WATCHMEN TAKEN OFF SHIPS WHEN HARBOUR IS FROZEN Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 9.50 on the morning of the 21st January, 1963, the honorary secretary received a telephone call from the agent of a number of shipping companies, several of whose vessels were laid up off West Mersea, asking for the help of the life-boat to take out provisions. The watchmen on board the vessels had been due for relief the day before, but the agent's motor launch was frozen up in West Mersea, and it was feared that the watchmen's provisions might be running short. As Brightlingsea harbour was frozen and there was no other boat available, it was arranged for the lifeboat Sir Godfrey Baring to launch at 3.10 with provisions and two men on board who knew the vessels' positions.

The life-boat put out in an east-northeasterly wind of near gale force and a rough sea. It was one hour after low water and the weather was extremely cold. The life-boat provisioned three vessels and landed twenty-one men and a woman from twenty-one vessels.

Because of the severe weather conditions she then made for Brightlingsea, which she reached at 11.10, and she returned to her station the next morning..