At 9.44 p.m. on soth May, 1967, it was learned that a small boat had broken down near the Stone Banks buoy. After it was ascertained that a shore boat could not assist and in view of the weather forecast the life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpot, on temporary diity at the station, slipped her moorings at 10.35 in a smooth sea.

The tide was ebbing. The life-boat took the motor boat with a crew of two in tow to Walton river where the tow was handed over to the coxswain's motor boat, manned by two helpers. The life-boat returned to her moorings at 12.50 a.m. on 3ist May, 1967..