Volume XLVIII Number 479 The LifeboaJournal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Spring 198t2 25p The Captain takes his hato totheRNLL THE LIFEBOAT Spring 1982 Contents N^^C*™, » Penlee: the loss of Solomon Browne and her crew, December 19, 1981 40 XL VIII Lifeboat Services 43 4 /9 CBor VHF? The Coastguard's view 51 The Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society, by John G. Francis 52 ™E™OFATHOLL Some of the Lifeboats of the RNLI Fleet 54 Director and Secretary: Lifeboat Open Days 1982: Poole Headquarters and Depot 56 REAR ADMIRAL W. J. GRAHAM, CB MNI Books : 56 Boat Show 1982, Earls Court 57 Building the Fast Slipway Lifeboat—Part VII: fitted out 59 Letters 60 Editor: JOAN DAVIES Shoreline 61 Headquarters: Some Ways of Raising Money 62 Royal National Lifeboat Institution, West Quay Road. Poole. Dorset BH15 Awards to Coxswains, Crews and Shore Helpers 66 1HZ (Telephone Poole 671133). Lifeboat Services, September, October and November 1981 70 London Office: Royal National Lifeboat Institution, 202 Lambeth Road. London SE1 7JW Index to Advertisers 72 (Telephone 01-928 4236). Editorial: All material submitted for Advertisements: All advertising consideration with a view to publica- enquiries should be addressed to tion in the journal should be addressed Dyson Advertising Services, PO Box to the editor, THE LIFEBOAT, Royal 9, Godalming, Surrey (Telephone National Lifeboat Institution, West Godalming (04868) 23675). Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ COVER PICTURE (Telephone Poole 671133). Photo- Subscription: A year's subscription of RNLB Barham, Great Yarmouth and Gorles- graphs intended for return should be four issues costs £1.40, including post- ton's 44ft Waveney class lifeboat, when on sta- accompanied by a stamped and addres- age, but those who are entitled to tion in May 1980. She is named in memory of sed envelope. receive THE LIFEBOAT free of charge HMS Barham which was torpedoed in 1941 will continue to do so. Overseas sub- and more than half her cost was provided by a scriptions depend on the cost of postage bequest from the brother of one of the 859 men lost when the battleship was sunk. Repre- to the country concerned. Write to sentatives of the 405 who were rescued from Next issue: the summer issue of THE RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset the sinking ship were present at the naming of LIFEBOAT will appear in July and news BH15 1HZ. RNLB Barham on September 17, 1980. Since items should be sent by the end of going on station, Barham has launched on April. News items for the autumn issue Printers: The Friary Press, Grove Trad- service 28 times and rescued 16 lives. should be sent in by the end of July. ing Estate, Dorchester, Dorset. 37 •X- Support the RNLI in Maritime Year Jammer Super Thermal Wear the sale of which will benefit the RNLI Jammer Super Jacket Specifically designed for water sportsmen. Three materials Lifeboat supporters will be 'fused'. So, you're warm, weatherproof and welcome to visit RNLI head condensation-free. Generous length; office and depot during deep pockets; pill proof in normal use. £27.45 LIFEBOAT OPEN DAYS - incl. VAT p £1.75 POOLE HEADQUARTERS extra. Thursday July 22 10 am to 6 pm Friday July 23 10 am to 8 pm Saturday July 24 10 am to 6 pm Further details on page 56 Jammer Waistcoat (right) Practical and stylish ^> addition to the yachtsman's locker, for the ENJOY A MOTORING WEEKEND BREAK many days when a \i WITH RNLI SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS sweater alone won't *-* * £5 TO RNLI FROM EACH HOLIDAY BOOKED suffice. Made to high * SINGLE ROOMS AVAILABLE AT NO EXTRA COST (subject to Jammer standards in 50% availability) acrylic, 50% polyester. * CHILDREN UNDER 14 FREE ACCOMMODATION (when sharing £14.45 inrl. VAT, p&p£l.50extra with 2 adults maximum 2 children) * RAIL INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM Both styles in navy with navy and yellow rib and logo. ANYWHERE IN BRITAIN AT EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE RATES * ALL HOLIDAYS BASED ON ROOM WITH PRIVATE BATHROOM Meet the real life Tristan Farnan in James Herriot's Yorkshire To: Quire Demy Ltd., July 23-25,1982 £41 incl of VAT 4 Milton Road, West Kirby, Wirral L48 SEX includes: 2 nights' bed and full breakfast at the 4-star Old Swan Hotel, Tel: 051-625 1663. Harrogate. A James Herriot Evening on the Saturday including dinner at the Old Swan Hotel with Brian Sinclair, the real life Tristan Farnan Please send me the following garments (featured in the popular TV programme "All Creatures Great and Small"). (Tick garment required. Give size details as shown). Take the family on an Ironbridge Gorge weekend (near Shrewsbury) September 3-5,1982 £33 incl of VAT includes: 2 nights' bed and full breakfast at the Telford Hotel Golf and JAMMER SUPER JACKET Country Club, which includes access to the Club's facilities; 18 hole golf course; indoor swimming pool (free); sauna (free); 4 squash courts; Please state chest size from 34 to 44. badminton hall and snooker tables at significantly reduced rates. Also included a "Welcome to Ironbridge Gorge" presentation on the Friday evening, plus an all day tour of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum on the JAMMER WAISTCOAT M Saturday. A Whisky Tasting Weekend in the historical city of Edinburgh Tick size required. October 15-17, 1982 £32.50 incl of VAT includes: 2 nights' bed and full breakfast at the Ellersly House Hotel, Edinburgh; a guided walking tour of the city on Saturday morning, and a I enclose my cheque/P.O. for .. .. Whisky Tasting Evening with a Scottish Piper on the Saturday. made payable to Quire Demy Ltd. A Fascinating Wedgwood Pottery Weekend October 29-31,1982 £32.50 incl of VAT Or debit my Credit Card No includes: 2 nights' bed and full breakfast at the 4-star North Stafford Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent; a "Welcome to Wedgwood Country" presentation Name on the Friday evening. On Saturday a guided tour of the Wedgwood (BLOCK LETTERS PLEASEI Visitor Centre including a film and demonstration; plus a visit to the Gladstone Museum of British Pottery. Address For further information and booking form please write to: Holidays for RNLI Supporters and Friends, RNLI Scottish Office, 45 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 3NN. Tel 031-225 4014. Allow 28 days for delivery. (Please show this to your friends, thank you.) 38 A private service of remembrance guard officers who co-ordinated the res- and thanksgiving for the lifeboatmen's cue, received special certificates. families was held on January 22 in Paul The most touching speech came from Church and was attended by HRH The Gunnar Thorsteinsson, captain of Tun- Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI, gufoss, who was lifted off his vessel min- accompanied by the Duchess. A mem- utes before she sank. With his crew, the orial service was held on February 15 in captain had bought thick woollen Ice- Truro Cathedral and was attended by landic sweaters for the lifeboatmen, the Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret helicopter crew and coastguards 'for Thatcher. saving our lives'. The captain's perfect The RNLI is holding its own inquiry English expressed his thanks, but his into the disaster and the Department of presence reminded everybody that Trade is conducting a preliminary in- without the helicopter and lifeboat, he quiry before deciding whether to hold a would not still be alive. formal investigation into the loss of The lifeboatmen who received the Penlee lifeboat. medals were Coxswain/Mechanic Maur- More details of the disaster are given ice Hutchens, Second Coxswain John on page 40. Pender and Crew Members Cedric Johnson, Timothy George, Derek NOTES OF Danish lifeboat disaster Angove, Phillip Shannon and Terence The Institution sent a message of Greene. THE QUARTER deep sympathy to the Danish lifeboat authority on the loss of six lifeboatmen from Hirtshals on December 1, 1981. The Mrs Hoy retires six men were lost when their boat cap- The retirement of Mrs Maire Hoy THE LOSS of Penlee lifeboat and her crew sized in rough seas as they went to the from the post of station honorary stunned people throughout Great Brit- rescue of three men from a wrecked secretary of Clogher Head, Co Louth, ain and Ireland and thousands of mes- Danish fishing vessel off north-west marks the end of 20 years of dedicated sages of sympathy from many parts of Jutland. service. Mrs Hoy took over the position the world were received by the be- 'as a temporary measure' when her hus- reaved families. Before she was lost, the band, who had been honorary secretary lifeboat Solomon Browne had taken Icelandic bravery medals for eight years, died suddenly. Her four people off the coaster Union Star in The rescue last September of 11 men deputy launching authority was the har- appalling conditions and for this service from the Icelandic coaster Tungufoss bour master and they usually consulted the RNLI made posthumous awards of (see page 44) not only showed what about lifeboat launches. During her the gold medal for gallantry to Cox- good co-ordination can be achieved be- time as honorary secretary, the lifeboat swain William Trevelyan Richards and tween rescue services but also brought a was launched about 50 times. Her son, bronze medals for gallantry to Second most sincere appreciation of the res- Brendan, remains on the station com- Coxswain/Mechanic James Stephen cuers from the Icelandic Government. mittee as honorary treasurer. Mrs Hoy Madron, Assistant Mechanic Nigel The President of Iceland, Mrs Vigdis is the only woman to have served as a Brockman, Emergency Mechanic John Finnbogadottir, attended a special cere- station honorary secretary in recent Robert Blewett, Crew Member Charles mony at the Hyde Park Hotel, London, years and for her service she has been Thomas Greenhaugh, Crew Member on February 17 to present the Republic awarded the gold badge.