A LETTER of thanks, signed by the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.S.O., has been addressed to Coxswain Alfred Manning and the crew of the Margate, Kent, life-boat for the part they played in saving two boats and four people.

At 1.20 a.m. on 9th July, 1969, the Margate pilot cutter reported that she had sighted a red flare two miles north east of the north east Spit buoy and was investigating the signal. Maroons were fired at 1.41 a.m. but the life-boat did not launch, since in the meanwhile a message had been received that the pilot cutter Nayland had the m.f.v. Marvonne in tow.

DANGER FROM ROCKS At 2.40 a.m., however, just as the crew were standing down, Coxswain Man- ning noticed that the pilot boat's engines were stopped and both vessels were drifting on to the rocks. The coxswain ordered a parachute flare to be fired from the boathouse, and this was answered by a red flare from the pilot boat, which also wirelessed for immediate assistance. The Margate life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11) was launched eight minutes later.

The coxswain found both boats ashore about 200 yards off the Winter Gardens and bumping hard on the rocks in broken water. There was a heavy swell and seas were breaking over the stern of both vessels.

The life-boat anchored and veered down on the two casualties. A rocket linewas fired across the pilot boat and the life-boat's line made fast. Both boats were lying head in to the rocks entangled in the trawler's nets. After towing for about 15 minutes the life-boat managed to get both boats clear of the rocks and took them to the jetty. When towing the coxswain had to exercise great care to avoid fouling the trawler's gear and numerous lobster pots in the area..