The Penlee Lifeboat

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Lucinda

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Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of the Penlee Lifeboat disaster.Does anyone remember this? I don't as I was only little, but it was national news at the time.

The Penlee Lifeboat went out from Mousehole (near Land's End) to rescue a coaster called the Union Star. The weather was terrible. The lifeboat reached the boat and got a couple of people aboard.Then it went down with all hands. So did the Union Star. Some bodies were never found.

On the local radio yesterday they played the recording of the Coastguard saying: "Penlee Lifeboat, Penlee Lifeboat" over and over again, with no response, and it made me go very cold. There was a TV programme about it last night, but that might only have been shown in Cornwall. I ended up very weepy and my mother couldn't watch it.

Mousehole is famous for its xmas lights and they turned them off yesterday. My mother says an unprecedented amount of money was raised for the families of the lifeboat crew which still causes animosity in Mousehole today as eight families suddenly came into a vast amout of cash. I think that's like putting a price on a man's life.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you. Brave men.
 
Sorry Lucinda, I don't remember this as such but it does sound familiar.
Very brave men indeed, humanity at it's very best. It should make us all feel very humble...

Barbara
 
yes I do remember it very well and felt a shiver when i read what the lifeboatman said, it was so sad so near christmas as well , living on an island we have about 4, 2 of them are voluntery which needs lots of fundraising they have saved so many lives and what brave men, often over looked one of our friends Darren is deaf but is a lifeboat volunter we often go to fundraising events with him, and often worry about him when hes called out along with some other of our friends, brave men all of them
 
I think it's good to remember these things at Christmas, it puts so much into perspective.
 
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