RNLB Freddie Cooper (ON 1193)

On 29 August 1996, during storm force winds the Freddie Cooper was launched, along with the Lowestoft Lifeboat RNLB Spirit of Lowestoft (ON 1132) to go to the assistance of the yacht Red House Lugger [4] which had sent out a Mayday and was approximately 30 miles (48 km) south east of Lowestoft.[5] The yacht was on passage from the Netherlands with her skipper, a schoolmaster, and four teenage school children as passengers. Both lifeboats reached the stricken yacht at 10:15 am and found that the P&O cargo ferry MV Norking [5][6] was standing by and was providing some shelter for the yacht.

Freddie Cooper coxswain Ian Firman managed to get alongside and pulled three of people off the yacht. The second coxswain of the Spirit of Lowestoft, Shane Coleman, was then put aboard the yacht and helped the remaining people on to the Lowestoft boat. The yacht was then towed to Harwich to complete what had been a long and arduous rescue. By the time the Freddie Cooper returned to her station she had been out at sea for 12 hours. The Lowestoft lifeboat finally got back to its berth at 11:30pm. On 27 November 1996,[5] coxswain of the Freddie Cooper, Ian Firman, and the coxswain of the Spirit of Lowestoft, John Cathpole, both received RNLI bronze medals for their part in this rescue. Second coxswain Shane Coleman was awarded "the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum".

On Sunday 20 May 2000[7] the Freddie Cooper was launched to go to the help of the Dutch yacht Rose Bank. The yacht had a crew of four who were battling to steer the yacht in a west-north-westerly gale force 7 storm. At 10:38 when the lifeboat was launched, Rose Bank was reported to be seven miles east of Aldeburgh. The weather conditions were rapidly deteriorating and when the Freddie Cooper got to the last reported position there was no sign of the stricken yacht. By this time the Harwich lifeboat RNLB Fraser Flyer (Civil Service No. 43) (ON 1237) had also joined the rescue. Using intermittent radio calls Coxswain Ian Firman was able find the Rose Bank which by this time had drifted 13 miles further east of her original position.

By now the wind had increased to severe gale force eleven and the waves some six metres high. The lifeboat tried several attempts to fire a rocket line across to the Rose Bank so they could secure a tow. This proved to be unachievable and by this time the Rose Bank’s skipper had decided it was time to abandon ship. Three attempts were made by Freddie Cooper to manoeuvre alongside the yacht. The Fraser Flyer positioned herself astern to pick up any one who fell into the sea during the rescue. Three of the crew were lifted off. On the fourth attempt another member of the crew was grabbed and on the last occasion the skipper put his helm hard over, ran to the side and was hauled aboard the Freddie Cooper. The four crewmen were landed at Aldeburgh at 3:15pm and after some time recovering, were eventually taken by car to Harwich to catch the ferry home to the Netherlands. The drifting Rose Bank was recovered three days later by a fishing boat and was towed into Ramsgate in Kent. Eventually the Rose Bank and her owner were reunited.

For his outstanding bravery and gallantry during the rescue of the Rose Bank, Coxswain Ian Firman was awarded a Bronze Medal. Deputy second Coxswain Lee Firman, assistant mechanic, Alan Warner, Jason Burns, Adrian Burns, John Andrews and Chris Spooner were also awarded medal certificates.