FOUND EMPTY CANOE At 2.4 a.m. on 2oth November, 1964, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a i y-year-old boy was missing in the Firth of Forth, and that he was last seen in his canoe the previous morning.

The police searched both sides of the Firth without success. As the weather appeared to be deteriorating the life-boat Margaret was launched at 3.34 so that she could be in the search area by dawn.

There was a fresh north-easterly breeze and a moderate sea, and the visibility was poor. The Northern Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Pitrevie were asked to send a helicopter at first light. The lifeboat reached the Forth Bridge at 7 a.m and, with the helicopter, searched the area. At 8.20 the helicopter sighted a canoe and the life-boat went to investigate.

The canoe was identified but there was no sign of life. The search continued and at 10.52 the district officer, coastguard, suggested it should be called off. The life-boat returned to her station at 3 p.m..