Welcome to the Community View section of the website. This area is dedicated to articles of interest, community information and local topics that are submitted by members of the public or guest writers. It is also the main section dedicated to the Youth Media Group Project.
Thirty-five years ago the crew of the Penlee Lifeboat were requested to launch into a Force 10 sea in appalling conditions to render aid to the crew of the Union Star - a coaster who's engines had failed and who's anchor was slipping and being pushed towards nearby cliffs.
The Penlee boat at the time was a Watson class Lifeboat, the Soloman Brown, wooden construction with a diesel engine capable of only 8 knots and steamed through the heavy seas to the aid of the Union Star.
By the time the Lifeboat was alongside the Union Star was metres away from the cliffs and was starting to take damage.
In a feat of amazing seamanship (that, at one point saw the Solomon Brown washed up onto the deck of the Union Star) the Coxwain of the Penlee Lifeboat brought the small wooden boat alongside and rescued several of the crew of the Union Star (including the skippers wife and daughter) and was then forced to turn her head to sea as the coaster was, by then, on rocks.
In an act of simply magnificent valour the Coxwain of Penlee Lifeboat turned back through the boiling seas to attempt rescue of the remaining souls on board the Union Star.
The sea claimed the RNLB Solomon Brown and the lives of all the crew on board.....the Union Star and all the souls on board suffered the same fate.
All those on board were posthumously awarded medals for bravery.
The small town of Mousehole suffered the loss of 8 brave, hard-working individuals who had given their free time, their families free time, their effort, their energies and ultimately their lives in the pursuit of saving lives at sea. ....There is no higher calling.
(The RNLB Solomon Browne Launching from the Penlee Station^)
Every lifeboat crewman across the country accepts a degree of risk that comes with the carrying of a pager, every crewman though, expects to come back. We operate entirely based on charitable donations from the general public, without this, the vital work we carry out couldn't take place.
I know it's Christmas and I know we all have a lot on our plates, but if you're shopping or in a bar and see a collection tin - please stick a few pence in it…. it really makes a difference.
RNLI Collection boxes can be found at The Wallaw, The Commissioners Quay Inn, Olivers Bar & several other establishments in Blyth.
*Words and pictures kindly shared by Adam Pickering, Blyth RNLI.... Heading photo was taken by David Darbyshire*
