Motor launch ‘Tina’ Service 31st May, 1969.
The last week of May, 1969, had fateful consequences for 4 local men from the Fylde Coast who ventured out on a pleasure cruise in a newly purchased speed boat ‘Tina’. Their vessel was a 19 foot ‘Pacemaker’ power launch that two friends joined the co-owners of the boat at the Jubilee Quay, in what was intended as a quick trip across Morecambe Bay to Piel Island, Barrow, to test the performance of their new vessel. The four occupants had intended to return by 3.00 p.m. for a pre-arranged appointment.
The weather was benign on this Bank Holiday Whitsuntide weekend; the sea was calm and the wind was light as they headed Northwards up the Wyre Channel from Fleetwood against a strong incoming tide. Their plan had been for a speedy crossing to Piel Island and returning back on the same tide, expecting to get back into the Jubilee Quay before 3.00 p.m., in time for an arranged pickup meeting.
The boat belonged to garage owner Jeff Rostron and his friend Roy Kirkham, both from Blackpool. Two other friends TV Engineer Graham Cocker from Knott End and local farmer Leo Jemson from Eagland Hill, boarded the boat at Fleetwood.
When they failed to return for their appointment at 3.00 p.m., the Coastguard began their enquiries and alerted the lifeboat service. No-one had seen or reported any mishap in the Bay and it was the concerned relatives who had alerted the emergency services. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding happened when the relatives indicated that the men were returning from ‘Piel’. This was interpreted as ‘Peel’, Isle of Man and the Peel lifeboat was launched at around 18.00 hrs to commence a search of the western side of the Isle of Man. This mistake was undetected for over 3 hours and it was only at approximately 21.45 hours that Fleetwood Lifeboat was alerted to undertake a search. By this time it was dark and the lifeboat coxswain Ben Bee used his local knowledge to determine a search area, assuming that the vessel had departed Piel Island and was beyond sight from the shore when any incident may have taken place or an engine breakdown may have disable their craft. It was around 3 hours before High Water on a Spring tide when the Fleetwood Lifeboat Ann Letitia Russell launched and the flood tide would be pushing any vessel on the surface towards the shore but from 3.00 p.m. the ebb tide would have been pushing a floating vessel offshore in a South Westerly direction. The wind on-scene was from the West North West, force 4-5. The sea state was moderate, due to wind over tide. From a start point mid-way between Danger Patch buoy and Lightning Knoll buoy an initial North then South search was undertaken using illuminating parachute flares but nothing was seen. As the tide continued to flood into the Bay the search was extended 1 mile eastwards but again nothing was found as they tracked North-South in the darkness.
The search was joined by a passenger vessel ‘Stella Marina’ around 23.00 hrs that departed from Fleetwood on a ‘Starlight Cruise’ towards Blackpool. Using her radar and searchlight, along with a visual look-out she kept us the search until her return from the area around 02.00 a.m. but nothing was sighted.
Fleetwood lifeboat, in consultation with Formby Coastguard, agreed to call off the search and the lifeboat returned to station at approximately 03.00 a.m. to refuel, having been at sea for five and a quarter hours. The plan was then to re-launch the lifeboat at first light, around 5.00 a.m. The Coastguards had also called on military support and arranged for a search and reconnaissance ‘Shackleton’ aircraft to join the search and assist the lifeboat.
The Ann Letitia Russell Fleetwood lifeboat re-launched at 05.05 hrs. The sun had risen on a blue skied clear day. The wind was South Westerly force 2-3 and the visibility was good. Ben Bee, as coxswain, had decided that with the passing of 14 hours since the emergency services had been alerted that after a quick search as the lifeboat was in the vicinity of Danger Patch buoy the intention was to then continue and extend the search to the South West towards Blackpool.
Blackpool lifeboat had also been launched to join the search and the Shackleton aircraft, from Lossiemouth, was expected on-scene within the hour at around 07.00 hrs. Radio communication systems were relatively basic in the 1960’s and Fleetwood lifeboat was only fitted with a medium frequency (M/F 2MHz) transceiver. Separately, an ultra-high frequency (UHF 400MHz) transceiver was fitted, exclusively for communicating with the rescue helicopter from Warton aerodrome. Very high frequency (VHF 156 MHz) was not widely available and the consequence was no direct communication was possible between the Shackleton aircraft and Fleetwood lifeboat.
Shortly after 07.00 hrs Formby coastguard contacted Fleetwood lifeboat stating that the Shackleton was approaching Morecambe Bay from the East and would commence a structured search pattern of the area. The lifeboat at this time was around 3 miles off the shore at Cleveleys and the Shackleton was soon observed on the northern skyline. Around 10 minutes later the Shackleton passed overhead of the Fleetwood lifeboat, continuing it search path. At 07.16 hrs Formby coastguard again contacted Fleetwood lifeboat, asking the lifeboat to proceed 1 mile West of its current position as the Shackleton had spotted something in the water that needed investigation. Another message was received at 07.23, stating that the Shackleton intended to pass the bows of the lifeboat and drop a stick of 4 smoke floats on the surface in a line towards the area to be investigated. The Shackleton approached from the North East, on the starboard bow of the lifeboat, at relatively low altitude. The first six-foot long smoke float was seen to emerge from the fuselage of the aircraft and drop towards the sea. As it descended the lifeboat crew were suddenly alarmed at how close the smoke float was, dropping less than five boats lengths ahead of the lifeboat, to be followed in quick succession by three further floats that on impact with the sea surface emitted a smoke trail. Although nothing was visible on the surface the lifeboat coxswain altered course to follow the trail of the line of smoke floats that were about 300 yards apart. In the area beyond the final float an object was sighted on the sea surface but on investigation in turned out to be a large piece of discarded fishing net that had been in the water for some time as it was weed and barnacle encrusted. A report of the outcome was communicated to Formby coastguard to be forwarded to the Shackleton. As the search continued and only about ten minutes later communications were overheard between Formby coastguard and Blackpool lifeboat that was searching West of the Blackpool piers, indicating that the Shackleton had spotted what appeared to be the upturned hull of a boat around 2 miles from the location of Blackpool lifeboats current position.
This report turned out to be correct and Blackpool lifeboat within 10 minutes sent a radio report to Formby coastguard confirming that an upturned hull of a vessel of around 20 foot long had been located around 2½ miles West North West of Blackpool North pier. No signs of anyone in the water or around the hull were found. As Blackpool lifeboat secured a line to the upturned hull to tow it towards the Blackpool shore, Formby coastguard asked Fleetwood lifeboat to continue the search for any survivors by searching ‘up and down the tide line from Rossall to Blackpool, progressively towards the shore. This search was to continue for another 6 hours but without finding anyone in the water.
Around 11.00 hrs it was decided to have something to eat on-board Fleetwood lifeboat. The lifeboat carries basic provisions of sealed packs of biscuits (Cream Crackers), tins of Corned Beef and self-heating cans of Mock Turtle soup. It was the first time in any of the crews recollection that anyone had tried the self-heating soup, so a crew member attempted to ignite a tin without carefully reading the instructions on the side of the can. The magnesium tape ‘wick’ was lit and the soup should have been warm within 5 minutes. However, the instructions required two holes to be pierced in the top of the can at designated marked places to allow for expansion and release of gases from the internal magnesium tape. As the holes had not been pierced alarm was caused on-board when the soup can that was placed under the cockpit canopy heated the internal pressure burst the can, liberally spraying the muddy brown/green contents over mechanic Brian and crewman Jim who were under the canopy and coating the roof lining with the glutinous liquid.
Down at Blackpool the upturned hull of ‘Tina’ was brought to the shore by Blackpool lifeboat and turned the right way up again by a party of shore helpers. No-one was found inside and there was no damage to indicate that the vessel had been in a collision. A thorough search of the area had been carried out by Fleetwood lifeboat and Formby coastguard called off the search at around 12.30 hrs, allowing Fleetwood lifeboat to return to station. The lifeboat arrived off the slipway around 13.15 and having been at sea for 8¾ hours was brought back up the slipway and re-housed by 13.30 hrs.
None of the occupants of the motor launch ‘Tina’ were found that day and it was later in the week when 2 bodies were recovered from the sea in the South Shore area of Blackpool. No evidence has been found to account for the overturning of the motor launch and the tragic loss of 4 lives.
This service stands out in my memory, even though it happened well over five decades ago, because it was the first job I had been a crew member on the Ann Letitia Russell lifeboat. I had been a shore-helper, assisting with the launching and recovery of the lifeboat on its slipway for over 2 years. I didn’t go on the first launch to search for the ‘Tina’ but I had received information that a sailing colleague of mine, Alan, was one of the party on the ‘Tina’ and because of this connection I asked the Hon Sec. if I could join the search on the second launch at first light. Although it turned out that Alan had intended to join his friends on the trip something happened on the day that led to a late cancellation of his plan and he remained ashore. This service was a formative life experience for me and led to me remaining a volunteer crew member and Deputy coxswain for almost 30 years.
Fleetwood Lifeboats Past 