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History of Penlee lifeboat station

1803    The forerunner of Penlee lifeboat station was a lifeboat stationed at Penzance.

1812    The first lifeboat was sold, having never been used.

1828    The station lapsed until 1851.

1908       A lifeboat station opened at Newlyn.

1913    The lifeboat was transferred from Newlyn to Penlee. The RNLI established a station at Penlee and a new boathouse and roller slipway were built at Penlee Point.

In the years before the RNLI established a station at Penlee many courageous rescues were carried out. Two Gold Medals and 26 Silver Medals were awarded for rescues to the many wrecks during the storms and for 'long and gallant services in saving life from shipwreck.'

1936    A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Frank Blewett for rescuing nine crew from the steamer Taycraig driven onto rocks in Mounts Bay in a gale.

1947    A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain EF Madron and a Bronze Medal to Motor Mechanic JB Drew when the lifeboat rescued eight crew from the obsolete battleship Warspite which was wrecked at Cuddens Point, Mounts Bay while being towed to a shipbreakers yard.

1961    Shore helper James Pentreath was killed and another helper Mr RW Blewett injured when the Penlee lifeboat was being rehoused on 30 December. A heavy swell carried the lifeboat broadside and caused the winch wire to strike the two shore helpers, causing them to fall onto the rocks.

1975    A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain William Richards for a service to the motor vessel Lovat. A helicopter rescued two survivors but 11 lives were lost. In darkness and hurricane force winds the lifeboat recovered the bodies.

1979    A special framed certificate was awarded to the Coxswain and crew for the services to numerous yachts in difficulties during the Fastnet Race on 16 August.

1980    A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Coxswain William Richards when the lifeboat towed the trawler Normauwil clear of danger after it was stranded near Newlyn Harbour.

1981    On 19 December hurricane force winds had blown the cargo ship 'Union Star ' off course after it suffered engine failure. The lifeboat Solomon Browne launched into very difficult waters, 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.

Coxswain William Richards made several attempts to get alongside and managed to rescue four people who jumped from the Union Star's wheelhouse onto the lifeboat. The lifeboat made a further attempt to rescue the remaining four when radio contact was lost. Her last message was: "We've got four off at the moment". Ten minutes later her lights disappeared. The lifeboat had been completely wrecked with the loss of her crew of eight. The coaster was also lost. There were no survivors.

Coxswain William Trevelyan Richards was posthumously awarded the RNLI's Gold Medal. Bronze Medals were awarded posthumously to the remainder of the crew: Second Coxswain/Mechanic James Stephen Madron, Assistant Mechanic Nigel Brockman, Emergency Mechanic John Robert Blewett, Crew Members Charles Thomas Greenhaugh, Kevin Smith, Barrie Robertson Torrie and Gary Lee Wallis.

A local appeal raised over £3 million.

1982    The Chairman of the Institution, The Duke of Atholl, presented Vellums recording the bravery awards to the families of the men who died.

1983    The new Arun class lifeboat Mabel Alice was placed on service on 8 May and lies afloat in Newlyn Harbour.

A new assembly building was built providing a workshop/store, souvenir outlet and improved crew facilities.

1985    The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Kenneth Thomas for escorting the trawler St Simeon in a strong gale and very rough sea on 15 February.

1985            Following the 1981 lifeboat disaster Penzance Town Council created a Memorial Garden on land next to the boathouse at Penlee Point in memory of the lifeboat crew 'who gave their lives in service.'

A flagstaff made from the wreckage of the Solomon Browne, and her flag, were presented to the Dean and Chapter of Truro Cathedral as a memorial and in appreciation of the support given by the Bishop and cathedral authorities to the Penlee families and the RNLI at the time of the disaster.

1995    A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Neil Brockman when, with the Sennen Cove lifeboat, the lifeboat Mabel Alice assisted in the rescue of five people and saving the fishing vessel Julian Paul which had fouled her propeller to the west of Longships on 7 December 1994. Coxswain/Mechanic Terence George of the Sennen Cove lifeboat was also awarded the Bronze Medal.

2000    A Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Coxswain Mechanic Neil Brockman for taking the lifeboat alongside the French Fishing Vessel Gwel a Vo more than 15 times, at night, in rough seas and five metre swells on 21 December 1999 to treat an injured man.

2001    When Marazion inshore lifeboat station closed permanently on 31 October Penlee lifeboat provided all operational cover in the area.

2002    A B class Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat, B-787 Paul Alexander, was placed on service on 12 September to complement the cover provided by the all weather lifeboat.

2003    An Anniversary Vellum was awarded to the station to commemorate the completion of 200 years service.

            A new Severn class lifeboat, ON-1265 Ivan Ellen, was placed on service.

Station honours

A day does not go by without a volunteer crew somewhere showing their selflessness, skill and courage to help save lives at sea. Occasionally, however, a rescue deserves special recognition and the RNLI rewards acts of skill and bravery from a Framed Letter of Thanks from the Chairman to a Gold Medal for Gallantry. Awardees of a Gold Medal are invited to attend the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.

At Penlee lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Coxswains of The Penlee Lifeboat