Lightoller's 'Sundowner' in lifeboat emergency
The Times
Search for 60ft Cabin Cruiser
Shipping asked to keep look-out
All shipping in the Channel and North Sea has been asked to keep a look-out for the 60ft cabin cruiser "Sundowner," with eight people on board, which Margate Coastguards saw to be in difficulties yesterday and which later disappeared.
Margate lifeboat was launched after the "Sundowner" had been seen seven miles east of Foreness Point, and a United States Air Force helicopter from Manston Airfield went out.
Later the helicopter found an upturned boat, but this proved to be not the cruiser but a small yacht from Dover.
After searching for six hours the Margate lifeboat returned last evening. The "Sundowner" is owned by Mrs Sylvia Lightoller of Duck's Walk, Tottenham.
There are understood to be eight people on board - Mrs Lightoller, Mrs Nell Gibbs, her son Mr Peter Gibbs, and his wife Janet, Mr Alexander McKenzie, a girl who is Mr McKenzie's cousin, and two other men.
Mrs Lightoller is the widow of Commander Lightoller who was Second Officer on the Titanic. He escaped by diving into the sea from the top of the wheelhouse after all the boats had got away. At the time of the Dunkirk evacuation he took Sundowner to assist and brought back 130 men in one trip.
[p.6]
Shipping asked to keep look-out
All shipping in the Channel and North Sea has been asked to keep a look-out for the 60ft cabin cruiser "Sundowner," with eight people on board, which Margate Coastguards saw to be in difficulties yesterday and which later disappeared.
Margate lifeboat was launched after the "Sundowner" had been seen seven miles east of Foreness Point, and a United States Air Force helicopter from Manston Airfield went out.
Later the helicopter found an upturned boat, but this proved to be not the cruiser but a small yacht from Dover.
After searching for six hours the Margate lifeboat returned last evening. The "Sundowner" is owned by Mrs Sylvia Lightoller of Duck's Walk, Tottenham.
There are understood to be eight people on board - Mrs Lightoller, Mrs Nell Gibbs, her son Mr Peter Gibbs, and his wife Janet, Mr Alexander McKenzie, a girl who is Mr McKenzie's cousin, and two other men.
Mrs Lightoller is the widow of Commander Lightoller who was Second Officer on the Titanic. He escaped by diving into the sea from the top of the wheelhouse after all the boats had got away. At the time of the Dunkirk evacuation he took Sundowner to assist and brought back 130 men in one trip.
[p.6]
Related Biographies:
Charles Herbert Lightoller
Acknowledgements
Senan Molony
Contributor
Senan Molony
