Medal rescue recalled With reference to an article in your Winter 1986/87 journal The RNLl in Ireland you may be interested in a conversation I have recently had with my husband's 104-year-old grandfather.

When he was six years old his father obtained the position as a Station Master (officer) in the Coastguard at the twin station of Ballywalter and Ballyhalbert. Whilst at this station a schooner went on the rocks a few miles out and although an RNLI boat was available they were unable to muster the correct number of crew.

So father, with another man, set off in an open boat with oars and lug sail and rescued three men. Unfortunately, due to the wind and waves they were unable to row back to shore and found themselves being hurled up Belfast Loch, finally coming ashore at Clandeboye.

A party was going on at the Big House for a boy who later became a Viceroy of India.

The men from the house hauled up the boat and attended to the wrecked crew and sent the rescuers home in a coach and pair.

They were both awarded a medal from the Board of Trade and promotion to a bigger station, nine miles from Dublin.

Whilst I appreciate it is not a story of the RNLI it illuminates the coastal history of its time (late nineteenth century) when the RNLI was improving its capabilities.—MRS j NORTHAM HAYNES, Woolston, Southampton.

Baltimore Tribute I read with interest your article on The RNLI in Ireland and thought you would like to know that we were rescued in the small hours last August by the Baltimore lifeboat.

We set out from Baltimore aboard the Crescent Moon, an Impala yacht, in fine weather and became stuck on rocks off a nearby island.

We were rescued by the RNLI crew who were good humoured, solicitous of our welfare and generally made afrightening experience into one of complete calm and confidence.

We would like to pay tribute to the Baltimore lifeboat crew and send our thanks to them and all those who risk their lives to help others.—MRS ROSEMARY MELLOR, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol.

Message received . . .

As one who respects the power of the sea and appreciates its many dangers, I have the highest regard for those brave, tough and efficient lifeboat crews.

There are no 'boys' among them, as young as some may be, they are men, with the exception of those two stout hearted and brave young women to be found manning Irish lifeboats! Although having been a skipper of the Brighton Deep Sea Anglers' Club for the last five years my only involvement with a lifeboat operation occurred about 20 years ago. I was then a policeman at Seaford and someone phoned, reporting what he thought was an overturned boat floating off the coast. I had just come on night duty at 9.45pm and was sent to the seafront to meet the informant.

Being a mid-summer evening it was still light enough to see a fair distance.

The informant quickly indicated the object about 3/4 mile out, wallowing in an almost flat sea. The Newhaven lifeboat was already circling the object, then it started moving slowly towards the beach leaving the object behind. The object was obviously nothing for further concern and not wanting the crew to waste any more time searching I attempted to communicate with them by means of my police lamp, using it as an Aldis lamp. I selected the briefest possible message, one which was both easy to send and easy to read provided, of course, that at least one member of the crew had a knowledge of Morse! At regular intervals I flashed You've seen it.

However, the lifeboat continued its course towards me, perhaps coming inshore to investigate the 'mysterious flashing light'! Closer and closer it came until it was only about 100 yards out. I cupped my hands and shouted the same message but, with their engine running, they could not hear. At last the engine was switched off and despite having almost lost my voice by then I shouted once more. Much to my relief a crew member raised his hand and waved in acknowledgement, the engine burst into life again and the lifeboat moved off towards its base.

It seemed regrettable that there was not a more efficient method of communication between Police and lifeboat in such circumstances, which could have been far more serious.

Police personal radios were nonexistent in those days. As beat policemen now have local radios the problem will have been overcome, just a quick message back to the Police Station, from where it would be telephoned to the Coastguard for onward radio transmission to the lifeboat.—JOHN L CLARKE, (now retired from Police Force), Hove, Sussex.

. . . and understood Your article in a recent edition of THE LIFEBOAT on a rescue from the beach east of Lyme Regis revived memories— some good, some bad.

Myself and my son had walked from Lyme to Charmouth one April, looking for fossils on the beach. On returning, we found the tide higher and our way home cut off. Eventually after a few anxious moments my son—who plays rugby for Cambridge—managed to climb to the top of the concrete wall and pull me up as well. I can well imagine how less fit people could find this spot a death trap, unable to go forward or back.

After reading your article it suddenly occurred to me that the solution to this problem is to install some step irons in the concrete wall so that anyone that does become trapped can merely climb out.

As I recall, the top of the concrete wall is close to houses and the road! If a 'ladder' of only 4/5 rungs were provided at say three locations with possibly a notice saying "STEPS " then I believe lives could be saved.

May I suggest that you pass a copy of this letter to your Lyme Regis lifeboat crew so that they may take up the matter with the local authorities?— J w RABBETS (Life Member), Over, Cambridge.

• Pressure by Lyme Regis branch and others upon West Dorset District Council has now resulted in a series of iron rungs being attached to the wall, to provide an escape route—Editor.

Canoe help? Over the next 12 to 18 months it is my intention to collect together humorous stories with a strong canoeing theme. I then intend to compile a small book very much along the lines of Worse Things Happen At Sea (which is available from RNLI Trading and is highly recommended).

My aim is to raise money for the RNLI and the BCD (The British Canoe Union). The proceeds from sales will be split between these two bodies.

So, if you have ever been given a cheeky wave or have served a mug of hot tea to a lone canoeist in a force 6 or have any humorous anecdotes then please do drop me a line.— KEN SNAPE, 723 Abbey View, Garston, Nr Watford, Herts WD2 4RZ.

GPs' tonic Being an active fund raiser as well as a Governor of the Institution I have for many years received a copy of the Journal at this address as well as my home.

I am ashamed to admit that it has taken a long time before the thought of placing one of them in a useful position dawned on me, the doctor's waiting room, always short of decent reading matter. It lasted less than a week before someone repossessed the same.— L E BELLHOUSE New Briggate, Leeds..