Old Penlee Lifeboat Station’s final open day and who turned up

Some of the people who came down the steps on Sunday had far more reason to be there than curiosity.

Sunday 27 September brought the final Open Day of 2026 at the Old Penlee Lifeboat Station. Over four hours, about 170 visitors (plus a few canine companions) made their way down from the roadside and took a step back in time.

Seventy years of service

The station was active for seventy years of the 20th century. Its last shout was for the lifeboat RNLB Guy and Clare Hunter in 1982, several months after the loss of the RNLB Solomon Browne at Christmas 1981.

📷Raymond Pomeroy at the Old Penlee Lifeboat Station. Credit: Colin Lawry

Back where he worked the winch

Raymond Pomeroy was among Sunday’s visitors. He was an active shore-crew volunteer for more than 50 years, and he succeeded his father as the winch operator here.

📷Stephanie Lisle MacKenzie and Iain MacKenzie at the Old Penlee Lifeboat Station. Credit: Colin Lawry

A family link to another coast

Stephanie Lisle MacKenzie and Iain MacKenzie, who now live in Newlyn, also made the trip down the steps.

Stephanie is a descendant of the Lisle family from Cullercoats in the north east of England. In 1848, four members of the family, from two generations, were lost while undertaking pilot boat duties to supplement their income from fishing.

They are remembered on a memorial at Tynemouth Priory.

From Usk for the day

Steve Galvin, from Usk near Monmouth, travelled to Cornwall this weekend especially to make the visit.

The team on the door

Visits Team members Robert Andrews, Kevin Lander, Trevor Thorne, Laura Holmes, Rod James and Colin Lawry were kept busy welcoming everyone through.

Visiting in 2027

Anyone hoping to go next year is asked to keep an eye on the Penlee Lifeboat Facebook page. Plans for 2027 are due to be announced soon.

📷Steve Galvin at the Old Penlee Lifeboat Station. Credit: Colin Lawry