Cut off by tide A LOCAL COBLE alerted Flamborough Coastguard on the afternoon ol Saturday, August 23, 1975; two people were cut off by the tide on the cliff at West Scar. After viewing the site and ruling out any attempt at rescue over the cliff as too dangerous, the Coastguard telephoned the honorary secretary of the lifeboat station at 1600, maroons were fired and the 35' 6" Liverpool lifeboat Friendly Forester launched at 1615.

It was two hours before high water, with wind north-easterly force 2, a slight sea and moderate swell.

The position of the trapped people was clearly visible from the launching site. They were on a ledge some 8 feet above the water. Both sides of North Landing have heavy outcrops of scar.

The swell, though moderate at the entrance to the cove, built itself up,becoming confused especially in the vicinity of the casualties.

Coxswain George Pockley had made up his mind before launching that any attempt to take the lifeboat to the casualties would seriously hazard his boat and crew and would prove unsuccessful.

He therefore anchored at the entrance to the cove and veered down cable. The rocket line was then fired to the Coastguard on the cliff top, who pulled in one veering line attached to the breeches buoy. Unfortunately the rocket line fouled and chaffed through before the veering line had been hauled to the land, but the gear was recovered, another line fired and the veering line hauled to the cliff top successfully.

With the gear rigged in this way the breeches buoy could be guided directly to the two people on the cliff. As one of them had an injured leg, and to avoid further delay, Coxswain Pockley instructed Crew Member Alwyn Emmerson to go ashore in the buoy to help. Such was the smooth, practised cooperation between lifeboat crew and Coastguard that Alwyn Emmerson was landed just below the casualties.

By this time the swell was reaching the base of the ledge and the resultant confused water made it very difficult for the casualties to get into the breeches buoy. While Alwyn Emmerson was helping the first person, Auxiliary Coastguard John Powell was lowered down the cliff to help, and both people(and their dog) were in turn taken by breeches buoy to the lifeboat. John Powell and Alwyn Emmerson were then recovered in the same way.

The operation was completed by 1720 and Coxswain Pockley recovered the gear, weighed anchor and was on the beach by 1725. Friendly Forester was rehoused and ready for service at 1800.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew Member Alwyn Emmerson. A framed letter of thanks signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, Chairman of the Institution, was awarded to Coxswain George Pockley and vellum service certificates were presented to Acting Second Coxswain James Major, Motor Mechanic Robert Major, Assistant Mechanic John Crossland and Crew Members George Emmerson, Roy Leng, Robert Emmerson, Malcolm Smales, Dennis Woodhouse, John Major and James Cross. A letter of thanks signed by Captain Nigel Dixon, the Director, was sent to the Flamborough Coastguard mentioning the particular action of Auxiliary Coastguard John Powell..