Mousehole remembers Solomon Browne crew at lifeboat blessing

The bell on Penlee’s lifeboat rang eight times on Sunday evening, once for every name read out into the hush of the harbour.

📷Credit: RNLI / Phil Monckton

Crowds gather to welcome the lifeboats home

Penlee RNLI held its annual blessing of the lifeboats and open air service at Mousehole harbour on Sunday 16 August 2026, and a good crowd turned out to welcome the station’s boats in through the gaps. The Severn Class Lifeboat Ivan Ellen and the B Class Atlantic 85 Mollie and Ivor Dent arrived with their Penlee RNLI volunteer crews as the evening sun began to set.

📷Credit: RNLI / Phil Monckton

Remembering the crew of the Solomon Browne

An important part of the service each year is remembering those who died on the Solomon Browne during the call out to the coaster Union Star. Janet Madron read their names solemnly, while long serving Penlee volunteer Nabo Nicholls rang the bell after each one.

Those remembered 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 and Crew Member Gary Wallis.

📷Credit: RNLI / Phil Monckton

Mousehole Male Voice Choir sets the tone

The evening was enhanced by a performance from Mousehole Male Voice Choir, led by Musical Director Stephen Lawry, their voices carrying out across the harbour as the light faded.

📷Credit: RNLI / Phil Monckton

Blessing of the lifeboats

Revd Derath Durkin took the helm of the service from the deck of the lifeboat. She thanked the crowd for making the evening so special, along with the Mousehole Harbour Commissioners who made it possible and Chris Cass for the audio, and praised the RNLI volunteers for their selfless actions.

📷Credit: RNLI / Phil Monckton

A huge success

Penlee RNLI thanked everyone who came down to the harbour for the service.

“Thank you so much to the lovely crowd who attended our service and made the night such a huge success.”

📷Credit: RNLI / Phil Monckton