..this one has just boarded a vessel off the piers. Have a go at identifying her!
There is a local connection.

The old DFS mail boat to Newcastle

SHEAF WEAR

Did the Pilot's Coat have some sort of early built in Buoyancy Aid. Something rings a distant bell.......

Yes - the arms to help tread water!!
Regards
Graham

I think sadly if the pilot fall between the pilot boat and the ships boarding ladder neither a life jacket or a buoyancy aid is going to save him as don't forget both will be doing 6 knots (TP standard boarding speed)

I can think of one Blyth Pilot who lost his life whilst trying to board a vessel, but fortunatly these occurences are few in number considering the dangers of the job. In 1907 there were 23 Pilots working from Blyth. The youngest was 39 and the majority were between 47 and 60 with the oldest, John Redford being 76.

The first pilot coat I was issued with (in 1983) was black - ideal colour for spotting someone in the water, especially at night - and inflation was via a tube which you had to blow into to inflate the coat. If you were unfortunate enough to come off the ladder, probably hitting the pilot boat in passing, you then had to remain conscious long enough to pull down the zip, pull out the tube, blow frantically in to it, seal the top, tuck it away, do up the zip again and then pray for rescue. Fortunately pilot jackets have improved somewhat over the years.

Paul
That would be Capt. Campbell who was killed 1979 ish
Occasionally see his widow who must sin her 90s now
Regards.
Graham

Cool. I knew I had seen something about Pilots Coats. Ta..