Torbay, South Devon.—At 6.15 on the evening of the 8th of September, 1956, a message was received from the Berry Head coastguard that a yacht had just entered Dartmouth and had reported that a motor boat had broken down with engine trouble east of the Mew- stone Rock at the entrance to the River Dart. At 6.30 the life-boat George Shee put out in a heavy swell.

There was a fresh east-south-easterly breeze, and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat found the fishing boat Valerian, with a crew of two, drifting towards Bedlap Cove. With great difficulty because of the rocky nature of the cove a tow rope was put aboard the fishing boat, and the life-boat towed her to Brixham, arriving at nine o'clock. The crew of the fishing boat made a gift to the crew of the life-boat.—Rewards to the crew, £8 8s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s.