Stock Photo - Feb. 02, 1966 - Action stations: and the battle against the sea begins: The battle against the sea begins with a vast curtain of spray roaring in protest as 26 tons of lifeboat crashes through it. This is how it was at Southend, as the town's lifeboat 'The Greater London', was launched. With its crew of eight went the Sun newspaper cameraman Ron Burton (Press Photographer of the year). And as 'The Greater London'hit the water he took this picture of the men who fight the sea. There are eight of them at Southend and all have other jobs. Most are piermen and fishermen, one is a car salesman but all of them must be ready to answer a distress call whenever it comes. Last year it came 39 times, and for 37 people the Southend lifeboat made the difference between life and death. Photo shows the dramatic picture which captures the excitement as the Southand lifeboat 'The Greater London' go out to answer yet another call for help. (Credit Image: © Keystone Press Agency/Keystone USA via ZUMAPRESS.com)