Trapped on cliff FOLLOWING A 999 CALL, HM Coastguard informed Coxswain Griffith Jones of Porthdinllaen lifeboat station at 2253 on Tuesday, August 31, 1976, that a boy was trapped under a rock at Porth-y- Nant. The coxswain informed his honorary secretary and the maroons were fired. At 2315 the 46' 9" Watson lifeboat, Charles Henry Ashley launched.

She took in tow the 14' clinker built boarding boat, which is fitted with a 20 hp Johnson outboard engine.

The wind was northerly force 2, with sea calm at launch. The tide was just starting to flood towards the east.

Visibility was good.

Charles Henry Ashley set off on an easterly course and, on arrival at the position of the reported casualty, fired flares. Under the command of Second Coxswain John Scott and Crew MemberGlyn Roberts, the boarding boat was despatched inshore through an 8' ground swell raised by the young flood setting easterly at 1 \ to 2 knots. The shore was peppered with medium sized rocks.

Going inshore, Second Coxswain Scott saw a flashlight on the beach. He found a channel between the rocks and held the boat while Glyn Roberts jumped ashore. On the beach were two policemen, a camper and a boy, who had got there by climbing round the base of the cliff. The policemen told Glyn Roberts that another boy was trapped up the cliff; the camper had tried to climb the cliff but he had found it impossible.

While Second Coxswain Scott took the boarding boat back to the lifeboat to keep Coxswain Jones up to date with what was happening ashore, Glyn Roberts took off his boots and socks and started to climb. The cliff is about 170' high, vertical in places, sloping to 10 degrees off the vertical in others. As, until 1958, it was used as a tip for unwanted granite from a nearby quarry, its face is covered in loose granite of varying size and shape. The boy was in a cleft about 80' up.

It was not possible to anchor the lifeboat because of foul ground, so, stemming the flood, Coxswain Jones kept the searchlight trained on the boy; in its glare Glyn Roberts could be seen climbing. The boarding boat remained lying off to help with illumination.

Upon reaching the boy, Glyn Roberts found him rigid with fear and trembling violently. After climbing higher he decided that the only way to rescue the boy was to descend, and after much coaxing, the boy agreed to follow him down the cliff. When about 30' from the bottom, Glyn Roberts fell to the beach, but he climbed up again and successfully brought the boy down. It had taken him, in all, three quarters of an hour.

Second Coxswain Scott took the boarding boat back in shore to pick up Glyn Roberts and the two boys. His original channel was now covered and he used the ground swell to 'rock hop' on to the beach. Both boys had to be dressed in lifejackets and carried to the boarding boat; they were not fit to attempt a climb along the foreshore accompanied by the police.

Now Second Coxswain Scott had to try to use the swell to 'rock hop' into clear water with the added responsibility of having two exhausted 14-year-old boys in his care. A mistake, and the boat would have crashed back on to the rocks. However, the lifeboat was reached successfully, the boys got aboard, taken down into the after cabin and given hot soup.

At 0214 on September 1, Charles Henry Ashley returned to station, where the two boys and Glyn Roberts, who had sustained many bruises and cuts, were treated by Dr D. G. Hughes- Thomas, honorary medical adviser.

For this service the bronze medal for gallantry was awarded to Crew MemberGlyn Roberts and the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum accorded to Second Coxswain John E. Scott.

Medal service certificates were presented to Coxswain Griffith J. Jones, Motor Mechanic Kenneth Fitzpatrick, Assistant Mechanic Ifor H. Griffiths and Crew Members Owen Roberts, James P. Bentley and John I. Griffiths..