LETTERS of appreciation signed by the Secretary of the R.N.L.I., Captain Nigel Dixon, R.N., have been sent to the crew of the Eastney, Hampshire, IRB, Mr. J. Fletcher and Mr. R. Faro, for the rescue of two boys who were marooned off Southsea beach. Similar letters were also sent to the police and to Mr.

John Andrews of the Eastney Coastguard.

It was at 7.9 a.m. on 22nd February, 1970, that news was received that the boys were marooned on a concrete block. The IRB was launched at 7.24 in near darkness a few minutes after low water in a south westerly wind force 6 with gusts to force 7 with drizzle and low cloud. Due to the state of the tide the IRB had to go almost to the Langstone Fairway buoy before turning to the north west to close the shore.

After they turned they could see parachute flares lighting up the scene of the casualty. Due to the very short steep sea that was running, particularly after the turn to the north west, only half or slow speed could be made and the two crew of the IRB changed positions several times taking turns on the tiller, as the man forward was so shaken by the pounding.

Meanwhile at the beach rescue operations had been launched by swimmers.

Police Constable Graham Lawrence and a civilian, Mr. David Jones, both trained life-savers, had swum out to the block which was only some 40 yards from the water's edge at low tide. P.C. Lawrence had brought one of the boys ashore but the other boy had refused to enter the water and Mr. Jones remained on the block with him to await the arrival of the IRB.

HEAVY SEA At the same time as the IRB was called out the C.R.E. had been brought to the scene. After the first boy had been rescued the tide began to rise and to those waiting on shore the IRB seemed to be a very long time in coming, as it was only able to make good about six knots over the ground with a foul tide of two knots and the heavy head wind and sea.

At low water the top of the block had been a foot or more clear but during the wait for the IRB the tide rose until it was awash and it was clear that as soon as it was covered Mr. Jones and the boy would be unable to keep their foothold on it as it was slippery with weed. The breeches buoy was therefore rigged tobring the man and boy ashore. Police Sergeant Evans swam out to the block, taking with him the end of a rocket line, and he then hauled out a heavy line.

This line had three bowlines made in it and carried three life-jackets so that it could be used to haul to the shore the boy, Mr. Jones and the police sergeant.

Just as the bowline was being placed round the boy, the IRB reached the block at 7.55 and Mr. Fletcher drove the bows up on to it. Police Sergeant Evans let the line go and he, the boy and Mr. Jones tumbled into the boat which immedi- ately headed for the beach.

A south easterly swell was breaking on the beach to a height of about four feet, and choosing his moment, Mr. Fletcher drove the boat straight up and the survivors were landed, the boy being taken to hospital and the two men to their homes. The IRB returned to her station at 8.25..