Penlee lifeboat loss 31 years ago today
Discussion
Bravest of the brave.
I wasn't born when this happened, but remember being told about it on a family holiday and visiting the boat house.
Spent a short time on RNLI boats myself and this story never fails to being a tear to my eye.
Genuine heroes. I'll be raising a glass to their memory on the 19th.
I wasn't born when this happened, but remember being told about it on a family holiday and visiting the boat house.
Spent a short time on RNLI boats myself and this story never fails to being a tear to my eye.
Genuine heroes. I'll be raising a glass to their memory on the 19th.
This year is the 40th anniversary of that terrible night when the bravest of men lost their battle with the elements trying to save others.
If you don't know the story, the documentary can be viewed here: The cruel sea
The families of the crew are raising funds for a permanent memorial on the cliff top overlooking the site where the boats were lost, it will be dedicated to the Lifeboat crew and those aboard the Union Star. If you would like to donate and help them reach their target, I believe they are only £2000 short now with offline donations included. there is a justGiving page here : Solomon Browne & Union Star Memorial Project
I watch the documentary every year and my friend who attends the lights out at Mousehole takes flowers to the old station for us. I can never stop the tears when I hear the desperate calls from the coastguard to the Solomon Browne, it feels like yesterday. I know family members and others at Penlee and I can tell you it never gets easier for them at this time of year, this being the 40th is especially difficult for some.
On the 19th at 6p.m. there will be a 'wave of light' lit around Mousehole harbour and a moments remembrance, there is a webcam that should work via the Aspects Holidays website if you want to watch.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the RNLI and for all the lovely messages left here over the years I have kept this thread going! We will never forget the loss of the Penlee boat or indeed any of the boats that have been lost over the years.
If you watch the documentary for the first time to learn about the disaster and just how brave the crew ere and the incredible acts of seamanship that took place that night, have tissues ready as you will be moved to tears.
Merry Christmas and thank you again for the messages and support to the Penlee lifeboat family, they do get read..
If you don't know the story, the documentary can be viewed here: The cruel sea
The families of the crew are raising funds for a permanent memorial on the cliff top overlooking the site where the boats were lost, it will be dedicated to the Lifeboat crew and those aboard the Union Star. If you would like to donate and help them reach their target, I believe they are only £2000 short now with offline donations included. there is a justGiving page here : Solomon Browne & Union Star Memorial Project
I watch the documentary every year and my friend who attends the lights out at Mousehole takes flowers to the old station for us. I can never stop the tears when I hear the desperate calls from the coastguard to the Solomon Browne, it feels like yesterday. I know family members and others at Penlee and I can tell you it never gets easier for them at this time of year, this being the 40th is especially difficult for some.
On the 19th at 6p.m. there will be a 'wave of light' lit around Mousehole harbour and a moments remembrance, there is a webcam that should work via the Aspects Holidays website if you want to watch.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the RNLI and for all the lovely messages left here over the years I have kept this thread going! We will never forget the loss of the Penlee boat or indeed any of the boats that have been lost over the years.
If you watch the documentary for the first time to learn about the disaster and just how brave the crew ere and the incredible acts of seamanship that took place that night, have tissues ready as you will be moved to tears.
Merry Christmas and thank you again for the messages and support to the Penlee lifeboat family, they do get read..
Edited by Athlon on Tuesday 14th December 18:15
Willingly donated sorry it’s only £20. Wish it was more but Xmas is an expensive time and the RNLI isn’t the only charity I support so I have to divide out my donations amongst them.
Do you have a link to the webcam. I would like to watch while I drink a tipple to say thank you if I don’t make it down.
Just checked it’s a 5hr drive from where my wife is. Probably a bit far to go as I was thinking of doing.
Do you have a link to the webcam. I would like to watch while I drink a tipple to say thank you if I don’t make it down.
Just checked it’s a 5hr drive from where my wife is. Probably a bit far to go as I was thinking of doing.
MB140 said:
Willingly donated sorry it’s only £20. Wish it was more but Xmas is an expensive time and the RNLI isn’t the only charity I support so I have to divide out my donations amongst them.
Do you have a link to the webcam. I would like to watch while I drink a tipple to say thank you if I don’t make it down.
Just checked it’s a 5hr drive from where my wife is. Probably a bit far to go as I was thinking of doing.
That is amazing, thank you so much Do you have a link to the webcam. I would like to watch while I drink a tipple to say thank you if I don’t make it down.
Just checked it’s a 5hr drive from where my wife is. Probably a bit far to go as I was thinking of doing.
The website link is: Moushole webcam
I setup a monthly direct debit a couple of months ago, partly because of this thread, and partly because of watching saving lives at sea.
They are certainly brave souls and let’s never forget those who give up their lives to save others.
They are certainly brave souls and let’s never forget those who give up their lives to save others.
Edited by RacingPete on Tuesday 14th December 23:33
Just donated £20.
The RNLI do a launch a memory fund
You can put the name of somebody on one of their boats for a donation.
I did one for my dad for the Invergorden boat which was the first one they did.
Went to Poole to see it. Very emotional day but a fabulous tribute to him.
When covid is over we will go to Invergorden to see her at her home
Very brave men and women.
The RNLI do a launch a memory fund
You can put the name of somebody on one of their boats for a donation.
I did one for my dad for the Invergorden boat which was the first one they did.
Went to Poole to see it. Very emotional day but a fabulous tribute to him.
When covid is over we will go to Invergorden to see her at her home
Very brave men and women.
MrAndyW said:
Just donated £20.
The RNLI do a launch a memory fund
You can put the name of somebody on one of their boats for a donation.
I did one for my dad for the Invergorden boat which was the first one they did.
Went to Poole to see it. Very emotional day but a fabulous tribute to him.
When covid is over we will go to Invergorden to see her at her home
Very brave men and women.
Thank you very much.The RNLI do a launch a memory fund
You can put the name of somebody on one of their boats for a donation.
I did one for my dad for the Invergorden boat which was the first one they did.
Went to Poole to see it. Very emotional day but a fabulous tribute to him.
When covid is over we will go to Invergorden to see her at her home
Very brave men and women.
Both my Dad and father in laws names are on the Clifden boat, it was so perfect to find their names next to each other when we looked!
I'd just like to thank whichever mod it was that read and acted on my report of that horrible diversion so quickly.
I still remember that night like it was last week. And I know it took the edge off Christmas for the whole of the South West at the very least. Those of us in West Cornwall, it was very subdued.
I still remember that night like it was last week. And I know it took the edge off Christmas for the whole of the South West at the very least. Those of us in West Cornwall, it was very subdued.
I’ve just read the article in the RNLI magazine as well, a really nice piece. The kit and all weather boats we have now are in a completely different league, 25 knots and you can operate most of the systems without leaving your seat! Launching down the slipway that night and heading out in those conditions in a wooden boat that could do 8/9 knots max must of been horrendous, but the crew would have done it again and again.
I visited the station a few years ago and it left a profound mark. RIP the lost crew of the Solomon Brown.
I visited the station a few years ago and it left a profound mark. RIP the lost crew of the Solomon Brown.
Edited by rowey200 on Saturday 18th December 20:16
Tyre Smoke said:
Just heroes in boats. All of them. No clapping on a Thursday night. No whinging about workloads. No thoughts for personal gain or adulation. Just heroes in boats.
I agree.I’m s
t scared of the sea,but if I lived on the coast I’d like to be an RNLI volunteer-based simply on the bravery of the crew of the Solomon BrowneNever forgotten, always in our hearts.
“The greatest act of courage that I have ever seen, am ever likely to see, was the penultimate courage & dedication shown by the Penlee [crew] when it manoeuvred back alongside the casualty in over 60 ft breakers & rescued four people” (Lt Cdr Smith USN, rescue helicopter pilot)
R.I.P. the brave hero's who went to sea in the Penlee lifeboat for the last time 40 years ago.
“The greatest act of courage that I have ever seen, am ever likely to see, was the penultimate courage & dedication shown by the Penlee [crew] when it manoeuvred back alongside the casualty in over 60 ft breakers & rescued four people” (Lt Cdr Smith USN, rescue helicopter pilot)
R.I.P. the brave hero's who went to sea in the Penlee lifeboat for the last time 40 years ago.
This is worth a watch if you’ve not seen it - ‘Empty Shoes’ https://youtu.be/PX8DcOomX_w.
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