AUXILIARY KETCH TOWED TO HARBOUR Walton and Frinton, Essex. At 10.20 on the evening of the 27th May, 1963, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the master of the Galloper lightvessel had reported that a large auxiliary ketch named Vandro was secured astern of the lightvessel with a man and a woman on board, and that the woman was in a state of collapse.

The life-boat Elizabeth Elson, on temporary duty at the station, put out at 10.45 in a fresh north-north-easterly wind and a rough sea. It was one hour after low water. The life-boat reached the lightvessel at 2.45 on the morning of the 28th May and found that the Vandro's engine had broken down. She took her in tow, and the owner and his wife were joined by the bowman and a member of the crew. The woman's condition was such that she could not be moved, and she remained in the cabin of the ketch all the time the Vandro was in tow to Harwich harbour, which was reached at 10.30. Arrangements had been made for a doctor and an ambulance to be waiting at Harwich, and after the doctor had examined the woman it was decided to leave her aboard the ketch. The life-boat then took the ketch to a safe mooring near Shotley pier. The life-boat crew had some breakfast ashore, and then the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 1.30. The owner of the Vandro made a gift to the life-boat crew..