FORMER lifeboatman Dave Phillipson has been reunited with a souvenir which evokes memories of a dramatic rescue 30 years ago.

He helped to salvage the national flag of the Netherlands from the Dutch coaster Hendrika on May 4, 1973, with fisherman the late Cecil Picknett. It was the last ship to be wrecked off Redcar, east Cleveland.

Mr Picknett's daughter, Molly Whitehouse, discovered the flag during a clear out at her home.

It will be displayed when the town's old lifeboat, the Sir James Knott, opens to the public at the Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar.

Mrs Whitehouse said her father had brought the flag for one of her children.

"I am more than pleased to be able to return it," she said.

Mr Phillipson was an auxiliary coastguard on watch when the ship rolled over early that morning after it ran aground.

He said: "It will add another piece to the lifeboat's long and illustrious history."

The boat is open for its seventh season, on Saturday afternoon, then weekly from Tuesday to Sunday, 2pm to 4pm.