Ijmuiden - Cromer Strong links are being forged between Cromer lifeboat station on one side of the North Sea and the Netherlands lifeboat station at Ijmuiden on the other. Over the weekend of May 8 to 11, Ijmuiden lifeboat Johanna Louisa (seen here alongside at Wells), visited Cramer, crewed by Inspector Dirk Van Noordt, Coxswain T. Haasnool, Mate Rein Hennevanger, Engineer Joe Kloosterhuis and Crew Members Wim Schotvanger and Johnny Blokker. The Dutch crews' wives came across by aeroplane to join in what was to prove a very full and happy weekend, in which branch and crew members from Wells and Sheringham also took part. As well as trips out in Ijmuiden and Cromer lifeboats, visits to Sheringham and Wells and to RAF Coltishall, there was time for several social gatherings, including a traditional Cromer crab salad lunch prepared for the visitors by- Coxswain Richard Davies and his wife Julie at their home.

photograph by courtesy of Frank Muirhead.