On the morning of the 15th of April, 1954, the Whitby No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepzvorth rescued four men from the local fishing-boat Foxglove. One of the four had been swept overboard by a heavy sea, and to rescue the others the coxswain had to take the life-boat through a gap in the rocks in a rough sea, with a gale blowing from the north-north-west.

Coxswain Eric Taylor was awarded the bronze medal and Motor Mechanic William Dryden the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum. For a full account of this service see page 723..