PERRANUTHNOE is a small village on the South Coast of Cornwall, just East of Marazion, there is a Car Park and sloping access to a safe sandy beach and the beachside Cabin Cafe. It has The Victoria Inn a superb multi award winning pub, which serves super food both lunchtimes & evenings, - a Church dating back as far as 1160. The Lynfield Centre which houses The Cowhouse Gallery, The Peppercorn Cafe and a hairdressers.

Wednesday 19 December 2012

The bravest of men remembered



 On December 19th each year we take time from our Christmas preparation to remember the brave crew of the Penlee Lifeboat the Solomon Browne, lost with all hands on this day in 1981

 "On 19 December 1981 the Penlee lifeboat 'Solomon Browne' was lost with all hands in hurricane conditions while going to the aid of the Coaster 'Union Star' which had engine failure and was being swept towards the southern coast of Cornwall. The coaster was also lost and there were no survivors. Coxswain William Trevelyan Richards was posthumously awarded the Institution's Gold medal while the remainder of the crew, Second Coxswain/Mechanic Stephen Madron Assistant Mechanic Nigel Brockman Emergency Mechanic John Blewett, crewmembers Charles Greenhaugh, Kevin Smith, Barrie Torrie and Gary Wallis were posthumously awarded Bronze medal
 BBC 4 Program Penlee Lifeboat Disaster - Cruel Sea - note 59 minutes long !
Posted by Perranlady at 09:22

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous19 December 2012 at 10:36

    A sad story about very brave men, I've visited the old "Penlee Lifeboat-Station" several times and also the memorial in Paul Church. They gave their lives trying to save the crew and passengers of the "Union Star".They can't be praised enough. All lifeboat crews need our support.
    To all a merry Christmas and best wishes for 2013
    Gerd and family

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    1. Perranlady19 December 2012 at 19:03

      Always a sad day in the middle of preparations for Christmas.
      Such a small Lifeboat compared to todays - but always with such brave men and nowadays women on board. We've seen a couple of very bad storms since we've been here, but I think this one was so much worse than anything anyone had seen before or since.
      The Mousehole Christmas Lights will be dimmed tonight between 8 & 9pm in memory of those lost on that aweful night.
      We wish you and all your family a Happy Christmas and good wishes (&and good weather) for 2013

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  2. GG19 December 2012 at 19:13

    We too have been to the old station and paid our respects to those brave brave men. We are RNLI members too.
    Gaynor

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    1. Perranlady19 December 2012 at 19:26

      When I was over that side of the bay close to the Penlee Station I was moved to see a modern lifeboat which was on passage, stop and turn towards it and obviously pay their respects.
      I still find it hard to believe that in this day and age they are still volunteers and that the RNLI gets no government money.

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  3. Anonymous19 December 2012 at 19:35

    Just doesn't seem possible it was that long ago...something you never forget...forever etched in your memory.Always support the R.N.L.I.and indeed our local Caister Lifeboat ..(not RNLI)wonderful volunteers and fund raisers.Their motto is " Caister men never turn back"..a fitting statement for those brave men wherever they are.

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    1. Perranlady19 December 2012 at 20:16

      I always read up on it each year, still brings a lump to my throat to hear the messages from the Solomon Browne, still trying to rescue the crew from the Union Star even in conditions that were far worse than we can comprehend.
      Sad to think that we no longer have the Coastguard Tugs on Station that, since then, would have been able to insist that a vessel takes a tow when it is judged too close and in jeopardy - cut backs eh !

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