LAUNCH TO LIGHTVESSEL FOR SICK MAN Eastbourne, Sussex. At 11.15 on the morning of the 1st March, 1962, the coastguard informed the honorary treasurer that a member of the crew of the Royal Sovereign lightvessel was sick and needed hospital treatment.

The Trinity House tender was not available and because of the low water it was not possible to launch the life-boat Beryl Tollemache until 1.23.

There was a light north-north-easterly breeze and a moderate sea. The lifeboat, with a doctor on board, reached the lightvessel at 2.26, and the sick man was taken on board. He was landed at Eastbourne at 3.35 and taken to hospital by police car..