WHEN THE new Gorleston 44-foot steel life-boat Khami on 5th September, 1967» went to the aid of the m.v. Aureity, whose steering gear had broken down, no one knew then that the life-boat would end up by towing the auxiliary cutter Theodora, also in distress, into Gorleston. A framed letter of thanks, signed by the then Chairman of the Institution, Captain the Honourable V. M. Wyndham- Quin, R.N., has been sent to Coxswain/Mechanic J. Bryan and the crew.

On that day at 7.44 a.m. the honorary secretary, Mr. J. S. Ling, learnt that the m.v. Aureity was in a position two miles south west of Smith's Knoll lightvessel with her steering gear broken down. She required a vessel to stand by.

The maroons were fired at 7.54 a.m. and at 8.2. a.m. the life-boat slipped her moorings. The wind was southerly, force 8, gusting to force 9, with a very rough sea and a heavy south westerly swell.

At 9.55 a.m., after a passage of 20 miles, the m.v. Aureity was seen some three miles south west of the lightvessel. She was head to sea and was pitching heavily.

Her speed was about two knots. The wind by then was south west, force 9, and the tide was setting in a southerly direction at two knots.

DIRECTED TO ANOTHER VESSEL A tug was expected at 3 o'clock and another ship, the Wakefield, was also in the vicinity. By 10.28 a.m., however, it appeared that the Aureity was comfortable and the coxswain therefore was prepared to return to harbour. It was then that the life-boat was requested to proceed to the Newarp lightvessel and search in the vicinity for the Theodora which had last been seen three miles north north east of the Newarp at 8.30 p.m. on 4th September.

Meanwhile, the master of the Aureity had indicated to the coxswain that, following the complete failure of his vessel's steering gear, he would like thelife-boat to continue to stand by in case Aureity's head fell across the sea.

In view of this the Cromer life-boat Ruby and Arthur Reed, which is a 48-foot 6-inch Oakley, was launched to search for the Theodora.

At 2.45 p.m. a message was received that the Theodora required assistance in a position 25 miles from Smith's Knoll lightvessel. Having established that the Aureity was in a much better position, and that a tug was on the way, the Gorleston life-boat set out to find the Theodora.

'MOST ARDUOUS' After a passage of 26 miles, which proved to be the most arduous of the whole service, the life-boat made contact with H.M.S. Diamond at 5.40 p.m. and learnt that the Theodora was now 12 miles to the north east.

Finally, at 8 o'clock that night, the Gorleston life-boat came up with the casualty. The Theodora was lying beam on to the sea and swell with heavy seas breaking over the full length of her port side. She had her sea anchor streamed from her bow.

It was judged that the yacht was capable of withstanding a tow, and taking advantage of a lee provided by H.M.S. Diamond, the towline was passed at the first attempt at about 8.5 p.m.

The wind was by then south west, force 8, moderating slowly and veering, though with a very rough sea and a heavy swell. H.M.S. Diamond continued to escort the pair until the Gorleston life-boat and the Theodora were five miles off Gorleston.

The life-boat returned to her station at 4 o'clock on the morning of 6th September, having been at sea in very bad weather for a total of some 20 hours.

During that time she travelled nearly 100 miles..