Sub-zero escort THE 445-TON CARGO VESSEL Mare, of Honduras, on route from Rotterdam to Dundalk with a cargo of iron ore, ran into difficulties on the night of January 12, 1987 when her load shifted and she developed a 20 to 30 degree list, 28 miles west north west of Trevose Head, on the north Cornish coast.

At 1841 the honorary secretary of Padstow lifeboat station was warned by Falmouth coastguard that the vessel might require assistance and he agreed to assemble the crew at the boathouse in readiness.

The skipper/master of the Mare expressed concern about the vessel's situation in a heavy sea and force 8 wind and at 1925 the 47ft Tyne class lifeboat James Burrough launched from her boathouse.

On arrival alongside the casualty at 2104, the lifeboat found the Leander class frigate HMS Cleopatra and a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose standing by the stricken Mare.It was agreed that the James Burrough should escort the casualty to Padstow, with HMS Cleopatra providing a lee until reaching the shelter of land.

The helicopter was released at 2112 and, as Padstow was approached at 0208 on January 13, HMS Cleopatra also left, grateful thanks being expressed by Coxswain Trevor England and the crew of the James Burrough.

The Mare was safely escorted into Padstow Harbour and the lifeboat, unable to rehouse because of ice on the slipway, moored in the harbour.

During this 11 hour service in a full gale and temperatures well below freezing, ice had formed on the lifeboat's deck and exposed crew members' clothing had frozen.

A letter of appreciation from the director of the RNLI, Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, was sent to Coxswain Trevor England and his crew, congratulating them for their devotion to duty over a long period in near Arctic conditons, taking them to the verges of their own physical endurance..