Sue Hickson-Marsay is the only woman to have held the position of coxswain of a pilot launch on the river Humber at Spurn Point.

She told members the Humber was one of the most difficult rivers in the world to navigate because of shifting sands and strong tides, with many ships getting into serious difficulties.

The river pilots guide the vessels in and out of the port, with the exception of North Sea Ferries, and Sue explained the problems and skills needed for the job.

Surprisingly, given her choice of career, she suffers from sea-sickness – but the secret was to eat jam and bread and not sail on an empty stomach.

She described her work with the Coastguard Station at Hornsea which included setting up an Inshore Rescue and Sea Safe Education Centre.

Sue has won the Queen’s Jubilee Award, the Cosmopolitan Achievement award, the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship award, and the Fellow of the Year award.

President Sheila Hemmingway gave the vote of thanks.

The next meeting is Tuesday December 8 at the Whitcliffe Hotel.