Lifeboat Services (from page 118) spectacles and dived into the water to help the woman. At the same time John Wall threw a line to the man approaching with the children.

On reaching the woman Richard Wheeler, a trained life-saver, gave her support and reassurance that she was now out of danger and, using the 'close chin tow' method and lifesaving backstroke, towed her towards Sandpiper.

The tow was hampered by the occasional breaking swell and by the dog which kept trying to climb on to the rescuer and his casualty; Richard Wheeler in fact sustained scratches to his face, arms and body.

When about 5 feet from the boat Richard Wheeler was able to grab a line and pull the woman alongside. She was helped from the water by John Wall and the other man, her husband. Richard Wheeler climbed into the boat, grabbed the dog swimming alongside, dragged it in over the gunwale and then checked to see if any of the survivors needed resuscitation. The time was now 1720.

Another speed boat, crewed by Paul Davies and Wyn Evans, arrived alongside Sandpiper and was asked to go to Aberystwyth to call out the ILB.

Sandpiper was got under way, took the small pram dinghy in tow and marked off the sunken speed boat with an airtight plastic container. She then set out for Aberystwyth, meeting the ILB as she rounded the southern breakwater at 1730. The ILB went on to recover the speed boat, while Sandpiper landed the survivors at Aberystwyth at 1735.

The ILB found the sunken boat at 1740 and managed to tow it back into harbour some 15 minutes later. The ILB was rehoused and ready for service at 1800.

For this service, framed letters of appreciation signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, the Chairman of the Institution, were awarded to Richard Wheeler and John Wall..