Lifeboat Services from page 191 he would ground and he was advised to anchor.

A quarter of an hour later Pass of Dirriemore had dropped her anchor some seven miles south west of Hartland, and it held. By 0300 the wind had gone round to north by west and risen to strong gale, force 9.

City of Bristol continued to stand by.

She checked the tanker's position every quarter of an hour until the tug, Glen Garth, arrived at 0600, and then gave help by passing the tow. By 0800 the tow was attached. Pass of Dirriemore weighed anchor at 0830, Glen Garth began the tow to Milford Haven and the lifeboat was released.

While she had been standing by Pass of Dirriemore, City of Bristol, had herself experienced some electrical and mechanical troubles. Assistant Fleet Mechanic Anthony Dixon with the help of another crew member tried to make the necessary repairs at sea under the very difficult conditions, but, as the strong gale, now from north north west, had not abated, it was decided at 1200 to make for the shelter of Swansea Bay. City of Bristol anchored in Port Talbot Roads to complete her repairs at 1630.

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

Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Staff Coxswain Roger Smith and his crew.

Scotland South Division Stranded wildfowlers TWO WILDFOWLERS stranded by the flooding tide on Black Rocks, south of Troon Harbour, were reported to the honorary secretary of Troon lifeboat station by Clyde Coastguard at 0933 on Monday December 8, 1980. A third wildfowler had managed to swim ashore to raise the alarm. Maroons were fired at 0935 and Troon's 44ft Waveney lifeboat Connel Elizabeth Cargill slipped her moorings at 0940 under the command of Coxswain/ Mechanic Ian Johnson.

It was an overcast morning with a strong breeze to near gale, force 6 to 7, blowing from the south west. The tide was 2'/2 hours before high water and setting north at half a knot.

The harbour entrance was cleared at 0943 and a southerly course set towards Black Rocks some two miles distant. The rough seas were up to ten feet high and breaking and there was a low south-westerly ground swell.

Arriving off the rocks, Coxswain Johnson anchored in about 15 feet of water on the south side and a line was fired across to the two stranded men.

They were unable to recover the line the first time, but caught it successfully on the second attempt. Coxswain Johnson decided that in the prevailing conditions the safest way to take the two men off would be by veering down an inflatable dinghy which he had taken aboard in anticipation of such a situation.

Crew Member Roy Trewern immediately volunteered to take the dinghy ashore. He boarded her at 1010 and pulled himself on the line through the breaking seas to the rocks. On landing, he put a lifejacket on the first man and helped him into the dinghy, which was then pulled back to the lifeboat.

Crew Member Trewern remained on the rocks to look after the second man and make sure that the line to the dinghy did not foul on any obstructions.

Once the first man was aboard the lifeboat, Crew Member Trewern hauled the dinghy back ashore to take off the other man before finally being hauled back to the lifeboat himself.

Both the wildfowlers were taken below and treated for exposure.

The anchor was recovered at 1050 and course set for Troon Harbour. The two men were landed at the lifeboat station by 1120 and taken to hospital for a check up by a waiting ambulance.

The lifeboat was then refuelled and back on her moorings ready for service by 1145.

For this service a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholf, chairman of the Institution, was presented to Crew Member Roy Trewern, and a letter of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution was sent to Coxswain/ Mechanic Ian Johnson.

North Eastern Division Coble escort FLAMBOROUGH COASTGUARD told the honorary secretary of Flamborough lifeboat station at 1030 on Friday January 16 that the fishing coble Silver Line was hauling her lines north of Flamborough Head in heavy snow with a heavy northerly sea. All Filey cobles had returned to harbour escorted by Filey lifeboat and Silver Line would have to round the headland and make for Bridlington after recovery of her lines. A strong breeze, force 6, was blowing from the south east.

Silver Line could not be contacted by radio so the honorary secretary of Flamborough station and Coxswain James Major went to the cliff top from where they could see the coble. She was in a very dangerous position and it was decided that she would need to be escorted round the headland to harbour.

Maroons were fired at 1045 and Flamborough lifeboat, the 35ft 6in Liverpool Friendly Forester, was prepared for launching.

It was three hours before high water and the heavy, confused and breakingseas were coming from the worst direction for launching at Flamborough. The first attempt to launch into these seas failed because the haul-off warp anchor did not hold but started to pull home.

The lifeboat was hauled back on to her slipway to stand by for a launch as the tide made. The coble remained in the same position under the watch of the lifeboatmen.

At 1220, one hour before high water, Friendly Forester launched successfully into the very rough seas and continuous snow. By 1230 the lifeboat was in company with the coble and escorted her in to Bridlington Harbour. Both boats were safely berthed at 1345. As the weather was too bad for the lifeboat to be recovered at Flamborough, Friendly Forester remained in Bridlington Harbour overnight and was rehoused at her own station by 1630 on January 17.

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

Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Coxswain James Major, his crew and the shore helpers of Flamborough..