And that they were, leaves a bit of a lump in the throat doesn't it mate...

Yes, at the going down of the sun and in the morning Fred; it's not always the way though.

It is 30 years tomorrow, December 19, 1981 in darkness, since the Solomon Browne was lost. The Solomon Browne was an RNLI lifeboat stationed on Penlee Point at a small Cornish village just a few miles down the coast (west) from me, a village called Mousehole.

They went to the aid of a stricken freighter called the Union Star which had gone on the rocks in the most horrendous conditions.

They were a crew of 8 brave Cornishmen; they took four of the crew from the freighter but whilst attempting to take off the four that remained, their wooden vessel was dashed against the hull of the Union Star and was sunk.

Depite lengthy operations to find and save them, all were lost, together with the remaining four crew from the Union Star.

These guys, unpaid experienced RNLI professionals and volunteers, had put to sea, in the dark, in the face of a full-blown force 12 hurricane with winds in excess of 100mph ~ braving towering waves more than 60 feet high! 

One of these men, some of them fathers with wives and children, had only switched on the village's Christmas lights just 2 days earlier!

The pilot of the Search and Rescue Sea King helicopter, a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, who flew in the vain attempt to find and save them said: 

'They were the bravest men I have ever seen!'  

A big thank you for that Kevin, the memories just came flooding back, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, great to see they all got back safely, hope your Christmas is a good one, cheers.

                 What great position you have for your home!

All I want for Christmas is a jolly roger (ette)... all she wants is for it to last longer than 3 minutes... I'm currently in training.... give me a minute please....

E the G :0