Two calls NEWTON AUXILIARY COASTGUARD informed the honorary secretary of Craster lifeboat station at 1100 on Saturday May 1 that three men had moored their fishing boat at Newton Haven, a few miles to the north of Craster, and, trying to row ashore, had been blown on to rocks. Maroons were fired and the D class inflatable lifeboat was launched on service at 1110.

It was an overcast, gusty, morning with sleet showers and a near gale, force 7, blowing from north west. It was one hour after high water.

The inflatable lifeboat left harbour and headed north with Crew Member Keith Williams on the helm. Once Castle Point had been cleared the full weight of the wind was felt and in seaswhich were rough, short and broken speed had to be reduced to half. As the lifeboat approached Newton Haven, Crew Member Neil Robson, the more senior man with greater local knowledge of the outlying rocks, took over the helm. The three fishermen were sighted, stranded on the rocks, and by 1120 the lifeboat was being taken in towards them.

Just at that time an RAF Sea King helicopter arrived overhead and the lifeboat held off while a winchman was put down to check the situation; it was decided that the lifeboat should take off the fishermen. So, unlocking the outboard engine and holding it in position to reduce the danger of damage among the rocks, Helmsman Neil Robson approached from the lee side and, by 1140, the three fishermen had been safely taken aboard the lifeboat. The seas at this time were five to six feet high.

The survivors were landed in Newton Haven Bay and the lifeboat returned to station, arriving at 1230. She was rehoused, refuelled and ready for service by 1240.

A quarter of an hour later Newton Auxiliary Coastguard reported to Craster honorary secretary that a dinghy had capsized off Newton Haven after hitting a submerged rock and a man had been thrown into the water. Manned by the same crew as before, Craster's D class inflatable lifeboat was launched on service again within minutes.

With the wind still north west force 7 and the seas rough, the lifeboat once again made the passage to Newton Haven, arriving at 1310. She started a search of the area but, finding no one, beached at 1330 for further information.

A woman who had seen the incident told the lifeboatmen that the man from the dinghy had managed to get ashore.

By 1400 the inflatable lifeboat was back at station and by 1430 she was rehoused. As, on the return passage, loss of engine power had been experienced, the boat was put off service until repairs could be made. She was back on service again by 1600 the following day.

For this service framed letters of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, were presented to Helmsman A. Neil Robson and Crew Member J. Keith Williams..