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Forty years ago, the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne was launched into high winds that had whipped up 50ft waves off the treacherous Cornish coast to reach a stricken coaster, the Union Star.
People are being urged to remember the eight extremely brave, fearless and selfless lifeboatmen who lost their lives 39 years today. December 19, 1981 the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster saw the tragic loss of the crew of the Solomon Browne and of the coaster Union Star off the south Cornish coast near Mousehole. It was in hurricane force winds that the cargo ship Union Star was blown off course after it suffered steering and engine failure.
The crew of the Solomon Browne The lifeboat Solomon Browne launched at 8.12pm in an attempt to rescue the eight crew from Union Star as it was about to hit the rocks.