Blown offshore AT MERSEA ISLAND in the early evening of Sunday September 11, 1983, although the water was smooth off Cooper's Beach, a north-easterly near gale, force 7, was blowing off the shore and the tide was ebbing. At 1724 Thames Coastguard informed the honorary secretary of West Mersea lifeboat station that a small pram dinghy had been reported in difficulty off this weather shore; a man and his three children were on board. Partly swamped, with her outboard engine broken down, the dinghy was being carried towards the rough seas.

West Mersea's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat Alexander Duckham, manned by Helmsman Peter Clarke and Crew Members Stuart Belbin and Paul Fletcher, was launched at 1726 and reached the pram dinghy six minutes later, just in time to snatch the man and his children to safety. They were landed on the beach and the Atlantic 21 was back on station at 1803.

For this service a letter signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, expressing the Institution's appreciation to Helmsman Peter Clarke and Crew Members Stuart S. Belbin and Paul G.

Fletcher, was sent to Mr R. G. Hill, West Mersea honorary secretary..