FOR a difficult operation which involved taking an injured lighthouse keeper, who weighed 21 stone, off the Beachy Head lighthouse Coxswain Bassett, of Eastbourne, has been accorded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum.

At 11.46 a.m. on nth May, 1966, the assistant honorary secretary of the Eastbourne station, learnt by a telephone call from the police that the lighthouse keeper had injured his legs and needed hospital treatment. He contacted the coastguard and Coxswain Bassett, and it was decided to ask for a helicopter to take the man off. The R.A.F. station at Thornay Island arranged for a helicopter to take off at i o'clock, and it was agreed that the life-boat should also put out.

There was a south south westerly wind between force 5 and 6 with a fairly rough sea. The weather was cloudy and squally, but visability was good. It was 3- hours before high water and the flood tide was setting east at about two knots.

The Eastbourne life-boat Beryl Tollemache, which is one of the 4i-foot beach type, was launched at 1.8. Between the life-boat station and the lighthouse the distance is a little over 3 miles.

The helicopter was unable to take the man off, and it was therefore decided that a man with a stretcher should be lowered from the helicopter to the lifeboat.

This was done at 1.30.

Ten minutes later the life-boat arrived off Beachy Head lighthouse. Coxswain Bassett first approached from the western side and saw that conditions were bad with a heavy swell breaking. He therefore decided to go alongside the eastern side of the lighthouse landing.

FORWARD LINE PARTED He let go his anchor in a fathom and a half of water. The nylon securing line was bent on to the cable and led to the port quarter as a bridle, and in this way the life-boat was turned round to port, head to sea. Two lines from the lighthouse were secured fore and aft.

The forward line then parted. After being secured it parted a second time and was secured once more. The after line also carried away and was replaced by the drogue rope.

The life-boat's engines were continually used to hold her position while the keepers prepared to take their 2i-stone colleague off.

The life-boat was ranging considerably to her cable and mooring lines, and Coxswain Bassett displayed great skill in maintaining her in position, the engines at times being run full ahead.

Coxswain Bassett waited for a smooth patch and came alongside the landing.

The injured lighthouse keeper was lowered into the boat by the lighthouse derrick. While this was being done three feet of the starboard fender forward and three guard rail stanchions were damaged even though fenders were constantly in use.

The injured man was taken off at 3.25 and at 4.7 he was landed at the lifeboat station.

Certificates recording the fact that they took part in the service were issued to the other members of the Eastbourne crew.

A photograph of this operation appeared on page 779 of the September number of THE LIFE-BOAT; the same picture appears on page 225 of this issue..