Comments on: The Penlee Lifeboat Disaster

By: andrew h

andrew h — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:02:45 +0000

any of you above if you would like to share any memories please contact me. my email is manicsubsidence@hotmail.co.uk

By: andrew h

andrew h — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:01:39 +0000

respect to everyone involved. my dad worked as a shipwright in those days and solomon browne was a vessel he had worked on. though i was only 2 at the time he told me about this event when i was a bot older. ive done a youtube tribute to honour these heros and to remember then all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3UyfqjKJAU

By: Malcolm Grace

Malcolm Grace — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:12:36 +0000

I lost my friend and his wife in this disaster, Henry (Mick) Morton and his wife Dawn. Mick sailed with me as my mate during our Tower Shipping days and I always found Mick to be a very competent seaman . I remember the evening well as I was working ashore at the time for Tower Shipping and people were ringing my home phone to see if I had any information on the incident.
My respect goes to all who perished.

By: Dave Berryman

Dave Berryman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:18:36 +0000

The moment I woke on that fateful morning I immediatley knew something terribe had happened it was a feeling I have never experienced before or since. As a serving policeman I rang the station at Penzance to be told the tragic news. I was not required to work but I walked along the prom and saw men I knew to be hard men openly crying. Everybody was saying the same thing that we had lost OUR lifeboat which went to show the high esteem that the lifeboat crew were held in. Everybody in Mousehole would have known someone in the crew but this was also the same for so many people in Newlyn and Penzance. During my 30 years in the police force I worked with all the emergency services who were just brilliant at what they did but I have always put the lifeboat crews at the top of the tree. I feel very proud to have personally known two of the crew of the Solomon Browne.

By: paul harris

paul harris — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:26:02 +0000

please remember all that died that night ,my dad worked for union transport at the time henry was such a nice person i was a child then r.i.p for all the souls loss that night and thanks to the brave men that tried to save everyone regards paul

By: Justine Smith

Justine Smith — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:20:34 +0000

I am writing this on behalf of my husband Michael Smith who lost his only brother Kevin on the Soloman Browne – he was 23 at the time of the disaster and has now been dead longer than he was alive.Every year we put flowers on the railings of the boathouse for the crew – our daughters Laura and Emily who were never lucky enough to know their Uncle in person either come with us or have a memorial for the crew wherever they are – Laura lives in Lisbon so wasn’t with us this year.Roy,Kevin’s Dad comes with us to put a wreath on the railings we take our wreath and flowers off on Jan 6th which was Kevin’s birthday and throw them into the sea.This year Mike went out on the Ivan Ellen with Emily and she took a red rose for each crew member and threw them into the sea off Tater Dhu where the boys were lost.They were as Russell Smith the US Air Force pilot said the 8 bravest men – they will always live on in our hearts and memories.Shine on you crazy diamonds

By: Tim Rotheray

Tim Rotheray — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:58:24 +0000

On the night of 19th December 1981 I was one and a half and no doubt tucked up in my cot in Falmouth during that horrendous storm. It is only this week, when as a leaving present I received ‘Penlee – the loss of a lifeboat’ and appreciated the horror of that night. The RNLI crews are truly amazing and the contiued effort of those on the ‘Solomon Browne’ is humbling. We are hugely fortunate to have such a wonderful service with dedicated crews.

It is good to see that those who perished both lifeboat men and those on the Union Star are remembered.

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:32:17 +0000

As a retired firefighter of 25 years I have had full admiration for the crews, male or female. In the the fireservice if something looks a bit risky we can be called to back off from the incedent, This is not the case with the Lads and Girls of the RNLI once they go out in adverse they rarely back off. I hope the families of all members of any crew are well looked after should they, like the Penlee crew suffer the loss of life.
May your God go with you and help and look over you to be every time you launch.

By: Frankie Callaghan

Frankie Callaghan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:54:09 +0000

My heart will be heavy tomorrow as I remember all those brave souls on both vessels who perished on that dreadful night.
To their families I say – I for one will never forget them.

By: Capt Tim Butten

Capt Tim Butten — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:09:02 +0000

Please, please don’t forget the crew of the Union Star..The MN are at sea in every weather. It was a tragedy for all involved. The three women lost adds to the tragedy of tragedies.

My thoughts are with the people of Mousehole & the kin of the Union Star’s crew at this time