43 years ago today.

[Cousin Jack]

The Solomon Brown was lost with all hands, along with the people on the Union Star.

I remember the morning after. I went to lunch at a place on the seafront at Marazion. The storm had passed but it was still very windy and the sea was horrendous. Quite a few of the bigger fishing boats were going out from Newlyn, still hoping for survivors. They were literally disappearing in the waves.

Later that day I learned the names of the crew. The coxswain was a distant cousin of Mrs CJ and aother crew member was a colleague of mine and a good friend.

Remember people like them the next time someone suggests the RNLI shouldn't be picking up people from small boats in the Channel.

[Horse]

The AA's advertising as 'the fourth emergency service' was an insult to the RNLI.

And the independent sea rescue services
And the air ambulances
And search & rescue flights
And mountain rescue, cave rescue, lowland search, etc, etc.

[MingtheMerciless]

I probably wouldn't be here without the RNLI. My mum as a teenager bunked off school one day with a mate and went to the beach where they got swept out to sea.........They got washed up on a harbour wall made from those angular concrete groynes and she spent a long time getting bashed against them before the RNLI rescued her and her mate.

[Ian]

FIL was rescued by the RNLI. Without them I wouldn't have a wife and two sons.

I have the greatest respect for lifeboat crews.

[Mr Moofo]

FIL was rescued by the RNLI. Without them I wouldn't have a wife and two sons.

I have the greatest respect for lifeboat crews.

And the surprising thing is that they are all just normal people. And humble with it!

Just been down to the local pub where a local sea shanty group had raised 2.4k for us.
The guys in yellow do the tough stuff - but without guys like the local sea shanty singers, the people who work in the shop and the members of the public, we wouldn’t exist

[Taipan]

We often watch that Saving Lives at Sea and the one thing that smacks me eveyrtime is, despite putting their own lives at risk, they never seem to be judgemental at the stupid situations some people inadvertently put themsslevs in. They often appear to be long term lifeboatmen/women/persons but haven't be come jaded at all! Its also why its the one charity box I drop spare cash in when I see them.

[Horse]

We often watch that Saving Lives at Sea and the one thing that smacks me eveyrtime is, despite putting their own lives at risk, they never seem to be judgemental at the stupid situations some people inadvertently put themsslevs in.

Same on the various ambulance programmes. They just turn up and help people.

[Taipan]

We often watch that Saving Lives at Sea and the one thing that smacks me eveyrtime is, despite putting their own lives at risk, they never seem to be judgemental at the stupid situations some people inadvertently put themsslevs in.

Same on the various ambulance programmes. They just turn up and help people.

My friends son is a paramedic and some of his stories are certainly at odds with the gratitude the RNLI recieve to say the least!

[Horse]

We often watch that Saving Lives at Sea and the one thing that smacks me eveyrtime is, despite putting their own lives at risk, they never seem to be judgemental at the stupid situations some people inadvertently put themsslevs in.

Same on the various ambulance programmes. They just turn up and help people.

My friends son is a paramedic and some of his stories are certainly at odds with the gratitude the RNLI recieve to say the least!

Yup. One guy I knew stopped to help someone. Just happened across them. Had his jaw broken for his troubles.

I've only been lumped once. But, to be fair, the patient was quite unwell and lashing out. Unfortunately for me, my ear was at the same height as his fist

[Yambo]

My (late) BiL was coxswain of the Dover lifeboat for a few years and worked in a traing role for the RNLI after they retired him at 60 from 'active duty'. He'd happily leave harbour in a force 10 hooly but wouldn't come to my wedding in Northern Ireland (or let my sister come) because he was, in his own words "scared shitless of the place."

I've got the utmost respect for the RNLI crews but a lot less for the management. As far as the boat people are concerned the RNLI, tasked by the Coastguard, are on many occasions providing a taxi service. I appreciate that any call out is also a training opportunity and that lives have been lost during these channel crossings but . . .

[Yorick]

My (late) BiL was coxswain of the Dover lifeboat for a few years and worked in a traing role for the RNLI after they retired him at 60 from 'active duty'. He'd happily leave harbour in a force 10 hooly but wouldn't come to my wedding in Northern Ireland (or let my sister come) because he was, in his own words "scared shitless of the place."

I've got the utmost respect for the RNLI crews but a lot less for the management. As far as the boat people are concerned the RNLI, tasked by the Coastguard, are on many occasions providing a taxi service. I appreciate that any call out is also a training opportunity and that lives have been lost during these channel crossings but . . .

I'm no expert, but I wouldn't want to make the choice of who lives or dies.
The service is only to save lives.

[Mr Moofo]

My (late) BiL was coxswain of the Dover lifeboat for a few years and worked in a traing role for the RNLI after they retired him at 60 from 'active duty'. He'd happily leave harbour in a force 10 hooly but wouldn't come to my wedding in Northern Ireland (or let my sister come) because he was, in his own words "scared shitless of the place."

I've got the utmost respect for the RNLI crews but a lot less for the management. As far as the boat people are concerned the RNLI, tasked by the Coastguard, are on many occasions providing a taxi service. I appreciate that any call out is also a training opportunity and that lives have been lost during these channel crossings but . . .

Using that metric , we shouldn’t rescue the pissed up, drugged up, stupid, ungrateful etc - but we do!
I have even had it quoted to me “ I don’t really worry about preparation as if it goes wrong the RNLI with come and rescue me”.
Perhaps we need to let all of those drown as well, and just save the deserving?


Re the migrants - Border Force and the Government actually need to do something. They shouldn’t be relying on the RNLI. But we won’t let people drown. That’s the job

And if we are going to debate this - how about starting a thread and not on one regarding Penlee and folks who gave their lives for an idiot captain and a greedy owner

[Taipan]

My (late) BiL was coxswain of the Dover lifeboat for a few years and worked in a traing role for the RNLI after they retired him at 60 from 'active duty'. He'd happily leave harbour in a force 10 hooly but wouldn't come to my wedding in Northern Ireland (or let my sister come) because he was, in his own words "scared shitless of the place."

I've got the utmost respect for the RNLI crews but a lot less for the management. As far as the boat people are concerned the RNLI, tasked by the Coastguard, are on many occasions providing a taxi service. I appreciate that any call out is also a training opportunity and that lives have been lost during these channel crossings but . . .

Using that metric , we shouldn’t rescue the pissed up, drugged up, stupid, ungrateful etc - but we do!
I have even had it quoted to me “ I don’t really worry about preparation as if it goes wrong the RNLI with come and rescue me”.
Perhaps we need to let all of those drown as well, and just save the deserving?


Re the migrants - Border Force and the Government actually need to do something. They shouldn’t be relying on the RNLI. But we won’t let people drown. That’s the job

And if we are going to debate this - how about starting a thread and not on one regarding Penlee and folks who gave their lives for an idiot captain and a greedy owner

To be fair, CJ started it in the OP and now you've perpetuated it!

Remember people like them the next time someone suggests the RNLI shouldn't be picking up people from small boats in the Channel.

[JamJar]

Just to add facts (I know we don't like them):

In 2022 RNLI rescued 108 channel migrants out of nearly 46 000 migrants, a mere drop in the ocean

I can't find figures for 2023 or 2024 but no one seems to be suggesting it has increased.

[Cousin Jack]

The RNLI raison d'etre is to Save Lives at Sea. No ifs, no buts.

Many of those they save, or try to save, have been stupid, some criminal. Makes no odds* The captain of the Union Star was probably stupid, he shouldn't have been where he was in that weather, and he could have called for a tow much earlier. They didn't judge, they still tried to save him.

* They do sometimes offer 'advice' after the event. I have seen and heard the 'advice' given to a teenager who was somewhat less than contrite. It was robust, and delivered in his face by a large hairy fisherman. He got the message!

They also do a LOT of work to educate people who use the sea to stop them getting into trouble in the first place.

[Horse]

* They do sometimes offer 'advice' after the event.

And inflatables that have drifted people out to sea may be accidentally punctured ...

[Mr Moofo]

My (late) BiL was coxswain of the Dover lifeboat for a few years and worked in a traing role for the RNLI after they retired him at 60 from 'active duty'. He'd happily leave harbour in a force 10 hooly but wouldn't come to my wedding in Northern Ireland (or let my sister come) because he was, in his own words "scared shitless of the place."

I've got the utmost respect for the RNLI crews but a lot less for the management. As far as the boat people are concerned the RNLI, tasked by the Coastguard, are on many occasions providing a taxi service. I appreciate that any call out is also a training opportunity and that lives have been lost during these channel crossings but . . .

Using that metric , we shouldn’t rescue the pissed up, drugged up, stupid, ungrateful etc - but we do!
I have even had it quoted to me “ I don’t really worry about preparation as if it goes wrong the RNLI with come and rescue me”.
Perhaps we need to let all of those drown as well, and just save the deserving?


Re the migrants - Border Force and the Government actually need to do something. They shouldn’t be relying on the RNLI. But we won’t let people drown. That’s the job

And if we are going to debate this - how about starting a thread and not on one regarding Penlee and folks who gave their lives for an idiot captain and a greedy owner

To be fair, CJ started it in the OP and now you've perpetuated it!

Remember people like them the next time someone suggests the RNLI shouldn't be picking up people from small boats in the Channel.

No , we didn’t. We both tried to address the issue.
Feel free to raise a separate thread to debate

[Count Steer]

No , we didn’t. We both tried to address the issue.
Feel free to raise a separate thread to debate.....

.....in the Current Affairs, Politics etc section.