THE LIFE-BOATThe Journal of the Royal National Life-boat InstitutionVOL. XXXV JUNE, 1958 No. 384

Notes of the QuarterTHE first three months of 1958 haveoffered striking evidence of the helpgiven by life-boats to a great variety ofvessels serving the commerce of thecountry in different ways and, inparticular, to fishing boats. Of the 106launches by life-boats on service duringthis period 37 were to the help of motorvessels, steamers, barges, motor boatsand other similar craft ; 29 were tofishing boats ; and nine consisted oflanding sick seamen or conveyingdoctors to vessels of different kinds.Life-boats were launched six times tosearch for aircraft ; three of theservices were to bathers or to peoplecut off on the rocks or cliffs ; and twoto the help of yachts. In the summermonths the proportion of services toyachts naturally tends to increaseconsiderably, but the first quarter of theyear has shown the continual help givenby life-boats to vessels of various nationsbringing food and other supplies to thiscountry, taking goods abroad or en-gaged in coastal traffic.

CO-OPERATION WITH AMERICANAIRCRAFT

No. 66 Air Rescue Squadron of theUnited States Air Force, whose basefor some years was Manston in Kent,was recently rendered inactive. Theclose co-operation between this squad-ron and life-boat stations on the coastof Kent has been a most happy featurein the work of rescuing life at sea. Tomark the Institution's appreciationEarl Howe, Chairman of the Committeeof Management, sent a letter statingthat the Committee " truly appreciatethe splendid work done by the squad-ron in the work of rescuing life at sea ".The letter called attention to the out-standing service by a United Stateshelicopter which took place on the 27thof November, 1954, and which wasdescribed fully in the March, 1955number of the Life-boat on page 5.This led to the rescue of the sole

survivor from the South Goodwinlightvessel. In reply to the letter ofappreciation Colonel Marshall H.Strickler, Commander of the UnitedStates 9th Air Rescue Group, wrote :" May our future joint efforts continuein the same successful and co-operativemanner as enjoyed in the past. Pleaseextend our appreciation to all yourpersonnel for their superior perform-ance wherever and whenever required."

THE LIFE-BOAT SERVICE SINCETHE WAR

The 1958 edition of " The Story ofthe Life-boat" takes the form of abrief history of the Life-boat Servicesince the end of the last war. Whenthe war came to an end the Life-boatService was faced with a huge task ofreconstruction. Building of new life-boats had been brought to a standstill ;many of the former members of life-boat crews had left their homes ; newand important devices had been in-vented ; and the country was under-going something of a social revolution.The booklet describes the manner inwhich these difficulties have beenovercome ; how more than half thefleet of life-boats has been replaced ;how new tractors, carriages, boat-houses and radio equipment have beenintroduced ; and how the work whichlife-boat crews are called upon toperform has steadily increased. Anumber of the outstanding services bylife-boats since the war are describedin detail. English, Scottish and Welsheditions are published, each pricedl/6d. The Scottish and Welsh editionsconcentrate on services carried out byScottish and Welsh life-boats.

SALES AT BOATHOUSES

With the advent of summer a numberof stations, particularly those at popularseaside resorts, will again be actively

42 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

engaged in raising money for theInstitution by collections at boathousesand by the sale of souvenirs. TheInstitution has decided not to increaseits range of souvenirs but to concen-trate on those which have provedpopular. This decision has been takenas a result of an analysis, which showsthat the introduction of new types ofsouvenirs does not in fact serve toincrease the net revenue. The problemwas discussed at some length at theconference of District Organising Sec-retaries. At this conference it was alsolearnt that at certain stations souvenirshad been sold at below the marked

price, a practice which although carriedout with the best of intentions doesnot serve to benefit the Institutionfinancially.

The ingenuity which branches of theInstitution are showing in their work ofraising funds is again revealed in thisnumber in the column New Ways ofRaising Money which appears on page45. Another field in which the workersof the Institution are active is that ofenlisting the help of sporting clubs. TheInsti tution has now produced a leafletwhich can be supplied on demandindicating how sporting clubs can helpthe work of the Life-boat Service.

The Chief Inspector RetiresTHE retirement of Commander T. G.Michelmore, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., theChief Inspector of Life-boats, takeseffect from the 30th of June, 1958.

Commander Michelmore joined theLife-boat Service as a district inspectorof life-boats in 1930. He had been forseventeen years with the Peninsular andOriental Steam Navigation Company,had held a master's certificate for nineyears, was a second officer, and alieutenant-commander on the active listof the Royal Naval Reserve. During the1914-1918 war he had served in the TenthCruiser Squadron in the North Atlanticand Arctic Sea and then, as first lieuten-ant of destroyers, in the North Sea, theDover Patrol and the Mediterranean.

His first post in the Life-boat Servicewas as Northern District Inspector, andin 1941 he was transferred to theEastern District. He was appointedDeputy Chief Inspector in 1945 andChief Inspector in 1951.

Burnett Brown,the Institution,

Colonel A. D.the Secretary ofwrites :

" Of Michelmore's technical abilitiesI am not competent to speak. I doknow that all round the coast both asDistrict Inspector and later as ChiefInspector he has been universally likedand respected. In London his longexperience and sound advice havealways been of the greatest service tothe Committee of Management. As acolleague I have found him friendly andco-operative and his timely sense ofhumour has lightened discussion inmany places. The Life-boat Institutiondepends so much on team work and forsuccessful working each member of theteam must sympathise with and ap-preciate the position of the others.Michelmore's ready interest in manymatters outside the normal scope of hisduties has been of the greatest assis-tance."

Parliamentary Questions and AnswersMR. L. W. B. TEELING, M.P. forBrighton, asked the Prime Ministerwhether, in view of the coming closingdown of the Royal Naval Air Stationat Ford, and of the Royal Air ForceStation, Tangmere, ceasing to be opera-tional, he would discuss with his fellowMinisters what could be done to main-tain a helicopter service for sea rescuealong the Sussex coast where thisservice had now proved to be far fasterand more efficient than life-boats.

The Prime Minister, the Right Hon.Harold Macmillan, replied : " Al-though Royal Naval and Royal AirForce search and rescue helicopters givecivil rescue organisations whatever helpthey can, their primary role is the rescueof air-crew, and this must be the govern-ing factor in deciding their deployment.There are no Royal Air Force heli-copters at Tangmere, but there is ahelicopter unit at Thorney Island whichit is not at present intended to move."

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 43

In a supplementary question Mr.Teeling asked : " Will my right hon.Friend the Prime Minister bear inmind that this is a comparatively newservice which has, so far as we can seeon the Sussex coast, given tremen-dous help to the life-boat service ? Ifanything can be done to develop itand to link it up with other ports onthe coast, will my right hon. Frienduse all his influence in that direc-tion ? "

The Prime Minister replied : " Yes.

I will do everything I can to help, but Iwould remind my hon. Friend that theprimary purpose of the Service is rescueof air-crew. There are considerablelimitations on the help that helicopterscan give. They cannot at presentoperate in darkness, or fog, and instrong winds their capacity is somewhatlimited. However, the area nowcovered by Ford will be reasonably wellcovered by the Royal Air Force heli-copters at Thorney Island, which isonly sixteen miles away."

Book Reviews

MR. C. R. BENSTEAD in ShallowWaters (Robert Hale, 21/-), has pro-duced an engaging, lustily writtenaccount of almost anything which mayhappen and has happened in the coastalwaters of Britain. His range is ex-tensive. On one page he will describehow a brig captured an eagle in theNorth Sea in 1864, and on another willdescribe plans for building lighthouseson the Goodwin Sands. Elsewhere hedelves into the problem of smugglingand reports Pitt as having stated in1784 that 60% of the tea drunk inLondon had been smuggled. Atanother point he speculates with author-ity on what really happened at theBattle of Jutland. He quotes Conrad,Tacitus, Pepys and Kipling on thesubject of the River Thames, and dealsentertainingly with the curious nomen-clature of boats : " So the list runs on—snibs (Grimsby's name for her seinersor craft using a seine net), chop backs(or Hastings luggers), spritties fromLondon River, seals from Sandwich,the Solway whammel, barges andwherries (once sizeable sea-going craft),sixerns and fourerns in the Shetlands,drontheims in Donegal, pilot-gigs,galley-punts, tilt-boats, hatch-boats,yaffers, sploshers, nobbies and therest."

To describe Mr. Benstead's book asdisjointed is hardly a relevant criticism,for his method is his own and his bookwill bring delight to many. A con-siderable part of Shallow Waters isdevoted to the work of the RoyalNational Life-boat Institution, Mr.

Benstead's tributes are generous and hisstandard of accuracy high, and herecalls vividly some of the outstandingservices in the past, such as those to theIndian Chief and the Rohilla, the rescuefrom the Daunt Rock lightvessel andthe launch of the Lynmouth life-boatover Exmoor. There are many excel-lent photographs.

STIMULATING AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Look Towards the Sea, by FRANKBAINES (Eyre & Spottiswoode, 21/-) is astimulating, provocative and highlyoriginal autobiography of the authorfrom his earliest childhood, which heclaims to remember with remarkablevividness, to the moment when he goesto sea with his family's consent, after anunsuccessful attempt to do so by run-ning away from school. The earlierchapters are devoted to life in Cornwall.Of Porthoustock, Mr. Baines writes :" Its fame was in its life-boat, mannedby quarrymen, farmers and fishermen,which carried out such tremendousrescues from the many shipwrecks onthe Manacles. . . . The difference be-tween farmer and fisherman was veryindefinite, most of them doing a bit ofboth."

With exceptional vividness Mr.Baines describes a service by the Port-houstock life-boat to the S.S. Mohegan,of Hull, in 1899, He tells how " attwo minutes past eight, according to thechronometer in the coastguard house,the vessel struck the Minstrel Rock

44 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

with a clang that was heard all over theparish." He then describes the way inwhich " the women of P'roustock laidout the ropes and hauled the boat fromits house and along the eighty yards ofbeach to the slipway on their own whileMrs. Uren on her knees in front greasedthe rollers." His informant, he claims,was the second coxswain, who delayedthe departure of the life-boat by lashingevery man to his seat, thereby savingtheir lives. The final picture after therescue is of one survivor, a certain MissNoble, who had been clutching to thefloating door of a cupboard :

" Miss Noble gave directions for herown rescue with lucidity and an habitualcommand. ' I absolutely refuse, cox-swain, to let go this piece of wood andcatch hold of your line. My fingers arenumb and I might not be able to retainmy grasp. It has served me nobly andI intend to continue using it. Youmust bring the boat alongside '."

LITTLE RELATION TO OFFICIALACCOUNT

All this serves to build up an excep-tionally lively account of a life-boatrescue. Unfortunately it has singu-larly little relation to the officialaccount of the service. Indeed, thesecond coxswain, who appears to havebeen Mr. Baines' informant, was notin the boat the first time she went out,although he did go out in her later, con-ducting himself with considerable dis-tinction. Mr. Baines describes Dr. Spryas honorary secretary of the station ata time when in fact he was not, andgives the wrong name and port ofregistration of the vessel in distress.The inconsistencies indeed are con-siderable, but the story remains a goodone.

A review of MR. CYRIL JOLLY'SHenry Blogg of Cromer, published byGeorge G. Harrap, will appear in theSeptember number of the Life-boat.

A Hundred Years AgoAn extract from the Life-boat of\stJitly, 1858

Youghal, Ireland.—On the 8th Febru-ary, the Norwegian barque Galatea ranon shore on the bar at the entrance ofYoughal harbour, the captain havingmistaken the port for Queenstown :a gale of wind was blowing at the timefrom the south, and there was a veryheavy and broken sea on the bar.The Youghal life-boat, which had beenonly recently supplied by this Institu-tion, immediately put off to the aid ofher crew, 14 in number, whom she suc-ceeded in rescuing from their perilousposition, after a hard pull of two milesagainst wind, tide, and sea. Thevessel became a total wreck within two

hours after the crew were taken off.This valuable service at once securedthe confidence of the boatmen in thelife-boat, and was also a strikingillustration of the superiority of theclass of life-boats adopted by theInstitution ; for it so happened that,through some difficulty in launching,she got seriously stove, and her deckair-compartments partially, if notaltogether, filled with water ; yet, aftersuch an accident, which would havedisabled many life-boats, she proceededon her way, and performed the serviceabove narrated.

Portrait on the CoverTHE portrait on the cover is of Cox-swain James Wilson of St. Abbs. Hefirst joined the crew in 1947, was assistantmechanic from 1951 until the 1st ofOctober, 1953, when he was appointedcoxswain. During his period of service

the St. Abbs life-boat has been launchedon service 14 times. She has rescued 19lives and helped to save 5 vessels.

The photograph is reproduced bycourtesy of the Scottish Daily Recordand Sunday Mail Ltd,

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 45

New Ways of Raising MoneyWhen a life-boat bridge tournament

was held recently in a Dublin hotel,several supporters extended the scopeof it to neighbouring counties by askingfriends to play at tables in their houses.The players at these tables qualifiedfor prizes in the same way as those inthe hotel.

* * *Mr. G. Beardmore, honorary secre-

tary of the Cheadle, Staffordshire,branch, and his family run a hardwarestore in Cheadle. They make nocharge for various small repairs theyare called upon to do and ask customersto make contributions to the life-boatcollecting box on the counter.

* * *At a Christmas fair held in Wake-

field, Mr. Etherton, the husband of theguild honorary treasurer, had a numberof large flat egg containers painted indifferent colours. Visitors were allow-ed to throw three table tennis balls, forwhich they were charged 6d. If theballs landed in the holes with the correctcolour combinations, a prize wasawarded.

* * -it-Mrs. L. J. Leeds, honorary secretary

of the Halesworth, Suffolk, branch,held a party at her house at whichguests were charged a penny to come in,a penny to sit down, a penny to borrowa pencil, etc. All the money wasgiven to the branch funds.

* * -it-Mrs. K. Earle, of Barnet, whose

fifteen-year-old son took a holiday jobin a wool store for Christmas, sug-gested to him that he should adopt theprinciple of giving a tenth of hisearnings to some Christian work. Sheand her husband left it to him to choosehis charity, and he chose the Life-boatService.

* * *Mr. George Cooper, of Hull, recently

cashed a savings certificate which he hadbought in 1916 for 15/6d, primarily todiscover how much interest hadaccrued in forty-two years. He thensent to the Institution a money orderfor the total amount received, whichwas £2 17s. 9d.

Mrs. McGregor Phillips (DorothyUna Ratcliffe) of 42 Ann Street, Edin-burgh, 4, has published privately abeautifully produced book entitled TheSea Microcosm. It consists of travelarticles, poems, a one-act play and otherwritings on the subject of the sea by well-known authors. There are some de-lightful illustrations and a facsimilereproduction of Nelson's letter to LadyHamilton written on board H.M.S.Victory. The gross proceeds from thesale of the book, which costs 10/-,are being given to the Institution. Mrs.Phillips will be glad to post up to fivecopies free of charge to any branch.

* * *At an inn in Attleborough one man

recently suggested to another that heshould give up drinking beer for threemonths and bet him that this wouldcure his indigestion. Each party to thebet pinned a ten shilling note on to anoak beam, where the notes remainedfor three months. At the end of thatperiod there was a division of opinionabout the outcome of the bet, and atthe landlord's suggestion the noteswere presented to the Institution.

* * *The Bingley ladies' life-boat guild

raised £250 in two days of the annuallife-boat week through a gift shop.The proprietor of the shop, Mr. W.Pratt, a tailor and outfitter, gave up theuse of the premises, making no chargefor displays, electricity or other services.Members of the guild arranged for theprovision of the gifts, which werebought by the general public.

* * *Mrs. Karlis, a former member of the

committee of the Beaconsfield branch,encountered very rough weather whileon board a dredger on Lake Ontarioduring a visit. She made a vow that ifshe reached shore again she would makea gift of £5 to the Institution, and im-mediately on returning to Beaconsfieldhanded over this amount to thebranch.

* * *An anonymous gift has been receivedfrom a lady in gratitude for an escapefrom being run over on a zebra crossing.

46 THE LIFE-BOAT

New Chief Inspector Appointed

[JUNE, 1958

COMMANDER S. W. F. BENNETTS, D.S.O.D.S.C., R.N., has been appointed ChiefInspector of Life-boats to succeed Com-mander T. G. Michelmore, O.B.E.,R.D., R.N.R.

Commander Bennetts was in com-mand of submarines and destroyersfrom 1933 to 1944. In addition to beingawarded the D.S.O. and D.S.C. duringthe last war he was also mentioned indespatches. On leaving the RoyalNavy he was appointed District In-spector (General) of the Institution in1949 and in 1951 became Deputy ChiefInspector of Life-boats.

Lieut.-Commander W. L. G. Dutton,R.D., R.N.R., has been appointedDeputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats.Lieutenant-Commander Dutton wasfor four years in command of mine-sweepers in the last war and was men-tioned in despatches five times. Beforethat he served for ten years in theMerchant Navy. He was appointedIrish District Inspector of the Institu-tion in 1946 and Western District In-spector in 1954.

Commander E. W. Middleton,V.R.D., R.N.V.R., has been appointedSuperintendent of Depot to succeedCommander H. L. Wheeler, R.N., whohas retired. Commander Middletonserved his apprenticeship in the UnionCastle Line and later with the Penin-sular and Oriental Steam NavigationCompany. He was an officer of theR.N.R., and later of the R.N.V.R.before the last war. During the warhe saw service in destroyers and heldappointments in the Suez Canal areaand on the staff of the Chief of Com-bined Operations. He was Chief Staff

Officer to the Head of the British Mili-tary Mission to Moscow from 1944to 1945.

His first appointment to the In-stitution was that of Western DistrictInspector, which he took up at the be-ginning of 1946. In 1951 he wasappointed District Inspector (General)and in 1954 Assistant Chief Inspector.

Details of Commander Wheeler'scareer were given in the December 1955number of The Life-boat, when he wasappointed Superintendent of Depot.

Lieut-Commander D. G. Wicksteed,R.N.R., has been appointed NorthernDistrict Inspector. After being educa-ted at King Edward VI School atStratford-on-Avon, Commander Wick-steed served for twenty years in theMerchant Navy, first with the ElderDempster Steamship Company andlater with the Cunard Steamship Com-pany. Shortly before joining the Life-boat Institution he was serving asJunior First Officer of the R.M.S.Queen Mary. In 1949 he obtained acommission in the Royal Naval Reserve.Lieut.-Commander Wicksteed wasR.N.R. Aide-de-Camp to the LordHigh Commissioner at the GeneralAssembly of the Church of Scotland.

As a consequence of the new appoint-ments Lieut. E. D. Stogdon, R.N.V.R.,has been appointed Eastern DistrictInspector ; Lieut.-Commander H. H.Harvey, V.R.D., R.N.V.R., has beenappointed Western District Inspector ;and Commander H. B. Acworth,O.B.E., R.N., has been appointedIrish District Inspector. CommanderL. F. L. Hill, R.D., R.N.R., continuesas Inspector of the Central District.

Personal Assistant to the SecretaryLIEUT.-COL. CHARLES EARLE, D.S.O.,O.B.E., has been appointed PersonalAssistant to the Secretary of the In-stitution, Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown.Lieut.-Colonel Earle was born in 1913 andeducated at Wellington and the RoyalMilitary College. He served as an officerin the Grenadier Guards from 1933 to1955, and on giving up command servedin the War Office until 1958. During

the war he took part in the evacuationfrom Dunkirk and saw active service inNorth Africa, Italy and North-WestEurope. He was awarded the D.S.O.in 1945 and made O.B.E. in 1943. From1947 to 1950 he was Adjutant of theRoyal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Lieut.-Colonel Earle is a keen yachts-man and a member of the RoyalYacht Squadron.

JUNE, 1958;] THE LIFE-BOAT 47

Services of the Life-boats in January, February andMarch, 1958

77 Lives Rescued

JANUARY

DURING JANUARY life-boats werelaunched on service 45 times andrescued 54 lives.

DOCTOR TAKEN TO GRIMSBYTRAWLER

Bridlington, Yorkshire. At threeo'clock on the afternoon of the 3rd ofJanuary, 1958, the honorary secretaryreceived a message that there was aninjured man on board the steam trawlerRizzio, of Grimsby. At five o'clock thelife-boat Tillie Morrison, Sheffield IIwas launched with a doctor on boardin a rough sea. There was a moderatesouth-south-easterly gale and an ebbingtide. The life-boat met the trawler, andafter the doctor had consulted theRizzio's skipper it was decided to leavethe injured man on board, as thetrawler was returning to Grimsby.The life-boat reached her station at6.10. Rewards to the crew, £7 10s. ;rewards to the helpers on shore,£8 11s.

SICK MAN TAKEN OFF IRISHLIGHTVESSEL

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford. At11.36 on the morning of the 4th ofJanuary, 1958, the assistant inspectorof Irish Lights told the honorarysecretary that there was a sick man onboard the Blackwater lightvessel. Asthere was no Irish Lights steameravailable to bring him ashore, the life-boat Douglas Hyde put out at 12.5in a rough sea. There was a moderatesoutherly wind and the tide was flood-ing. The life-boat reached the light-vessel, embarked the sick man andlanded him at Rosslare Harbour at4.50. The man was suffering from sea-sickness. Rewards to the crew, £13 ;reward to the helper on shore, 16s.Refunded to the Institution by theCommissioners of Irish Lights.

SICK MAN TAKEN FROM COLLIER

Clovelly, Devon. At 10.40 on themorning of the 5th of January,1958, the coxswain told the honorarysecretary that there was a small vesselin the bay flying a signal asking formedical help. As it was low waterand no other vessel was afloat, the life-boat William Cantrell Ashley waslaunched at 10.50 with a doctor onboard. There was a moderate seawith a west-north-westerly breeze. Thelife-boat found the motor vessel DrakeDene laden with coal on passage fromSwansea to Antwerp. The doctor wasput aboard the vessel and later returnedwith the sick seaman. They weretaken on board the life-boat, whichreached Clovelly at 12.10. An ambu-lance took the seaman to hospital.Rewards to the crew, £6 5s. ; rewardsto the helpers on shore, £17 13s.

FOUR COBLES ESCORTED TOHARBOUR

Filey, Yorkshire. At 10.55 on themorning of the 6th of January, 1958,the coastguard told the honorary secre-tary that the wind was freshening andfour local fishing cobles were out in arough sea. At 11.10 the life-boat TheIsa and Penryn Milsted was launched.The tide was flooding. The life-boatescorted the four cobles safely toharbour and reached her station at2.50. Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ;rewards to the helpers on shore, £9 16s.

COBLE ESCORTED IN GALE

Bridlington, Yorkshire. On themorning of the 6th of January, 1958, thelocal small open fishing coble Nancywas at sea in deteriorating weather. At11.35 the life-boat Tillie Morrison,Sheffield II was launched with thesecond coxswain in command in arough sea. There was a fresh south-south-easterly gale and the tide wasflooding. The life-boat found theNancy, with a crew of two, and escorted

48 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

her to harbour, arriving at 1.30.Rewards to the crew, £9 5s. ; rewardsto the helpers on shore, £9 3s.

FISHING BOAT ESCORTED TONORTH SUNDERLAND

North Sunderland, Northumberland.At 12.25 on the afternoon of the 6th ofJanuary, 1958, the coastguard told thehonorary secretary that a local fish-ing boat was overdue. There was arough sea and a strong southerly wind.At 12.35 the life-boat Grace Darlingwas launched. The tide was floodingand snow was falling. The life-boatfound the fishing boat Kindly Light,with a crew of three, two miles south-east of North Sunderland. She es-corted her safely to harbour, whichwas reached at 1.30. Rewards to thecrew, £10 ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £4 16s.

MASTER TAKEN OFF LIGHTVESSEL

Kilmore, Co. Wexford. At 8.45 on themorning of the 7th of January, 1958,the Irish Lights office at Dublin askedif the life-boat would launch to land themaster of the Coningbeg lightvessel toenable him to attend the funeral of hisbrother. As there was a heavy swelland a fresh westerly gale, which had notabated by the afternoon, the life-boatAnn Isabella Pyemont was launched at1.15 with the bowman in command.The master of the lightvessel was em-barked and landed at Kilmore Quay at4.10. Rewards to the crew, £11 15s. ;rewards to the helpers on shore,£13 16s. Refunded to the Institutionby the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

FISHING VESSEL AGROUNDNEAR HARBOUR

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford. At2.22 on the afternoon of the 8th ofJanuary, 1958, a resident of Wexfordtold the coxswain that he had heardfrom one of his own fishing boats thatthe fishing vessel Vervine Blossom wasaground on the east corner of Wexfordbar and was lying on her side. At2.35 the Douglas Hyde put out in amoderate sea with a strong south-south-westerly wind blowing. It waslow water. The Vervine Blossomrefloated shortly before the life-boat

arrived, and the life-boat escorted herto Rosslare harbour, arriving there at3.40. Rewards to the crew, £5 ; re-ward to the helper on shore, 13s.

BELFAST STEAMER AGROUNDIN GALE

Troon, Ayrshire. At 2.30 on themorning of the 9th of January, 1958, thePortpatrick coastguard told the honor-ary secretary that the S.S. Ballyhalbertof Belfast was aground hah0 a milenorth of Ardrossan. At three o'clockthe life-boat James and Barbara Aitkenput out in a rough sea. There was astrong west-south-westerly gale and itwas high water. The life-boat cameup with the Ballyhalbert and stood byher until her crew of twelve had safelywalked ashore at low water. Rewardsto the crew, £14.

CREW TAKEN OFF TUG AGROUND

Troon, Ayrshire. At 5.10 on theafternoon of the 9th of January, 1958,the Portpatrick coastguard told thehonorary secretary that the tug Cruiserof Glasgow, was aground alongside theS.S. Ballyhalbert half a mile north ofArdrossan. The life-boat James andBarbara Aitken put out at 5.55 in arough sea. There was a fresh west-north-westerly wind and the tide wasebbing. The life-boat came up withthe Cruiser and conveyed towing ropesto two other tugs, the Thunderer andForager, and stood by during thetowing operation. The ropes brokeand the crew of the Cruiser were takenoff by the life-boat and landed atArdrossan harbour. The life-boat thenreturned to her station, arriving atsix o'clock the following morning. Theowners of the Cruiser made a donationto the Institution's funds. Rewards tothe crew, £26 5s.

ONE LIFE-BOAT TOWS ANOTHER

Padstow, Cornwall. At 1.25 early on themorning of 10th of January, 1958, theTrevose Head coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that flashing lightshad been seen nineteen miles north-east-by-nprth of Pentire Head. Theno. 2 life-boat Bassett Green waslaunched at two o'clock in a very roughsea. There was a fresh westerly gale

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 49

and the tide was ebbing. The life-boatwent to the position and searched alarge area but found nothing and wasrecalled at 6.35. At 8.45 the life-boatdeveloped engine trouble and the no. 1life-boat Lloyds, on temporary duty atthe station, put out. She found theno. 2 life-boat and towed her to Pad-stow, arriving at 4.45. Padstow no. 2 :rewards to the crew, £31 10s. ; re-wards to the helpers on shore, £3.Padstow no. 1 : rewards to the crew,£15 15s. ; rewards to the helper onshore, £1 4s.

MOTOR BOAT TOWED TO DEAL

Walmer, Kent. At 10.30 on themorning of the 13th of January, 1958,the Deal coastguard told the coxswainthat a motor boat had broken downwith engine trouble a quarter of a milesouth of South Brake buoy. The life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil ServiceNo. 2) was launched at 10.35 in a slightsea. There was a moderate west-north-westerly wind and the tide wasebbing. The life-boat found the motorboat Gypsy King of Deal near the SouthBrake buoy with a crew of two. Shetook her in to Deal and reached herstation at 11.45. Rewards to thecrew, £11 5s. ; rewards to the helperson shore, £14 16s.

LONG SEARCH FOR WARSHIPIN FOG

Islay, Hebrides. At 9.40 on thenight of the 13th of January, 1958, thethe Kilchoman coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that H.M.S. Bar-combe was aground on Oronsay. At10.5 the life-boat Charlotte Elizabethput out in a slight sea. There was alight south-westerly wind with fogpatches, and the tide was flooding.The life-boat went to the position andcarried out a search of Oronsay andthe eastern side of Colonsay withoutsuccess. Several naval craft were alsosearching. At 10.20 the next morningthe life-boat put in at Scalasaig to re-fuel and then made for the north end ofColonsay. Searching was made diffi-cult by dense fog, but at 4.20 a newposition for the Barcombe was given.This was near Garvelloch Rocks. Whenthe life-boat reached this position the

fishing boat Rosebud reported that shehad seen the Barcombe on the easternside of Loch Buie. The life-boat foundthe Barcombe badly holed and floodedto the decks. Of her crew of thirty-onefourteen were taken off by H.M.S.Kingfisher and the remaining seventeenwere transferred to her by the life-boat,•which reached her station at 12.45 earlyon the 15th of January, after being atsea for almost twenty-seven hours.Rewards to the crew, £56 15s. ; re-wards to the helpers on shore, £3 18s.

SEARCH FOR CRASHED AIRCRAFT

Humber, Yorkshire. At 6.11 on theevening of the 16th of January, 1958, theSpurn Point coastguard told the cox-swain superintendent that a localresident had heard an aircraft crashinto the sea about four hundred yardsfrom the old life-boat house at Easing-ton. At 6.28 the life-boat City ofBradford HI was launched in a heavyswell. There was a light north-westerlywind and the tide was ebbing. Visi-bility was half a mile. The life-boatwent to the position and carried out asearch, in which she was joined byR.A.F. air-sea rescue craft. At 8.15the life-boat found some wreckage of anaircraft. She towed this to her station,arriving there at 2.40. She also pickedup an oxygen cylinder and a flyinghelmet. Paid permanent crew. Addi-tional rewards to the crew, £10.

TOW FOR YACHT WITH INJUREDMAN ABOARD

Bembridge, Isle of Wight. At 2.2 onthe afternoon of the 18th of January,1958, the Foreland coastguard informedthe honorary secretary that a yacht wasfiring red flares one mile south-south-east of Ventnor. The life-boat Eliza-beth Elson, on temporary duty at thestation, was launched at 2.16 in a roughsea. There was a strong westerly windand it was low water. The life-boatfound the yacht J.R.N., with a crew offour, one of whom was injured andlying in the cabin. He had a severewound in the head. As it was thoughtsafer to leave him in the cabin than tobring him out into the open andtransfer him from one boat to the

50 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

other, the life-boat took the yacht intow to Bembridge and arrived at 5.45.A boarding boat then landed the in-jured man, who was taken to hospital.Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ; re-wards to the helpers on shore, £3 5s.

MOTOR BOAT TOWED TO DOVER

Dover, Kent. At six o'clock on theevening of the 18th of January, 1958, thehonorary secretary was informed that amotor boat was in difficulties outsidethe eastern arm of the harbour. Thelife-boat Southern Africa put out at6.20 in a rough sea. There was amoderate westerly gale and the tide wasflooding. The life-boat found the motorboat Lucky Jim with five people onboard. Her engine had broken down,and the life-boat towed her to theharbour. The life-boat reached hermoorings at 6.50. Rewards to thecrew, etc., £5 5s.

TRAWLER ASHORE IN GALE

Wick, Caithness-shire. At 9.50 onthe night of the 18th of January, 1958,the coastguard informed the honorarysecretary that a fishing vessel wasashore in Sinclair Bay. At 10.15 thelife-boat City of Edinburgh was launchedin a moderate sea. There was a freshnortherly gale, with heavy snow show-ers, and it was high water. The life-boat found the steam trawler JeanStephen of Aberdeen, with a crew ofthirteen. Her decks were awash andheavy seas were breaking over her.The life-boat tried a number of timesto come alongside, but without success,and she stood by until the trawler'screw eventually scrambled ashore withthe help of the coastguard. On the wayback to her station the life-boat em-barked an injured man from the trawlerStrathdee and landed him at Wick at4.15. Rewards to the crew, £18 ;rewards to the helpers on shore, £2, 2s.

PILOT CUTTER AGROUND

Lytham-St. Anne's, Lancashire. At10.55 on the night of the 18th of January,1958, the Formby coastguard told thehonorary secretary that the pilot cutterSt. Anne, of Preston, was aground

between Lytham and Preston docks.There was one man, the master, onboard her. At 11.35 the life-boat SarahTownsend Porritt put out in a rough sea.There was a moderate west-north-westerly wind and the tide was ebbing.The life-boat found the St. Anne on thesouth side of the River Ribble offFreckleton Naze, but was unable tocome near her as the St. Anne hadcrossed the training wall and wasaground on the marsh. One of thepilots who had put out in the life-boattold the master of the cutter that effortsto refloat his vessel would be made nextmorning and assured him that he wassafe in the meantime. The life-boatthen returned to her moorings. She putout again at 8.45 the next morning in acalm sea and stood by while a tug triedto refloat the St. Anne. The tug didnot succeed, and when the master ofthe cutter had been taken on board thetug, the life-boat returned to her sta-tion, arriving at noon. First service :rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards tothe helpers on shore, £3 10s. Secondservice : rewards to the crew, £12 5s. ;rewards to the helpers on shore, £3.

LIFE-BOAT TAKES OVER TOWFROM TRAWLER

Workington, Cumberland. At 4.30on the morning of the 21st of January,1958, the honorary secretary was in-formed by a pilot that the pilot boathad not returned to harbour. Thelife-boat Manchester and Salford XXIXput out at 8.30 in a calm sea. Therewas a light north-easterly wind and thetide was flooding. The life-boat beganto search an area eight miles south-westof Workington, but the pilot boat,which had a crew of two, was found bythe Whitehaven trawler Tom Paulapproximately eleven miles south-westof Workington. Her engine had brokendown. While she was in tow of thetrawler the pilot boat's bollard waspulled out of her, and the life-boattook over the tow after the crew of thepilot boat had been transferred to thelife-boat and two members of the life-boat crew had gone aboard the pilotboat. The life-boat reached her stationat 1.5. Rewards to the crew, £19 10s.

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 51

STEAM TRAWLER AGROUNDNEAR PIER

Aberdeen. On the morning of the21st of January, 1958, the steam trawlerLuffness, of Granton, went aground atthe north pier. She was badly holedand her crew had decided to leave her.At 10.45 the life-boat Hilton Briggsput out in a slight sea, with a gentlewesterly breeze blowing and an ebb tide.The life-boat reached the trawler andfound that her crew of thirteen had beentaken off by a pilot cutter and a tug.After running extra mooring lines fromthe Luffness to the pier the life-boatreturned to her station, arriving at11.40. Rewards to the crew, £5 ;reward to the helper on shore, 12s.

CREW TAKEN OFF COASTER

Arklow, Co. Wicklow. At 11.3 on thenight of the 21st of January, 1958, themotor mechanic told the honorarysecretary that the owner of the steamcoaster Anna Toop, of Cardiff, had in-formed him that the vessel was agroundon Arklow Bank and in a dangerousposition. At 11.18 the life-boat In-bhear Mor was launched in a confusedsea. There was a fresh north-east windand the tide was ebbing. The life-boat found the Anna Toop seven and aquarter miles east-south-east of Arklow.She had a crew of nine men and astewardess. At the request of hermaster the life-boat landed the steward-ess and returned to stand by the coaster.On reaching the position she found thatthe coaster had refloated and wasmaking water. The nine men weretaken off and landed at Arklow,which was reached at 4.20. Rewardsto the crew, £18 5s. ; rewards to thehelpers on shore, £4 4s.

LIFE-BOAT STANDS FOUR HOURSBY FISHING VESSEL

Bridlington, Yorkshire. At eleveno'clock on the morning of the 25th ofJanuary, 1958, the honorary secretarywas informed that the local motorfishing vessel Margaret had left theharbour at four o'clock to attend herlines and was expected to return shortly.The weather was deteriorating rapidlyand the life-boat Tillie Morrison,Sheffield II was launched at 12.15.

There was a rough sea, a fresh southerlygale was blowing and the tide wasebbing. The life-boat stood by forfour hours as the Margaret was unableto enter the harbour because of the lowwater. The life-boat finally reached herstation at 4.50. Rewards to the crew,£14 ; rewards to the helpers on shore,£10 2s.

MOTOR VESSEL AGROUND ONSHOAL

Caister, Norfolk. At 4.10 on themorning of the 26th of January, 1958,the Great Yarmouth coastguard toldthe coxswain that the motor vesselFosdyke Trader of Hull was aground onCaister shoal 400 yards west-north-westof Caister Elbow buoy. The life-boatJose Neville was launched at 4.30 in arough sea, with a strong south-south-easterly wind blowing and an ebb tide.The life-boat reached the vessel aquarter of an hour later, and her mastertold the coxswain that he had had hisengines going full astern for some timewithout results. At seven o'clock thelife-boat laid out an anchor from theFosdyke Trader, and by heaving on thisthe vessel refloated at 9.15. The life-boat accompanied her towards Yar-mouth Roads until her master stated heneeded no further help. She then re-turned to her station, arriving at teno'clock. Property Salvage Case.

ESCORT FOR TRAWLER IN TOW

Tynemouth, Northumberland. At11.49 on the morning of the 26th ofJanuary, 1958, the coastguard toldthe coxswain that the trawler PolarPrince had sprung a leak twenty-fourmiles north-east of Tynemouth. Thelife-boat Tynesider was launched at12.15 in a heavy swell. There was amoderate south-south-westerly windand an ebb tide. The tug Hendon alsoleft at the same time. A number ofvessels in the vicinity of the PolarPrince were searching too, and it wasthe tanker Adherity which found thetrawler first and directed the tug to her.A quarter of an hour later the life-boatcame up with the Polar Prince eighteenmiles north-east of Tynemouth. Thetrawler had several feet of water in herengine room and was being towed by

52 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

the Hendon. The life-boat escortedthe two vessels to the Tyne and arrivedback at her station at six o'clock.Rewards to the crew, £18 5s. ; rewardsto the helpers on shore, £5 8s.

SICK WOMAN TAKEN FROMISLAND

Aith, Shetlands. At 8.40 on theevening of the 28th of January, 1958, adoctor at Walls told the honorarysecretary that a patient was very seri-ously ill on the island of Foula andhospital treatment was necessary. Theisland's boat was storm-bound on themainland and the life-boat was askedfor. It was then learnt that becauseof the weather it would be impossiblefor a small boat to bring the patient outto meet the life-boat, and for thisreason it was decided to wait untilmorning. At 9.10 in the morningword was received from Foula that asmall boat would try to put out andmeet the life-boat, so at 10.15 the life-boat J.J.K.S. W., on temporary duty atthe station, made her way with a doctoron board to the Island of Foula. Shearrived at Foula at 2.20, and after em-barking the patient returned to Aith,arriving at 7.15. The patient wastransferred to a waiting ambulance andtaken to hospital. Rewards to the crew,£24 5s.; reward to the helper on shore,etc., 19s. Refunded to the Institutionby the St. Andrew's and Red CrossScottish Ambulance Service.

COXSWAIN SEES ROWING BOATIN DIFFICULTY

Beaumaris, Anglesey. On the morn-ing of the 29th of January, 1958, thecoxswain saw a rowing boat with threemen on board in difficulties. Theyhad gone out to the sandbanks off themouth of the River Ogwen to collectmussels. With the rising tide and astrong southerly wind the boat began todrift seawards, and as they had noanchor on board the men tied theboat to one of the stakes of the oldBangor weir. The life-boat FieldMarshal and Mrs. Smuts put out atnoon in a moderate sea. She reachedthe 16-feet rowing boat and found thethree men exhausted. They were takenon board the life-boat and given re-freshment. The life-boat towed the

rowing boat to Bangor pier, where thethree men were landed, and reached herstation at 2.30. Rewards to the crew,£12 5s. ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £2 17s.

The following life-boats went out onservice, but could find no ships in dis-tress, were not needed, or could donothing :

Stronsay, Orkneys.—January 1st.—Rewards, £9 7s.

Stromness, Orkneys.—January 1st.—Rewards, £10 11s.

Lowestoft, Suffolk.—January 5th.—Rewards, £12 9s.

Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—January9th.—Rewards, £12 7s.

Aith, Shetlands.—January llth.—Re-wards, £23 11s.

Whitby, Yorkshire.—January llth.—Rewards, £18 Is.

St. Abbs, Northumberland.—January18th.—Rewards, £17 17s.

Holy Island, Northumberland.—Janu-ary 18th.—Rewards, £18 5s.

Dungeness, Kent.—January 18th.—Reward, £33.

Lowestoft, Suffolk.—January 19th.—Rewards, £11 4s.

Walton and Frinton, Essex.—January19th.—Rewards, £21 5s.

Longhope, Orkneys.—January 19th.—Rewards, £21 6s.

Humber, Yorkshire.—January 21st.—Paid Permanent Crew.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—January24th.—Rewards, £12 5s.

Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.—January25th.—Rewards, £11 7s.

Islay, Hebrides.—January 27th.—Re-wards, £11 16s.

Selsey, Sussex.—January 30th.—Re-wards, £19 3s.

FEBRUARY

DURING February life-boats werelaunched on service 25 times andrescued 7 lives.

SICK MAN TAKEN FROM STEAMER

Cromer, Norfolk. At 1.51 on theafternoon of the 2nd of February, 1958,the coastguard informed the honorarysecretary that there was a very sick manon board the S.S. Hudson Bank and adoctor was needed. The steamer wasexpected to be off Cromer at about

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 53

three o'clock. At 2.30 the life-boatCunard, on temporary duty at the no. 1station, was launched with a doctor onboard. There was a smooth sea, alight south-south-westerly wind wasblowing, and the tide was flooding. Thelife-boat met the Hudson Bank, and thedoctor, after examining the patient,decided he should go to hospital. Theman was transferred to the life-boatand landed at Cromer at 3.30, where anambulance was waiting. The manmade a gift to the crew. Rewards tothe crew, £15 ; rewards to the helperson shore, £5 8s.

FISHING VESSEL ASHORE ONSLAG REEF

Teesmouth, Yorkshire. At 7.44 onthe morning of the 3rd of February,1958, the South Gare coastguard toldthe honorary secretary that the motorfishing vessel Winnyfold of Grimsbywas ashore two miles east of the SouthGare breakwater. At 8.44 the life-boat John and Lucy Cordingley waslaunched in a moderate swell, with amoderate westerly wind blowing and anebb tide. The life-boat found theWinnyfold ashore on a slag reef with alist of forty-five degrees. Her crewof four had landed from a rubberdinghy. The life-boat stood by untilthe tide made, when with some difficultythe coxswain was able to put somemembers of his crew aboard the Winny-fold. A line was made fast and thefishing vessel was towed to the river.She was making water and the tow ropeparted several times before she wassafely beached on Brand Sands. Thelife-boat reached her station at oneo'clock. Property Salvage Case.

MOTOR VESSEL AND FISHINGBOAT IN COLLISION

Dungeness, Kent. At eleven o'clockon the morning of the 4th of February,1958, the wife of a local fishermantold the second coxswain that she hadheard on the trawler wave-band on herradio that the motor vessel Clarity andthe fishing boat Patricia Joan had beenin collision five miles west-south-westof Dungeness. The fishing boat had

sunk and the Clarity had picked up hercrew of two. One of the men neededmedical attention. The life-boat MabelE. Holland was launched, with thesecond coxswain in charge, at 11.30 ina choppy sea. There was a moderatewesterly wind, and it was high water.The life-boat met the Clarity, whichhad anchored off Dungeness, andfound that the injured man had died.His body and that of the survivor fromthe Patricia Joan were transferred tothe life-boat, which reached her stationat 12.5. Rewards to the crew, £7 10s. ;rewards to the helpers on shore, £9 15s.

SIX COBLES ESCORTED IN GALE

Filey, Yorkshire. At 2.55 on theafternoon of the 4th of February, 1958,the coastguard told the honorarysecretary that there were six localfishing cobles at sea, and as weatherconditions were bad it had become verydangerous for boats returning to har-bour. At three o'clock the life-boatThe ha and Penryn Milsted was launch-ed in a moderate sea. There was afresh west-south-westerly gale and aflooding tide. The life-boat escortedthe six cobles safely ashore and wasrehoused by seven o'clock. Rewardsto the crew, £10 ; rewards to the help-ers on shore, £12 12s.

LAUNCH TO STEAMER IN WHOLEGALE

Buckie, Banffshire. At 9.30 on themorning of the 5th of February, 1958,the coastguard informed the coxswainthat the S.S. Orkney Trader, of Kirk-wall, was in danger of driving ashoretwo and a half miles north of Buckie.At 9.50 the life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow,was launched in a very rough sea. Awhole northerly gale was blowing, withsnow, and the tide was flooding.The life-boat found the Orkney Traderwith two anchors out and her enginesrunning. She stood by until 3.50,when the master of the steamer re-ported that his anchors were holdingand he needed no further help. Thelife-boat returned to her station, arriv-ing at 4.30. Rewards to the crew, £18 ;reward to the helper on shore, 17s.

54 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

ESCORT FOR DUTCH MOTOR VESSEL

Appledore, Devon. At 10.10 on thenight of the 13th of February, 1958, theWestward Ho coastguard told thecoxswain that the Dutch motor vesselAbgir was in a dangerous position anddragging her anchor at Down End.After a consultation with the coast-guard, who had failed to attract theattention of the vessel by morse lamps,the life-boat Violet Armstrong put outat 11.20. There was a rough sea, amoderate south-westerly wind wasblowing and the tide was flooding.When the life-boat reached the Abgirshe found the vessel was under way.She escorted her into safe water andthen helped her to a safe berth atAppledore, arriving there at 1.50.Rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards tothe helpers on shore, £3 2s.

ESCORT FOR DANISH STEAMER

Hastings, Sussex. At 10.55 on themorning of the 16th of February, 1958,the Fairlight coastguard told the honor-ary secretary that a vessel was in diffi-culties off Bexhill. The life-boat M.T.C.was launched at 11.3 in a calm sea.There was a light west north-westerlywind and an ebb tide. The life-boatfound the S.S. Else Skou of Copen-hagen one mile south of Bexhill. Shehad been in collision with anothervessel the day before and had a verybad list. Her master asked the cox-swain if the life-boat would escort himto Dungeness and arrange for a pilotas far as Dover. A pilot cutter wasasked to meet the Else Skou, and thelife-boat escorted the steamer to Dunge-ness and then returned to her station,arriving at 7.25. Rewards to the crew,£22 5s. ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £22 4s.

BOY INJURED WHEN VESSELSTRIKES PIER

Whitby, Yorkshire. On the morningof the 17th of February, 1958, threelocal fishing vessels were at sea. Laterthe weather deteriorated, and the vesselswere informed by radio-telephone thatthe harbour bar was very dangerous.They were advised to make for Scar-borough. One of the vessels, Success,

was seen to proceed south towardsScarborough, but the other two, PilotMe and Provider A, made for Whitby.The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth waslaunched at 12.2 to stand by at theharbour bar. There was a very roughsea, a moderate north-westerly galewas blowing and the tide was flooding.The Pilot Me had her drogue carriedaway by a huge sea a hundred yardsoutside the piers, and when she crossedthe bar she struck the east side bullnoseof the pier and damaged her stem. Oneof her crew, a boy, was injured whenhe was thrown against the side of thewheelhouse. The vessel drifted safelyto the harbour side of the bullnose, andshe was able to reach the quay underher own power, although she wasleaking badly. The fire service wascalled upon to keep the water undercontrol until the vessel could be slipped,and the injured boy was taken tohospital. A little later the Provider Aentered harbour, and she also haddifficulty in crossing the bar, but shereached the quay safely. The life-boatreturned to her station at 1.12. Re-wards to the crew, £8 15s. ; rewardsto the helpers on shore, £1 16s.

LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY NEARHARBOUR

Scarborough, Yorkshire. At 12.20on the afternoon of the 17th of Febru-ary, 1958, the coastguard and honorarysecretary told the coxswain that threeWhitby fishing boats were at sea andthat because conditions were bad theywould probably make for Scarborough.At 1.10 the life-boat Annie Ronald andIsabella Forrest was launched in arough sea, with a fresh northerly galeblowing and a flood tide. The life-boat stood by while the fishing boatSuccess II entered the harbour. Asthe other two boats had reachedWhitby, the life-boat returned to herstation, arriving at 2.5. Rewards tothe crew, £7 10s. ; rewards to thehelpers on shore, £6 19s.

DUTCH TRAWLER AGROUND ONISLAND

Stornoway, Outer Hebrides. At 9.55on the night of the 17th of February,1958, the coastguard told the honorary

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 55

secretary that a vessel was aground onGoat Island in Stornoway Bay. At10.15 the life-boat The James andMargaret Boyd put out in a smooth sea.There was a strong north-westerlywind and the tide was ebbing. Thelife-boat found the trawler ZuiderKruis, of Scheveningen, with a crew oftwelve. As the tide ebbed it wasfeared that the trawler might slip offthe rocks, and the life-boat stood by.At 3.30 the next morning the trawlerrefloated under her own power andproceeded to Stornoway, escorted by thelife-boat. The boats reached Storno-way at 4.15. Rewards to the crew, £14.

CREW OF FISHING BOAT FOUNDON RAFT

Buckie, Banffshire. At 10.25 on thenight of the 18th of February, 1958,the coastguard told the honorarysecretary that the fishing boat Seaforthof Inverness was ashore on WestMuck, half a mile north of Buckieharbour. The life-boat Glencoe, Glas-gow was launched at 10.44 in a heavyswell. There was a moderate westerlywind and a flood tide. The life-boatreached the position and with the helpof the searchlight found five of the crewof the Seaforth afloat on a raft. Theywere taken on board the life-boat,which then searched for the sixth mem-ber of the crew, who had been washedoverboard before the other men hadtaken to the raft. He was not found,and the life-boat reached her station at11.22. The Seaforth became a totalwreck. Rewards to the crew, £8 15s. ;reward to the helper on shore, 12s.

SICK MAN TAKEN FROM COLLIER

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Nor-folk. At 9.5 on the morning of the 23rdof February, 1958, the coastguard in-formed the honorary secretary that aman was very ill on board the collierFrances Fladgate. The vessel was mak-ing for Yarmouth Roads and hadasked for medical help. At 10.21 thelife-boat Louise Stephens was launchedwith a doctor on board in a smooth sea.There was a gentle south-easterly windand a flood tide. The life-boat reachedthe Frances Fladgate, and the sick manwas transferred and brought ashore. He

was then taken to hospital, and the life-boat reached her station at 10.59.Rewards to the crew, £11 5s. ; rewardsto the helpers on shore, £3.

TUG WITH LIGHTERS IN TOWMISSING

Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 8.10 onthe morning of the 26th of February,1958, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that the tug Hawke-stone, of London, which had beentowing two lighters, was missing andhad last been seen approaching theSwatchway Channel. The life-boatGreater London II (Civil Service No. 30)was launched in a rough sea. Therewas a moderate north-north-easterlygale with snow showers, and the tidewas ebbing. The life-boat found thetug high and dry one mile south ofno. 5 Sea Reach buoy. She returnedto her station to collect a small boatand then made for the position again.Three or four members of the life-boatcrew boarded the tug but found nobodythere. The two lighters were foundhigh and dry at All Hallows, offYantlet Creek. After an unsuccessfulsearch for survivors, water was pumpedout of the tug, which was later towedup river. The life-boat reached herstation at 4.15. The crew of six of theHawkestone lost their lives. PropertySalvage Case.

DOCTOR TAKEN TO FISHING BOAT

Buckie, Banffshire. At one o'clockon the afternoon of the 26th of Febru-ary, 1958, the coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that Wick radio hadreceived a message from the motorfishing boat Elm Grove, of Buckie,that a fisherman had fallen overboard.He had been rescued by another mem-ber of the crew but was unconsciousand needed a doctor. At 1.30 the life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow was launchedwith a doctor on board in a moderateswell. There was a fresh north-wester-ly wind and a flood tide. The life-boat found the Elm Grove twelve milesnorth-east of Buckie. The doctor wasput aboard, but the fisherman wasfound to be dead. The life-boat es-corted the fishing boat to harbour,arriving at 2.30. Rewards to the crew,

56 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

£8 15s. ; reward to the helper onshore, 12s.

The following life-boats went out onservice, but could find no ships indistress, were not needed, or could donothing :

Clacton - on - Sea, Essex.—February1st.—Rewards, £13 13s.

Torbay, Devon.—February 1st.—Re-wards, £25 9s.

Weymouth, Dorset.—February 9th.—Rewards, £8 15s.

Dunmore East, Co. Waterford.—Feb-ruary 10th.—Rewards, £5.

Courtmacsherry Harbour, Co. Cork.—February 11th.—Rewards, £10 5s.

St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—February17th.—Rewards, £13.

Barry Dock, Glamorganshire.—Feb-ruary 18th.—Rewards, £18 10s.

Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.—Febru-ary 19th.—Rewards, £9.

Runsvvick, Yorkshire.—February22nd.—Rewards, £17 Is.

New Brighton, Cheshire.—February25th.—Rewards, £10 8s.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—February26th.—Rewards, £14 5s.

MARCH

DURING March life-boats were launchedon service 38 times and rescued 16 lives.

SEARCH FOR MAN MISSING FROMGERMAN VESSEL

Cromer, Norfolk. At 5.35 on themorning of the 2nd of March, 1958, thecoastguard informed the honorarysecretary that the German motor vesselContinental and the British ship Wans-beck had been in collision ten milesnorth-west-by-north of Haisboroughlightvessel. The German vessel hadsunk, but five of her crew had beenrescued by the Wansbeck and anotherman was missing. The life-boat Cunard,on temporary duty at the no. 1 station,was launched at 5.50 in a calm sea.There was a light northerly wind and itwas high water. Visibility was verybad because of mist. After half anhour the life-boat reached the position,and she then carried out a searchtogether with the Wansbeck and otherships in the area. Nothing was seen of

the missing man, and at 7.20 the life-boat was asked to go alongside theWansbeck to take on board the fivesurvivors. The Wansbeck by this timewas making water forward, and hercaptain wanted to get under way to theHumber. The men were transferred,and when it was clear that the Wansbeckwas in no immediate danger, the life-boat continued searching for the missingman until eight o'clock. She thenreturned to her station, arriving at nineo'clock. The United Kingdom agentsfor the German vessel expressed theirappreciation. Rewards to the crew,£19 5s. ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £5 8s.

FISHING BOAT TOWED TOMONTROSE

Montrose, Angus. At 4.40 on theafternoon of the 5th of March, 1958,Stonehaven radio informed the honor-ary secretary that the fishing boat AngusRose of Montrose needed help threemiles off Montrose as her propeller hadbeen fouled by fishing nets. The life-boat James Macfee, on temporary dutyat the station, was launched at 5.1 in arough sea. There was a moderatenorth-westerly gale, with snow showers,and the tide was ebbing. The life-boatfound the Angus Rose with a crew ofthree and towed her safely to harbour,arriving at 7.30. Rewards to the crew,£10 10s. ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £2 16s.

MOTOR BOAT AGROUND ON ISLAND

Donaghadee, Co. Down. At oneo'clock on the afternoon of the 7th ofMarch, 1958, the Orlock coastguardinformed the honorary secretary that aboat taking a relief keeper to MewIsland lighthouse was ashore on rocksat Mew Island. There were five peopleon board. Eight minutes later the life-boat Sir Samuel Kelly put out, taking apunt with her. There was a rough sea,with a strong northerly wind blowingand an ebb tide. The life-boat foundthe motor boat White Heather fast onthe rocks. The coxswain sent two ofhis crew ashore in the punt to investi-gate. As high tide was not untileleven o'clock at night it was decidedto leave the punt and the two members

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 57

of the life-boat crew on the island tohelp the crew of the grounded boat offthe rocks as soon as the tide was highenough. The life-boat returned to herstation with the relief lighthouse keeper,arriving at 3.15. The White Heatherwas eventually refloated and reachedDonaghadee at 12.15 early on the 8thof March. Rewards to the crew,£10 10s.

FISHING BOAT ESCORTED TOHARBOUR

Whitby, Yorkshire. On the morningof the 7th of March, 1958, the localmotor fishing vessel Success was at thefishing grounds. During the day theweather became very bad, and at 2.25in the afternoon the life-boat Mary AnnHepworth was launched. There was arough sea, with a moderate gale blowingand a flooding tide. The life-boat stoodby until the Success was safely in theharbour and reached her station atthree o'clock. Rewards to the crew,£8 15s. ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £1 16s.

TOW TAKEN OVER FROM MOTORVESSEL

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. On theevening of the 8th of March, 1958, thecoastguard told the honorary secretarythat a small boat, which had leftNewhaven for Shoreham Harbour atnoon, had not arrived. At 10.30 thelife-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunnwas launched. There was a slight sea,and a moderate northerly wind wasblowing with heavy snow showers. Thetide was flooding. The motor vesselCharles H. Mertz informed the life-boatby radio-telephone that she had foundthe auxiliary yacht Sampan off Peace-haven and had taken her in tow. Thelife-boat came up with the Charles H.Mertz off Shoreham and took over thetowing of the Sampan after embarkingher crew of two. The life-boat reachedher station at 1.15 the next morning.Property Salvage Case.

TRAWLER TOWED TO HOWTH

Howth, Co. Dublin. At 10.30 on themorning of the 12th of March, 1958,the coxswain heard on his radio that thefishing trawler Ros Aluinn of Howth hadlost her rudder and was in need of help.

At 11.10 the life-boat R.P.L. put out ina rough sea. There was a freshsoutherly wind and it was low water.The life-boat found the Ros Aluinnfourteen miles north of Howth with acrew of seven. She took her in tow toHowth, arriving at 4.15. Rewards tothe crew, £16 5s. ; rewards to thehelpers on shore, £1 4s.

MAN ADRIFT IN SMALL BOAT

St. Ives, Cornwall. At 9.19 on thenight of the 14th of March, 1958, thecoastguard told the honorary secretarythat a man was adrift in a small boat inSt. Ives Bay. At 9.35 the life-boatFrank and William Gates, on temporaryduty at the station, was launched in asmooth sea. There was a gentle south-easterly wind and the tide was flooding.The life-boat reached the position andfound that the man was a member ofthe crew of the motor vessel Erkalm. Hewas helped to reboard his vessel, whichalso took on board the small boat, andthe life-boat returned to her station,arriving at 11.30. Rewards to thecrew, £7 10s. ; rewards to the helperson shore, £11 15s.

DOCTOR AND PRIEST TAKEN TOISLAND

Galway Bay. At 3.30 on the after-noon of the 16th of March, 1958, thehonorary secretary received a messagefrom a doctor on Clare Island requestingthe use of the life-boat to take a patientfrom Inishturk Island to the mainland.At four o'clock the life-boat MabelMarion Thompson put out in a roughsea. A south-easterly gale was blowingand the tide was ebbing. The life-boatreached Inishturk Island at midnightand sheltered there for the night. Sheleft at 5.30 the next morning for ClareIsland, where the doctor and a priestwere embarked. At 12.30 the life-boatreached Inishturk Island and took thepatient on board. The patient waslanded at Roonagh, Co. Mayo, at3.30, and the doctor was then takenback to Clare Island. The life-boatput into Cleggan for the night on herreturn passage and finally reached herstation at 3.30 on the afternoon of the18th of March. Rewards to the crewetc., £89 10s. ; reward to the helper onshore, 12s.

58 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY MOTORSCHOONER IN GALE

Holyhead, Anglesey. At 4.5 on themorning of the 17th of March, 1958,the coastguard informed the honorarysecretary that a schooner, which wassheltering in Holyhead harbour, wasdragging her anchors and was in dangerof going ashore. At 4.55 the life-boatSt. Cybi (Civil Service No. 9) waslaunched in a very rough sea with afresh east-south-easterly gale blowingand a flooding tide. The life-boat foundthe motor schooner /. T. and S. ofDublin, and her skipper asked thecoxswain to stand by until daylight. Atseven o'clock the coxswain was toldthat the services of the life-boat werenot needed as the anchors were nolonger dragging. The life-boat reachedher station at 7.20. Because of the verybad weather she was not able to berehoused until the next day. Rewardsto the crew, £12 5s. ; rewards to thehelpers on shore, £6 9s.

CREW TAKEN OFF FISHINGVESSEL

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. At 4.22on the morning of the 19th of March,1958, a message was received from theskipper of the fishing vessel Wisemanthat the local fishing vessel Mayflowerwas ashore at Cairnbulg Point. At 4.36the life-boat The Duchess of Kent waslaunched in a slight swell. There was agentle north-easterly wind and an ebbtide. The life-boat reached the May-flower and found her high and dry onthe rocks. Three of her crew weretaken on board the life-boat, but threeothers decided to remain with theirvessel. The life-boat returned to herstation, arriving at 6.20. At 7.30 theswell began to increase with a floodingtide, and the life-boat was launchedagain at 7.50 to stand by the vessel incase the three remaining members ofher crew decided to abandon her. Thefishing vessel Present Help followed thelife-boat out of the harbour, towing arowing boat. At ten o'clock theMayflower's crew, who had unsuccess-fully tried to save their vessel, decidedto abandon the attempt as the waterwas pouring through leaks in the port

side, where several planks had beendamaged when the vessel had struckthe rocks, and the pumps could not dealwith the water. The rowing boatpicked up the three men and put themaboard the Present Help, which thenreturned to harbour accompanied bythe life-boat. They reached the harbourat 10.15. 1st Service : rewards to thecrew, £10 ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £1 16s. 2nd Service : rewardsto the crew, £10 10s. ; rewards to thehelpers on shore, £1 16s.

FISHING BOAT TOWED TODUNBAR

Dunbar, East Lothian. At teno'clock on the morning of the 19th ofMarch, 1958, a message was receivedthat a fishing boat was in need of helptwelve miles east-north-east of Dunbar.At 10.25 the life-boat George and SarahStrachan put out in a rough sea. Therewas a gentle north-easterly wind and aflood tide. At 12.25 the life-boatfound the motor fishing vessel Gowanwith her engine broken down. She hada crew of four. The life-boat took herin tow to the harbour, arriving at 2.45.Rewards to the crew, £14 5s.

TOW FOR PILOT BOAT TOHARBOUR

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford. At2.15 on the afternoon of the 20th ofMarch, 1958, the fishing boat MysticalRose of Wexford, which was on charterto the Wexford harbour commissionersfor duties as a pilot boat, had notreturned to harbour and was reportedto be overdue. The honorary secretarytold the coxswain, who saw the boatthrough his binoculars. She was stoppedin broken water on Wexford bar. Thelife-boat Douglas Hyde put out at 2.45in a moderate sea, with a fresh east-south-easterly wind blowing and aflood tide. The life-boat came up withthe Mystical Rose, which had a crew offour, and found that her engine hadbroken down. She took her in tow tothe harbour, where another fishing boattook over the tow, and reached hermoorings at 7.20. Rewards to the crew,£10 10s. ; reward to the helper onshore, 16s.

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 59

DISTRESS CALL RECEIVED AT DOVERFROM BOULOGNE

Dover, Kent. At 12.50 on the after-noon of the 23rd of March, 1958, thehonorary secretary received a telephonemessage from Boulogne that the trawlerNotre-Dame de la Sallete of Boulognewas on the Sandettie bank with hertrawl nets entangled in her propeller.At 1.10 the life-boat Southern Africaput out in a very rough sea. There wasa fresh east-south-easterly gale and itwas high water. At 2.30, when passingthe East Goodwin Sands, the coxswainasked Boulogne radio for the positionof the French trawler, which was thengiven as ten miles south of the Galloper.An hour later the position was alteredto two miles south-south-east of theKentish Knock buoy. The trawler waseventually found at eight o'clock onemile south-east of the Outer Tonguebuoy. Her master asked the coxswainto stand by until the French tug JeanBart arrived. The life-boat then re-turned to her station, arriving at 12.25early on the 24th of March. Rewardsto the crew etc., £28 10s.

COASTER DRIFTING IN GALE ANDROUGH SEA

Plymouth, Devon. At 1.10 on theafternoon of the 23rd of March, 1958,the Queen's harbour master informedthe coxswain that the coaster Lapwing,of London, was drifting out of controlwith engine failure six to seven milessouth-south-east of Rame Head. At1.40 the life-boat Thomas Forehead andMary Rowse put out in a rough sea.There was a strong east-south-easterlygale, and the tide was flooding. Wire-less contact was made with the Lapwing,and when the life-boat reached thecoaster, her master asked the coxswainto stand by. Later Admiralty tugsarrived on the scene, but it was not untilthe Lapwing had drifted well intoWhitsand Bay that the tug Supermansucceeded in getting a tow wire aboardand began towing. On reaching thesound the coaster's master thanked thelife-boat crew. The life-boat reachedher moorings at 6.45. Rewards to thecrew etc., £22 5s.

CREW PUT ABOARD AIR-SEA RESCUELAUNCH

Tenby, Pembrokeshire. At seveno'clock on the morning of the 24th ofMarch, 1958, a message was receivedfrom 1115 Marine Craft Unit, RoyalAir Force, that one of the unit's air-searescue launches had broken adrift fromher moorings near the life-boat slip-way. The unit asked for the life-boatto be launched to put a crew aboard her.At 7.15 the life-boat Henry ComberBrown was launched in a rough sea.There was a fresh north-easterly gale,and it was high water. The life-boatput three airmen aboard the launch andescorted her to her moorings. A letterof appreciation was received from thecommanding officer. Rewards to thecrew, £10 10s. ; rewards to the helperson shore, £6 7s.

FISHING VESSEL ESCORTED TO WICK

Wick, Caithness-shire. At 6.23 onthe morning of the 27th of March, 1958,the coastguard told the honorarysecretary that a fishjng vessel had beenseen approaching Wick from the south-east, although the harbour had beenclosed to shipping because of the heavyswell. Half an hour later the coxswainlearnt that the fishing vessel hadanchored in the entrance to Wick bay.As her anchor was dragging, the life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at7. !0 in a heavy sea. There was amoderate east-south-easterly gale, andthe tide was ebbing. The life-boat foundthe local fishing vessel Pentland Swell,which had a crew of three, stopped withengine trouble. She stood by until theengine was repaired and then escortedher to harbour. Rewards to the crew,£10 10s. ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £2 5s. 6d.

SPEEDBOAT TAKEN IN TOW TO PIER

Beaumaris, Anglesey. At 11.30 onthe morning of the 30th of March,1958, the coxswain was told that aspeedboat had broken down. Half-an-hour later he saw the boat a mile and ahalf south-east of the life-boat slipway.At 12.45 the life-boat Field-Marshal andMrs. Smuts was launched in a choppysea. There was a gentle south-westerlywind and the tide was flooding. The

60 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

life-boat took the speedboat, which hadfive people aboard, in tow to Beaumarispier, and returned to her station,arriving at 1.30. The owner made adonation to the Institution's funds.Rewards to the crew, £8 15s.; rewardsto the helpers on shore, £1 19s.

TIGER MOTH AIRCRAFT TOWEDASHORE

New Brighton, Cheshire. At 5.32 onthe evening of the 30th of March, 1958,the Formby coastguard informed thehonorary secretary that a Tiger Mothaircraft had crashed in the RiverMersey, off Speke airfield, five hundredyards off shore. The life-boat Edmundand Mary Robinson, on temporary dutyat the station, put out at 5.45 in a calmsea. There was a light north-westerlywind and the tide was flooding. Thelife-boat reached the position andfound several other vessels near theaircraft, which was lying upside downwith only part of her wings, tail andlanding wheels showing above thewater. One of her crew had beenrescued by a dinghy, but attempts toreach a second man, who was stillstrapped to his seat, had been unsuc-cessful. The life-boat helped to towthe aircraft ashore, where the body ofthe second man was recovered. Shethen returned to her station, arriving at8.30. Rewards to the crew, £9 ;rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 8s.

DOCTOR COLLAPSES AFTER SWIMTO ROCKS

Minehead, Somerset. At 6.5 on theevening of the 20th of March, 1958, thepolice told the honorary secretary thata young man had fallen on to the rockyshore about three miles west of Mine-head and was seriously injured. Arescue from the shore was impossible,as it was high water. At 6.25 the life-boat B.H.M.H. was launched in amoderate sea, with a moderate east-south-easterly wind blowing. Therewas a doctor on board, and the life-boat had a dinghy in tow. The life-boat reached the position, and twomembers of the crew tried to row thedinghy ashore, but because of breakingseas over half submerged rocks theyfailed to reach the beach. It wasgrowing dark, and the doctor asked tobe taken in the dinghy as far inshore as

possible. Forty yards from the beachhe stripped to his underclothes, andwearing a life-jacket waded the rest ofthe way, only to find that the young manhad died. The doctor swam back tothe dinghy, and shortly after beinghelped aboard the life-boat he collapsed.The life-boat immediately returned toher station, where the doctor waslanded at 8.40. He was taken tohospital and later recovered. The bodyof the man was removed by the policeat low water, and the action of thedoctor was referred to the RoyalHumane Society. Rewards to thecrew, £9 ; rewards to the helpers onshore, £7 6s.

The following life-boats went out onservice, but could find no ships indistress, were not needed, or could donothing :

Dungeness, Kent.—March 3rd.—Re-wards, £25 4s.

St. David's, Pembrokeshire.—March3rd.—Rewards £10 18s.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—March8th.—Rewards, £12 5s.

Weymouth, Dorset.—March 8th.—Rewards, £9 7s.

Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. — March10th.—Rewards, £13 8s.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—March 13th—Rewards, £12.

Poole, Dorset.—March 15th.—Re-wards, £10 11s.

Dover,Kent.—March 17th.—Rewards,£7 15s.

Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—March18th.—Rewards, £12 14s.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—March22nd.—Rewards, £18 15s.

Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.—March23rd.—Rewards, £24 10s.

Longhope, Orkneys.—March 23rd.—Rewards, £23 7s.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex. — March26th.—Rewards, £18 5s.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—March27th.—Rewards, £16 Is.

Seaham, Durham.—March 27th.—Rewards, £20 11s.

Ramsgate, Kent.—March 27th.—Rewards, £12 15s.

Clogher Head Co., Louth.—March30th.—Rewards, £24 Is.

Howth Co., Dublin.—March 30th.Rewards, £12 17s.

THE LIFE-BOAT 61

FRENCH LIFE-BOAT ON SERVICEThis photograph of the life-boat stationed at 1'Ile de Sein appeared in the March issue of thereview " Realites " following an article on the boat by M Raymond Levard and is

reproduced by kind permission of the Societe Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufrages

HELICOPTER EXERCISE AT SWANAGE

62 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

By courtesy of] .\ortlit'rn Daily Mail

LAUNCHING THE HARTLEPOOL LIFE-BOAT

By courtesy of] '.Ban-alt's Photo Press Ltd,

IN LONDON FOR THE ANNUAL MEETINGFrom left to right at back: Bowman William Morris, Coxswain George Stonall, Coxswain

Mark Bates. In front: Mr. John Crook(see page 72)

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 63

By courtesy of ] {Sport ana general

COXSWAIN GEORGE STONALL OF NEW BRIGHTON RECEIVESTHE BRONZE MEDAL FROM H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF KENT

(see page 72)

By courtesy of ] [Barratt's Photo Press Ltd.

MAUD SMITH AWARD FOR BARMOUTH MOTOR MECHANIC(see page 72)

64 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

ANGLE LIFE-BOAT LAUNCHED ON EXERCISE

HAULED UP SLIPWAY ON RETURN

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 65

ON THE TURNTABLE

READY FOR RE-HOUSING

S. Kobinshan-. Milfnri! Haren

66 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

courtesy of] \Rank Screen Services Ltd,

LAUNCHING THE EASTBOURNE LIFE-BOAT

By courtesy of] [Eastern Daily Press

CROMER No. 1 LIFE-BOAT LANDS A SICK MAN(see page 52)

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 67

By courtesy of] [Scarborough and District Newspapers Ltd.

LAUNCHING THE SCARBOROUGH LIFE-BOAT

I

By courtesy of] [Hull Daily Mail

BRIDLINGTON LIFE-BOAT ESCORTS FISHING BOATS

68 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

By courtesy of]SURVIVORS OF THE " SEAFORTH " LANDED BY

THE BUCKIE LIFE-BOAT(see page 55)

By courtesy of] [I. Johnston

BUCKIE LIFE-BOAT PUTS OFF ON SERVICE TO THE " ELM GROVE "(see page 55)

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 69

THE LIFE-BOAT SERVICE

ITS PAYMENTS AT A GLANCE

How each £100 of the Institution's Payments was made in 1957

£ s. d.

30 2 5 ̂ —"^^—-^ New Construction.

34 19 5 mam^m^^^^^^m*~^^^^—m Maintenance of Life-boats and Stations(including Depot).

16 16 11 •——— Payments to Life-boatCrews.

4 3 0 ^—> Administration.

13 18 3 ^—^^^— Raising of Funds andPublicity at Head-quarters and over1,000 Branches.

£100 0 0

ITS RECEIPTS AT A GLANCE

How each £100 of the Institution's Receipts was obtained in 1957

£ s. d,

15 7 4 ^^^^^^— Subscriptions, Donations,Collecting Boxes.

14 10 1 —^^-^— Life-boat Days andHouse-to-House Col-lections.

6 2 3 — Other Special Efforts.

1 12 7 — Boat-house Collections.

6 19 7 —•• Income from Invest-ments.

49 16 7 ̂ —•^^^—••" Legacies.

5 0 10 ^— Special Gifts.

10 9 - Other Sources.

£100 0 0

70 THE LIFE-BOATThe Annual General Meeting

[JUNE, 1958

THE annual general meeting of theGovernors of the Royal National Life-boat Institution was held at the CentralHall, Westminster, on the 25th ofMarch, 1958. The Earl Howe, Chair-man of the Committee of Management,was in the Chair.

H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent, Presi-dent of the Institution, presented medalsfor gallantry and other awards and gavean address. The Earl of Selkirk, FirstLord of the Admiralty, proposed andLord Brabazon of Tara seconded theresolution of gratitude to the coxswainsand crews of the life-boats, the honoraryofficers and committees of the stationsand the honorary officers and membersof the financial branches and the Ladies'Life-boat Guild. Admiral Sir WilliamSlayter and Mr. Roger Leigh-Wood,members of the Committee of Manage-ment, proposed and seconded a vote ofthanks to the President.

Supporting the Duchess of Kent onthe platform were the Countess Mount-batten of Burma, President of theLadies' Life-boat Guild, and Helen,Duchess of Northumberland ; theFrench Ambassador, Monsieur J.Chauvel, and Madame Chauvel, andthe Irish Ambassador, Mr. H. McCann,and Mrs. McCann ; the Postmaster-General and Member of Parliament forWallasey, Mr. Ernest Marples, and Mrs.Marples, and the Member of Parliamentfor Merioneth, Mr. T. W. Jones ; theMayor and Mayoress of Westminster ;the Chairman of the London CountyCouncil ; the mayors and mayoressesof 48 boroughs ; the chairman of oneurban district council ; representativesof the Ministry of Transport and CivilAviation, the Civil Service Life-boatFund, the Shipwrecked Fishermen andMariners' Royal Benevolent Society,and the Ancient Order of ForestersFriendly Society ; the donors of life-boats or their representatives ; honor-ary life governors and vice-presidentsof the Institution ; members of theCommittee of Management ; and theChairman and Deputy Chairmen ofthe Central London Women's Com-mittee of the Institution.

Presenting the report of the Insti-tution for 1957, Lord Howe said :

Chairman's Address

It is my duty as Chairman of the Committeeof Management of the Royal National Life-boat Institution to report to you on a year ofprogress and of success. In the work of theInstitution it has also been a year of greatdemands and great achievements. Therehave only been two years in the history of theInstitution in which life-boats were called outon service in time of peace more than 700times : one was 1956 and the other was 1957.This remarkable fact gives you an idea of thedemands which have to be made upon thecrews of the fleet on the coast. A man whoserves in a life-boat to-day is three times asliable as his father or grandfather to be calledout on service at any moment.

There is certainly a great differencebetween the old pulling and sailing life-boatsin which our crews served in the past and themodern high-powered variety which weprovide to-day, but the dangers still remain,and the call in the night, when other peoplecan remain happily asleep, is three times aslikely to occur. In 1957, the year on which Iam reporting, these calls were always prompt-ly and willingly answered, and as a result609 people who might otherwise have losttheir lives are alive today.

A feature of the year has been the verylarge increase in the number of services toyachts. There may be many in this hall whovisited the Daily Express Boat Exhibition atOlympia and who will have noticed theenormous interest which was being taken bythe general public in the small boats—yachts,dinghies and the like—which were displayedat that great exhibition. For the first timein the history of the Institution the categoryof yachts, whether under power or sail, gaverise to a greater number of services than anyother category of vessel. The number ofservices to vessels which promote the com-merce of the country—the barges, coastalsteamers, fishing boats and the like—has notdeclined, but the proportion has gone downowing to the increase in the number of servicesto yachts and small boats.

New Type of Carriage

It is the constant aim of the Committee ofManagement to do everything we can toincrease efficiency, and in that respect wemade considerable progress in the past year ;for example, we have a new type of carriagecoming into service. Of the older type ofcarriage used for our life-boats, the youngestwas made in 1921 and some of them are avery great deal older than that. Some may beforty or fifty years old and we have evenchristened them " Queen Victoria's statecoach ".

The first two of the new carriages are nowon the coast, three more are being completed,and four more have been ordered. But weshall have to order three or four more duringevery one of the next five years, and each onecosts £3,365. They are required of course.

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 71

to take the beach boats to the sea or to thelaunching point, which in many cases is someconsiderable distance away and may be asmuch as three or four miles away or evenmore.

Another thing that we have done duringthe past year is to proceed with fitting put ourboats with very high frequency radio tele-phony, and we have equipped no less than140 boats of our fleet with this device. Thathas cost us £7,840 a year and may cost more,but of course it make for much greaterefficiency : it enables the coxswain of thelife-boat to talk to the pilot of an aircraftwhether that aircraft is of the Royal Navy,the R.A.F. or the United States Air Force.Here I would like to pay a sincere tribute tothat great force for the way in which itsaircraft have assisted us on every possibleoccasion.

Use of ScotchliteAnother thing that we have done is to

make use of Scotchlite in our life-boats.As you know, Scotchlite is a reflectingmaterial, and it can be picked up in the beamof a searchlight so that somebody who is inthe water can be found very much moreeasily than would be possible without it.

We have also carried out a series of mostrigorous tests of all our life-belts. We heardrumours of the effects of fuel oil on life-belts, and so, to try and find out the facts, wecarried out some extensive trials and wefound that the life-belts we are using arereally quite all right.

Those are just a few of the things that havebeen going on. We also sent nine new life-boats to their stations last year ; four ofthem were of the 52-feet Barnett type fittedwith twin screws and engines of 72 h.p. each—that is 144 h.p. per boat. They also have awheelhouse and a double bottom under theengine-room to give them extra security.

We have also tackled the question ofThurso. You will probably remember seeingin the papers that the life-boat house and analmost brand new life-boat at Thurso weredestroyed by fire. We have managed to senda new boat to that station, rebuild the boat-house and have everything just as it was beforein under the year. It has cost £65,000 to dothat, which will give you an idea of theenormous cost involved in some of thesethings.

Work of GuildsAll this, of course, means that the cost of

running the service is a very high one. It isgoing up the whole time, unfortunately, andit has come to very nearly £1 million. Thinkof it, ladies and gentlemen : £1 million,provided by voluntary contributions and bythe devoted efforts of our guilds and branchesup and down the country. It is a grand thingthat they do as much as they do, and par-ticularly I take my hat off to the ladies'guilds all over the country : the work theydo is absolutely superb.

I know that everybody in this hall willagree with me when I say that the achieve-ments of the Institution and all who work forit are inspired and continually helped by Her

Royal Highness, our President. It is myproud privilege once again to welcome HerRoyal Highness here this afternoon.

We have other distinguished guests heretoo. Our principal speaker, Lord Selkirk,First Lord of the Admiralty, has onlymanaged to get here with great difficulty thisafternoon, at the very last moment, owing tohis duties in Parliament. He has honouredthe Institution by sparing time from hisarduous post as First Lord of the Admiraltyto attend this meeting.

I also have to welcome one of the greatestfigures in our public life, to whom the countryas a whole owes a great debt of gratitude, andthat is Lord Brabazon of Tara. It does notmatter whether it is the world of sport,business, transport, aviation or what—LordBrabazon's figure is always in it and he isalways there at the head of it.

We also welcome His Excellency the FrenchAmbassador and Madame Chauvel and HisExcellency the Irish Ambassador and Mrs.McCann. Our Postmaster-General, who isthe M.P. for Wallasey, and Mrs. ErnestMarples are also here, and we welcome, too,Mr. T. W. Jones, M.P. for Merioneth, LadyMountbatten and Her Grace the DowagerDuchess of Northumberland.

Before I conclude, I would like to pay ahumble tribute to the work of the members ofthe Committee of Management. They are abody of enthusiasts composed of His RoyalHighness the Duke of Edinburgh, of officersof all the three fighting Services and of theCivil Service, of businessmen and men ofaffairs. It would be really difficult to find amore representative body to give their timeto the work of the R.N.L.I, and to do theirbest to back up the work of our loyal anddevoted staff, to whom we all owe so much.

Report for 1957

The report and accounts for 1957were adopted and the president andvice-presidents, treasurer and othermembers of the Committee of Manage-ment and the auditors were elected.

H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent, givingher presidential address, said :

Two years have passed since I last had thepleasure of addressing this meeting. Sincethat time the Institution has suffered a greatloss by the death of Sir Godfrey Baring. Itis for me a sad reflection, as it must be formany others this afternoon, that he is notwith us today ; I look back on so manyoccasions in this hall, and at life-boat stationsthroughout the country, when he was presentas chairman of this great service—a servicewhose interests were always close to hisheart, and for which he did so much duringthe greater part of his life-time.

In a few moments time I shall be present-ing the medals and awards in accordancewith the customary procedure on theseoccasions. I always consider this a greathonour, and to-day it is my privilege to

72 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

present medals to Coxswain Mark Bates, ofKilmore in Co. Wexford, and to CoxswainGeorge Stonall, of New Brighton, for theirgallant services to the Institution, details ofwhich you will shortly be hearing.

Unhesitating GoodwillTo those who know little of the Institu-

tion's record, year by year, who have had nopersonal chance of learning at first handabout its activities, the brief accounts thatappear from time to time in the press mayseem unremarkable. No doubt many peoplemust think that such exploits are all in theday's work. And of course—in a sense—this is true. It is, certainly, very much apart of the day's work of a life-boat man tohazard his life to save another. It is verymuch a part of his work to be on short call ;to be sent for in the wildest of weather ; andto suffer all the terrors of the elements in theservice of others. But few of us, I think,would have the courage or the physicalstrength to endure with such unhesitatinggoodwill the tests with which our life-boatmen are almost daily confronted.

Those who attempt rescues are not in everycase members of life-boat crews. One of theearliest tasks which this organization tookupon itself was the recognition of those who,without thought of reward, set out in boats ofany kind to rescue others in distress. Therehave been a number of people who carried outsuch rescues during the past year. Mr. JohnCrook, who is here today to receive an award,is one ; and amongst others there is Mr.William Morris of the Barmouth life-boatstation, whose prompt action resulted in thesaving of four children's lives. These acts ofspontaneous gallantry were touched by thesame spirit that inspires our life-boat crewsalong pur coasts.

During the past year I visited a number oflife-boat stations, and was greatly impressedby the high standards of efficiency and readi-ness everywhere apparent. I hope this yearto be able to visit several more ; and I amparticularly happy to tell you that mydaughter was very pleased to be asked by theInstitution to name the life-boat at Tprbayin Devon on the 25th of July, and that this life-boat will bear her name.

As always, it is my privilege to thank allthose who have helped the Institution in athousand ways. Each and every one ofthem plays an important part in the life of theservice, and their contributions, in howeverhumble a form, are of tremendous import-ance. But above all, it is to the men of thelife-boats that I would like to express mywarmest thanks and my best wishes for theyear.

Medals for Gallantry

The Secretary, Colonel A. D. BurnettBrown, read accounts of services bythe life-boats at Kilmore and NewBrighton and of shore-boat services atHeswall and Barmouth.

The President then presented :

To COXSWAIN MARK BATES, of Kilmore,the silver medal for the rescue of the crew often of the French trawler Anguste Maurice onthe 19th/20th of December ;

To COXSWAIN GEORGE STONALL, of NewBrighton, the bronze medal for the rescueof the crew of six of the coaster /. B. Kee, ofCastletown, on the 5th of November ;

To MR. JOHN CROOK, of Parkgate, Wirral,an inscribed wrist watch for the rescue in asingle-seater kayak canoe of a fisherman onthe 27th of July ;

To MOTOR MECHANIC WILLIAM MORRIS,of Barmouth, the Maud Smith award for therescue in the motor launch Skylark of fourchildren in difficulties while bathing on the16th of July.

Lord Selkirk then moved the follow-ing resolution :

" That this meeting, fully recognizingthe important services of the RoyalNational Life-boat Institution in itsnational work of life-saving, desires torecord its hearty appreciation of thegallantry of the coxswains and crews ofthe Institution's life-boats, and its deepobligation to the local committees,honorary secretaries, and honorarytreasurers of all station branches, andto the honorary officers and thousandsof voluntary members of the financialbranches and of the Ladies' Life-boatGuild in the work of raising funds tomaintain the service."

In doing so, he said :I do not think it would really require many

words—indeed, any words—of mine to com-mend that resolution to you today, but thereare one or two things I would like to say.The first is to express on behalf of the Boardof Admiralty the deep sense of regard whichthey feel—indeed, which the Royal Navyfeel—for the Royal National Life-boat In-stitution. We regard it with a deep esteem,but I think the feeling is more than that,because we as a people in this country areimmensely proud of our life-boats. We aregrateful to the people who organize them andhave a deep respect and admiration for thecrews who man those boats and the hightraditions which they maintain.

I am sure our admiration is enormouslyincreased by the fact that this is a voluntaryinstitution kept alive by those who freelygive to help it. Indeed, it would be a very sadday if the people of this country ever lostinterest in the sea which surrounds them or inthis service which they freely maintain.

An example of the deep sense of interest inthe life-boat service is the magnificent repre-sentation we have here today of the boroughsof Greater London. Seldom will any of youhave the opportunity of seeing a more magni-ficent representation of the municipalities ofthis area ; and, if I may say so, a very finebody of men they are.

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 73

But when we talk of voluntary institutionslet there be no illusion : it is the ladies whowork voluntary institutions, even if it is themen who ultimately pay the bill. In thesedays we incline perhaps to think over muchof the wonders of inventions in science, butthe facts of nature are always with us. Ourfood comes to us over the sea. It is broughtby those who go down to the sea in ships andhave their business in great waters. It isfrom the sea that our fishing fleet supply theraw material which, in my opinion, is amongthe choicest of our dishes, and it is to the seathat many of us go for our health and for ourleisure, following the example given a centuryand a half ago by the Prince Regent when hefirst went to Brighton.

I do not think we could forget the sea whichhas meant so much to us. May I quote somefavourite words which Admiral of the FleetLord Fisher used to use ? " Time, theocean and some guiding star in high commandhave made us what we are ". History wouldbe very different if the waters had not sur-rounded us and if we had not learned to usethem.

Now, the second thing I would like to sayis simply this : we are all familiar, from thetime when we were in the nursery, with thatvery old story of King Canute. I do notknow whether King Canute wanted to demon-strate a fact or whether he had the factdemonstrated to him, but one thing we allknow is that you cannot command the sea.There is only one thing to do, and that is tounderstand the mood of the sea. Thereinlies the skill and the ability of the constructorsof our life-boats and of the coxswains andthe crews who man them. To appreciatethis you only need to hear the stories readto you today or to read in the Life-boat ofthe heroism and resolution against almostinsuperable hardships which the men of thelife-boat service have to face.

Immense Success

One thing, however, which did catch myeye is the immense success which attends thisservice. The figures show that throughoutthe year on an average the life-boat servicesaves a life almost as often as a life-boat islaunched. I think that is a very remarkableachievement. When we recognize that overthe last thirty years launchings have becomethree times as frequent as they were, the hightotal is, I think, an indication of the standardof efficiency which has grown up.

Over these same thirty years the cost ofmaintaining the service has gone up fourfold.There are many reasons for that. LordHowe gave us some of them when he spoke ofthe higher quality of equipment, but this isnecessary in order that full use may be madeof this great service, and it is our duty to seethat this great Institution, with all its tradi-tion, continues on its historic task, the taskwhich it fulfils to our merchant shipping andalso to foreign commercial men. I aminterested to read of help given to at least nineflags of foreign countries, as well as of thehelp given to our fishing fleet, to that in-

domitable breed of seafaring people, whoalways retain the admiration of the wholecountry.

With regard to those who seek health andenjoyment, whether by bathing or by yachtingin the sea, and who find the perils sometimestoo great, it would indeed be intolerable if wewere ever in a position in the future of know-ing that lives were in danger near, or maybeeven in sight of, our coasts, and we were notin a position to take action. But we can onlytake action with proper equipment and fullytrained crews and that is what the RoyalNational Life-boat Institution makes possible,That is why we are grateful to them, and thatis why we should support them today.

Lord Brabazon of TaraSeconding the motion, Lord

Brabazon said :You have listened to a most admirable

speech by Lord Selkirk, and he has actuallyread the resolution. I am not going to do itagain ; do not be alarmed. And one has toremember it was not just Lord Selkirk speak-ing, it was the First Lord of the Admiralty,and he is a very big gun in this country. I ama bit nonplussed as to why I am here at all.Why did Lord Howe ask me ? I think it wasbecause I represent, so to speak, the man inthe street. He is not to be despised, youknow. It is he who puts the little flag in hisbuttonhole and gives his half-crown.

As a man in the street, I take a very poorview of the sea : it is nasty, wet, cold, saltstuff, and anybody who is foolish enough togo on it leads a very up and down life. But,what is so extraordinary today is that, due,no doubt, to the congestion of the roads,people are going more and more on the sea,and on a fine day you will see people actuallycarrying their boats down to the sea wherethey are going to launch them. They looklike human snails, so to speak.

Lord Selkirk has drawn your attention tothe fact that the sea is a very uncertain ele-ment. I am an amateur sailor, and I knowquite well that sometimes you see great linersrolling and plunging about and behaving in adrunken way while you in a small boat donot take any notice of it, whereas on otherdays, when you get conditions of windagainst the tide in a small boat, you havemultiple seas on each side of you and a bigboat does not even notice it. Consequentlyyou have got to study this element, and thesepeople who go down and know little about itare really risking their lives.

Rescues in AugustIt is, I think a reflection on the conditions

which prevail today when you notice thatmost of the rescues from the sea take place inAugust, and of course it is a very odd thingto remind you of, but August happens to bein our summer. There is usually a full galeblowing, but nominally it is meant to be oursummer. It is not for me to attack in anyway a Government office, but I cannot helpreminding the Meteorological Office that theyreally should keep our seasons in order.

74 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

This resolution is a tribute to all those whokeep this great organization going, and wehave to remember that without the organiza-tion it is no use having brave men or trying toto this job at all. It is all founded on theorganization, and without it the servicewould collapse.

What I would now rather like to remind youof is our chief coxswain, Lord Howe. Weare extremely lucky to have this man at ourhead. I have been associated with him formany years. When he was in the House ofCommons he was wonderful in defending theNavy and looking after the Navy in everyway. He is an international motorist famedthroughout the world. If you have a weakheart I do not advise you to go with him in hismotor-car—not because he is dangerous ;he is a very safe driver, but he will frightenyou. I think we are very lucky to have a manlike that with all his many activities, becauseI know him quite well enough to know thatdearest of all to his heart, and what he ischiefly keen on in this world, is the life-boatservice. May he long continue to be ourchief.

Developments in Life-saving

There are one or two new developments inlife-saving which interest me very much.One is the collapsible, inflatable life-raft.These were started, I think, in the war. Ihave never been in one. I sometimes ratherhoped that the ship I was in would sink inorder that I might try one, but perhapsthat might not have been a good thing. Theadvertisements speak very well of them.Advertisements often do speak well of things.I notice that the very latest type are not onlycovered over, they have a supply of food andthey have a wireless. The only thing theyhave not got is a television ; but otherwiseyou appear to be as snug as a bug in a rug.Whether these life-rafts are a practicalproposition or not, I do not know, but theysound splendid to me.

I mentioned television. Did any of yousee last night the detergents in our rivers ?Really, that was a most astonishing phenome-non. Of course, it is all frightfully funnyuntil you fall in and then you cannot berescued because nobody sees where you are.That is a point of view that I had really neverappreciated. I do hope you housewives willnot be lured by the advertisements on tele-vision into going on with these detergentsuntil the whole sea is one foam; we shall notbe able to see a boat in order to rescue it.

As an old airman I am very pleased also tonotice that the dear old helicopter, which wasrather despised and rejected by the aeroplaneexperts, is coming into its own again and isco-operating nobly with you, helping youin every way it can.

Superhuman Bravery

Now, at the end of these few remarks, wecome to the question of the men. I speakto you as a natural coward. I have alwaysbeen a coward, and it is no use changing ortrying to change at my time of life. I can

perfectly well understand that when they arein a tight corner, in order to save their ownwretched lives and skins, many people areprepared to do remarkable things which comeunder the head of bravery. We are allcapable of doing that : myself included. Buttrue bravery is deliberately to take on a jobthat you know to be dangerous. That isreally true bravery. When you are cosily inbed, warm and happy and contemplatinghow you will spend the £200,000 that Little-wood's will undoubtedly give you on the nextSaturday, suddenly to hear the signal and toget up, put on your oil-skins, go out into anicy east wind and put to sea in a gale—oh,boy, that really is to me superhuman bravery.Yet these great men come up here in such anunassuming way and take their decorationsfrom Her Royal Highness. I myself feelprivileged and proud to have been evenallowed to see them here this afternoon.

I have been told all my life that one of thethings a speaker should do is to try and readthe minds of his audience. I have looked atyou for a few minutes—well, you are quite anornamental set—and I have come to the con-clusion that this is what is in your minds :" This man is a garrulous old buzzard and it istime he sat down." With those remarks, Ipropose so to do.

Awards for Honorary Workers

The Secretary reported that since thelast annual meeting one honoraryworker had been appointed an honorarylife governor of the Institution.

The President then presented thevellum awarded to an honorary lifegovernor to :

MR. BARRIE BENNETTS, PENLEE.

The Secretary reported that bars togold badges had been awarded to twohonorary workers and the gold badgeto eight honorary workers.

The President presented a bar to hisgold badge to :

MR. WILLIAM POWELL, SWANAGE ;

and gold badges to :MRS. A. L. WARREN PEARL, CHELSEA.MRS. W. F. GALE, COWES.MR. A. M. HAMILTON, DONAGHADEE.MRS. L. M. CRICHTON, EDINBURGH.MRS. A. HUTCHISON, LEVEN.Miss E. C. INGLIS, LEVEN.MR. 3. M. MACKAY, LEVEN.

Miss D. F. CHANDLER, of Seaford, wasunable to be present to receive the bar to hergold badge, and MR. R. ROBERTSON, ofGrangemouth, to receive his gold badge.

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 75

Votes of Thanks

Proposing a vote of thanks to H.R.H.the Duchess of Kent, Admiral Slaytersaid :

It is my proud privilege to move a vote ofthanks to our President. Like all the mem-of our Royal Family with whom we areblessed, Her Royal Highness is a very busyperson ; in fact, I sometimes wonder howshe has any private life at all in view of all herpublic engagements.

There is one point that I want to make thisafternoon, and that is that our President isnot just the gracious and beautiful figureheadof our Institution : she is very much a mem-ber of the team and a very hard-workingmember too. She is equally well known toour crews and helpers on the coast as she isto us, and wherever she is her presence is areal inspiration to all those who work for ourgreat Institution.

Seconding this vote of thanks, Mr.Roger Leigh-Wood said :

I have great pleasure in seconding thisresolution which has been so ably proposedby Admiral Slayter. It is not easy to expressadequately to your Royal Highness ourgratitude for all the work you do and for thekeen interest which you have always taken inthe affairs of the Life-boat Institution andfor honouring this meeting with your presencehere today. I assure you, Madam, howdeeply sensible we are of this mark of yourfavour, and we in this hall are very fortunateto have the privilege of showing our gratitudein person.

In the evening those who had receivedawards for gallantry and their familieswent to the Crazy Gang Show at theVictoria Palace.

The arrival of H.R.H. the Duchess ofKent and the departure of the medallistswere shown on the Independent Tele-Television newsreel. Extracts from thespeeches given at the meeting werebroadcast in the B.B.C. programme" Radio Newsreel".

Obituary

SIR JOHN GUMMING

SIR JOHN GHEST GUMMING, K.C.I.E.,C.S.I., died on the 9th of March, 1958,at the age of 89. He joined the Com-mittee of Management of the Institu-tion in 1921 and was appointed a Vice-President in 1932. He resigned fromthe Committee in 1956. He served fortwenty-eight years on the finance com-mittee, of which at one time he waschairman, on the general purposes andpublicity Committee and on the estab-lishment committee. He was also for anumber of years chairman of the sub-committee which produces the annualreport. His publications included adetailed bibliography entitled Literatureof the Life-boat and, with Mr. CharlesVince, an anthology The Life-boat inVerse.

Sir John Gumming had a distin-guished career in the Indian CivilService, being a member of the Execu-tive Council of the Governor of Bengal.He planned and directed three import-ant works on India, Modem India,Political India and Revealing India'sPast.

In addition to his consistent and

valuable services to the Life-boatInstitution he also worked actively for anumber of other charities, in particu-lar Toe H.

A memorial service was held at theCrown Court Church, Covent Garden,on the 18th of March. Earl Howe,Chairman of the Committee of Manage-ment, and a number of other membersof the Committee and of the staff,including the Secretary of the Institu-tion, attended.

LIEUT.-COLONEL E. G. H. LIVESEY

Lieut.-Colonel E. G. H. Livesey, whowas District Organising Secretary forthe Midlands from 1952 to 1957, diedon the 29th of March, 1958. Lieut.-Colonel Livesey was educated at EpsomCollege and the Royal Military College,Sandhurst, and after being commis-sioned as an officer in the Cameronianshe was transferred in 1936 to the 4/7Rajput Regiment, and later to theRoyal Army Ordnance Corps. He wasappointed Assistant District OrganisingSecretary in the North-East district in1952, and shortly afterwards took overthe Midlands district.

76 THE LIFE-BOAT

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS— 1st Jan. to 31st Dec., 1957

1956£

185,858286

40,479

9,808386

42,57512,6312,596

3,360

61,162

2,571

58,591

295,408

4,205731744

2,571

8,251

12,41638,444

50,860

50,360

9,315

47,1451,574

967

1,40960,410

24,072

4,460328

28,860494,149

PAYMENTSLIFE-BOATS :—

New Life-boats for the following Stations : Onaccount —

Angle, Arbroath, Barra Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed,Cromarty, Dungeness, Fishguard, Mallaig,Moelfre, Thurso, Torbay, Troon, Valentia,Weymouth, Wicklow ; materials for futurebuilding and improvements and alterations toexisting fleet

Upkeep of Cowes Office and StoreUpkeep of and Repairs to Life-boatsRentals and Maintenance of Radio Equipment and

' Loud Hailers, and Radio LicencesConsulting Naval Architect . .

£ s. d.Salaries of Superintendent Engineer,

Surveyor of Life-boats, Inspectorsof Machinery, Assistant Surveyorsof Life-boats and Machinery,Draughtsmen and Clerical Staff 45,766 8 2

Travelling Expenses .. .. 13,94017 6Pensions under the Pension Scheme 2,676 14 4Contributions to 1938 Pension

Scheme 3,638 9 6

66,022 9 6Less estimated amount chargeable

to Life-boat carriages and tractors 2,804 - -

LIFE-BOAT CARRIAGES AND TRACTORS :—New CarriagesRepairs to Life-boat CarriagesRepairs to TractorsEstimated proportion of Life-boats expenses as

above

LIFE-BOAT HOUSES AND SLIPWAYS :—New Construction and AdaptationRepairs and MaintenanceGratuity under the Pension Scheme

LIFE-BOAT STORES

LIFE-BOAT DEPOT :—Rates, Insurance, Equipment and RepairsSalaries of Superintendent of Depot, Assistant and

Clerical Staff and Wages of Manual WorkersPensions and Gratuities under the Pension SchemesContributions to 1938 Pension SchemeProvision for additional liability, 1909 Pension

Scheme

PAYMENTS IN CONNEXION WITH LIFE-BOATSTATIONS :—

Conveyance of Life-boats, Carriages, Tractors andStores ; Work to Moorings ; Telephones ;Postages, etc.

Insurance under National Insurance Acts andagainst claims at Common Law

Salaries of Assistant Secretaries, etc., of Stations

Carried forward

£

244,544295

38,147

16,36487

63,218

9,968652599

2,804

33,77628,628

50

9,964

50,5912,1111,141

852

25,679

5,352311

s.

131312

181

9

5

13

613

5

171619

18

13

613

[JUNE, 1958STATEMENT

d. £

776

94

6

362,658

7109

14,024

66

62,455

56,669

7

44

11

1164,662

7

34

31,343591,813

s.

9

If

1;

-

JUNE, 1958]DUNTS

THE LIFE-BOAT

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS—1st Jan. to 31st Dec., 1957

77

1956 RECEIPTS£ SUBSCRIPTIONS, DONATIONS, ETC. :— £ s. d.

8,488 General Subscriptions to Headquarters .. .. 7,998 8 35,785 „ „ through Station Branches .. 6,304 3 -

25,403 „ „ through Financial Branches 25,516 5 325,778 „ Donations to Headquarters .. .. 21,817191152,590 „ „ through Station Branches .. 70,385 - 5)5,655 „ „ through Financial Branches .. 206,644 - 8

Contributions from Harbour Authorities towards1,800 upkeep of Life-boat Stations 1,800 - -

304 Contribution Boxes to Headquarters .. .. 322 1122,704 „ „ through Station Branches .. 21,361 5 96,717 „ „ through Financial Branches .. 7,189 9 4

55,224

s. d.

369,339 4 1

5,725

CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT FUND :—Contribution in respect of the following Life-boat

Establishments : Blyth, Hartlepool, Holyhead,Margate, Portrush, Port St. Mary, St. David's,Southend-on-Sea, Thurso, Walmer and Whitehills 5,994 8 7

70,949 Carried forward £375,333 12 8

78 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS-STATEMENT

-1st Jan. to 31st Dec., 1957—continued

1956£

494,149

14,204945

106,630

9,884

4,570

7,644

3,003

146,880

,<suy4,2761,1911,806

25,082

4,647

31,419

3,512

3,987

1,7512,218

8101,1742,290

3,546

50,707

25,353

25,3547,014

4732039

766

35,646

706,404

PAYMENTS£ s. d.

Brought forwardWAGES, REWARDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS TO

COXSWAINS, MOTOR MECHANICS ANDCREWS :—

Cost of Wreck Services, including Rewards to Life-boat Crews and others, Special Rewards andRecognitions, Medals and Vellums . . . . 13,416 - 1

Grants to men injured in the Life-boat service . . 901 12 10Fees of Coxswains, Bowmen and Signalmen, Wages

of Motor Mechanics, etc 120,285 5 1Payments to Life-boat Crews and Launchers for

exercises 9,378 19 7Annuities and Gratuities under the Regulations to

Coxswains, Bowmen, Signalmen, Part Time andAssistant Motor Mechanics .. .. .. 4,611 18 6Pensions and Grants to Relatives of deceased Life-boatmen and others .. .. .. .. 9,392 13 2

Pensions and Gratuities under the Pension Schemeto Ex-permanent Crews ot Life-boats . . . . 3,262 - 2

LIFE-BOAT INSPECTORS :—Salaries of Chief Inspector, Deputy Chief Inspector,

Assistant Chief Inspector, Inspectors of Life-boats and Clerical Staff 20,338 5 5

Travelling Expenses .. .. .. .. .. 4 , 8 3 5 5 3Pensions under the Pension Scheme .. .. 1,273 11 10Contributions to 1938 Pension Scheme .. .. 2,00613 8

RATES AND REPAIRS OF MECHANICS'COTTAGES, ETC.

£ s. d.ADMINISTRATION :—

Salaries of Secretary, Assistant Secre-tary, Accountant, Internal Auditor,and Clerical Staff 36,083 5 6

Rent, Depreciation, Rates, Lighting,Heating, Insurance, etc., of theHouse of the Institution . . . . 3,554 10 5

Insurance under National InsuranceActs and against claims at CommonLaw 4,214 12 -

Telephone Operator, Commissionairesand Nightwatchman .. .. 1,970 2 1

Telephones, Postages and Parcels .. 2,35713 2Travelling Expenses of Committee of

Management 765 8 8Pensions under the Pension Scheme . . 1,216 3 8Contributions to 1938 Pension Scheme 2,686 8 6Provision for additional liability, 1909

Pension Scheme 2,624 14 10

55,472 18 10Less estimated amount chargeable to

raising of funds and publicity . . 27,736 9 5

27,736 9 5Stationery, Office Expenses, Printing and Books .. 7,861 18 4Auditor's Fee 472 10 -Law Expenses . . . . . . . . . . 1,408 14 4Repairs and Improvements to the House of the

Institution .. .. .. .. .. 1,533 - 11

Carried forward

£ s.591,813 -

161,248 9

28,45 3 16

2,700 6

39,012 13

£823,228 5

JUNE,UNTS

1958] THE LIFE-BOAT

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS—1st Jan. to 31st Dec., 1957

79

RECEIPTS

Brought forward

INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS :—Dividends and Interest on Investments (Less£2,833 15 1 tax)

Less— £ s. d.Interest on certain Trust Funds

transferred to Special PurposesFund 1,058 - -

Interest on certain EndowmentFunds transferred to GeneralSubscriptions, etc. (in accordancewith the directions of the res-pective donors) 650 9 10

Income Tax Recovered on Dividends

SUNDRY RECEIPTS :—Sale of old StoresRentals of Freehold and Leasehold Premises

s. d.

69,370 11 10

£ s. d.375,333 12 8

1,708 9 10

67,662 2 -1,976 8 2

4,469 11 -887 4 9

69,638 10 2

5,356 15 9

Total Ordinary Receipts £450,328 18 7

Carried forward £450,328 18 7

80 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958STATEMENT

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS—1st Jan. to 31st Dec. 1957—continued

1956£

706,404

590

7,356

20,7634,594214

9,226

30,752

4,602

9,3311,6132,392

4,292

25,353

120,488

827,482

65,361120,497

185,858

44,852

230,710

596,772

107,376

£704,148

PAYMENTS

Brought forwardGRANTS IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN

LEGACIES

s. d. £ s.823,228 5

725 3

EXPENSES CONNECTED WITH RAISING OFFUNDS AND PUBLICITY :—

Salaries of Publicity Secretary, Assistant andClerical Staff and Wages of Manual Workers .. 8,082 1 2

Salaries of District Organizing Secretaries andClerical Staff 24,336 15 1

Travelling expenses 5,147 17 10Annual General Meeting 216 19 10Advertising and Appeals 15,961 15 1Stationery, Printing, Books, Films, Badges, Collect-

ing Boxes, Postages 30,787 2 6Printing and Binding the Year Book and Life-boat

Journal 4,488 14 -Salaries and Commissions of Assistant Secretaries,

etc., of Branches 9,654 - -Pensions under the Pension Scheme .. .. 1,718 18 -Contributions to 1938 Pension Scheme .. .. 2,239 18 5Provision for additional liability 1909 Pension

Scheme 2,781 9 11Estimated proportion of Administration Expenses

as above 27,736 9 5

Total PaymentsDeduct:—

Expenditure on new Life-boats included in thisaccount borne by :—

Gifts and Legacies for special purposes .. .. 75,780 19 6Reserve for Replacement of Life-boats .. .. 168,763 14 1

244,544 13 7Other expenditure included in this account borne

by Special Gifts and Legacies 39,815 16 1

Balance not otherwise appropriated transferred toGeneral Purposes Fund

£756,590 15

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOATUMTS

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS—1st Jan. to 31st Dec,, 1957—continued

81

RECEIPTS

Brought forward

LEGACIES FOR GENERAL PURPOSES

s. d. £ s. d.450,328 18 7

406,261 17 3

TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES . . 856,590 15 10 856,590 15 10

Gifts and Legacies for Special purposes transferredto Funds :— £ s. d.

General Endowment :—Legacies 3,870 19 -Special Gifts 1,683 3 -

5,554 2

Special Purposes and Maintenance :—Legacies 87,071 12 -Special Gifts 48,631 5 4

135,702 17 4

Total Receipts .. £997,847 15 2

Deduct :—Appropriation to Reserve for Replacement

of Life-boats

NOTE.—This account includes the receipts andpayments of the Headquarters of the Institu-tion for the year to 31st December, 1957, andof the Branches for the year to 30th September,1957.

100,000 - -

756,590 15 10

£756,590 15 10

82 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958Dr.

1956

£

31,905217,242

£249,147

65,36144,852

32,66437878

259,944

£403,736

185,85865,361

120,4971,029,718

£1,150,215

184,563537,889

£722,452

GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUN

The Income to be applied for the purposes of the Institute£ s.

Loss ON SALE OF INVESTMENTS .. 11,367 19Depreciation on Valuation of Investments at ?>\st December, 1956 .. — —BALANCE AT 31 ST DECEMBER, 1957 228,022 5

£239,390 4

SPECIAL PURPOSES AND MAINTENANCE FUN

The Capital to be applied for the purposes of the InstitutEXPENDITURE AS SHEWN IN ACCOUNT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS :—

on NEW LIFE-BOATSon OTHER PURPOSES

REFUND TO RESERVE FOR REPLACEMENT OF LIFE-BOATS FOR EXPENDI-TURE PREVIOUSLY CHARGED AGAINST THAT FUND

TRANSFER TO GENERAL PURPOSES FUND ON FULFILMENT OF TRUST ..GRANTS IN CONNEXION WITH CERTAIN TRUST LEGACIESTRANSFER TO GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND ON INCOME BECOMING

SUFFICIENT TO CARRY OUT TRUSTBALANCE AT 31sT DECEMBER, 1957

75,780 1939,815 16

27,401 -1,183 9

605 15

16,594 -235,323 17

£396,704 19

RESERVE FOR REPLACEMENT OF LIFE-BOAT

EXPENDITURE ON NEW LIFE-BOATSLess BORNE BY SPECIAL PURPOSES AND MAINTENANCE FUND

BALANCE AT 31ST DECEMBER, 1957

244,544 U75,780 19

168,763 14988,355 11

£1,157,119 5

GENERAL PURPOSES FUN!

Loss ON SALE AND REDEMPTION OF INVESTMENTSLoss ON SALE OF FREEHOLD PREMISES

Depreciation on Valuation of Investments at 31 st December,BALANCE AT 31sT DECEMBER, 1957

1956

£ s.4,574 14

288 1

618,055 8

£622,918 3

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 83Cr.

31st December, 1957in accordance with the directions of the respective Donors.

BALANCE AT 31sT DECEMBER, 1956LEGACIES AND SPECIAL GIFTS (INCOME ONLY AVAILABLE) RECEIVED

IN THE YEAR :— £ s. d.Legacies 3,870 19 -Special Gifts 1,683 3 -

TRANSFER FROM SPECIAL PURPOSES AND MAINTENANCE FUND AS BELOW

£ s. d.217,242 2 -

5,554 2 -16,594 - 8

£239,390 4 8

31st December, 1957.

in accordance with the directions of the respective Donors.BALANCE AT 31sT DECEMBER, 1956LEGACIES AND GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES (CAPITAL AVAILABLE)

RECEIVED IN THE YEAR :— £ s. d.Legacies 87,071 12 -Special Gifts 48,631 5 4

INTEREST ON UNEXPENDED BALANCES OF CERTAIN SPECIAL TRUSTFUNDS

259,944 1 9

135,702 17 4

1,058 - -

£396,704 19 1

31st December, 1957.

BALANCE AT 31 sr DECEMBER, 1956REFUND FROM SPECIAL PURPOSES AND MAINTENANCE FUND AS ABOVE .APPROPRIATION FROM ACCOUNT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS

£1,029,718

27,401100,000

s. d.5 3- 7

£1,157,119 5 10

31st December 1957

BALANCE AT 31sT DECEMBER, 1956Profit on Sale and Redemption of InvestmentsRedemption of Post War CreditsTRANSFER FROM SPECIAL PURPOSES AND MAINTENANCE FUND AS ABOVETRANSFER FROM ACCOUNT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS

£ s. d.537,888 18 1

1,183 9 683,845 15 8

£622,918 3 3

84 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958Statement of Funds and Rel

1956£

217,242

259,944

£1,029,718

537,889

£2,044,793

GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND (Income available in accordance withthe directions of the respective donors)

SPECIAL PURPOSES AND MAINTENANCE FUND (Capital to be appliedin accordance with the directions of the respective donors)

RESERVE FOR REPLACEMENT OF LIFE-BOATSThe estimated cost of replacing the entire Fleet exceeds £4,500,000

and the estimated liability for replacements at present contem-plated exceeds £800,000, part of which will be met by SpecialGifts and Legacies.

GENERAL PURPOSES FUNDOf this Fund £129,314 relates to Freehold and Leasehold Proper-

ties necessary to the Institution's work. The balance of£488,741 is available for the general purposes of the Institutionand is intended to cover ordinary liabilities as they arise, in-cluding certain pensions, insurance risks in respect of the Life-boat Fleet and Crews not otherwise covered, and replacementsother than Life-boats. Replacements at present contempla-ted include new construction and adaptation of Life-boatHouses £150,000 and provision of new Carriages £65,000.

228,022

235,323 1'

988,355 1

618,055 !

£2,069,757 •

(Signed) HOWE,Chairman.

(Signed) A. D. BURNETT BROWN,Secretary.

We have examined the above Statement, also the Account of Receipts and Paymentscorrect and in accordance therewith. We have also verified the Investment

3 Frederick's Place,Old Jewry, London, E.C.2.

25th February, 1958.

JUNE, 1958], 31st December. 1957.

THE LIFE-BOAT 85

INVESTMENTS at quinquennial valuation on 31st Dec.,1956, or cost if acquired since :—

Representing GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND—Income only available :—

British Government Securities(Market value at 31st Dec., 1957, £225,673)

Representing OTHER FUNDS :—British Government Securities .. .. 1,424,823 14 J ODominion Government Securities . . 30,755 18 -

British Corporation and Public Board Stocks 129,910 2 -Sundry Small Investments 44,665 13 8

s. d.

228,022 5 7

(Market value at 31st Dec., 1957, £1,555,229).

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (Market value at 31st Dec.,1957, £1,780,902)

FREEHOLD PREMISES (At cost) :—Including Life-boat Depot at Boreham Wood

LEASEHOLD PREMISES — (At cost less amounts written off) :—Including 42/44 Grosvenor Gardens

BRANCH ACCOUNTS :—Balances in hands of Branches, 30th Sept., 1957 116,999 13 11

Less Balance of Remittances between Headquartersand Branches, October to December, 1957 ..61,958 4 6

BANK BALANCES

1,630,155 8 6

1,858,177 14 1

93,361 8 4

35,952 11 7

55,041 9 5

27,223 19 9

£2,069,757 3 2

Accounts of the Funds with the Books and Vouchers and find the same to beinspected the Deeds of the Properties belonging to the Institution.

(Signed) PRICE WATERHOUSE & CO.,Auditors,

86 THE LIFE-BOAT [JUNE, 1958

New Organising Secretary for the MidlandsMR. D. L. HOBBS has been appointed

Organising Secretary for the Midlandsdistrict.

Mr. Hobbs served during the war asa pilot in the Fleet Air Arm. For sixyears after the war he was in theColonial Service in Malaya, and he has

had experience in the film industry.The Midlands district includes the

counties of Derbyshire, Gloucester-shire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire,Rutlandshire, Staffordshire, Warwick-shire and Worcestershire.

Award for Bravest Act of Life-saving in 1957

THE Maud Smith award for the bravestact of life-saving in 1957 has been wonby Mr. William Morris, the motormechanic of the Barmouth life-boat.He wins the award for the rescue inhis own motor launch of four swimmerswho were in difficulties off Barmouth onthe 16th of July. This is the firstoccasion on which the award has beenmade for a rescue carried out by a mem-ber of a life-boat crew who went out in

his own boat and not in a life-boat. Afull account of the service appeared inthe December 1957 number of theLife-boat on page 518.

The award, which is an annual onemade, according to the terms of a will,by the Committee of Management ofthe Institution, was won the year beforeby Second Coxswain Reginald Carey,of Coverack, Cornwall.

James Bower Award

COXSWAIN MARK BATES, of Kilmore,Co. Wexford, has become the thirdmember of a life-boat crew to receive agift from the James Michael BowerEndowment Fund.

This fund was established in 1955 bythe Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navi-gation Co. as a memorial to JamesMichael Bower, late third officer of theS.S. Slratheden, who lost his life in adisaster.

Awards from the fund are made tothose who receive either the gold orsilver medal of the Royal NationalLife-boat Institution for gallantry.

Coxswain Bates won his silver medalfor the rescue of the crew of ten of theFrench trawler Auguste Maurice on the19th/20th of December, 1957. A fullaccount of this service appeared in theMarch 1958 number of the Life-boat onpage 3. The name of the trawler wasthen given as Augusta Mariste, but acorrection has since been issued byLloyds Register of Shipping.

The first two recipients of the JamesBower award were Coxswain DouglasGrant, of Selsey, and Coxswain HenryWest, of Sheringham.

End of a Life-boat Band

THE Blackpool life-boat band, whichwas founded in 1884, and was then theonly life-boat band in the world, hasnow been disbanded. The idea offorming a band was conceived at atime when Blackpool had not yetbecome a popular holiday resort,and the life-boat coxswain, RobertBickerstaffe. and his cousins Johnand Tom were mainly responsible

for bringing the band into being.The band raised money for many

charitable causes. In 1895, for in-stance, after a disaster to a number offishing boats from Fleetwood it raisedconsiderable sums to help the de-pendants of those who lost their lives.To raise money on different occasionsit visited cities as far away as Birming-ham, Sheffield and Nottingham.

JUNE, 1958] THE LIFE-BOAT 87

Luncheon ClubsLUNCHEON CLUBS associated with theLife-boat Service have become in-creasingly popular in recent years inYorkshire. The first ladies' life-boatluncheon club was established at Leeds,and there are now similar clubs inBradford, Huddersfield and Otlcy.

The clubs appoint their own honor-ary officials, and membership is openboth to members of ladies' life-boatguilds and others. The purpose of theclubs is to promote interest in the workof the Life-boat Service, although activesupport for the service is not made

a necessary condition of membership.The local guild benefits financially by

receiving annual subscriptions. Theseare raised by the members of the clubs,who pay for every luncheon which theyattend. Luncheons are normally heldevery month, and it is usual to have aspeaker at each meeting. Once a yearthe speaker deals specifically with thesubject of the Life-boat Service. An-nouncements are made of activities of thelocal ladies' life-boat guild, and in prac-tice most members of the luncheon clubstend to become members of a guild.

Royal Humane Society Award

THE Royal Humane Society hasawarded an " in memoriam" test-imonial to relatives of the late GeorgeHanson, formerly head launcher ofthe Runswick life-boat, who lost hislife when going to the help of a school-

master and a number of boys who werein the sea near Staithes on the 28th ofAugust, 1957. An account of thisattempted rescue appeared in theDecember, 1957, number of the Life-Boat on page 523.

Notice

All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary Secretaryof the local branch or guild, or to Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown, O.B.E., M.C.,T.D., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42 GrosvenorGardens, London, S. W. 1.

All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should beaddressed to the Secretary.

The next number of THE LITE-BOAT will be published in September, 1958.

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET155 Life-boats

LIVES RESCUEDfrom the foundation of the Life-boat Service

in 1825 to 31st March, 1958 - - 81,374

Uadtf ChaptMARINE AUXILIARIES

for LIFE-BOAT STATIONS

Six-ton "AboveGround" type ofelectrically drivencapstan supplied tothe Royal NationalLife-boat Institutionfor hauling in thelife-boat at WalmerLife-boat Station.

Similar capstanshave been installedat Hastings, Clovellyand ScarboroughLife-boat Stations.

Photograph byA inil permission ofMessrs. Lewis anilDurivier, ConsultingEngineers.

CLARKE, CHAPMAN & COMPANY LIMITED

V i c t o r i a Works, Gateshead 8, Co. Durham

Telephone: Gateshead 72271 (10 lines) Telex: 53-239Grams: "Cyclops" Gateshead

LONDON OFFICE: Dunster House, Mark Lane, London. E.C.3.Telephone: MINcing Lane, 8345-6-7 Grams: 'Cyclops" Easphone. London

> M A N U F A C T U R E R S O l

W I N C H E S , W I N D L A S S E S ,

C A P S T A N S , P U M P S ,

S E A R C H L I G H T S A N D

F L O O D L I G H T S ETC.

The Heroic Story ofthe Life-boat Service

A book in the series " Pride of Britain"entitled The Heroic Story of the Life-Boat Service,published by Pitkin Pictorials Ltd., tells thestory of the Life-boat Service from the estab-lishment of the first life-boat station at Bamburghin the late eighteenth century to the presentday. It has more than 80 illustrations.

Copies (2 /6 each) obtainable from Life-boatHouse, branches of the Institution, bookshops andnewsagents.