LAUNCHES AND LIVES SAVED BY LIFE-BOATS AND IRBs 1st March to 31st May: Launches 359, lives saved 156 MARCH SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT Walton and Frinton, Essex - At 11.8 a.m. on 4th March, 1966, a message was received that the tanker Blandford had a sick man on board and that the services of a doctor were urgently required. After contacting a doctor the life-boat Edian Courtauld left her station at noon to rendezvous between the Sunk lightvessel and the N.E. Gunfleet buoy. There was a light north westerly breeze and a slight sea. The tide was ebbing. The doctor was put aboard the tanker, and a helicopter arrived to assist if necessary. The doctor decided that the sick man's condition was such that he should be taken ashore by the life-boat. The man was landed safely and transferred to an ambulance which conveyed him to hospital. The life-boat returned to her station at 2.55 p.m.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk - At 4.22 p.m. on igth March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the tug Placard of London, anchored four miles off Yarmouth, required help. At 4.40 the life-boat Louise Stephens was launched in a gentle breeze from the north east and a slight sea. It was three hours after low water. While the life-boat was on her way a helicopter winched a man down to the casualty and he was informed that the services of a tug were required. When the life-boat reached the Placard the coxswain informed her master that the tug was in a bad position and offered to take her in tow until the tug arrived. His offer was accepted and four of the life-boat crew went aboard the casualty to help. The Placard was taken in tow and handed over at 7.30 to the tug Hector Read. The life-boat stood by and at eight o'clock was asked by the master of the Hector Read to assist with the towage.

The life-boat reached her station at 10.3.

Skegness, Lincolnshire - At 9 a.m. on 23rd March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a badly injured man was aboard the Lynn- Well lightvessel, and as he could not be lifted by helicopter, the services of the life-boat were requested. At 9.30 the lifeboat Charles Fred Grantham was launched in a fresh south westerly breeze and a rough sea. It was one hour after high water. She went to the lightvessel where a helicopter was waiting. An R.A.F.

medical officer was lowered from the helicopter to the life-boat and was then transferred to the lightvessel. At the request of the doctor the life-boat returned to Skegness with himself and the patient on board. She arrived at 12.5 p.m.

and the patient and doctor were transferred to a waiting ambulance. The lifeboat returned to her station at 12.45 P-m- Clacton-on-Sea, Essex- At 11.26 a.m.

on 27th March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a small motor launch appeared to be in trouble.

There was a strong gale from the west south west with a very rough sea. The tide was flooding. The life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring launched at 11.58, and when she came up with the launch found that a helicopter from R.A.F. Manston had taken off a sick boy. The remaining (jrew member did not require assistance.

On approaching the harbour the coxswain was advised by the commanding officer of a cadet school on board the yacht Tehtar that seven yachts with 30 cadets were in difficulties in Pyfleet Channel owing to the weather conditions. The lifeboat then rescued the crew of five of the Essex Pride and towed the boat to Brightlingsea.

The life-boat returned and helped a further four yachts to safety. The sixth yacht was too far aground on the mud to be reached, and the coxswain of the life-boat arranged for a helicopter to take off her crew of five before returning to moorings at Brightlingsea as she was unable to rehouse in the existing conditions.

When weather conditions moderated on the following day the life-boat rehoused at n.oo p.m. A letter of appreciation was received from the commanding officer of the cadet school, together with a donation to the Institution's funds. A gift was also made by the cadets to the coxswain and crew.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 6.30 p.m. on 8th March, 1966, the coastguard informed the coxswain that the tanker Springwater had an injured man on board and a doctor was urgently required. At 7.14 the life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched with a doctor on board in a gentle breeze from the south-west and a slight sea. The tide was ebbing. At eight o'clock she reached the tanker and put the doctor on board.

The injured man, who required hospital treatment, was transferred to the life-boat which landed him at 8.51 p.m. at Southend- on-Sea, where he was conveyed to hospital by ambulance.

Ramsgate, Kent - At 9.5 a.m. on 9th March, 1966, the honorary secretary telephoned the coastguard at Deal to inquire whether any distress calls or advice from lightvessels had been received regarding a German ship aground on the Goodwins between north and north east of the Goodwin buoys. The vessel had been seen by the honorary secretary and cox- swain when out in a hovercraft, on a survey of the Goodwins, and the coxswain believed that the vessel could not get clear without help. The coastguard had no information. At 9.12 the life-boat Michael and Lily Davis was launched in a gentle north westerly breeze and a smooth sea. It was four hours before high water. At 10.20 the life-boat came up with the German motor vessel Margrit Angelika, stood by until she refloated at 10.29, and then escorted her away from the sands. At 10.46 she left the vessel at the north Goodwin and returned to the station, arriving at 12.15 P-m- SOUTHERN DISTRICT Eastbourne, Sussex - At 4.48 p.m. on nth March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a small boat had fired a red flare and one of her crew was waving a coat attached to an oar.

There was a fresh westerly breeze with a rough sea. The tide was ebbing. The life- boat Beryl Tollemache launched at 5.10 and reached the position given. There she came up with the small boat, whose engine had failed, rescued her crew of four and took the boat in tow with a member of the life-boat's crew on board. The small boat was beached at 5.42 and the life-boat was rehoused at 6.21 p.m.

Poole, Dorset-At 7.15 p.m. on 2yth March, 1966, a motor launch with three members of the Parkstone Yacht Club on board, which was going to a yacht moored in the middle of the harbour, broke down and was in difficulties. There was a gale from the west north west with a rough sea. The tide was flooding. The life-boat Bassett Green set off at 7.30 and took the launch safely in tow to Poole, arriving at 8.30. She returned to her mooring at 8.35.

See page iSofor March service by new 44-foot steel life-boat.

SOUTH-WEST DISTRICT Penlee, Cornwall - At 7.30 p.m. on 9th March, 1966, a telephone message was received that the life-boat Solomon Browne was needed to meet the British ship Silver Comet, as there was an injured man on board who needed hospital attention. At 12.45 a-m- on I0tn March the life-boat was launched in a light westerly breeze. It was low water. The lifeboat reached the ship four miles south of Penzance, where the man was transferred, and then went on to Newlyn, arriving at 2.30. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at eight o'clock.

SICK MAN At 1.30 p.m. on nth March, 1966, the coxswain received a telephone call from a doctor that the life-boat Solomon Browne was needed to bring a sick man off the motor vessel Clan Maclver. At 3.30 the life-boat was launched in a strong breeze from the north west and a choppy sea. It was low water. She went to Newlyn to pick up the doctor and ambulance crew, and left Newlyn at four o'clock, reaching the motor vessel at 4.30 four miles south of Penzance. The life-boat returned to Newlyn with the sick man on board at 5.30 p.m.

OFF PENZANCE At 3 p.m. on 29th March, 1966, the honorary secretary was informed that the life-boat would be required to bring a sick man off the Greek vessel Proodos. At 6.10 the life-boat Solomon Browne was launched in a light north westerly breeze and a smooth sea. It was two hours and a half after low water. The life-boat, having called at Newlyn to pick up a doctor and ambulance men, left at 6.50. She reached the vessel at 7.30 five miles south of Penzance.

The sick man was taken on board and landed at Newlyn at 8.30.

TWO INJURED MEN At 9.30 a.m. on 2ist March, 1966, the honorary secretary was informed that there were two injured men on board the Danish vessel Dangulf Maersk. At 9.35 the life-boat Solomon Browne was launched in a light west-north-westerly breeze and a slight sea. The tide was ebbing.

The life-boat embarked a doctor and ambulance men at Newlyn. The life-boat went alongside the vessel at 11.15 and left at 12.40 p.m. with the two injured men on board, reaching Newlyn at 1.30 p.m.

Sennen Cove, Cornwall - At 11.20 a.m. on 30th March, 1966, the port medical officer at Penzance informed the honorary secretary that the m.v. Hille Oldendorff, of Lubeck, which was about nine miles north west of the Longships lighthouse, needed medical help for an injured seaman. At 11.45 tne life-boat Susan Ashley was launched with a doctor on board. There was a light north westerly wind, the sea was slight and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat came up with the vessel seven miles north west of the lifeboat station and put the doctor on board.

The injured man, who had a suspected fracture of the skull, was transferred to the life-boat, which then returned to her station where an ambulance was waiting, arriving at 1.45 p.m.

CHANNEL ISLANDS St. Helier, Jersey-At io.2ia.m. on 8th March, 1966, the duty harbour officer received a Mayday message via Jersey radio from the tug Duke of Normandy saying that she had struck a rock near Les Vascelius on the Les Minquiers reef. The life-boat Elizabeth Rippon set off at 10.32 in a light easterly breeze and a calm sea.

There was fog with a visibility of 250 yards. The life-boat went to the given position but in the meantime the tug had floated off the rocks and had anchored.

Although she was not leaking she still requested the life-boat to stand by. A fishing boat the Betabob, helped to guide the tug out of the reef and into deep water, and the life-boat on reaching the position escorted the tug back to St. Helier, returning to her station at 2.30 p.m.

NORTH-WEST DISTRICT Barmouth, Merionethshire - At 8.55 a.m. on 22nd March, 1966, the police informed the honorary secretary that a fishing boat, the Violet Sinclair, had been seen three miles south west of Barmouth firing red flares. At 9.10 the life-boat The Chieftain was launched in a fresh breeze from the north west and a moderate sea.

It was one hour after high water. She reached the Violet Sinclair and found that the boat had developed engine trouble two miles south west of the Fairway buoy.

A rope was passed aboard and the boat with three men on board was towed back to harbour, arriving at eleven o'clock.

Portpatrick, Wigtownshire - At 5.20 a.m. on I5th March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the motor fishing vessel Maisie of Caernarvon had broken down six miles south west by west of Portpatrick. A message received from the British ship Fernfield advised that the assistance of the lifeboat was required. At 5.55 the life-boat Thejeanie left in a gentle north westerly breeze and a slight sea. It was high water.

She reached the casualty at 6.45 and took the Maisie in tow, reaching Portpatrick at nine o'clock.

IRISH DISTRICT Galway Bay - At 7.30 p.m. on 25th March, 1966, the honorary secretary received a report that distress flares had been seen about a mile south east of the North Aran light. At 8.5 the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson was launched.

There was a strong south westerly wind, the sea was rough and the tide was ebbing.

She made a search and found the 46-foot lobster boat Muir Ara, of Aran, with a crew of two, five miles north west of Kilronan. The boat had a broken fuel pipe and was drifting, so the life-boat towed her to Kilronan, arriving at 10.15 p.m.

CHILD HELPED At 1.30 p.m. on yth March, 1966, the local doctor informed the honorary secretary that a one year old child on Inishere Island required medical attention and, as no other boat was available, he requested the help of the life-boat. At 2.30 the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson set out in a strong south westerly breeze and a rough sea. It was three hours before high water. The child had to be taken to a hospital on the mainland, so the life-boat continued the journey with the patient and doctor to Rossaveel, and returned to her station at 8.15 p.m.

Howth, Co. Dublin - At 5.52 p.m. on I3th March, 1966, the coxswain's wife informed the honorary secretary that a man had fallen over the cliff. The Dublin Fire Brigade had been called out but had been unable to rescue him. At 6.15 the life-boat A.M.T. went to the scene of the accident at Baily Howth. It was two hours after high water. She arrived just off the foot of the cliff at 6.40 and the boarding boat was sent in. The injured man was put on a stretcher and, with two of the firemen, taken aboard. At 6.55 she returned to the east pier where the injured man was landed for hospital treatment.

The life-boat returned to her moorings at 7.25 Valentia, Co. Cork - At 9 a.m. on 2nd March, 1966, the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre at Haulbowline informed the honorary secretary that there was a sick man on board the British tanker Esso Canterbury and that her estimated time of arrival in Dingle bay was 5 p.m.

At 3 p.m. the life-boat Rowland Watts, with a doctor on board, set out for the tanker in a strong breeze from the south west and a rough sea. It was low water.

At 6.5 the life-boat reached the tanker six miles north of Valentia harbour. The sick man was taken on board and landed at Reenard Point at 6.45, and was then taken by ambulance to a hospital at Tralee for an operation. The life-boat returned to her moorings at 6.45 p.m.

Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin - On 17th March, 1966, the life-boat Dunleary II was to undertake a special exercise in connection with the opening of the Irish Boat Show at which the Institution was represented. Before the life-boat left her moorings to cross Dublin Bay, the honorary secretary obtained a report from the meteorological office. This indicated the likelihood of strong squalls and, as the Dublin Bay canoe race was in progress at the mouth of the river Liffey, the life-boat moved off at 11.10 a.m. to meet the canoes and escort them across the bay.

There was a strong westerly breeze and a choppy sea. Half a mile east south east of Poolbeg a canoe signalled for help.

When the life-boat reached the canoe and her crew were being hauled aboard, a second canoe capsized, throwing the occupants into the water. These were also hauled aboard. The remainder of the canoeists were dispersed over a considerable area, and before the finish of the race, another four canoes and five occupants were rescued by the life-boat. She returned to her moorings after seeing the last remaining canoe safely into Dun Laoghaire Harbour, arriving at 1.30 p.m.

Ramsey, Isle of Man - At n p.m. on 22nd March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that they had intercepted a message from the wireless transmitting station Radio Caroline in Ramsey Bay that there was an injured man on board. The life-boat Thomas Corbett launched at 11.16 with a doctor on board in a fresh westerly breeze and a rough sea. It was two hours and a half before high water. The doctor went on board the vessel and gave first aid. The injured man was then brought ashore by the life-boat and conveyed to hospital where he had a finger amputated. The life-boat returned to her station at 1.30 a.m. A donation was made to the Institution's funds from the owners of the wireless station.

SCOTTISH DISTRICT Stornoway, Outer Hebrides - At ii a.m. on 9th March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that they had received a call from the owners of the Fleetwood trawler SSAFA saying that the vessel had on board a seriously injured man. She was making for Stornoway, was expected to arrive at about 2 p.m., and had requested the lifeboat to meet her with a doctor and oxygen equipment. The life-boat's crew and doctor were alerted and stood by for threequarters of an hour while the coastguard tried to contact the trawler to ascertain her position. The coastguard failed to contact her and at 11.45 it was decided that the life-boat James and Margret Boyd should go in the direction of the Butt of Lewis in the hope of intercepting the SSAFA. The life-boat left in a strong westerly breeze and a rough sea. It was two hours and a half after low water. She met the trawler north of the Tiumpan Head lighthouse and a doctor and a member of the life-boat crew, qualified in first aid, together with the oxygen equipment, were transferred to her. The SSAFA then continued to Stornoway, where an ambulance was waiting to take the sick man to hospital. The life-boat arrived back at her moorings at 3.40 p.m.

Barra Island, Outer Hebrides - At 7 p.m. on 26th March, 1966, the honorary secretary was asked by a local doctor if the life-boat could be used to convey an injured patient to South Uist for hospital treatment as no other suitable boat was available. There was a gale from the south-west with a rough sea. The tide was flooding. The life-boat The Rankin, on temporary duty at the station, set out at 7.30 and after the patient was embarked went on to South Uist. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 2.45 a.m.

next day.

MEDICAL CALL At 7.50 p.m. on 8th March, 1966, the local doctor asked the honorary secretary if the life-boat would convey a patient to South Uist for hospital treatment as no other boat was available. The life-boat The Rankin, on temporary duty at the station, left at 8.20 in a light westerly breeze and a smooth sea. It was low water. The patient was embarked at the pier and the life-boat left for South Uist at 9.15. After landing the patient, the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 4 o'clock.

Stronsay, Orkneys - At 6 a.m. on 5th March, 1966, the honorary secretary received a telephone message from the doctor on Sanday Island stating that he had an urgent case requiring immediate hospital attention in Kirkwall. Because of land transport difficulties the use of the life-boat The John Gellatly Hyndman was requested to take the patient to hospital.

She set out at 6.30 for Kettletoft pier, Sanday, in a moderate south westerly breeze, arriving at 7.10. It was three hours after low water. She left at 7.25 with the patient and a nurse on board and reached Kirkwall at 9.45. She waited to take the nurse back to Sanday, and left Kirkwall at eleven o'clock arriving at Sanday at i.io p.m. The life-boat then left immediately for her station where she arrived at two o'clock.

Lerwick, Shetlands - At 12.35 a-mon 22nd March, 1966, a vessel was reported aground to the east of Lerwick harbour. There was a moderate north westerly breeze and a calm sea. The lifeboat Claude Cecil Staniforth set out 20 minutes later on an ebbing tide. She found the Danish fishing vessel Senious hard aground and an attempt to tow her off was unsuccessful. The life-boat stood by the Senious until daybreak, by which time the tide had ebbed, leaving the boat high and dry on a rock. The life-boat returned to her station. At 10.50 a.m. the Claude and Cecil Staniforth was again called and at 11.20 succeeded in towing her offthe rocks.

The life-boat returned to her station at 11.45.

found the coble and escorted her back to harbour, arriving at 8.58 a.m.

HOSPITAL CASE At ii a.m. on i3th March, 1966, the coastguard informed the coxswain that a man on board the motor vessel Olna Firth, of Newcastle, needed hospital treatment.

The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 11.25 in a light breeze from the north-west and a moderate sea.

It was three hours before low water. She reached the motor vessel, took the sick man, who had a suspected perforated ulcer, on board, and reached the harbour at 11.30 where an ambulance was waiting.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT Whitby, Yorkshire - At 9.10 a.m. on i8th March, 1966, with the weather deteriorating and the local fishing fleet at sea, the life-boat Mary Ann Hepwonh was launched at 9.30 in a north westerly gale, rough sea and flooding tide. She escorted four keel boats over the harbour bar, but the weather improved and, as the services of the life-boat were then no longer needed, she returned to her station.

GALE BLOWING At 10.10 a.m. on 29th March, 1966, the coxswain informed the honorary secretary that the sea was becoming dangerous on the harbour bar, and at 10.13 tne life* boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched.

A gale was blowing from the north west, the sea was very rough and the tide was flooding. The life-boat escorted three local fishing boats over the bar, and returned to her station at 2.57 p.m.

PROVIDED ESCORT At 7.35 a.m. on I2th March, 1966, the coxswain saw a local coble, William and Martha, at sea in deteriorating weather.

The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth launched at 7.45 in a strong to gale force wind from the north west and a rough sea. It was high water. The life-boat Bridlington, Yorkshire - At 4.30 p.m. on 29th March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the trawler Newby Wyke, of Hull, due at Bridlington about 4.15, had a very sick man on board. There was a moderate north westerly breeze with a smooth sea.

The tide was flooding. The life-boat Tillie Morrison Sheffield II launched at 5.55 and after the station honorary medical adviser had embarked, set off and soon came up with the trawler. After he had been examined by the doctor, the patient was transferred to the life-boat which conveyed him to the south pier at Bridlington, where he was landed by the harbour crane and conveyed to hospital.

INJURED MAN At 2.35 p.m. on 28th March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Grimsby trawler Blackburn Rovers in Bridlington Bay had an injured man on board. There was a fresh north westerly breeze with a moderate sea. It was almost low water. The life-boat Tillie Morrison Sheffield II launched at 3.5, and after a doctor had embarked, went to the trawler. The injured man was transferred to the life-boat which returned to the south pier, where the patient was landed with the help of the harbour crane and conveyed to hospital.

The following life-boats were also called out in March: Arranmore, Co. Donegal - i8th.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight - 2nd.

Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland - 7th.

Dungeness, Kent - 22nd.

Dun Laoghaire - 24th and 25th.

Falmouth, Cornwall - 3Oth.

Holyhead, Anglesey - i6th.

Humber, Yorkshire - I2th.

Longhope, Orkneys - 24th.

Lowestoft, Suffolk - 2yth.

Plymouth, Devon - 26th.

Redcar, Yorkshire - 20th.

St. Helier, Jersey - 8th.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex - 26th.

O.N. 70-002 - lyth..