The Penlee lifeboat disaster occurred on 19 December 1981 off the coast of Cornwall, England. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat Solomon Browne, based at the Penlee Lifeboat Station near Mousehole, went to the aid of the vessel Union Star after its engines failed in heavy seas. After the lifeboat had rescued four people, both vessels were lost with all hands. Sixteen people died, including eight volunteer lifeboatmen.
Penlee Lifeboat Memorial
The original Penlee Lifeboat Station, from which Solomon Browne was launched
The memorial garden at Penlee
GWR train 802008 RNLB Solomon Browne carries the names of the crew
Penlee Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations for Mount's Bay in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The lifeboat station operated at various locations in Penzance from the early 19th century. It moved to Penlee Point near Mousehole in 1913, thus gaining its current name, but was moved to Newlyn in 1983 without any change of name. The station is remembered for the loss of the entire lifeboat crew on 19 December 1981.
The 1983-built crew facilities at Newlyn Harbour
The boathouse at Penlee Point
Memorial garden and old boathouse at Penlee Point
17-36 Ivan Ellen in Newlyn harbour
