Online book of remembrance marks 40th anniversary of the Penlee Lifeboat disaster

16 people lost their lives when tragedy struck off the Cornish coast on the 19th December 1981

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 25th Nov 2021
Last updated 25th Nov 2021

An online book of remembrance has been launched to commemorate the 40-year anniversary of the Penlee Lifeboat disaster.

The Solomon Browne and her crew were lost at sea on the 19th of December 1981.

They had rushed to the aid of stricken coaster the Union Star in hurricane-force storms.

Now a new book, which has a foreword from President of the RNLI, The Duke of Kent, will be a place to commemorate the courage shown that night, to share sympathies with a community still grieving and to celebrate the 16 lives lost that night.

It includes a timeline of the tragic events that unfolded as well as the names of those lost on Solomon Browne lifeboat and stricken cargo ship the Union Star. It also details how Penlee RNLI endured; how in the midst of tragedy a new volunteer crew stepped forward and how the Penlee lifeboat crew of today continue to be on call when needed most.

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."

In January, the opportunity to sign the online book will close, it will be printed and put on display at the Penlee RNLI Visitor Centre at the station in Newlyn Harbour.

Patch continued: "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."

You can find the online Book of Remembrance here.

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