge. A member of the life-boat secretary was asked if the life-boat crew was watching the dinghies in could try to locate the boys and help Durlston Bay when the outboard motor direct the rescue with the aid of her broke down. He contacted the cox- searchlight and loud-hailer. At 9.3 the swain, and at 2.40 the life-boat R.L.P. life-boat R.L.P. was launched one hour was launched. The tide was half ebb, before high water. The weather was and there was a light south-westerly wind fine with light westerly airs and a calm with a choppy sea and some ground sea. A coastguardsman assisted by swell. The life-boat reached the the police was lowered two hundred dinghies, which were flying a red pull- feet over the cliff, and the coxswain, over on an oar to attract attention. using the loud-hailer, directed him to a She took them in tow to Swanage, position where two boys had been which she reached at 4.18. The Army sighted. The life-boat's searchlight authorities had arranged transport to illuminated the cliff face, and the boys take the sergeant and the three boys to were helped to the beach a hundred and camp at Ringstead. A letter of apprecia- fifty feet below them and led by the tion was received from the cadets' coastguardsman a mile and a quarter commanding officer. Rewards to the along the beach to a police car. The crew, £7 ; rewards to the helpers on life-boat reached her station at 11.15. shore, £2 12s. Rewards to the crew, £8 8s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £2 16s. BOY AND GIRL PICKED UP FROM CANOE FISHING VESSELS AGROUND IN Humber, Yorkshire. At 1.42 on the FOG afternoon of the 15th of May, 1960, the Thurso, Caithness-shire. At 2.45 on coastguard informed the coxswain the morning of the 17th of May, 1960, superintendent that a canoe had cap- the life-boat Pentland (Civil Service sized two miles south-west of Spurn No. 31) was launched one hour after Point. At 3.50 the life-boat City of high water to the help of the motor Bradford III was launched an hour and fishing vessel Fame of Lossiemouttu a half before low water in a light south- which was ashore on Clarendon Head easterly breeze and a slight sea. She in dense fog. The sky was heavily made for the position but was unable to overcast, and there were light north- find the canoe. A message was then easterly airs and a smooth sea. The received that a boy and a girl with life-boat found the Fame, which had a their canoe had been picked up by the crew of seven. Four of the crew were coaster Tolsta two miles south of Spurn. taken on board and landed at Scrab- The coxswain made a rendezvous with ster, the skipper and two men remaining the coaster, and the children were •with their vessel, which was in no 508 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 danger. The life-boat reached her fine weather. No distress signals had station at 6.30. Rewards to the crew, been made, and as it was two hours £9 16s. ; rewards to the helpers on before low water it was decided not to shore, £4 Is. despatch the life-boat at that time. With the flood tide the wind began to ESCORT FOR COBLES FISHING freshen from the north-east, and the NEAR CLIFFS life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring was Filey, Yorkshire. On the morning launched at 1.50. She found the con- of the 18th of May, 1960, three local verted motor fishing vessel Watchful of fishing cobles were working under London, but her master declined help. Bempton cliffs in bad weather, and it The life-boat stood by for a short time was decided to launch the life-boat and then returned to Clacton, arriving The Isa & Penryn Milsted. She left at seven o.clock. Rewards to the crew, £12 12s. ; rewards to the helpers at 9.50, with the second coxswain in i command, two hours before high water on shore, £6. in a strong north-north-easterly wind and a rough sea. The weather was CREW OF THREE TAKEN OFF overcast with poor visibility. The life- DINGHY boat escorted the three cobles to har- Hastings, Sussex. At 5.8 on the bour and reached her station at noon. afternoon of the 18th of May, 1960, the Rewards to the crew, £7 4s. ; rewards coastguard informed the motor to the helpers on shore, £8 13s. mechanic that a small sailing dinghy had capsized off St. Leonards about a COXSWAIN ADVISES COBLE TO quarter of a mile from the shore. At SEEK SHELTER 5.18 the life-boat M.T.C. was launched Flamborough, Yorkshire. At 9.36 on three quarters of an hour before high the morning of the 18th of May, 1960, water in a moderate easterly wind and a the coxswain informed the honorary choppy sea. On reaching the position secretary that as the local fishing coble the coxswain found that an outboard Margaret Ann was still at sea in a motor dinghy from the local sailing fresh north-easterly wind he was going club had arrived and had taken aboard to the north landing to look at condi- two men from the sailing dinghy. The tions outside. At ten o'clock he third person in the dinghy was a woman, reported to the honorary secretary that who was suffering from slight shock. the weather was worsening and advised She was hauled aboard the life-boat, launching. At 10.30 the life-boat Lucy wrapped in a blanket and given hot Lovers, on temporary duty at the soup. Both the sailing dinghy and the station, was launched at high water in a outboard motor dinghy were taken rough sea. She found the coble half a in tow, and the two men and the woman mile east of the coastguard signal were landed at the sailing club. The station. The cosxwain advised her two dinghies were hauled ashore at skipper to proceed to Bridlington bay the life-boat station at 6.25. Rewards for shelter, as it was impossible to to the crew, £7 ; rewards to the helpers make the north landing. The life-boat on shore, £20 16s. then escorted the vessel into the bay before returning to her station at 1.5. GERMAN SEAMAN TAKEN OFF Rewards to the crew, £7 4s. ; rewards SUBMARINE to the helpers on shore, £13 4s. Penlee, Cornwall. At 10.15 on the morning of the 19th of May, 1960, a LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY COASTER message was received that there was a AGROUND sick German seaman on board H.M. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 10.41 on submarine Undine and that a request the morning of the 18th of May, 1960, had been made for the life-boat to land the coastguard informed the honorary him. The sick man had been taken off secretary that a small coaster was the motor vessel Saarland four hundred aground on the West Barrow sands in miles from Lands End. A rendezvous SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 509 v,as arranged with H.M.S. Undine, and engine had been repaired. She escorted at 8.15 the life-boat W. and S. left the Gull as far as North Foreland and Newlyn with a doctor and ambulance then returned to her station, arriving men on board. It was low water, and at 2.59. Rewards to the crew, £9 12s. ; there was a moderate easterly wind and rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 4s. a slight sea. The submarine was met four and a half miles south-east of VESSEL WITH FOULED PROPELLER Penzance, where the seaman, who was TAKEN IN TOW suffering from appendicitis, was trans- Dunbar, East Lothian. At 11.36 on ferred to the life-boat. He was landed the morning of the 23rd of May, 1960. at Newlyn at 9.25. The owners of the the coastguard informed the honorary Saarland made a gift to the Institution's secretary that the motor fishing vessel fund. Rewards to the crew, £8 8s. ; Devotion of Dunbar had fouled her reward to the helper on shore, 12s. propeller off the South Carr beacon and needed help. At 11.40, two and a half MOTOR BOAT TOWED IN AFTER hours before high water, the life-boat BREAKDOWN Cecil and Lilian Philpott, on temporary Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. At 11.15 duty at the station, put out in a fresh on the night of the 22nd of May, 1960, southerly wind and a slight swell. She the coastguard informed the honorary took the fishing vessel in tow to Dunbar, secretary that the motor boat Girl Pat arriving at 12.45. Rewards to the was overdue on passage from Newport, crew, £7. Pembrokeshire, to Tresaeth near Aber- porth. The honorary secretary decided TOW FOR YACHT AFTER ENGINE that further enquiries should be made, BREAKDOWN but as no clear information was forth- St. Peter Port, Guernsey. At 3.38 coming the life-boat Elizabeth Elson, on the morning of the 25th of May, on temporary duty at the station, left 1960, the signalman at St. Peter Port her moorings at 11.30 early on the harbour told the honorary secretary morning of the 23rd of May. The tide that a red flare had been seen about was half ebb, and there was a moderate four miles south of the harbour. At south-south-westerly wind with a 4.3 the life-boat Lloyd's, on temporary moderate sea. The life-boat found the duty at the station, put out half an hour Girl Pat broken down three quarters after low water in a light north-north- of a mile off shore from Penrhyn Point. easterly wind and a smooth sea. The She had a crew of three. The life-boat life-boat found the yacht Lyreen of took her in tow to Fishguard harbour, Lymington with her engine broken arriving at 6.30. Rewards to the crew, down. She took her in tow to St. £10 18s. ; rewards to the helper on Peter Port harbour, reaching her moor- shore, 17s. ings at six o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £7; reward to the helper on shore, 13s. ESCORT FOR CABIN CRUISER Margate, Kent. At 2.40 on the MOTHER AND CHILD TAKEN OFF afternoon of the 22nd of May, 1960, MOTOR VESSEL the coastguard informed the honorary Penlee, Cornwall. At seven o'clock secretary that a cabin cruiser, which on the evening of the 25th of May, 1960, had been under observation, appeared the honorary secretary was informed to have broken down and was drifting that a woman who was a passenger on with the tide about seven miles north- board the m.v. Sangara of Liverpool, north-east of Margate. The life-boat had had a haemorrhage and needed a North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11} doctor. The life-boat W. and S. left was launched at 2.59. The tide was Newlyn with three doctors and with half ebb, and there was a light southerly ambulance men on board, at 8.10 half breeze with a choppy sea. The life- an hour after high water. There was a boat reached the cabin cruiser Gull, light southerly wind and a slight sea. The which had a crew of three, and found life-boat met the Sangara ten miles she had had engine trouble, but the south-west of Penzance, where the 510 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 doctors boarded the ship. After re- FISHING VESSEL TOWED INTO ceiving medical attention the woman HARBOUR and her ten-month old baby were Walton and Frinton, Essex. At 3.21 transferred to the life-boat. They were on the afternoon of the 27th of May, landed at 11.35 at Newlyn, where an 1960, the coastguard informed the ambulance was waiting. The life-boat honorary secretary that a fishing boat reached her moorings at 12.15. Re- was anchored about a quarter of a wards to the crew, £8 8s. ; reward to the mile east of the Medusa buoy and that helper on shore, 15s. The owners made a fisherman was standing on the wheel- a donation to the Institution's funds. house waving his arms. At 3.40 the life-boat Edian Courtauld left her moor- BOAT FOUND WITH HELP OF ings one hour after high water in a light AIRCRAFT westerly wind and a slight sea. She Portrush, Co. Antrim. At 10.10 on found the motor fishing vessel Alpha of the night of the 25th of May, 1960, the Harwich with the owner and one other coastguard informed the honorary man aboard. The vessel had run out secretary that a small boat fitted with of fuel, and the life-boat took her in an outboard motor, which had left tow to Harwich, returning to her moor- Portrush for Portstewart, was overdue. ings at 6.53. The owner sent a letter of At 10.50 the life-boat Lady Scott (Civil appreciation. Rewards to the crew, Service No. 4) was launched with the £11 4s. ; rewards to the helpers on Irish district inspector on board two shore, £4 19s. hours after low water in a gentle south- westerly breeze and a moderate sea. MOTOR VESSEL AGROUND ON After the life-boat had searched all SANDS night a Hastings aircraft found the small Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, boat eleven miles off Portrush with her Norfolk. At 5.22 on the morning of engine broken down. The aircraft the 28th of May, 1960, the coastguard indicated the boat's position by a smoke told the honorary secretary that a small flare, and the life-boat found the boat, vessel was aground on the eastern side which had a crew of three. She took of the Middle Scroby sands. At her in tow to Portrush, arriving at six o'clock the life-boat Louise Stephens eleven o'clock. Rewards to the crew, was launched at low water in a fresh £20 13s. ; rewards to the helpers on north-westerly wind and a smooth sea. shore, £1 16s. The coxswain found the motor vessel Authenticity of London with a crew of FISHING VESSEL ESCORTED INTO ten, and stood by her until she refloated HARBOUR on the flood tide. The life-boat then Blyth, Northumberland. At 9.40 on returned to her station, arriving at the evening of the 26th of May, 1960, 8.30. Rewards to the crew, £11 4s. ; the coastguard informed the honorary rewards to the helpers on shore, £3. secretary that a resident of Seaton Sluice had seen a red flare two miles east BOY'S BODY FOUND AFTER FALL of Collywell Bay. Further enquiries FROM CLIFF were made, after which the life-boat Tenby, Pembrokeshire. At noon on Winston Churchill (Civil Service No. 8) the 28th of May, 1960, the coastguard was launched at 10.30 two and a half informed the honorary secretary that a hours after low water. There was a ten-year-old boy had fallen from the light south-south-easterly wind and a top of a cliff a hundred and eighty feet smooth sea. The life-boat found the high into the sea half a mile north- motor fishing vessel Good Fellowship, west of Stackpole Head. Four minutes which had engine trouble. The vessel later the life-boat Henry Comber Brown had a crew of four. The life-boat was launched in a light north-easterly escorted her into Blyth harbour and wind and a calm sea. The tide was reached her station at 11.20. Rewards half ebb. The life-boat carried out a to the crew, £7 ; rewards to the helpers search in which a helicopter and a on shore, £2 8s. Royal Air Force air-sea rescue launch StPIEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 511 also took part, but the boy's body was Redcar, Yorkshire.—May 17th.—Re- not found, and the life-boat returned to wards, £17 10s. her station at five o'clock. The next Ramsgate, Kent.—May 20th.—Re- morning at 10.10 the life-boat was wards, £6 6s. launched again, this time with a diver Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—May 21st.— aboard. The boy's body was recovered £20 6s. and was landed at Tenby at 11.45. Holyhead, Anglesey.—May 21st.— Rewards to the crew : first service, Rewards, £8 12s. £11 4s. ; second service, £9 16s. Hartlepool, Co. Durham.—May 21st. Rewards to the helpers on shore : first —Rewards, £10 4s. service, £4 4s. ; second service, £4 lls. Seaham, Co. Durham.—May 21st.— Rewards, £7 16s. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—May 22nd. The following life-boats went out on •—Rewards, £7. service, but could find no ships in St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—May 27th. distress, were not needed, or could do nothing :— —Rewards, £10 15s. Hastings, Sussex.—May 27th.—Re- Beaumaris. Anglesey.—May 2nd.—• wards, £31 4s. Rewards, £15 13s. Fowey, Cornwall.—May 27th.—Re- Barrow, Lancashire.—May 3rd.— wards, £7. Rewards, £7 9s. Angle, Pembrokeshire.—May 28th.— Hastings, Sussex.—May 3rd.—Re- Rewards, £12 6s. wards, £32 14s. Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—May 28th.— Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—May 3rd. Rewards, £14 7s. Rewards, £7. Fowey, Cornwall.—May 28th.—Re- Torbay, Devon.—May 4th.—Re- wards, £7. wards, £5 6s. Swanage, Dorset.—May 30th.—-Re- Exmouth, Devon.—May 7th.—Re- wards, £10. wards, £7 16s. Weymouth, Dorset.—May 7th.—Re- wards, £12 12s. JUNE Poole, Dorset.—May 8th.—Rewards, £14 8s. DURING June life-boats were launched Amble, Northumberland.—May 8th. on service 98 times and rescued 53 —Rewards, £7. lives. Margate, Kent.—May llth.—Re- wards, £11 4s. STEWARDESS TAKEN OFF RUSSIAN Holy Island, Northumberland.—May TRAWLER 12th.—Rewards £14 8s. Stornoway, Hebrides. At 7.40 on St. David's, Pembrokeshire.—May the evening of the 1st of June, 1960, the 14th.—Rewards, 12 16s. coastguard informed the honorary Aberdeen.—May 14th.—Rewards, £7 secretary that a Russian trawler was 12s. due to arrive off Stornoway about Aberdeen (Torry L.S.A.).—May 14th. one o'clock in the morning with a sick —Rewards, £13 10s. woman on board who needed hospital Newhaven, Sussex.—May 14th.—Re- treatment. The coastguard asked if wards, £13 18s. the life-boat could meet the vessel and Cromer, Norfolk.—May 14th.—Re- take the patient off. The life-boat wards, £17 16s. J.J.K.S.W., on temporary duty at the New Brighton, Cheshire.—May 15th. station, slipped her moorings at 1.40. —Rewards, £9 18s. It was high water, and there was a Dungeness, Kent.—May 16th.—Re- light south-south-easterly wind and a wards, £23 8s. choppy sea. By two o'clock visibility Torbay, Devon.—May 16th.—Re- had become very poor because of fog, wards, £7 8s. and as the trawler had not arrived the Teesmouth, Yorkshire.—May 17th.— life-boat returned to her moorings. She Rewards, £16 12s. put out again at 4.37 after a message 512 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER. 1960 had been received stating that the of the Longsand about eleven miles trawler Koltsov would be off Stornoway from Walton. At 7.30 the life-boat at five o'clock. The life-boat met the Edian Courtauld put out, two hours trawler three miles off Stornoway light- after high water, in light airs and a house and took the patient, who was a smooth sea. She reached the Arasjo at stewardess suffering from appendicitis, 9.55, and the coxswain was transferred ashore, arriving at 7.30. The Russian to her in the ship's launch to discuss the doctor and the trawler's mate, who had situation with the master. At the accompanied the woman to hospital at master's request the life-boat stood by Stornoway, were returned to their vessel through the morning and the afternoon, by the life-boat during the afternoon. and at 4.45 the Arasjo refloated under Rewards to the crew, £9 Is. her own power. The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 6.40. Rewards to the crew, £24 ; Rewards BADLY INJURED MAN TAKEN to the helpers on shore, £6 12s. OFF SUBMARINE St. Mary's, Stilly Islands. At 6.50 on the morning of the 2nd of June, 1960, LINE FIRED TO BOYS ON CLIFF the honorary secretary was informed by Swanage, Dorset. At 4.58 on the the honorary medical adviser of a afternoon of the 4th of June, i960, the message from the commanding officer coastguard informed the honorary of H.M. submarine Trump that the secretary of a report that a boy was submarine was entering St. Mary's stranded on the cliffs at the north end Roads with a badly injured man on of Ballard Down near Old Harry board who needed immediate surgical Rocks. Police and coastguardsmen treatment. The doctor had been asked had already gone to look for him and if he could come and superintend the had asked for the help of the life-boat. removal of the injured man to hospital. At 5.17 the life-boat R.L.P. was The honorary secretary decided that the launched. She took a dinghy in tow. life-boat should be launched, and at It was two hours before high water, and 7.15 the life-boat John R. Webb, on the weather was fine with a calm sea. temporary duty at the station, put out On reaching the position the coxswain with two doctors on board to meet the saw the youth some forty feet up a submarine. The tide was nearly half rocky islet, and it was apparent that flood, and there was a light easterly the police and coastguard would not be wind and a calm sea. The two doctors able to reach him. The coxswain boarded the submarine, which entered decided to send a party of four ashore harbour and anchored. The injured in the dinghy with the second cox- man was transferred to the life-boat swain in charge. After two unsuccess- and landed. He was then taken to ful attempts a line was fired by the hospital. The officer commanding, who second coxswain over the top of the had accompanied the injured man, was rock and made fast. The boy was able returned to his submarine in the life- to climb down the line to the beach. He boat, which finally reached her station had a companion with him, and the two at ten o'clock. Rewards to the crew, boys, who had been looking for gulls' £8 8s. ; rewards to the helpers on eggs, were ferried out to the life-boat shore, £2 8s. in the dinghy. The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 7.30. Rewards to the crew. £7 4s. ; LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY NORWEGIAN rewards to the helpers on shore. £3 6s. VESSEL Walton and Frinton, Essex. At 6.58 on the morning of the 2nd of June, SPEEDBOAT TOWED IN AFTER 1960, the coastguard passed on to the j ENGINE BREAKDOWN honorary secretary a message from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. At 9.20 the Norwegian vessel Arasjo, of Oslo, on the evening of the 4th of June, 1960, that she was aground on the outer side the coastguard informed the honorary SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 513 secretary that the police at Lymington CABIN CRUISER TOWED TO had reported a small boat in distress off HARBOUR the West Lepe buoy. At 9.35 the Broughty Ferry, Angus. At 12.14 life-boat S.G.E. put out, two hours early on the morning of the 6th of after high water, in a light easterly June, 1960, the coastguard informed the breeze and a smooth sea. She found a honorary secretary that a cabin cruiser speedboat with two people on board. was making distress signals in the River The boat's engine had broken down Tay, two miles west of the railway and the life-boat took her in tow to bridge. At 12.38 the life-boat City of Yarmouth, arriving at 10.40. The Bradford II was launched at high water owner of the speedboat made a gift to in a light east-north-easterly wind and the Institution's funds. Rewards to a calm sea. She found the cabin the crew, £8. cruiser Margaret anchored, with five men and a small boy on board. The cabin cruiser's engine had broken down, LIFE-BOAT AND HELICOPTER SEARCH and the life-boat took her in tow to FOR ROWING BOAT Dundee harbour, reaching her station Weymouth, Dorset. At 9.55 on the at 3.6. Rewards to the crew, £8 14s. ; evening of the 4th of June, 1960, the rewards to the helpers on shore, coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a hired rowing boat with £4 5s. three men on board had not returned to Weymouth pier. The honorary secretary YACHT'S CREW OF FOUR RESCUED decided not to launch the life-boat until Walmer, Kent. At 2.38 on the daylight to allow further enquiries to be morning of the 7th of June, 1960, the made. At 4.35 in the morning the coastguard informed the honorary life-boat Frank Splller Locke put out secretary that the South Goodwin one hour after low water, in a light north- lightvessel had reported a flashing easterly wind and a calm sea. She carried light three miles east-north-east of her out a search over a wide area in which a position. At 2.55 the life-boat Charles helicopter co-operated and eventually Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was found the missing boat ashore at launched at low water in a gentle Bincleaves. There was no sign of the south-westerly wind and a moderate three men and the boat was brought sea. She found the yacht Eider Duck- back to Weymouth, the life-boat reach- ling two miles east of the lightvessel ing her station at 7.50. No lives are with her mast and sail blown overboard reported to have been lost. Rewards and her engine broken down. She had to the crew, £9 16s. ; reward to the a crew of four. The life-boat towed helper on shore, 16s. the yacht to Dover harbour, reaching her station at 7.5. Property salvage case. ESCORT FOR FIVE BOATS TO ESTUARY Lytham-St. Anne's, Lancashire. On ESCORT FOR BOAT ROWED BY the afternoon of the 5th of June, 1960, TWO BOYS the weather deteriorated rapidly. There Youghal, Co. Cork. At 11.20 on the were thundery showers and the south- morning of the 7th of June, 1960, the westerly wind increased suddenly from coxswain informed the honorary secre- force 4 to force 8. A number of small tary that a small rowing boat with, two craft were afloat near Salters Bank, boys on board was in a dangerous four and a half miles west of Lytham, position outside the harbour. The and the life-boat Sarah Townsend honorary secretary and coxswain went Porritt put out at 4.50, two and a half to the lighthouse, where the boat was hours after low water. She escorted seen well to leeward off Blackball Head five boats to the Ribble estuary and making little or no progress in a fresh reached her station at six o'clock. west-south-westerly breeze and a Rewards to the crew, £6 ; rewards to choppy sea. At 11.40 the life-boat the helpers on shore, £1 16s. Herbert John was launched one hour 514 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 after low water. By the time she 1960, the coastguard asked the cox- reached the rowing boat the wind had swain for the help of the life-boat to decreased and the two boys were making take off a member of the crew of the headway, helped by a flood tide. Al- Royal Sovereign lightvessel, who was though almost exhausted they would seriously ill. At 1.17 the life-boat not accept help, and the life-boat Beryl Tollemache was launched in a escorted them to safety, reaching her south-south-westerly gale and a rough station at 12.10. Rewards to the crew, sea. The tide was half ebb. The sick £6 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, man was transferred to the life-boat and £4 2s. landed at 3.23 at Eastbourne, where he was taken to hospital by ambulance. Rewards to the crew, £7 4s. ; rewards TOW FOR YACHT IN GALE to the helpers on shore, £13 8s. Falmouth, Cornwall. At 3.10 on the morning of the 8th of June, 1960, the dock police informed the honorary MAN OVERBOARD IN SERVICE TO secretary that two officers had seen red GERMAN TRAWLER flares being fired in Falmouth harbour. Longhope, Orkneys. At 2.46 on the At 3.45 the life-boat Crawford and morning of the 9th of June, 1960, the Constance Conybeare put out at high coastguard told the honorary secretary water in a southerly gale and a rough that a lightkeeper at Dunnet Head had sea. She found the yacht Otter of seen a red flare in the direction of the Helford with a crew of three. The Island of Swona. At 3.10 the life-boat yacht's engines had broken down, and Thomas McCunn was launched one the life-boat took her in tow, reaching hour before low water in a light variable her station at 5.3. Rewards to the breeze and a smooth sea. She found crew, £7. the German trawler Adolph Hennecke of Rostock ashore between two ledges TOW FOR YACHT AGROUND IN of rock near Bow Skerry on the western NEAR GALE side of Swona. The life-boat stood by, Swanage, Dorset. At 11.15 on the and as the tide made, the stern of the morning of the 8th of June, 1960, the trawler swung on to a rocky ledge. coastguard informed the honorary The coxswain then offered to put out a secretary that a yacht was being heavily kedge anchor, but the trawler's skipper pounded by a rough sea while at anchor did not agree. He asked the cox- off Hardfast Point. Because of the swain to pull the stern of the vessel state of the weather the honorary round into deep water. This was done, secretary decided that the life-boat and the life-boat held her there until R.L.P. should be launched. She put 6.45, when the trawler floated off. The out at noon, two hours after high water, trawler then came full astern, causing a in a stormy south-westerly wind of near rope, which had earlier been rigged gale force. She found the yacht Peri- from amidships on the port side of the winkle, a converted ship's boat, with trawler to the forward bollard of the two men on board, anchored in a life-boat, to sweep across the life-boat's dangerous position on the Milkmaid deck. It threw a member of the life- shoal. After weighing the yacht's boat's crew overboard and also caused anchor the life-boat towed her to a safe minor damage to the boat. The man anchorage in Studland Bay and reached was quickly recovered, and the trawler her station at 1.30. Rewards to the was taken in tow to Longhope pier, crew, £7 ; rewards to the helpers on arriving at 9.15. Property salvage case. shore, £2 12s. TOW FOR DINGHY IN ROUGH SICK MEMBER OF LIGHTVESSEL'S WEATHER CREW TAKEN OFF Tenby, Pembrokeshire. At 1.55 on Eastbourne, Sussex. At one o'clock the afternoon of the 9th of June, 1960, on the afternoon of the 8th of June, the coastguard informed the honorary SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 515 secretary that a small boat was in the coxswain that the fishing coble difficulties in Saundersfoot Bay. At Marjory Joan of Sunderland was over- 2.1 the life-boat Henry Comber Brown due. At 7.10 the life-boat George was launched at low water in a moderate Elmy was launched, an hour and a half westerly wind and a rough sea. She after high water, in a fresh-north- found the dinghy Dainty with her out- westerly wind and a rough sea. She board motor broken down two miles found the coble four and a half miles east of Saundersfoot. The life-boat south-east of Seaham with her engine took the dinghy in tow and landed her broken down. The coble, which had a two occupants. She reached her station crew of five, was taken in tow to at four o'clock. Rewards to the crew, Seaham, arriving at nine o'clock. £7 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, Rewards to the crew, £6 ; rewards to £3 15s. the helpers on shore, £1 16s.

TOW FOR CATAMARAN IN ROUGH SEA YACHT'S CREW OF THREE Troon, Ayrshire. At 2.50 on the RESCUED afternoon of the 9th of June, 1960, the Selsey, Sussex. At 8.49 on the even- coastguard informed the honorary ing of the llth of June, 1960, the coast- secretary that a small boat was in guard informed the honorary secretary difficulties three miles south-east of that a yacht was in distress one mile Brodick pier. The life-boat James and south-by-west of Selsey Bill. At 8.57 Barbara Aitken put out at 3.12, two the life-boat Canadian Pacific was hours after high water, in a moderate launched, two hours after high water, north-westerly wind and a rough sea. in a moderate to strong westerly breeze She found a catamaran, which had a and a rough sea. The life-boat found crew of two, a quarter of a mile south the yacht Dawn Wind, of Hamble, in of Holy Isle with a broken mast. She broken water. "She had lost her rudder towed her to Whiting Bay and reached and also had engine trouble. The her station at 7.40. Rewards to the life-boat took the yacht's crew of three crew, £11 4s. on board, but an attempt to tow the yacht failed, and she was abandoned. The life-boat landed the three sur- DRIFTING FISHING VESSEL TAKEN vivors at Selsey and reached her IN TOW station at 11.35. The Dawn Wind Anstruther, Fifeshire. At seven eventually came ashore at Bognor a o'clock on the evening of the llth of total loss. Rewards to the crew, June, 1960, the coastguard informed the £9 12s. ; rewards to the helpers on honorary secretary that a motor fishing shore, £8 18s. vessel had fired a red flare on a bearing west-by-south of Elie Ness. At 7.10 the life-boat James and Ruby Jackson MAN RESCUED FROM FISHING was launched in a fresh westerly breeze VESSEL AGROUND and a moderate sea. The tide was half Mumbles, Glamorganshire. At 7.15 ebb. The life-boat found the motor on the morning of the 12th of June, fishing vessel 651 drifting, with her 1960, the coastguard told the honorary engine broken down and a crew of three secretary that a small boat was ashore on board. She took her in tow to one mile north of Sker Point. At 7.55 Anstruther, arriving at 8.45. Rewards the life-boat The William Gammon— to the crew, £23 15s. Manchester and District XXX was launched at high water in a south- south-westerly gale and a very rough TOW FOR COBLE WITH ENGINE sea. She found the motor fishing vessel BROKEN DOWN Altmark aground on the foreshore Seaham, Co. Durham. At seven with her deck awash. There were no o'clock on the evening of the llth of signs of life aboard, and for this reason, June, 1960, some local fishermen told and because of the extreme weather 516 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER. 1960 conditions, the coxswain decided not to and drifting. The life-boat took the close the fishing vessel at that stage. coble in tow and reached her station at At ten o'clock the coxswain received a three o'clock. Rewards to the crew, message by radio-telephone informing £8 8s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, him that when the Altmark had left £1 16s. Briton Ferry the owner had had his wife and child on board. By this time mem- bers of the life-saving apparatus team SEVEN TAKEN OFF CONVERTED had reached the Altmark. They boarded SHIP'S BOAT her and rescued her owner, who was in Cullercoats, Northumberland. At fact the only person aboard. The life- 12.16 on the afternoon of the 12th of boat stood by until the rescue had been June, 1960, the coastguard told the completed and then returned to her honorary secretary that a small pleasure station, arriving at 12.30. Rewards fishing boat was drifting one mile east to the crew, £12 16s. ; rewards to the of Cullercoats and making what helpers on shore, £6 8s. appeared to be distress signals. At 12.30 the life-boat Isaac and Mary Bolton was launched at low water in a FIVE RESCUED FROM YACHT IN strong south-south-westerly wind and a GALE choppy sea. She found the converted Hoylake, Cheshire. Between nine ship's boat Emily of South Shields with o'clock and 10.50 on the morning of seven men on board. The boat's the 12th of June, 1960, the coxswain engine had broken down and the men kept the yacht Clyde, which was lying were transferred to the life-boat. The at anchor in the Swash to the north of coxswain put two of his crew aboard Hilbre Island, under observation. Dur- the Emily, and the life-boat then took ing this time the weather became her in tow. Rough water was en- worse, and the sea increased rapidly countered on the return trip, and the with a spring flood tide. It was there- cabin windows of the Emily were stove fore decided to launch the life-boat. in before she reached the River Tyne. At 11.5 the life-boat Oldham /Fput out The seven men were landed at North to the yacht's assistance in a west- Shields landing stage, and the life-boat south-westerly gale and a rough sea. reached her station at 2.35. Rewards to She found the Clytie dragging her the crew, £7 4s. ; rewards to the helpers anchor, and at the third attempt the on shore, £9 14s. coxswain succeeded in bringing the life-boat alongside. The crew of five, who were in a very distressed condition, CABIN CRUISER FOUND AFTER were rescued and landed at Hoylake, SEARCH where they were taken to the sailing Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At eleven club. The life-boat was rehoused at o'clock on the night of the 12th of June» 3.30. Rewards to the crew, £9 12s. ; 1960, the coastguard informed the rewards to the helpers on shore, £8 12s. honorary secretary of a report that the cabin cruiser Dolphin of Southend, on passage to Wallasea Bay was overdue. COBLE ADRIFT TAKEN IN TOW At 11.50 the life-boat Greater London Sunderland, Co. Durham. At 11.52 II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched at on the morning of the 12th of June, low water in a strong south-westerly 1960, the coastguard informed the wind and a moderate sea. After a honorary secretary that the fishing four-hour search she found the Dolphin coble Thankful II had broken down anchored three quarters of a mile west four miles north of Seaham. The of the West Buxey buoy. The cabin life-boat Edward and Isabella Irwin was cruiser's crew of six were seasick and launched at 12.25 at low water in a were waiting until daylight before moderate to strong south-westerly wind continuing up river. The coxswain and a slight sea. She found the coble, put one of his crew aboard, and the which had a crew of two, broken down cabin cruiser followed the life-boat to SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 517 the mouth of the River Roach. The 1960, the coastguard informed the Dolphin then made for Wallasea Bay, honorary secretary that the sand dredger and the life-boat returned to her Ron Woolaway had capsized near station, arriving at 8.15. Rewards Flatholm Island but that her crew of to the crew, £19 17s; rewards to the seven were safely ashore on the island. helpers on shore, £6. A request was made for the life-boat to take dry clothing to the men and return with them to Barry. Enquiries SICK WOMAN TAKEN OFF ISLAND were made at the offices of the British Galway Bay. At 3.30 on the after- Sailors' Society. No clothing was im- noon of the 13th of June, 1960, the local mediately available, but the life-boat medical officer asked the honorary Rachel and Mary Evans put out at secretary if the life-boat would go to 12.20 in foggy weather, when the tide Inishere Island and take a sick woman was half flood. The life-boat picked to Rossaveal on the mainland for up the seven men and landed them at hospital treatment. At four o'clock the Barry at 2.10, where they were provided life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson put with dry clothing, which the British out at low water in a north-westerly Sailors' Society had by then obtained wind and a rough sea. The patient for them. Rewards to the crew, £7 4s. ; was taken on board at Inishere, and rewards to the helpers on shore, £2 2s. the life-boat returned to Kilronan pier, where a local nurse boarded her to look after the woman during the passage to WATERLOGGED BOAT TOWED IN Rossaveal. The life-boat reached the Dun Laoghaire. Co. Dublin. At mainland, where an ambulance was 6.15 on the morning of the 20th of waiting to take the patient to hospital, June, 1960, the keeper of the East Pier and finally reached her station at lighthouse informed the honorary secre- eleven o'clock. Rewards to the crew, tary that a ship's boat was drifting two £12 5s.; reward to the helper on shore, and a half miles north-north-east of 18s. the lighthouse. At 6.40 the life-boat Dunleary II put out in fine weather and DOCTOR TAKEN TO MOTOR VESSEL a flood tide. She found an empty Penlee, Cornwall. At seven o'clock converted ship's boat waterlogged, and on the evening of the 15th of June, 1960, took her in tow. The life-boat reached the honorary secretary was informed her station at 7.40. Rewards to the that a man on board the motor vessel crew, £5; rewards to the helpers on Rowallen Castle, of London, which shore, £14s. was expected to arrive in Mounts Bay at midnight, needed medical attention. At 11.30 the life-boat W. and S. put out SICK BOY TAKEN OFF MOTOR VESSEL with a doctor on board, at high water, Humber, Yorkshire. At 2.50 on the in a fresh south-westerly wind and a afternoon of the 20th of June, 1960, the moderate sea. She met the Rowallen coastguard informed the coxswain Castle four miles south of Penzance superintendent that a boy on board the and put the doctor on board. The motor vessel Gloxinia of North Shields man, who had a swollen left leg, was had suspected appendicitis and needed treated by the doctor and was then medical attention. At 3.15 the life- transferred to the life-boat, which boat City of Bradford HI was launched, landed him at Newlyn at 1.30. The half an hour before high water, in a life-boat reached her moorings at two light east-by-northerly wind and a o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £8 8s. ; slight sea. She met the vessel two miles reward to the helper on shore, 12s. south of Spurn Point, where the boy was transferred to the life-boat. He was landed at Spurn and taken by SEVEN MEN TAKEN OFF ISLAND ambulance to hospital. The life-boat Barry Dock, Glamorganshire. At reached her station at 4.10. Next 11.58 on the night of the 18th of June, morning the shipping agents informed 518 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 the coxswain superintendent that the secretary a report from the Rhyl police boy had had a successful operation that a child was adrift on a rubber raft, and was progressing satisfactorily. They which was floating out to sea off the expressed their thanks for the help Golden Sands holiday camp at Towyn. given. Paid permanent crew. At 6.45 the life-boat Anthony Robert Marshall was launched and made for the position given. She found the SICK CHILD TAKEN TO MAINLAND raft at 7.8 with two children on it. Galway Bay. On the evening of the They were quickly taken on board the 21st of June, 1960, the island medical life-boat, and the coxswain sent a officer asked if the life-boat would take radio-telephone message to the honor- a sick child to Rossaveal on the main- ary secretary asking for a doctor and an land, where an ambulance was waiting ambulance to meet him. The life-boat to drive the child to hospital. As reached her station at 7.50, and the there was no other suitable boat avail- children were treated for exhaustion able, the life-boat Mabel Marion and taken to hospital. Rewards to the Thompson left her moorings at 9.30 crew, £6 ; rewards to the helpers on with the sick child on board. It was shore, £5 9s. low water, the sea was slight with a light easterly wind, and the weather was thundery. The life-boat landed the PATIENT BROUGHT IN FOG TO child at Rossaveal pier and reached her MAINLAND station at 2.30 in the morning. It was Islay, Hebrides. At 8.15 on the later learnt that the child was operated evening of the 24th of June, 1960, the on immediately after she had been local medical officer told the honorary admitted to the hospital. Rewards to secretary that he needed help urgently the crew, £11 4s. ; rewards to the to convey a seriously ill patient to helpers on shore, 16s. hospital on the mainland. Owing to dense fog the air ambulance service was unable to operate from Renfrew airport. TWO BOYS TAKEN FROM CANOE The coxswain of the life-boat immedi- Redcar, Yorkshire. At 10.30 on the ately offered to take the patient to the morning of the 21st of June, 1960, the mainland in spite of the very poor coastguard told the honorary secre- visibility, and at eleven o'clock, one tary that the beach patrol at Saltburn hour after low water, the life-boat had seen two boys leave Salt- Charlotte Elizabeth, on temporary duty burn at 9.30 that morning in a small at the station, left her moorings. The canoe. He had lost sight of them and patient, who had come by ambulance to was concerned for their safety, for he Port Askaig, and the doctor were taken had noticed that they had shipped on board. After landing them both at water when launching. The life-boat Oban the life-boat returned to her City of Leeds was launched at 10.40 station, arriving at four o'clock on and made for the position given. the afternoon of the 25th of June. The boys were found off Skinningrove, Rewards to the crew, £26 15s. ; re- and although they were in no immediate wards to the helpers on shore, £1 8s. danger, they and their canoe were taken on board the life-boat, which reached her station at 12.45. Rewards to the MAN WITH FRACTURED ARM crew, £6 ; rewards to helpers on shore, TAKEN OFF BOAT £6 2s. Barrow, Lancashire. At 3.35 on the afternoon of the 25th of June, 1960, the coastguard told the coxswain that the TWO CHILDREN RESCUED FROM tanker Kellia had reported that there RAFT was a small fishing boat alongside her Rhyl, Flintshire. At 6.37 on the with one man on board who had evening of the 22nd of June, 1960, the broken an arm through catching it in coastguard passed on to the honorary the winch. He was semi-conscious SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 519 and a doctor was urgently needed. At secretary that a man had fallen over five o'clock the life-boat Herbert Leigh the cliff between Manobier camp and was launched with the honorary medical Lydstep and that the police had asked adviser on board in a moderate north- for the help of the life-boat. The life- westerly wind and a moderate sea. boat Henry Comber Brown was launched The tide was half ebb. She reached the at 12.28. The sea was calm with a light fishing boat at 4.45, when it was dis- northerly breeze, and it was one hour covered that the man had fractured his before low water. On reaching the right arm and had lost a lot of blood. scene of the accident the coxswain He was treated by the doctor and decided to send some of the crew transferred to the life-boat, which ashore in a small boat to rescue the reached Roa Island, with the fishing injured man while the life-boat stood boat in tow, at 6.15. The injured man off. The injured man together with a was taken to an ambulance, which was nurse and a man who had climbed down waiting, and the life-boat returned to to the beach to tend the injured man her station at 7.45. The fishing boat were brought to the life-boat, which was handed over to a friend of the landed them at Lydstep. There the owner. Rewards to the crew, £8 8s. ; injured man, who was a gunner from rewards to the helpers on shore, £2 11s. the anti-aircraft artillery school at Manobier, was put into a waiting ambulance. The life-boat reached her BOAT ABANDONED AFTER FUEL station at two o'clock. Rewards to the RUNS OUT crew, £9 ; rewards to the helpers on Sunderland, Co. Durham. At 5.15 shore, £7 10s. on the afternoon of the 25th of June, 1960, when the life-boat crew were in the boathouse after an exercise, the TOW FOR WHALER WITH SEA coxswain received a report from the CADETS ABOARD owner of the fishing boat Linda that Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, he had lent the boat to two men for Norfolk. At 2.39 on the afternoon of fishing, who were now overdue. He the 26th of June, 1960, the coastguard was concerned, as there was thick fog informed the honorary secretary that a and the boat did not have a compass. whaler with a crew of six sea cadets The honorary secretary decided the was being carried by the ebb tide on to life-boat should carry out a search, and a lee shore off Gorton. The life-boat at 5.25 the life-boat Edward and Isabella Louise Stephens was launched at 3.5, Irwin was launched at high water in a two hours before low water. There gentle north-north-easterly wind. After was a strong north-easterly breeze and searching for some time the life-boat a moderate sea. The life-boat came up found the fishing boat on the beach with the whaler and escorted her into about five miles south of Sunderland. Lowestoft harbour. There the cadets The men who had taken her out could were taken on board the life-boat, not be traced, and it was later learned which towed the whaler back to Yar- that after they had used all the petrol mouth and reached her station at 5.11. they had beached the boat and returned Rewards to the crew, £12 ; rewards to to Sunderland overland. The life-boat the helpers on shore, £3. towed the fishing boat back to Sunder- land and returned to her station at 7.45. Rewards to the crew, £8 8s. ; LIFE-BOAT BROUGHT ALONGSIDE rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 16s. YACHT WITH DIFFICULTY Sheringham, Norfolk. At four o'clock on the afternoon of the 26th of June, GUNNER PICKED UP AFTER 1960, the coastguard informed the FALL FROM CLIFF coxswain that a yacht heading for Tenby, Pembrokeshire. At 12.23 on Sheringham appeared to be in distress the afternoon of the 26th of June, 1960, in weather which was rapidly deteriorat- the coastguard informed the honorary ing. There was a north-north-easterly 520 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 wind of near gale force and a rough sea Weymouth, Dorset.—June 5th.—Re- with poor visibility. The tide was half wards, £10 8s. ebb. The life-boat Foresters Cen- Peel, Isle of Man.—June 5th.—Re- tenarv was launched at 4.20. She wards. £38 17s. reached the yacht Sulaire, which was Blackpool, Lancashire.—June 5th.— rolling heavily, at 5.59. The cox- Rewards, £12 14s. swain succeeded in bringing the life- boat alongside the yacht, and three of Port St. Mary, Isle of Man.—June the yacht's crew of four were taken 5th.—Rewards, £23 17s. aboard. The fourth member of the Skegness, Lincolnshire.—June 5th.— crew remained aboard the yacht and Rewards, £13 19s. was able to steer her into Wells, Cromer No. 1, Norfolk.—June 5th.— escorted by the life-boat. The life- Rewards, £15 12s. boat reached her station at 11.15. Cullercoats, Northumberland.—June The man who had stayed aboard the 5th.—Rewards, £13 16s. yacht afterwards described the seas as Weymouth, Dorset.—June 6th.—Re- being " like embankments". Re- wards. £7. wards to the crew, £18 ; rewards to the helpers on shore. £20 2s. Poole, Dorset. — June 7th. — Re- wards.—£9 12s. Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—June 7th. COMBINED SEARCH FOR AIRCRAFT —Rewards, £9. IN SEA Caister, Norfolk.—June 7th.—Re- Donaghadee, Co. Down. At 12.25 wards, £14 5s. on the afternoon of the 29th of June, Girvan, Ayrshire.—June 7th.—Re- 1960, the coastguard informed the wards, £7. honorary secretary that an aircraft Wicklow, Co. Wicklow.—June 7th.— had crashed into the sea near North Rewards, £12 3s. Briggs buoy. The life-boat Sarah Ward and William David Crossweller, on Buckie, Banffshire.—June 8th.—Re- temporary duty at the station, was wards, £7 12s. launched at 12.35 in a flood tide. Caister, Norfolk.—June 8th.—Re- There were light northerly airs and a wards, £15 14s. choppy sea. The life-boat carried out Broughty Ferry, Angus.—June 8th.— an extensive search, in company with Rewards, £20 10s. other vessels, and some wreckage was Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—June 11th. recovered, but there was no sign of life. —Rewards, £9. The life-boat arrived back at her station Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—June at 8.20. Rewards to the crew, £16 7s. ; llth.—Rewards, £9 5s. rewards to the helpers on shore, 19s. Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—June 12th.—Rewards, £17 7s. The following life-boats went out on Sunderland, Co. Durham.—June 12th. service, but could find no ships in —Rewards, £10 4s. distress, were not needed, or could do New Brighton, Cheshire.—June 12th. nothing : —Rewards, £7 4s. Caister, Norfolk.—June 3rd.—Re- New Brighton, Cheshire.—June 12th. wards, £14. —Rewards, £7 6s. Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.—J une Skegness, Lincolnshire.—June 12th.— 3rd.—Rewards, £13 6s. Rewards, £20 16s. Hastings, Sussex.—June 5th.—Re- Donaghadee, Co. Down.—June 12th. wards, £37 10s. —Rewards, £7 13s. Swanage, Dorset.—June 5th.—Re- Walton and Frinton, Essex.—June wards, £8 8s. 12th.—Rewards, £14 10s. Barmouth, Merionethshire.—June 5th. Dover, Kent.—June 12th.—Rewards, —Rewards, £17 9s. £7 5s. SEPTEMBER, 1960] THE LIFE-BOAT 521 Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Walton and Frinton, Essex.—June Norfolk.—June 13th.—Rewards, £8 8s. 26th.—Rewards, £12 17s. Troon, Ayrshire.—June 13th.—Re- Hoylake, Cheshire.—June 26th.—Re- wards, £8 8s. wards, £15 18s. Donaghadee. Co. Down.—June 14th. Tenby, Pembrokeshire—June 27th. —Rewards, £7 13s. Rewards, £16 15s. Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—June St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—June 27th. 14th.—Rewards, £8 8s. —Rewards, £10 11s. Margate, Kent.—June 14th.—Re- Salcombe, Devon.—June 27th.—Re- wards, £11 4s. wards, £11. Troon, Ayrshire.—June 15th.—Re- Longhope, Orkney Islands — June wards, £18 12s. 28th.—Rewards, £10 12s. Selsey, Sussex. — June 15th. — Re- Donaghadee, Co. Down.—June 29th. wards, —Rewards, £16 16s. Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.—June 16th.—Rewards, £9 14s. Girvan, Ayrshire.—June 17th.—Re- The following account of a service wards, £7 17s. carried out by the Longhope, Orkneys, life-boat on the 26th of March, 1960, Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—June 18th. was received too late for inclusion in —Rewards, £17 3s. the June 1960 number of the Life-boat : Hartlepool, Co. Durham.—June 19th. —Rewards, £8 16s. At 5.5 in the afternoon, the coast- Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire.— guard informed the honorary secretary June 21st.—Rewards, £16. that the trawler Little Ouse had engine Hartlepool, Co. Durham.—June 21st. trouble three miles south-west of the —Rewards, £8 16s. Old Man of Hoy. At 5.25 the life-boat Thomas McCunn was launched two Rhyl, Flintshire.—June 22nd.—Re- hours after low water in a light easterly wards, £13 Is. breeze and a calm sea. When she Amble, Northumberland.—June 24th. reached the trawler she found the engine —Rewards, £7. had been repaired. The trawler was Salcombe, Devon.—June 25th.—Re- able to proceed at eight knots and was wards, £9 4s. escorted by the life-boat until she was clear of Torness. The life-boat then Lowestoft, Suffolk.—June 26th.—Re- returned to her station, arriving at wards, £9 4s. 7.45. Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ; Hastings, Sussex.—June 26th.—Re- rewards to the helpers on shore, wards, £33 4s. £3 14s.

James Bower Awards COXSWAIN Richard Evans of Moelfre, have received gifts from the James Mr. Kenneth Derham of Christchurch, Michael Bower Endowment Fund es- Hampshire, Coxswain Daniel Kirk- tablished by the Peninsular and Oriental patrick of Longhope, Motor Mechanic Steam Navigation Company. Awards Evan Owens of Moelfre, Coxswain from this fund are made to those who Harry Thomas of Torbay and Cox- receive either the gold or silver medal swain Albert Watson of Cromarty ! of the Institution for gallantry. 522 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1960 Opening of New Boathouse THE new life-boat house at Lytham-St. tional fishermen's and life-boat crews' Anne's was opened by the Mayor of service, which was held in St. John's Lytham-St. Anne's, Councillor N. S. Church, Lytham, and conducted by Utley, on Sunday, the 26th of June, the Rev. A. R. Allen, Vicar of St. 1960. The ceremony followed the tradi- John's.

Obituary JAMES BRYCE ALLAN Purposes Committees of the Institution. Mr. Allan was a son of the founder of Mr. James Bryce Allan, who had the Allan Line and at one time a been a member of the Committee of director of J. & P. Coats Ltd. He was Management since 1930, died on a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron the 12th of May, 1960. He had and lived in Perthshire, and later at served on the Construction and General Saltash in Cornwall.

Notice

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

secretary of the local branch or guild, or to Lieut.-Colonel Charles Earle,

D.S.O., O.B.E., the 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 should be

addressed to the Secretary.

The next number of THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in DECEMBER, 1960.