THE LIFEGUARDS Thanks on Vellum Lifeguard Mirk John ion lor his 'courage, determination in heavy surf conditions ar d professional efficiency ' Chiel Executive's LeTter of Thanks Lifeguard Alan Wheeler for tus 'courage, determination in heavy surf conditions and for the assistance ha ottered to ensure a successful outcome to the rescue.'This was definitely the most difficult and dangerous rescue I have carried out in the four years I have been lifeguarding.' Lifeguard Mark JohnstonFirst ever bravery award for an RNLI lifeguard Mark Johnson made RNLI history in December when he was awarded the Thanks on Vellum after saving the life of a man who was being washed out to sea. Mark is the first RNLI beach lifeguard to receive such an honour. Fellow lifeguard Alan Wheeler received a Letter of Thanks from the RNLI's Chief Executive.

Mark and Alan were patrolling Mawgan Porth beach in Newquay on the afternoon of Wednesday, 8 August 2001 when they spotted three people in difficulties. The bathers were caught in a rip current and were drifting out to sea, north of the beach's bathing zone.

Despite the clear, sunny weather the sea was dangerous with high surf. Mark and Alan became concerned for the safety of the bathers, who were now 150m from the shore, and immediately paddled out on rescue boards to warn them to return.

'My first thoughts were to get them in as fast as I could' said Mark. 'I didn't have time to think really.' The lifeguards reached the bathers, a few minutes later and realised that the two children, who were on body boards, could not get back to shore without help. Alan reassured the children and told them what The shelving, sandy beaches at Mawgan Porth are a popular tourist attraction.

to do as he pushed and towed them safely back to the beach. This was an unusually tricky and physically demanding task because of the surf conditions and the state of children - one of whom was particularly frightened.

Meanwhile, Mark had paddled over to a casualty who was desperately trying to swim back to shore.

The man, who was not wearing a wetsuit and did not have a surfboard, collapsed with exhaustion on Mark's rescue board. By now larger seas were breaking but smaller waves were creating lulls in the surf. When Mark tried to pull the man further on to the board they were hit by a large wave - washing the board and the casualty away.

After the wave had passed Mark had trouble finding the man until he noticed a dark shapebeneath the surface. He dived down to grab the casualty and, after a struggle, managed to bring him to the surface. Luckily, the man was still breathing.

'He was in a very poor state when I reached him' remembered Mark. 'I thought, at one stage, he was going to give up the struggle to stay afloat.' With the rescue board now gone, Mark had to use a rescue technique known as free swimming to tow the man in. 1 was confident I could get the casualty in' he said. 'My mam concern was whether he would remain conscious until I got him to the beach. When I was towing him he was semiconscious.' By this time, Alan had safely delivered to two children back to shore and was paddling back out through the surf to help Mark and the casualty on the final part of their journey. When they had got the man back to the beach he was still breathing but suffering from shock. 'We were all very relieved when the three casualties were safely back on the beach' said Mark.

The lifeguards assessed the man's condition and gave him first aid before he was evacuated to hospital by Cornwall Air Ambulance.

'I felt elated, we all did. It was a great team effort' said Mark. 'A few days later the man returned to the beach with a letter of thanks and a crate of beer for the lifeguard team.' George Rawlinson, divisional inspector of lifeboats for the south.division, said 'The whole incident was demanding and testing due to the heavy surf conditions. Both lifeguards had to call on all their professional and physical training. Mark showed particular strength and determination in saving the casualty, especially as he had become seperated from his rescue board. Alan offered exemplary assistance to the two children in a challenging and potentially life-threatening situation.' 'I feel honoured to receive the award, but I feel it is not just for me, it's for all the lifeguards over the years who have carried out serious rescues and gone unrecognised.' Mark JohnstonContinuing a long tradition It is worth remembering that the first Gold Medal ever presented by the RNLI was for a beach rescue.

The incident took place on 8 March 1824, just four days after the founding of the Institution.

The Swedish brig Carl Jean, bound from Alicante to Gefle and laden with salt and casks of wine, was seen to be in difficulties broadside on to the shore at Whitepit, near Christchurch, Hampshire. Commander Charles Fremantle RN, employed by HM Coastguard at Lymington, was the first to react to her plight, when he plunged into the surf with a line around him. The ship, her mainmast over the side, was in imminent danger of breaking up as her hull pounded the bottom.

The intrepid commander swam to the wreck and managed to get her boats cut clear, only to see them immediately filled by the heavy seas. Unable to persuade the brig's crew to act on any of his other suggested means of rescue, he re-entered the water and was hauled back to the shore by the line, arriving exhausted and unconscious on the beach. When the ship began to break up, her crew were fortunate enough to reach shore using the fallen mainmast.

Many other beach-based rescues have taken place throughout the 178-year history of the RNLI and it is only fitting that beach lifeguards now formally take their place in the Institution alongside lifeboatmen and women. Mark Johnston has become the first beach rescue lifeguard to receive an award from the RNLI but he will certainly not be the last.THE LIFEBOATS Treatddur Bay Atlant* 75 lifeboal B 731 Dorothy Setitti Funding A generou* gift from Mr Reg Dawe of Hereford D class lifeboat D-441 Irish Divtr Funding The Irish Underwater Council Aiun class lifeboat ON-1 1 23 62-37 Kennrttt Thelwall Funding The generous bequeit of Mr Kennelh Thelwall THE CREW Atlantic 7S lifeboal Helmsman Chris Pritchard Crew Members Terry Pendlebury Dave Hick etts D class lifeboat Helms man Anthony Sum man Crew Members Lee Duncan Aubrey D'ggle Arun class lif eboit Coxswain Brian Thomson Crew Members Iwan Williams Sean Doody Robin Owen Stuart Cramp Geoffrey Shaw TREARDDUR BAY LIFEBOAT STATION Established 1967 Previous Medals Bronze 19711x21Joint rescue saves water-skiersOn Saturday, 8 September 2001, three lifeboats, two helicopters and two cliff rescue teams were called out to rescue three people from a speedboat that had capsized in a notoriously dangerous area. The wind was blowing at over 40mph and there was a strong tidal race. Below is Trearddur Bay helmsman Chris Pritchard's account of the service.

The lifeboat was launched at 1 pm to a report of a capsized craft with three or four people in the water off the promontory of Penrhyn Mawr, near an outcrop of rocks known as the Fangs, almost three miles from the lifeboat station.

While on route to the Fangs it became obvious that conditions were going to be difficult- The tide was in full flood and the whole area appeared as a wall of white water. A north-westerly wind at force 6 or 7, with gusts of 40mph, was blowing against the tide, making sea conditions extremely hazardous.

Avoiding a wall of standing 5m waves, we proceeded through a narrow inshore gully to enter the sea area west of the Fangs and into the tidal race. We continued for about 400m but due to the atrocious sea conditions we saw nothing.

I then began a parallel search across the width of the tidal race. Sea conditions were worsening rapidly with waves now over 6m in a confused sea. As the search continued, we were moving westwards and ever closer to the South Stack. The length of each leg of the search was becoming longer as the width of the tidal race widened the further down tide it got from the Fangs.

Meanwhile, the D class lifeboat Irish Diver was launched to assist. As it approached the search area, I radioed the crew to take extreme care and not to enter the tidal race but to carry out a close inshore search in the calmer waters from the Fangs and up to South Stack - a distance of two miles. I thought that the numerous back-eddies in this area might have taken the casualties close inshore to the foot of the cliffs.

This was now turning into a major incident. The Sea King helicopter from 122 Squadron, Valley, had been asked to assist in the search but would not be able to arrive for 25-30 minutes, as she was some 100 miles away at a separate incident at Southport. The Coastguard also requested the services of the North Wales Police helicopter, which was about 20 minutes away. At the same time the Holyhead Arun class lifeboat was launched to make the four mile journey to the search area and the cliff rescue teams from Holyhead and Rhoscolyn began searching the coastline from the Fangs to South Stack.

We had by now been searching in the tidal race for 45-50 minutes, with each leg being about one mile long due to the widening of the race stream.

Our search had taken us down stream as far as South Stack Island and it was here we came across some debris, including bits of water-skiingequipment, that we were fairly certain had come from the capsized boat.

I transmitted this information to the Coastguard who passed it on to the police helicopter, which had just arrived on scene. It flew over us out to sea and almost immediately spotted the casualties about 100m in front of us. At first we couldn't find them because of the height of the waves but we soon caught sight of them and hurried over.

We immediately brought them aboard the lifeboat and checked that there had just been the three of them on the boat. It was apparent that two of the three were in deep hypothermia and were not able to help themselves get aboard, so it took considerable skill and effort from Terry and Dave to bodily lift them on board while the lifeboat was constantly rising and falling.

By now the Holyhead Arun had arrived and we transferred the two badly hypothermic casualties onto the lifeboat. The RAF Sea King had now arrived on scene and it was decided to airlift them direct to Ysbyty Gwynedd, the nearest hospital. One of them was successfully winched aboard the helicopter but the condition of the remaining casualty was rapidly deteriorating and it was too risky to winch him onto the helicopter. Instead, the lifeboat took him back to Holyhead Marina where he was transferred to the waiting helicopter, which had landed on a nearby green, and rushed to hospital.

The third casualty returned to Trearddur Bay on board the Atlantic 75, where there was an ambulance waiting for him and he was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd as a precautionary measure.

All three were treated for exposure and monitored for secondary drowning. Thankfully, they all made a full recovery.

This was a particularly difficult and dangerous rescue, involving complete cooperation between three lifeboats, the RAF, the North Wales Police and local cliff rescue teams. The combination of elements meant that the Atlantic 75 was operating for over an hour in sea conditions that were at the limit of its capabilities. There is, however, an unusual twist to the ending. The Dorothy Selina was funded by a generous donation from Mr Reg Dawe of Hereford, who named the lifeboat after his late wife. It so happened that Mr Dawe and his family were visiting the lifeboat station during this rescue and they were able to witness first hand the fine work being carried out by their lifeboat.

That evening some of the crew joined Mr Dawe and his family for a meal at a nearby hotel. Afterwards, the wife and mother of two of the rescued men came in to emotionally thank Mr Dawe for donating the lifeboat that had saved her husband, son and a family friend. It is worth remembering that, as well as the volunteer crew and others at the lifeboat station, it is people like Mr Dawe who make these rescues possible.THE LIFEBOAT Me'sev class lifeboat ON-1176 12-19 Four Boyt Funding Land'i End lifeboat appc*l. S«nn*n Cove Irfeboat apoeir, I .inriAii Broadcasting Compiny *pp»al. bcqimts or Clement Holland and Patlii Hlddlnton, together with othei gifts and l«g*ci*% THE CREW Chairmnn'i Letter ol Thanki Coxswain John ConnHI tor his 'leadership and boamanaimg skids Joined crew 1979 Emergency Mechanic 198S Coxswain: 1999 Occupation Fithtrmin Operalioni Director'* Letter of Think* Crew Member Eimond Coulter Mechanic Neil Hancock Crew Memoers David Ball Kevin Henderton William Gibson ChriMopher Nishri AMBLE LIFEBOAT STATION Established 184 Previous Medals Font Bionie'In my 23 years as a lifeboatman this was the most difficult service I have been on. All the crew performed their duties with great courage and professionalism in very difficult conditions/ Coxswain John ConnellSeven saved ...along with an historic boat In the early hours of 8 August 2001, the historic fishing vessel Reaper was on passage from Anstruther to Hartlepool in gale force conditions and rough seas. The 100-year-old herring drifter was taking water and, although this was normal for the vessel, her bilge pumps could not cope and had failedleaving her crew of seven in danger.

Amble lifeboat crew were alerted and launched the all-weather lifeboat minutes later under the command of Coxswain John Connell.

'My first thoughts and concerns were the .

conditions surrounding the callout - it was very windy, raining and there was a heavy swell' remembered Esmond Coulter, lifeboat crew member. 'The people who needed our help were in a very dangerous situation. Time was of the essence.' The Mersey class lifeboat Four Boys Photo R«k Tomim«m Conditions in the harbour gave little shelter to the lifeboat as she steamed towards the casualties last known position. The sea state deteriorated even further as the lifeboat continued seaward - causing her to be airborne at times - but skillful handling by the coxswain helped maintain good speed.Service to Reaper 8 August 2001 0311 Tyne Tees Coastguard requests launch of the Amble lifeboat 0321 Amble Mersey class lifeboat Four Boys launches 0405 Reaper sighted by lifeboat crew 0430 Lifeboat gets alongside casualty 0445 Esmond Coulter and pump are tranferred to the casualty 0450 Reaper rolls on to the lifeboat 0510 Lifeboat transfers suction pipes 0525 Pump set up and running 0540 Reaper and the lifeboat head back 0655 The lifeboat and Reaper reach Amble 0715 Lifeboat refuelled and ready for service A rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer had been scrambled earlier to take some pumps to the casualty but the violent motion and size of the Reaper's masts and rigging prevented it from getting too close. It was very dark and visibility was poor but when the lifeboat arrived on scene the helicopter helped by providing overhead lighting. The casualties were very relieved to see us and were keen to do what they could to help save the vessel' said Esmond.

The casualty's violent rolling motion made it impossible for the helicopter to drop a pump aboard safely. 'I knew that the lifeboat was the only chance of transferring a pump and saving the vessel.' said John.

The coxswain took control of the lifeboat from the upper steering position and crew members got on deck to prepare a salvage pump. Esmond volunteered to board the Reaper with the pump and readied himself as the lifeboat made a run in to assess the situation.

Initially, the rolling of the drifter pushed the lifeboat away but, using all his skill and boathandling experience, John managed to come alongside on the first attempt. The pump was transferred and Esmond safely timed his jump to the Reaper. 'The moments of particular concern were when I was manoeuvring alongside the vessel and holding the lifeboat against the side to transfer Esmond and the pump.' remembers John.

Esmond, too, remembers that moment well: 'I had concerns for my own safety and was thinking of my family at home' he said.

As the lifeboat was preparing to move back, a large swell caused the Reaper to roll on to the lifeboat's deck, causing some damage to her rails - thanks to the coxswain's quick actions in pulling the lifeboat astern, nobody was injured.The lifeboat then made a second approach and the pump's suction and delivery pipes were passed over by heaving line. The lifeboat deck was constantly awash during these operations and crew had to be attached by lifelines to prevent them being washed overboard.

Once aboard the casualty, Esmond supervised the rigging of the suction pipes and started the pump.

There was a lot of debris in the Reaper's bilge which meant that Esmond had to spend much time below deck keeping the pipes clear.

With the water level now dropping in her bilges, the Reaper made for Amble harbour with the lifeboat in close attendance. The helicopter was no longer needed and, before it returned to station, landed a spare pump on to the lifeboat's deck in case a backup was required.

'I knew we were safe the first time I looked up and saw the harbour entrance' said Esmond. 'We were out of immediate danger and closer to safety.' The casualty, escorted by the lifeboat, reached Amble and was safely, alongside just before 7am.

The salvage pump was left aboard until she was pumped dry.

One of Reaper's crew members had a slight head injury where he had slipped up earlier on the wet deck. He was transferred to the lifeboat and examined by Neil Hancock who cleaned the cut and swelling. The man also had a headache and was feeling nauseous so he was handed over to paramedics at the boathouse who examined him, dressed the wound and declared him fit and well.

The skipper of the Reaper contacted the station later in the day to say how impressed he was by the coxswain and crew - their actions had undoubtedly saved this historic vessel. 'The loss of the vessel would have been tragic as she is a popular visitor to marine events up and down the coast' he said.

On finding out that he had received an award John said: 'I am pleased and honoured, not just for myself, but for the whole station. I felt proud of the way the crew performed their duties in such difficult conditions.' 'I was relieved that nobody had been seriously injured and that we had been able to save the historic Reaper. I felt that everything went like clockwork and all the hours of training had paid off.' Crew Member Esmond CoulterTHE LIFEBOAT Mersey class lifeboat ON' 1170 12-13 Ktrp Fit Allocation Funding Th« K«*p Fli Association appall ind Filtv lifeboat «pp*«iingelher with olhti gitti and legatiei THE CREW Chalimin'i Letter ol Thanki Coxswain Malcolm Johnson lot his 'seamanship, Doa I ha nd I ing ant)command skills' Joined craw 1967 Second Coxswain 1988 Coxswain 1998 Occupation Join«r Pievious Awards Thinks on Vellum 1984 Chief Executive's Letlet ol Thanks Craw Memoer Neil Cammiih Crew Members John W*rd Richard Rohmson Barry Robion P«t«r MacAulsy Ritlijidson Johnson FILEY LIFEBOAT STATION Established IBM Previous Medals Silver 18S9 Bionie 1919(1,21 Thanks on Vellum 1983, 1984Man overboard A large crowd gathered at Filey on 2 July 2001 for the naming ceremony of the station's new D class lifeboat Rotary District 1120. They got rather more than they expected, however, when a full-scale rescue took place in full view of the harbour. Stephen Forster, station honorary press officer and second tractor driver, takes up the tale.

The dedication ceremony for our new D class was coming to a conclusion when the attention of some of the crew wandered to a yacht motoring north across the bay. As the yacht's hull disappeared behind Filey Brigg, the rock ledge promontory that defines the north arm of Filey Bay, the phone rang. It was Number Coastguard: we had a shout. Gilbert Grey oc, our president, was most impressed. He thought this was laid on as part of the ceremony! Mr Geoffrey Rowe on his Bavaria 34 yacht Araxian was on solo passage from Grimsby to Whitby when his engine failed north of Filey Brigg.

He had started to drift south, which would have taken him onto the Brigg. HMS Shetlandwas in the vicinity and RAF Leconfield's search and rescue Sea King helicopter was overhead at the time. Both remained on scene until the arrival of our all-weather lifeboat Keep Fit Association.

We launched on service right at the top of the tide, which in Filey is quite interesting. Our carriagelaunched Mersey is normally towed to the water's edge, turned around square to the surf and launched to sea. When there is no beach, this manoeuvre has to be carried out within the confines of the slipway at the bottom of Coble Landing. The 'push in' then has to be made on a curve to round the sea wall that forms a breakwater to Coble Landing.

The run to the casualty was less than 1.5 miles as Malcolm Johnson, our coxswain, was able to take the boat inshore of the E cardinal buoy, which marks the submerged section of the Brig. In the tideway north of the Brig, the north-westerly gale over the tide was lifting up swells to 6m. 'Scruffy', as Malcolm described it, 'rough, but I've been in rougher'. On the way to the casualty, the boat 'took off twice.

When we reached Mr Rowe, it was quite clear that he was in a poor state to assist with taking a tow. He had left Grimsby at 2am and was now suffering as a result of the poor conditions. He was therefore very grateful for the offer of having a crew member put aboard. Malcolm decided to make his approach from windward, as Araxian was being carried off downwind and he was concerned that, if he came at her from the other side, she would roll heavily against the lifeboat.

Having made a dummy run. Malcolm made his approach, laying the bows of the lifeboat amidships of Araxian, enabling Barry Robson and Richard Robinson to assist Neil Cammish to scramble onto Arabian's foredeck. This is a complicated manoeuvre in a Mersey, with its aft steering position, as the coxswain has to rely on his 'eyes' in the bows: in this case, Barry Robson.

Neil was now safely aboard the Araxian. There was a piece of rope tied to the yacht's rails and I fastened myself onto that, as the conditions were treacherous', he recalled. He then secured the tow rope to the anchor winch and the tow commenced.

'After about 10 minutes the tow went tight, pulling the nose of the boat down', he said. 'The next thing I knew, we were hit by a wave and I was in the sea! I had hold of the rope tied to the rails and Mr Rowe had enough presence of mind to secure the rope tight. Thankfully, I managed to pull myself back on board. It happened so fast I didn't have time to be scared and I was fully kitted out, but I was quite cold on the way back.' With Neil safely back on board, the tow resumed to Scarborough harbour. Here a damp Neil wasreturned to Filey by road. Keep Fit Association returned to Filey, was recovered and rehoused, its crew content in the knowledge of a job well done. This was a dangerous job in extreme conditions but the boat, crew and all the gear performed well. With the exception of Neil's 'mishap', everything went as planned.

It was not until a few days later that most of the station came to realise what a magnificent piece of seamanship it had been from Malcolm, when a video taken by the search and rescue helicopter arrived. It clearly showed the lifeboat surging alongside, kissing the bows amidships of Araxian. depositing Neil and clearing astern on the top of one huge swell.

Everyone at Filey station was delighted to learn that Malcolm and Neil were to receive letters of thanks from the Chairman and Chief Executive, respectively, for their parts in this service. They were presented with them at a crew dinner on 2 March 2002. This dinner was arranged to mark the retirement of honorary secretary George Cammish and deputy launching authority David Baker, both of whom had given sterling service to the RNLI at Filey..