Ten stranded HARTLAND COASTGUARD informed the honorary secretary of Ilfracombe lifeboat station at 2115 on Monday March 28, 1983, that an adventure holiday party, three adult instructors and seven children, had not returned following a day spent exploring cliff caves in the Combe Martin area. At 2120 Hartland asked that the lifeboat be launched to provide illumination from the sea to help the Coastguard Cliff Rescue Unit in its search. The crew were assembled and at 2135 Ilfracombe's 37ft Oakley lifeboat Lloyds II was launched off the beach and, under the command of Coxswain David Clemence, set out eastwards for Combe Martin.

It was an overcast evening but clear.

A gentle breeze, force 3, was blowing from north north west and the sea was slight. The tide was ebbing.

The three-mile passage to the search area was made close inshore at full speed. On approaching Little Hangman, on the east of Combe Martin Bay, numerous lights could be seen on the cliff tops. As the lights were misleading to Coxswain Clemence, he asked thatthe shore search party should extinguish all their lights so that he could identify the lights of the people who were in trouble. The searchers' lights were turned off and from the remaining lights it was possible for the coxswain to pinpoint the position of the adventure party; they appeared to be stranded a considerable distance above sea level, on a ledge beneath an overhanging cliff.

Coxswain Clemence manoeuvred the lifeboat within 40 yards of the cliff.

From this position it could be seen that the party had become separated and that three were stranded 30 feet above sea level and the remaining seven about 20 feet higher up again.

At Little Hangman the onshore force 3 north-westerly breeze had built up a slight to moderate sea which was occasionally breaking over the boulders and rocks at the foot of the cliffs. The night was dark but clear, the spring tide, falling rapidly, was in the fourth hour of ebb. Taking into consideration the length of time the ten people had been exposed to the elements, Coxswain Clemence decided to take them off rather than wait for the tide to recede far enough for them to climb down and walk along the shoreline to safety. So, at 2210, the lifeboat stood off in ten feet of water while her 9ft inflatable dinghy, manned by Emergency Mechanic Robert Thompson and Crew Member John Clemence, was used to ferry everyone out. John Clemence was landed ashore to help the stranded people down the cliff and into the inflatable dinghy.

The operation was not without difficulty.

On first landing John Clemence was almost washed into the sea by a waist-high wave and climbing up anddown the narrow ledge which provided the footing for the children and their instructors was very difficult. Meanwhile, Emergency Mechanic Thompson displayed great stamina and prowess in holding the dinghy in position to take off the people; he had to choose exactly the right moments to come into the beach amid the boulders and rocks; the surge and backwash of the waves also made it imperative that the timing of the orders to those boarding the dinghy were clear and concise. Altogether six return trips were made, but by 2320 everyone was safely aboard the lifeboat.

Throughout this time, on the rapidly falling tide, Coxswain Clemence had to use his considerable local knowledge.

Handing over the wheel to Second Coxswain Colin Thadwell, the coxswain was able to take his decisions from the best vantage points, ensuring that the lifeboat kept a minimum distance from where the people were embarking under the cliffs and making sure that the uncovering rocks presented no dangers.

The crew on board the lifeboat also maintained a sharp lookout as well as taking care of the people coming aboard and providing them with hot drinks and blankets.

At 2320 the lifeboat informed the Coastguard of her expected time of arrival at Ilfracombe and also requested an ambulance as several of the children were suffering from severe cold. The return passage was made at full speed and the three adults and seven children were landed ashore to a waiting ambulance at 2345; after being treated for slight hypothermia they were later released from hospital. By 0115 on Tuesday March 29 the lifeboat was rehoused.

Letters of thanks and donations were later received by Ilfracombe lifeboat station from masters at the children's school, from parents and from the children themselves.

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

Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Coxswain David W. Clemence and his crew: Second Coxswain Colin D. Thadwell, Motor Mechanic Wayland Smith, Emergency Mechanic Robert W. Thompson and Crew Members John A. Clemence, John W. Fennell and David P. Clemence..