Alertness and teamwork saves livesSenior Helmsman Gary Barlow was carrying out routine maintenance at the Cleethorpes lifeboat station when he spotted a small fishing vessel to the north side of the Number. On 6 February the fishing boat Hueee was heading into heavy weather and Gary was concerned for her safety.

He drove to the north end of Cleethorpes for a better view, in move that probably saved the fishermen's lives. Gary had the presence of mind to take binoculars and a VHP radio with him. He was right to be worried: Hueee had suffered engine failure and the two fishermen radioed the Coastguard requesting immediate assistance. The fishermen themselves were unsure of their position, but Gary soon informed the Coastguard that he knew where they were.

The inshore lifeboat Blue Peter VI launched at 9.55am, 5 minutes after the crew of four were paged, With Gary Barlow at the helm knowing where Hueee was, the lifeboat reached the casualty only 15 minutes after launching. Later, Operations Director Michael Vlasto commented: 'Had the launch not happened as quickly as it did, it is most probable that the men would have ended up in the sea, with possible fatal consequences.' Finding the fishing vessel was only the start of a difficult rescue. With westerly winds of force 8 against the fast flowing tide, the rough seas had a swell height of 2m and the drifting Hueee was being battered by the waves. Despite the demanding conditions, after 11 years operating a D class Gary had: 'every confidence in the boat and its equipment'.

The lifeboat ran in and the crew established a tow.

They then started the tricky journey home, negotiating the shipping lanes. This was the most dangerous point in The rescue as Gary said: The seas were breaking over the starboard side of both the casualty vessel and the lifeboat, which could induce a capsize'. Gary steered into the weather, close to the navigation buoys while an inward bound ferry and an outward bound coaster passed.

Once it was clear to cross the shipping lanes, the lifeboat headed towards Cleethorpes with the weather on thestarboard side. In these conditions the lifeboat itself was in danger of tipping over, so the crew — Helmsman Shaun Sonley, and Ian Sanderson and Ashley Roe-Gammon — had to balance on the starboard edge of the boat to act as ballast.

Meanwhile the lifeboatmen kept a close eye on the Hueee, which Gary described as: 'being thrown around like a fairground ride'. They feared a man overboard and were relieved when, one hour after launching, Hueee was out of danger and landed at Wonderland beach into the care of the local Coastguard.

In a letter of appreciation, Michael Vlasto praised the crew: 'Gary Barlow's alertness and initiative, the prompt launching of the lifeboat and the excellent teamwork displayed by the whole crew of the D class in the prevailing weather conditions resulted in the saving of the two men's lives.' Receiving the award, Gary said he was: 'very proud of the crew for their courageous performance,' and stressed that rescues like these were only made possible by all the different groups of people involved: the crew and their families, fundraisers, RNLI professional staff and the generosity of the public.'Having the vessel in tow in those conditions was difficult enough, but with no option but to navigate across the busy shipping channel and without putting the casualty in further danger, made it far more difficult and much more to consider than many shouts I had ever been on.' Gary Bin™,.