Cut off by tide TENBY COASTGUARD informed the deputy launching authority of Tenby lifeboat station at 1945 on Sunday May 15,1983, that two people were cut off by the tide at Freshwater East, westward along the coast. Five minutes later the relief D class inflatable lifeboat temporarily on duty at Tenby launched on service manned by Coxswain Alan Thomas as helmsman and Motor Mechanic Charles Crockford as his crew.

A gentle breeze, force 3, gusting to moderate, force 4, was blowing from the south west and once outside the harbour area the sea was moderate. It was an hour before high water.

The lifeboat maintained full speed for Freshwater East Bay, some eight miles west of Caldy Island. On arrival, at 2015, two young boys were seen sheltering in a gully at the foot of high cliffs.

By now the wind had backed to the south east and freshened to a moderate breeze, force 4, while a moderate southwesterly swell was building up a five to six foot surge at the foot of the cliffs and into the gully. The two boys had retreated back up the gully where there was a small shingle beach.

There were several large, flat rocks to seaward of the shingle beach and, realising that it would be impossible to take the inflatable lifeboat round them, Coxswain Thomas decided to run her up against the outermost rock and try to hold her there while Motor Mechanic Crockford scrambled over the rocks to bring the boys back to the boat.

On leaping ashore Charles Crockford missed his footing and fell into the sea, but he climbed back up and by leaping from rock to rock reached the boys at the head of the gully. Alan Thomas, meanwhile, jumped ashore on to the outer rock to fend off the inflatable lifeboat: there was the ever-present danger that the boat might be swept over the top as the water surged in and out of the gully.

Charles Crockford escorted and helped the boys, one at a time, from the shingle out across the rocks to Alan Thomas, who managed to get them into the lifeboat. The rise and fall of the surge was increasing all the time and the second boy was just safely in the boat when the lifeboatmen saw a very large wave, which would certainly have swept the crew and the boys over the rocks and probably have damaged the boat, building up out to sea. Both lifeboat-men leapt into the inflatable boat and they succeeded in clearing the gully before it was too late.

The two boys were landed into the care of the Coastguard at Freshwater East beach and the lifeboat then headed back to station. With the wind, which had continued to rise, now a fresh breeze, force 5, and the sea rough, the return trip took nearly an hour. It was 2125 when the inflatable lifeboat arrived; by 2130 she was refuelled and once again ready for service.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Coxswain W. Alan Thomas and Motor Mechanic Charles H. Crockford.

Both the boys rescued wrote to Coxswain Thomas, each boy sending his pocket money for ten weeks, £5, for the lifeboat service..