It is with great sadness that we have to report that Matt died peacefully last night  are thoughts are with Patt and the family 

ex-R.N.L.B. The Guy and Clare Hunter 50 Miles SW of the Scilly Isles during the fastnet Storm. This and the picture below were taken from a Sea King Rescue Helicopter from Culdrose.
A Force 10, sixty-knot storm swept across the North Atlantic with a speed that confounded forecasters, slamming into the fleet with epic fury.
For twenty hours, 2,500 men and women were smashed by forty-foot breaking waves, while rescue helicopters and lifeboats struggled to save them . i think this is one of my favorite photographs well done to all who took part many years ago i remember still seeing a lot of the Yachts being towed back to newlyn and penzance ,francis Thanks to 'Quinton Nelson' now the owner of the Guy and clare Hunter http://www.nelsonsboats.co.uk/

ex-R.N.L.B. The Guy and Clare Hunter
Launched from St Mary's in the Scillies with Matt Lethbridge as Coxswain. While storms are rare in August, the one which struck in 1979 was of unusual ferocity.
Had it not been for the superb efforts of the rescue services in both tragedies, loss of life could have been far higher.
By the time the race was over, fifteen people had died, twenty-four crews had abandoned ship, five yachts had sunk, courtesy Quinton Nelson' owner

ex-R.N.L.B. The Guy and Clare Hunter as she is now.
Fully restored to as near the original Livery and appearance as she was when on service.
COURTESY (Quinton Nelson'OWNER)

Guy and Clare hunter engine room all pic's courtesy of Quinton Nelson' now the owner

guy and clare hunter

A real life boat

mirror image

Back row
Phill Deason, Alf Jenkins, Tim Richards, Roy Guy, Harry Lethbridge, MATT LETHBRIDGE, Peter Woodcock, Derrick Woodcock ,Roy Duncan,Tregarten Mumford (chairman)Richard lethbridge
Front row Tom Buckley (sec) Rodney Terry, Bill Burrow, Adrian Davis (doc)Ray Steer –Kemp(police)Brian Jenkins, Brian Thomas, (unknown )
Allen ball, Tommy cock ,Rodney nightingale, far end

Thanks phill for correction ,
v.h.f radio being presented to the boat house for the wifes to listen in when the boat was away on service

Brian Jenkins one of Matt's old fishing and once crew on the lifeboat mates

Matt 85 and Muriel 93 pretty good going

Kay and matt

Matt and frank on his birthday

Matt and Pat enjoying the racabite

Boy Matt doing what he loves painting and very good at it also like every thing else he put his hand to

The late Normam christoper and Boy Matt recabite slip

Matt centre of pic

Feeding my granddaughter daisy

Matt center of pic

Matt right hand side with frank Gibson and peter mallet on the recabite slip

Matt and Pat

Matt and daisy dec 2008

Boy Matt and Pat