FOR the rescue of four men from a trawler on the evening of 16th November, 1969, Coxswain John King of Bridlington has been accorded the thanks of the R.N.L.I. inscribed on vellum.

At 6.5 p.m. that evening Mr. A. W. Dick, the Bridlington honorary secretary, learnt that the 60-foot stern trawler Flamborough Light had grounded on the harbour bar wall trying to enter harbour. Immediately afterwards it was reported that the trawler had cleared the bar and was drifting on to rocks outside the south pier.

Mr. Dick immediately summoned the crew and at 6.30 the Bridlington life- boat William Henry and Mary King, which is one of the 37-foot Oakley class, was launched.

A force 8 gale was blowing, varying from east to east north east. The weather was cloudy, visibility was moderate, and there were rain squalls. It was one hour after low water neap tide.

The life-boat approached the stern trawler at 6.40, parachute flares being used to light up the scene. The trawler had grounded near rocks at the foot of the south pier and was lying stern to heavy breaking seas. The crew of the trawler were told by radio telephone to have her anchor ready to be run out to the life-boat in an effort to bring the trawler head to sea. Coxswain King then anchored to seaward and veered the life-boat down to the trawler.

RUDDER AND PROPELLER LOST A number of attempts were made to pass a heaving line without success, but in the end a line was successfully fired across the trawler. The life-boat securing rope was secured to the gun line and then to the crown of the trawler's anchor.

With the casualty's cable being paid out the life-boat steamed to seaward until she recovered her anchor. Coxswain King then decided that there was enough water to allow the life-boat to tow the trawler head to sea. This was done successfully, the weight of the anchor proving useful in breaking the snatch on the tow-line in the heavy seas.

At 7.11 the Flamborough Light reported that her rudder and propeller had carried away. She began to sheer badly and the tow-line was shortened to about 30 feet. The trawler's anchor was taken aboard the life-boat, and with the use of the nylon securing rope a check bridle was rigged to steady the tow. As a result of this the stern trawler was towed through the narrow harbour entrance, reaching here at 8 p.m.

In addition to the award to Coxswain King, framed letters of thanks, signed by the Chairman of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C;B., D.S.O., have been sent to the other members of the crew; Second Coxswain George William Traves, Acting Bowman Fred Walkington, Motor Mechanic Roderick William Stott, Assistant Mechanic Richard Derek Cranswick, Crewman Philip Butterworth, and Crewman Anthony John Ayre..