Penlee lifeboat loss 31 years ago today

[Tyre Smoke]

Trevelyan and his crew of brave men always on a shout.

Never forgotten.

[lrdisco]

I’ve just watched the BBC documentary on YouTube and it brought me to tears.
Such brave brave men.

[Tyre Smoke]

lrdisco said:

I’ve just watched the BBC documentary on YouTube and it brought me to tears.
Such brave brave men.

I watch it every year. Never fails to have the tears streaming.

[The Brummie]

lrdisco said:

I’ve just watched the BBC documentary on YouTube and it brought me to tears.
Such brave brave men.

I watched it again last night.

Very moving & upsetting. It is the unanswered radio messages to the lifeboat that always gets too me.

As said many many times, the crew were brave on that awful night & paid the ultimate price.

RIP.

[Wozy68]

Tyre Smoke said:

lrdisco said:

I’ve just watched the BBC documentary on YouTube and it brought me to tears.
Such brave brave men.

I watch it every year. Never fails to have the tears streaming.

Same here

[Tyre Smoke]

Yeah what gets me is Trevelyan saying "ang on....." then nothing.

Wrestling the lifeboat and trying to keep in contact with both Falmouth Coastguard and the heli.

Truly iron men in a wooden boat.

[matchmaker]

I think I am right in saying that the RNLI have had no casualties on service since Penlee?

[Tyre Smoke]

Fatalities you mean? Not amongst crews, correct.

[ResQ1]

As a Rescue Worker, water rescue technician and boater, I can only admire the sacrifice and bravery of the Penlee crew.

We put ourselves in harms way "That others may live", but I cant help but feel that they launched, fully knowing that it was likely a one way trip.

"Fair winds, and following seas, your watch is done."

[matchmaker]

ResQ1 said:

As a Rescue Worker, water rescue technician and boater, I can only admire the sacrifice and bravery of the Penlee crew.

We put ourselves in harms way "That others may live", but I cant help but feel that they launched, fully knowing that it was likely a one way trip.

"Fair winds, and following seas, your watch is done."

When I became an Honorary Secretary I was told by the RNLI inspector for our area, that if I thought that launching our lifeboat would put our crew in serious danger of losing their lives, I was quite entitled to refuse to authorise the launch. Nobody could overturn that decision, and RNLI HQ would back me 100%.

His views may have been influenced by the fact that he had been one of the team who had to investigate the Penlee disaster.

[Ayahuasca]

ResQ1 said:

I cant help but feel that they launched, fully knowing that it was likely a one way trip.

I hope not; there is a difference between courage and pointless suicide.

[MB140]

Well I just stumbled across this thread. Had a read of wiki, watched the YouTube video.

I must have suddenly become allergic to the dog as my eyes were watering. I will be donating straight after this post.

I’m from Nottingham but my parents had a static caravan at Ingoldmells near Skegness. I remember watching them launch from there as a child 30 years ago. Visiting the lifeboat station and getting to look around the lifeboat.

Very brave people.

Edited to add £5 a month donated as promised. It’s barely the cost of a pint so is well worth it.

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 20th December 16:53

[matchmaker]

Tyre Smoke said:

Fatalities you mean? Not amongst crews, correct.

Yes, fatalities.

[Athlon]

Ayahuasca said:

ResQ1 said:

I cant help but feel that they launched, fully knowing that it was likely a one way trip.

I hope not; there is a difference between courage and pointless suicide.

There is no way they thought that, they knew it was going to be a tough shout which is why Trev said only one from a family and turned Neil off the boat.

The situation changed very quickly as they arrived on scene and in the end it was bad luck as much as anything that lost the boat.

Thanks to those who have donated to the RNLI either through my link or direct, it is much appreciated. Merry Christmas

[Ayahuasca]

“The impervious horror of a lee shore.”

[ClaphamGT3]

MB140 said:

Well I just stumbled across this thread. Had a read of wiki, watched the YouTube video.

I must have suddenly become allergic to the dog as my eyes were watering. I will be donating straight after this post.

I’m from Nottingham but my parents had a static caravan at Ingoldmells near Skegness. I remember watching them launch from there as a child 30 years ago. Visiting the lifeboat station and getting to look around the lifeboat.

Very brave people.

Edited to add £5 a month donated as promised. It’s barely the cost of a pint so is well worth it.

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 20th December 16:53

Thank you

[Ayahuasca]

That last exhausted, heartbreaking, transmission from the Solomon Browne....

“We’ve got four off at the moment, male and female... there’s two left onboard...”

monthly direct debit to the RNLI set up.

[Athlon]

Ayahuasca said:

That last exhausted, heartbreaking, transmission from the Solomon Browne....

“We’ve got four off at the moment, male and female... there’s two left onboard...”

monthly direct debit to the RNLI set up.

Thank you, merry Christmas

[MB140]

Well the time is fast approaching when we have to remember those that gave there lives in this disaster.

I’m an avid supporter of the RNLI, this morning my RNLI Lifeboat magazine arrived.

Nice 4 page article about the disaster. I hope the RNLI don’t mind me reproducing it here.

I’m down in London to see my wife on the 18th, but I’m really considering driving down on the 19th. Pay my respects.

[Tyre Smoke]

At some point rhis weekend I'll be watching the documentary on YouTube again. And no doubt be shedding a tear. Again.

Not sure when I'll get to it, my son's 18th on 18th.

Heroes, all of them.