Captain and two crew killed after cargo ship capsized in rough seas

On the third Wednesday of August 1962 the coaster Druid, of 197 tons, owned by J.J. Hayes Ltd of Glasgow, was inward bound for Preston docks to pick up a cargo of coal to take to Belfast having sheltered overnight off the Isle of Man.

- with Keith Johnson

As the vessel was approaching the Preston bar in late afternoon it was about an hour before high water and a gale force wind was blowing. The tides were low and there was not much water over the bar. The Druid was light and in ballast and possibly running too fast. Suddenly her stern was lifted by the rough sea and in seconds she had rolled completely over and righted herself facing in the opposite direction. Her steel mast was bent over at right angles having touch the bottom of the sea, all the six man crew had been tipped overboard.

Warning of the sinking was given by an amateur radio enthusiast at Thornton Cleveleys who picked up a SOS message and told the police. An extensive search and rescue mission was at once undertaken.