PADSTOW has the distinction of having carried out two services last year in which such skill and gallantry were shown in circumstances of great danger that the Institution has awarded its Bronze Medal in each case.

The first service was on llth February, when the Arab rescued the crew of eighteen of the Norwegian steamer Taormina.

Coxswain Baker being awarded the Bronze Medal. A full account of this service appeared in The Lifeboat for last May. The second service was on 27th November, when the Life-boat Tug Helen Peele rescued the crew of the motor fishing boat Our Girlie, of Port Isaac.

At 4.30 in the morning as a gale was blowing from the west-north-west, with a very heavy sea, the Honorary Secretary at Padstow made inquiries about the fishing boats, and found that one boat, Our Girlie, with five men on board, was at sea. The Coastguard could give no news of her, so the Steam Tug Helen Peele was immediately sent out. With the help of her searchlight she found Our Girlie anchored close to the shore near Port Quin, and in great danger, for if her anchor gave, the heavy seas would fling her at once on the rocks. The master of the Tug ordered the oil tap to be turned on, and this smoothed the seas considerably.

He then stood boldly in to within 200 yards of the rocks, in only two or three fathoms of water, anchored, and manoeuvred the tug with such skill that he got her safely alongside the fishing-boat, so that her crew were able to climb on board the Tug. In the darkness and shallow water, and with the heavy sea running, it was an operation of great difficulty and danger. Had the Tug touched the rocks, it would have been fatal. The rescue was completed only just in time.

Immediately afterwards the cable of the fishing-boat parted, she was carried on to the rocks, and became a complete wreck.

The Institution awarded its Bronze Medal to Mr. J. Atkinson, the Master of the Tug, its Thanks inscribed on Vellum to each member of the Crew, and its Thanks and an inscribed Barometer to Captain E. P. Hutchings, the Honorary Secretary.