Masterly handling of 18 ft boat when rescuing two boys

Ten year old Robert Cann of 20 Irsha Street, Appledore, has become the youngest person ever to be awarded the thanks on vellum of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution since the Institution was founded in 1824.

Robert rescued two boys in a rowing boat on August 16 last. The two boys were aged 8 and 11 and were in difficulties when swimming in a strong tide. Robert single-handed manned his father’s 18 feet rowing boat and pulled across a four knot tide to reach the boys. After they had been rescued he knew it would be impossible to pull back to the point from which he had left. He therefore carried on until he reached the farther shore and pulled the boat single-handed round Appledore Point.

Gazette article 21 October 1955