Sheringham, Norfolk - At 9 p.m. on 29th January, 1968, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that red flares had been sighted one to two miles off Cley. The maroons were fired at 9.10. The life-boat The Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows could not be launched until 9.42 owing to damage to the slipwaywhich made it necessary for the life-boat to be launched across the shingle. There was a west south westerly breeze and a moderate sea.

It was three hours after high water.

The life-boat came up with the motor cruiser Hilary Anne with one man aboard at 10.30. The Dutch coaster Fokke de Jong was standing by. The motor cruiser was taken in tow, but owing to the state of the tide the life-boat anchored off Blakeney until 6.30 a.m. on 30th January. A local boatman then piloted the life-boat and her tow to Blakeney Pit, where the Hilary Anne was safely moored. The life-boat then returned to her station which she reached at 9.15..