FOLLOWING A MESSAGE received at 1553 on Saturday March 29, that a.sailing longboat from Wellesley Nautical School Community Home with six crew and an instructor on board had capsized one mile south of the fairway buoy, Blyth D class inflatable lifeboat manned by Helmsman Dallas Taylor and Crew Member Les Fay launched at 1557, and the 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat Shoreline under the command of Coxswain George Turner at 1600. Blyth pilot cutter also set out for the casualty.

It was a fine day with good visibility but a fresh to strong breeze, force 5 to 6, was blowing from the north north west and the sea was moderate. The tide was high.

The inflatable lifeboat reached the casualty at 1603 and found five young men clinging to the upturned hull of the longboat; by 1612 she had picked them all up, while a yacht in the vicinity, Enchanter, skippered by Mr R. Charlton, had picked up the two remaining men who had become separated from their boat. Blyth inflatable lifeboat returned to harbour by 1622 and Enchanter soon afterwards and by 1630 all seven survivors, suffering from shock, were on their way to hospital.

After landing the survivors, the inflatable lifeboat returned to help Shoreline with the capsized training boat. Shoreline had the boat in tow by 1647, reached harbour at 1830 and was rehoused and once again ready for service by 1900.

While returning to harbour the inflatable lifeboat was diverted to give help to a sick man on the pier, but she, too, was rehoused by 1905.

A letter received from Mr N. M.

Gladstone, a member of Northumbria Police and a foundation manager of Wellesley Nautical School, commended the first-class seamanship and sound common sense shown by the lifeboatmen, and for this service a letter conveying the appreciation of the Institution to both crews and signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Dr Reginald Carr, honorary secretary of Blyth lifeboat station..