John Hartland, a helmsman of the D class inshore lifeboat at Withernsea, joined the lifeboat crew in 1987.

In 1991 he was awarded a Bronze medal in recognition of his high standard of seamanship and great courage, when on 15 May the D class lifeboat landed the sick skipper from the yacht Fmngipcmi and transferred a crew member to the yacht - which was in difficulties two and a half miles eastnorth- east of the lifeboat station in an onshore near-gale and breaking seas up to 15ft high. The lifeboat was continually filling with water and the approach to the yacht was hampered by lines and gear trailing in the water.

John was also one of the crew members who gave invaluable help when they found themselves among the first on the scene of the Kegworth air crash on the Ml while returning from the London Boat Show in a mini-bus..