Coxswain Albert Bird (r.), Aberdeen, entertains Skipper John Thomas, former assistant mechanic at Dungeness and the man who saved his life when Dungeness lifeboat rescued six men from Teeswood in the great Channel gale of 1956; a service for which Coxswain George Tart was awarded the bronze medal. Mr Thomas's son, Peter, is now assistant mechanic at Dungeness and was awarded the bronze medal for his part in the service to Merc Texco in 1974.

photograph by courtesy of Aberdeen News and PR Services.