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Penlee RNLI lifeboats blessing

Lifeboats News Release

On Sunday 3 September Penlee RNLI Lifeboat Station held the annual blessing of the lifeboats and open air service at Mousehole Harbour.

Picture of B class Atlantic 85 Mollie and Ivor Dent

RNLI/Philip Monckton

Penlee lifeboat B class Atlantic 85 Mollie and Ivor Dent
There was a good crowd to welcome the lifeboats as the RNLI's Severn class lifeboat Ivan Ellen, and the B class Atlantic 85 Mollie and Ivor Dent and their volunteer crews arrived in the gaps.

An important part of this service is to remember those who sadly perished on the Solomon Browne during the call out to the coaster Union Star on 19 December 1981. Dr Mike Hersant solemnly read out their names while Penlee Crew Member, Nabo Nicholls, rang the bell each time.

The Solomon Browne crew were: Coxswain William Trevelyan Richards, Second Coxswain and Mechanic James Madron, Assistant Mechanic Nigel Brockman, Emergency Mechanic John Blewett, Crew Member Charles Greenhaugh, Crew Member Kevin Smith, Crew Member Barrie Torrie, Crew Member Gary Wallis.

Dr Mike Hersant praised all the volunteers but making a particular reference to the Silver Medal for Gallantry awarded to Coxswain Patch Harvey and his crew, who were awarded Silver Medal Service Certificates, for their courage, determination and teamwork under pressure and in extreme conditions during dramatic rescue of eight people from a disabled yacht off Porthleven, on October 31 2022.

The crew were; Mechanic Marcel Le Breton, Navigator James Roberts and Crew Members Will Tremeer, Adrian Thomas, Dan Sell and Trevellyan Worth.

The crew of the HM Coastguard helicopter based at Newquay were also awarded with a Silver Medal Service Certificate by the RNLI for their outstanding lifesaving actions.

Sunday's evening in a setting sun was enhanced with the performance of Mousehole Male Voice Choir led by Musical Director, Stephen Lawry.

Our thanks to Mousehole Harbourmaster Neil Brockman, the Mousehole Harbour Commissioners and to Chris Cass for his skills with the sound set up.

And thank you to those who supported us on the quayside and made our evening so successful.
Pic shows an RNLI crewman ringing the bell

RNLI/Philip Monckton

Crewman Nabo Nicholls rings the bell
Pic shows lifeboat volunteers stood on deck of lifeboat Ivan Ellen

RNLI/Philip Monckton

Penlee Lifeboat volunteers in Mousehole harbour aboard the RNLI's Severn Class Lifeboat Ivan Ellen
A group of people watching the lifeboat service

RNLI/Philip Monckton

The public gathers to watch the service

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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