HUSBAND SURVIVED At 8.45 a.m. on 19th May, 1964, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a cabin cruiser anchored half a mile offshore, two miles north of Ardrossan, had run out of fuel and appeared to have lost a rudder. No other boat was available so at 9.45 the life- boat James and Barbara Aiiken proceeded in a light southwesterly breeze and a choppy sea. It was three hours after high water. The lifeboat found the cabin cruiser Beaver. On board were a man and the body of his wife.

She had died after being overcome by exhaust fumes whilst crossing the Firth of Clyde from Arran to Troon. The man attributed his survival to the fact that the petrol supply had run out while he was unconscious. The life-boat towed the Beaver to Ardrossan where the police met the man and the woman's body was landed. The life-boat returned to her station at 3 p.m..