Television and lifeboat history was made on the afternoon of November 25th 1956. Dover lifeboat had been chosen to take part in a live television broadcast during 'Children's Hour'. The Barnett class lifeboat 'Southern Africa' had been specially prepared with lights and cameras for this special broadcast. Just prior to beginning the transmission "Southern Africa" was at sea with the film crew and commentator Raymond Baxter, an urgent radio message was received by the lifeboat.

A motorboat "Mayflower" was in trouble near the South Foreland Lighthouse. Coxswain John Walker immediately took the lifeboat towards the casualty. BBC television programmes were interupted to go live to the lifeboat and the rescue in progress.

By the time the lifeboat arrived "Mayflower" was close to the shore and not making headway in the fresh southwesterly winds.

A towline was passed and watched by a BBC audience across the country, "Mayflower" was towed clear of the shore and back into Dover.