At 6.4 p.m. on 29th April, 1964, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a small boat was drifting out to sea with two boys on board. There was a gentle westerly breeze with a slight sea.

The life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring launched at 6.15 on an ebbing tide and soon reached the small boat. The boys were rescued and the boat towed back to Clacton, where the young survivors were met by a waiting ambulance. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 7 p.m..