Good will visit: Eastbourne lifeboat set out last December to make the annual delivery of Christmas presents from the local townspeople to the Trinity House men of the Royal Sovereign light tower. When they got out there (right) they found visibility down to 50 yards, a force 6 wind and a 3 knot tide running - and the tower's hydraulic winch had stopped working. In spite of these difficulties the parcels were hauled up by hand and the light tower men had a happy Christmas as a result.

photograph by courtesy of Eldon Johnson.