Rescues by IRBs in December were carried out by the following stations: NORTH-WEST DISTRICT Morecambe, Lancashire - At 2.15 p.m. on 3rd December, 1966, the police were informed that a small boy angling from the shore was in difficulties about half a mile off the Broadway hotel. He had been cut off by flooding tide and the water was already up to his knees. The IRB was launched at 2.30 in a light north westerly wind and a calm sea. It was four and a half hours after low water. She reached the boy at 2.45 and took him aboard. The IRB then returned to her station, arriving at 3 o'clock.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent - At 3.45 p.m. on 4th December, 1966, the IRB helmsman saw that the crew of a small dinghy, who were having difficulty in starting their outboard motor, were wav- ing paddles and jerseys. At 3.47 the IRB was launched and proceeded to the casualty. It was one hour before high water, there was a moderate sea and a fresh north westerly breeze. One member of the dinghy crew was taken aboard the IRB suffering from cold. The IRB re- turned to the beach, towing the dinghy with the other man on board, at 4.35.

See page 140 for other IRB launches.