40th anniversary of Penlee lifeboat disaster commemorated - Wales Online

The 40th anniversary of one of the worst tragedies the RNLI has ever seen will be commemorated on Sunday.

The Penlee lifeboat disaster saw the eight crewmen of the Solomon Browne set out to sea on December 19 1981 in one of the worst storms in living memory in a bid to save the crew of a stricken cargo ship.

The occasion is being commemorated with an online book of remembrance, which has a foreword from RNLI president the Duke of Kent.

Patch Harvey, coxswain of Penlee’s current all-weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen, said: “While for the families and the lifeboat community who lost loved ones that night the 40th anniversary is no different to any other year, we wanted to acknowledge the continued support and compassion shown by people from all around the world for the Penlee lifeboat community and families of those lost.

“The online book of remembrance gives everyone the opportunity to share their memories and messages of love and support.”

The online book will be open until January when it will be printed and put on display at the Penlee RNLI Visitor Centre in Newlyn, Cornwall.

Mr Harvey added: “It is important that we continue to recognise and remember the sacrifice made by the crew of the Solomon Browne, who gave everything to help others in need.

“They didn’t give up and their story, their memory should be kept alive for generations to come.

“Thankfully, it was the last occasion that we lost an entire RNLI lifeboat crew during a service; with the help of modern technology, the charity has built faster, stronger and safer lifeboats and developed the training for our volunteers.

“However, the spirit of the Solomon Browne crew lives on in all RNLI lifeboat volunteers who continue to display the selfless commitment to saving lives at sea.”

The act of heroism cost all the crew their lives as the Solomon Browne disappeared beneath the waves trying to save the crew of the Dublin-registered cargo ship Union Star, which had suffered engine failure and was being blown on to the rocks at Penlee Point, Cornwall.

On the night of the tragedy the weather was so rough that the crew of the Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose were unable to lift any of the eight crew from Union Star.

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The Solomon Browne’s coxswain William Richards made several attempts to get alongside and managed to rescue four people who jumped from the Union Star’s wheelhouse on to the lifeboat.

The lifeboat made a further attempt to rescue the remaining four when radio contact was lost.

The vessel’s last message was: “We’ve got four off at the moment.”

Ten minutes later the lights disappeared.

The lifeboat had been completely wrecked with the loss of her crew of eight.

There were no survivors.

The lifeboat from Sennen Cove tried to search and rescue, but it proved impossible for her to round the corner of Gwennap Head, to the west of the wreck and south of Land’s End.

No sign of Solomon Brown was ever found.

The Union Star parted from its anchor and was lost with all hands.

A public appeal for the benefit of the village of Mousehole – where most of the crew lived – raised more than £3 million.

The crew of Solomon Browne were William Trevelyan Richards, coxswain, James Madron, second coxswain and mechanic, Nigel Brockman, John Blewett, emergency mechanic Kevin Smith, Barrie Torrie, Charles Greenhaugh and Gary Wallis.

Coxswain William Trevelyan Richards was posthumously awarded the RNLI’s gold medal.

Bronze medals were awarded posthumously to the remainder of the crew.

– The online book of remembrance can be signed here

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