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Online book of remembrance for Penlee lifeboat tragedy

BBC Solomon BrowneBBC
The eight crew of the Solomon Browne died, alongside the eight people on board the cargo ship Union Star

A book of remembrance has been launched online to mark the 40th anniversary of a tragedy at sea that killed 16 people.

The eight-strong crew of the Solomon Browne lifeboat, from Penlee, perished when they were called out in horrendous conditions on 19 December 1981.

All eight people on board the Union Star, which was being swept towards the Cornish coast, also lost their lives.

The current coxswain of the lifeboat said the book provided an opportunity to share messages of love and support.

Gary Wallis, Coxswain William Richards, Nigel Brockman
Coxswain William Richards, centre, with crewman Gary Wallis, left, and mechanic Nigel Brockman, right, all died in the rescue

Patch Harvey, coxswain of Penlee's all-weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen, said he hoped the book would "acknowledge the continued support and compassion shown by people from all around the world for the Penlee lifeboat community and families of those lost".

He 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."

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Henry Morton
Captain Henry Morton was among eight people including his wife and two stepdaughters on the Union Star

What happened on 19 December 1981

The Union Star, a cargo ship, was on its maiden voyage from Holland to Ireland.

The ship's engine failed in the middle of a tremendous storm, and rough seas and strong winds swept the ship towards the coastline.

It carried a crew of four, as well as Capt Henry Morton, his wife and two teenage stepdaughters, who had been picked up so that they could be together for the Christmas holidays.

A dozen men answered the call for lifeboat crew but only eight were needed.

Servicemen on an RNAS Sea King helicopter saw the Solomon Browne battle to get alongside the Union Star and take four people onboard.

But all radio contact was soon lost and the next morning the Union Star was found capsized on rocks and wreckage of the lifeboat began to wash ashore.

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RNLI Union StarRNLI
The Union Star was on its maiden voyage when its engine failed off the coast of Cornwall

The Penlee lifeboat disaster was the last occasion in which the entire crew of a lifeboat died.

The book of remembrance has a foreword from the president of the RNLI, the Duke of Kent.

John Blewett, Charles Greenhaugh, James Madron
John Blewett, Charles Greenhaugh, James Madron from the crew of the Solomon Brown all died in the rescue

It also includes a timeline of the tragic events that unfolded, as well as the names of those who died.

They were:

  • RNLI Coxswain William Richards
  • RNLI Second coxswain and mechanic James Madron
  • RNLI Assistant mechanic Nigel Brockman
  • RNLI Emergency mechanic John Blewett
  • RNLI Crewman Charles Greenhaugh
  • RNLI Crewman Kevin Smith
  • RNLI Crewman Barrie Torrie
  • RNLI Crewman Gary Wallis
  • Union Star Captain Henry Morton
  • Union Star mate James Whittaker
  • Union Star engineer George Sedgwick
  • Union Star crewman Anghostino Verressimo
  • Union Star crewman Manuel Lopes
  • Captain Morton's wife Dawn and two stepdaughters Sharon and Deanne
Kevin Smith, Barrie Torrie
Crewmen Kevin Smith and Barrie Torrie are remembered on the 40th anniversary of the tragedy

An RNLI spokeswoman said the book "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".

In January 2022 the book will be printed and put on display at the Penlee RNLI Visitor Centre at the station in Newlyn Harbour.

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