Reported missing DOVER STRAIT COASTGUARD informed the honorary secretary of Dover lifeboat station at 1915 on Sunday, November 7, 1976, that a man had been reported missing and assumed overboard from the cross-Channel ferry Free Enterprise VIII; it was requested that the lifeboat should join other shipping in a search.

In moderate visibility, with a fresh to strong southerly wind and squalls of rain and hail, the 44' Waveney lifeboat Faithful Forester under the command of Coxswain/Mechanic Arthur Liddon set out at 1925 into rough seas. It was then four hours before high water.

The search proved fruitless but the Coastguard had mounted a search of the shore-line and at 2130 asked that the lifeboat be diverted to take off some of their men who had been cut off by the tide near Langdon Stairs.

Inshore there was a heavy swell and the lifeboat put in as near as possible to allow Second Coxswain Anthony Hawkins, who volunteered, to paddle in on the inflatable dinghy. When only a few yards from the shore, breaking surf capsized the dinghy, flinging both it and Second Coxswain Hawkins ashore.

Fortunately no injury was sustained save bruising. The dinghy capsized again and it was decided to abandon this method of rescuing the two men who, by this time, were suffering from exposure. The two additional lifejackets which Second Coxswain Hawkins had taken with him had been washed out of the dinghy when she capsized and so he took off his own lifejacket and jersey to help the two men to keep warm.

A line was fired from the lifeboat but there was nowhere on the cliff where it could be anchored to enable the breeches buoy to be used, so it was secured to thedinghy which was hauled, empty, back to the lifeboat. While she was being recovered, Faithful Forester rolled violently, causing one of the crew to lose his footing; falling forward he injured his face on the bucking dinghy.

Meanwhile, ashore, Second Coxswain Hawkins had stayed with the two men while, above, a cliff rescue team was mustering. In due course a man was lowered, but because of the large overhang it was decided not to attempt to re-climb but to await the ebbing tide; because the steps at Langdon could be dangerously slippery it was further decided that the four men would walk to Dover Docks, followed by the lifeboat.

A request for warm drinks, clothing and a tarpaulin was met by the police at 0213 and by 0310 the party was reported safe. The lifeboat returned to her moorings and was made ready for service at 0357.

It was later learned that the man reported missing from the ferry had been found aboard and a donation was made to the station branch funds by his parents.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Captain Nigel Dixon, RN, Director of the Institution, was sent to Second Coxswain Anthony Hawkins..