In addition to the services by IRBs which resulted in saving lives and which are recorded in full on pages 121 and 130, the following launches on service were made during the months of December 1966, to February., 1967, inclusive: Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire - February 3rd.

Bangor, Co. Down - January isth.

Conway, Caernarvanshire - February 9th.

Eastney, Hampshire - January 22nd, 28th, February 9th and 24th.

Hastings, Sussex - December 4th.

Largs, Ayrshire - January 3rd and February 25th.

Llandudno, Caernarvonshire - February gth.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex - December 24th and February nth.

Southwold, Suffolk - January 9th.

West Kirby, Cheshire - December 3ist and February Whitstable, Kent - December igth and 29th.

NOVEMBER NORTH-WEST DISTRICT New Brighton, Cheshire - At 10.45 p.m. on 27th November, 1966, news was received that the master of the Bar light- vessel had been taken suddenly ill. At 11 o'clock the life-boat Norman B. Corlett left her moorings and proceeded through a very rough sea in a west north westerly gale to Liverpool landing stage, where she embarked a doctor. It was high water.

The life-boat conveyed the doctor to the lightvessel, where he diagnosed that the patient was suffering from a coronary thrombosis. The weather was too bad and the patient too ill for him to be moved, so the doctor remained aboard the light- vessel and the life-boat returned to her moorings at 5.20 a.m. on 28th November.

At 7.20 a.m. on ist December the harbour board authorities requested the services of the life-boat to land the doctor and the sick man. The life-boat left her moorings at low water at 7.50 in a south south westerly gale and a very rough sea. The life-boat returned to her moorings at 10.20 because the deteriorating weather would have prevented a successful trans- fer. A helicopter transfer was also ruled out because of the weather. On 3rd December the services of the life-boat were again requested, as the weather had improved slightly. The life-boat left her moorings at 8 a.m. in a north westerly gale and a very rough sea. It was low water. The transfer of the doctor and 140 patient was successfully carried out using the shelter provided in the lee of four vessels - the tanker William Jebson, the s.s. Salinas, the dredger Mersey and the salvage vessel Salvor. At 12.20 p.m. the patient was transferred to an ambulance at Liverpool landing stage, and at 1.40 the life-boat returned to her moorings.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT Teesmouth, Yorkshire - At 6 p.m.

on 3Oth November, 1966, information was received that the motor vessel Goth- land had an injured man aboard who required medical assistance, and that the Shipping Federation doctor had agreed to go to him. The last known position of the vessel was forty six miles north east of Whitby but the Tees harbour office was unable to establish radio contact. With the doctor on board the life-boat Sarah Jane and James Season launched at 7.10 a.m. in a gale force north westerly wind and a very rough sea. She proceeded to- wards the last known position of the Gothland and at 9.15 made radio contact.

The life-boat came alongside the vessel at 10.5, and put the doctor aboard. After examining the patient he decided to re- main on board and the Gothland set course for the Tees, accompanied by the life-boat. They arrived at Tees dock at 1.15 and the patient was taken to hospital.

As the gale force wind made it impossible to rehouse the life-boat, she was secured in the Tees dock and was rehoused next day.

IRELAND These reports apply to services carried out in January, 1966.

Helvick Head, Co. Waterford - At 3.45 a.m. on nth January, 1966, a vessel was reported in distress in Dungarvan harbour. The life-boat John and Lucy Cordingky slipped her moorings at 4.15 in a gale force south easterly wind with a very rough and broken sea in the shallow harbour. She found the Dutch coaster Cawi, whose anchor chain had parted, grounded on a sandbank at the harbour mouth. The life-boat secured a line to the coaster and endeavoured to tow her into deep water, but was thwarted in this by the onshore south easterly gale. The master of the coaster refused to abandon ship, so the life-boat stood by until conditions improved, returning to her station at 11.15. In the evening, how- ever, conditions in the harbour deterior- ated and at 7.30 the life-boat was launched and stood by the vessel until 11.30. The master was then asked if any of his crew wished to be taken ashore as the coaster was lying in shallow water in a dangerous position. The master remained on board but four of his crew were landed and the life-boat returned to her station. The coxswain kept a periodic watch on the vessel throughout the night. Next morn- ing he was asked to put the crew members back on board the coaster. The life-boat proceeded at 8.30 a.m. When the crew had been put aboard, the life-boat stood by at the master's request in case he needed further assistance. She returned to her station at 11.30. The life-boat slipped her moorings again at 7.30 p.m. to stand by the coaster as the weather had deteriorated. At 11.10 the master said that everything seemed to be under control and it was no longer necessary for the life-boat to stand by. She therefore returned to her station.

On 13th January the life-boat pro- ceeded to stand by the coaster at 9.30 a.m.

as the south-easterly wind was still very strong, the sea very rough and the vessel still in a dangerous position. She re- mained with the vessel until 12.10 p.m.

when the master decided that his ship would be able to hold her position. The life-boat then returned to her station.

On 14th January the life-boat took mail from the owners to the vessel's master, as the weather conditions were still bad.

He asked to be taken ashore so that he might get in touch with the owners. The life-boat returned to her station with the master on board at 1.30. At 1.50 p.m.

on 17th January the life-boat slipped her moorings in a strong south easterly wind and a very rough sea to stand by while two local fishing vessels endeavoured to refloat the Cawi. This attempt was not successful and the life-boat returned to her station at 3.15.

At 2.30 p.m. on i3th August, 1966, a message was received that a youth, who had been missing since the previous day, was lying at the foot of a steep cliff at the back of Helvick Head. The life-boat John and Lucy Cordingley, with the boarding boat in tow, slipped her moor- ings at 2.45 in a light north westerly wind and a calm sea. She proceeded to the position indicated and sighted the youth at the base of the cliff. Four crew mem- bers rowed ashore in the boarding boat and brought him out to the life-boat. The boy was dead. The life-boat returned to her station at 5 o'clock..