ONE of the most famous rescues in Anglesey maritime history has been immortalised in a new song.
Singer songwriter Steve Blackstone pays tribute to the RNLI Moelfre lifeboat crew who braved hurricane conditions to rescue 10 people from the stricken Greek vessel Nafsiporos in December 1966.
“I have always been a keen supporter of the RNLI and the vital lifesaving work they do, “ he said. “I thought that writing this song would be a fitting tribute to the heroic coxswain and his brave volunteer crew.”
Coxswain Richard Evans won the Second RNLI Gold Medal after he skilfully manoeuvred the 42ft Watkin Williams through 35ft waves and 100mph winds to reach the ship.
Holyhead RNLI also rescued five crew members.
Three of the crew, including the captain, refused to leave the ship, whose engines had failed.
Mr Evans, then aged 61, had been at the helm for 13 hours without a break by the time the vessel landed in Holyhead.
Moelfre RNLI lifeboat operations manager Rod Pace thanked Steve for commemorating the rescue.
He said: “This song is an accolade not only to Coxswain Richard Evans and the Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Crews, but to all the Volunteer Lifeboat crews throughout the RNLI.”
English and Welsh versions of the song can be heard at www.steveblackstone.com.