October hurricane BRONZE MEDAL AT 0559 ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1987 during the height of the infamous hurricane which hit Southern England that day, Thames Coastguard MRSC reported to Coxswain/Mechanic Robin Castle, of Sheerness that red flares had been sighted at a position off All Hallows, Isle of Grain.

An hour earlier, following consultation with station honorary secretary Captain William Patterson, Coxswain Castle and a volunteer crew had moved the 44ft Waveney class lifeboat Helen Turnbull from her normal berth in Sheerness Camber Basin because of the violent south-westerly force 11 storm.

The boarding of the lifeboat was a hazardous venture due to the movement of the vessel and the total darkness following a power blackout caused by the storm. Many of the crew had left their homes in a damaged condition.

At 0520 it was reported to Thames Coastguard that the Helen Turnbull was secure alongside the pumping plant quay at Queenborough. The passage had been very difficult because of spray and spume reducing visibility to near objects.

Captain Patterson and Coxswain Castle discussed the report of red flares and at 0600 Thames Coastguard wereinformed that Helen Turnbull would proceed with extreme caution to investigate.

Before leaving the shelter of the harbour Coxswain Castle ordered safety lines to be rigged aft of the wheelhouse and that all crew should activate their lifejacket lights.

As the lifeboat proceeded to Garrison Point, a large breaking sea hit the lifeboat on the port quarter and swung her beam onto sea. It was only by skilful use of the throttles that she was brought back on course.

At 0620 the lifeboat rounded Garrison Point at the River Medway entrance.

The wind was south west with a speed in excess of 90 knots being recorded in the port operations lookout. Steep breaking seas with heights of 20-25 feet caused the lifeboat to pitch and roll violently. Visibility was almost nil due to the spray, spume and frequent rain squalls. Navigation was possible only by radar.

The lifeboat turned towards the Grain Swatchway when abeam of Nore Swatch Buoy. The new course resulted in a severe rolling motion often in excess of 70 degrees. By this time Grain Coastguard mobile had sighted the casualty from the shore and reported it to be a small angling boat with two people aboard. He also reported that he was losing sight of them due to reducing visibility.

The violent motion of the lifeboat threw Second Coxswain Bailey against the radar and although no injury was caused it was some moments before the radar trace could be regained. The echo sounders were giving erratic readings because of the violent motion and the increasingly shallow water.At 0717 a red flare was sighted briefly inshore of the lifeboat and soon afterwards the casualty was sighted.

Coxswain Castle cautiously approached the casualty. Medway Port Operations had reported that high water had occurred an hour earlier and predicted that the height was one metre less than normal. The tide was now ebbing. It was impossible to float the small inflatable carried by the lifeboat towards the casualty because of the direction of the wind and tide and a rocket line would not reach in the storm. The casualty was being swamped over its gunwales. The lifeboat crew tried using a loud hailer to instruct the crew to cut the anchor but they could not make themselves heard.

' By the time their instructions were heard, the lifeboat was almost alongside and the two survivors were quickly hauled aboard. Both men were wearing flotation aids but were cold and wet having been afloat all night. They were taken below, strapped in and looked after.

At 0752, as soon as the survivors were on board. Coxswain Castle manoeuvred slowly astern to get clear of the shallow area and keep the bow to sea. However, the strong wind caught the bow and before the effect could be countered, the vessel swung to starboard and the stern went aground.

For more than 30 minutes Coxswain Castle and his crew attempted to free the lifeboat. Second Coxswain Bailey and Crew Member Richard Rogers volunteered to put on drysuits and entered the water attached to a lifeline.

They attempted to float the spare anchor seaward so that the lifeboat could be pulled off. However, the spray made breathing very difficult and at one stage Richard Rogers was pulled underwater when the lifeline became trapped in the anchor as it was submerged.

At 0800 the main engines were shut down, all crew and the two survivors were instructed to remain below, with all the watertight doors closed. Coxswain Castle and Second Coxswain Bailey remained in the wheelhouse.

The lifeboat settled onto the sand on an even keel. To conserve battery power only the VHP radio was left on to maintain contact with the shore. Once the water had receded from around the hull an external inspection revealed thatthere had been no damage and both rudders and propellers were clear.

At 1330 the younger of the two survivors left the lifeboat and, ignoring the advice of the lifeboatmen, he started to walk ashore. A careful watch was kept on him until he reached the shore and was met by Grain Coastguard.

During the afternoon the anchor was repositioned and preparations were made for refloating the lifeboat.

At 1817 the lifeboat refloated and all the compartments were checked for leaks. The weather had by now moderated to south west force 5/6. The lifeboat was gently pulled off the sand by using the anchor and the steering and engine movements were checked. All was well.

Sheerness lifeboat then returned to station, arriving at 1915. The Helen Turnbull was refuelled and ready for service at 1955.

Following this service the RNLI's bronze medal for gallantry has been awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Robin Castle and the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum awarded to Second Coxswain Dennis Bailey and Crew Member Richard Rogers. Bronze medal service certificates go to Crew Members Peter Bullin, Eamonn French and Brian Spoor.

A letter from Rear Admiral W J Graham, the RNLI's director, was sent to Captain William Patterson, thanking him for the important part he played in the successful completion of this service..