from page 82 ties, exhausted by the strength of the tide and the coldness of the water. He towed them to Cowloe Rocks, which were much nearer than the shore, and told them to clamber over the top to the shoreward side while he paddled his board round to meet them.

Second Coxswain John Fender had seen that there might be people in trouble and as he was running to the lifeboat house he could see the two swimmers struggling hard to climb over the rocks and knew that help would be needed.

Fortunately a 9ft inflatable dinghy, to be carried on board Sennen Cove's 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat Diana White, had been delivered some 18 hours earlier and was already inflated. Second Coxswain Pender launched her down the slip and brought the two swimmers, who were visitors from Germany, ashore. One, a boy in his teens, was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Nick Bryant and Second Coxswain John Pender.

Scotland North Division Small trawler sinks SHETLAND COASTGUARD received a mayday call at 0248 on Wednesday January 16, from the fishing vessel Brighter Morn saying that she had run aground on The Ord, a headland ten miles south east of Lerwick; she was holed and sinking and her crew of four were taking to their liferaft.

The coastguard called the honorary secretary of Lerwick lifeboat station and within 16 minutes of the mayday the 52ft Arun lifeboat Soldian, under the command of Coxswain/Mechanic Hewitt Clark, slipped her mooring and set course for the casualty.

It was almost low water on a fine night with a light breeze blowing from the north west.

A red flare was seen over The Ord at 0309 and a radar sighting was made five minutes later. At 0317 the lifeboat was alongside the liferaft and by 0320 the four fishermen had been taken on board. The fishing boat had sunk, but the liferaft was recovered and the lifeboat then returned to harbour. The four men had been landed and the lifeboat was back on her moorings and ready for service by 0346.

For this prompt service a letter of appreciation to Coxswain/Mechanic Hewitt Clark and his crew signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Magnus Shearer, honorary secretary of Lerwick lifeboat station..