Six saved from two separate vessels in hurricane-force conditionsThe rescue of four fishermen and two yachtsmen, in separate incidents and in hurricane force winds, has earned Second Coxswain Rodney Burge of Amble lifeboat station the Thanks of the RNLI inscribed on Vellum.

In his official report on the service Tom Nutman, inspector of lifeboats for the eastern division, said that: 'Second Coxswain Burge showed great seamanship and awareness in handling his craft in appalling conditions'.It was at 1633 on Saturday 6 October 1990, that Amble lifeboat station honorary secretary Malcolm St Pritchard heard from Tyne Tees Coastguard that the fishing coble Treasure was in difficulties three miles north east of the station. An immediate launch was authorised and by 1640 the 44ft Waveney class lifeboat Thomas James King, which was on relief duty at Amble, slipped her moorings and put to sea on service under the command of Second Coxswain Rodney Burge.

Hurricane Force Once clear of the harbour, the lifeboat headed at full speed towards the anticipated position of the casualty, with the wind WNW Storm Force 10, gusting to Hurricane Force 11 and heavy overcast with rain squalls. The lifeboat pitched heavily in the steep breaking seas, almost lifting out of the water on occasion, and visibility was badly affected. An RAF Sea King helicopter had also been called to the casualty and hovered over the coble as a marker, but as the lifeboat approached the the helicopter was diverted to another incident.

The casualty, an open boat with no shelter, was pitching violently and the four crew were trying to bail out water with buckets. A particularly heavy swell sheered the coble violently towards the lifeboat, striking her on the starboard quarter. The coble's engine stopped and Second Coxswain Burge immediately cleared the casualty, circled and then approached along the starboard side.

All four of Treasure's crew immediately scrambled aboard the lifeboat while lifeboat crew member James Henderson boarded the coble to see whether she could be towed to harbour. Damage to strakes and stem showed this to be impossible so at 1730, with crew member Henderson back aboard the lifeboat, course was set for Amble Harbour with the survivors.However while she was returning Amble Coastguard reported that the 25ft yacht Fair Beagle was anchored just north of the pier and Second Coxswain Burge agreed to check on her condition. Speaking by radio to the skipper it was learned that there were doubts whether the anchor would hold and whether the engine would cope if the anchor did drag.

The best course of action was to tow the yacht into the safety of Amble and so Second Coxswain Burge brought the lifeboat in towards the yacht, stern first and in only 6ft to 8ft of water. The force of the wind was heeling the yacht over, but despite the difficult conditions a towline was successfully passed.

The two craft and six survivors were then brought safely into harbour and the lifeboat was moored, refuelled and ready for service again by 1820.

Mechanic Gordon Easton and crew members James Henderson, John Connell Jnr, John Sim and Gary Little were awarded Vellum Service Certificates for their part in the service..