Edwin Distin The death occurred in October of ex- Coxswain Edwin Distin, aged 82, the last surviving member of the crew of the Salcombe, Devon, lifeboat disaster of 1916. He held the RNLI's silver and bronze medals. His son, Coxswain Hubert Distin, died some months before him.

In the September, 1966, issue of THE LIFEBOAT, the Salcombe lifeboat station was described and details given of an interview with Mr Edwin Distin in which he gave a first-hand account, and drew a sketch, of what happened when the lifeboat went over in 1916.

He said: 'We had our drogue out atthe time and I found my way on to the upturned hull by gripping the line. There were several of us on the hull, during those first moments after the accident, but very shortly we were all swept off.

With William Johnson I was hurled on to a rock under Prawle Point from w here we were eventually rescued from the shore. I have yet to see a sea like it.' Edwin Distin and William Johnson, battered black and blue by the sea, were taken up the cliffs to the home of a Mr and Mrs Michelmore. There the two survivors lay, unfit to be moved, for a month. Their only visitors were their families..