Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song

Subject: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,Dave G
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 11:04 AM

As the thirtieth anniversary of the loss of the Solomon Browne approaches (Monday 19th December) I have found myself playing Seth Lakemans song about the disaster. Are there any other songs/tunes that spring to mind on the topic of sea rescues/disasters?

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,Square The Circle
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 07:39 AM

The recently departed Dave Totterdell wrote a superb song about the disaster, Edwin of Penlee and of course Kimbers Men have recorded another really good song about it, Don't take the Heroes.

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: Silas
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 07:50 AM

Well, I wrote one....

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: JohnDun
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 10:28 AM

This song tells the story...

Mary Stanford of Rye

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: JohnDun
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 10:37 AM

...and here's one I do

Penlee Lifeboat

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: peregrina
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 10:38 AM

Whitby--Grace Darling. Songs by Stan Graham and Anna Shannon;

also Whitby life boat rescue song by Wendy Arrowsmith--The Visitor:
http://www.yorkshirefolksong.net/song_database/Lifeboat/The_Visitor.147.aspx

Seaham harbour tragedy song (1962) by Ed Pickford

here


Three Score and Ten-Hull and Grimsby-----see Yorkshire Garland site
here

Sept ans sur mer -- sung by Elita, Mary and Ella Hofpauir on Smithsonian Folkways CD, A Treasury of Library of Congress
Field Recordings

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 19 Dec 21 - 02:33 AM

Today is the fortieth anniversary.

Lakeman said he could remember his father Geoff covering the story as a journalist.

Lakeman said: "When I was working on my album in December 2006 it was the 25th anniversary of the Penlee lifeboat disaster, which inspired Solomon Browne."

"The song is about the bravery and courage of those eight volunteer lifeboatmen who went to sea and lost their lives."

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Dec 21 - 03:19 PM

"Remember December '59 by Peggy Seeger re the Lifeboat "Mona".

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 19 Dec 21 - 04:53 PM

Lifeboats have ben involved in many dramatic - and often tragic - rescues!

Mrs Kate White sang The Story of Grace Darling in 1971 on the BBC Folk on 2 album Northumbrian Folk. Mainly Norfolk

Dave Cousins (of The Strawbs) and Brian Willoughby sang Dave's song Grace Darling on their 1979 album Old School Records. Mainly Norfolk

Kimber's Men "The Robert Whitworth" 1881 The true story of an RNLI Lifeboat at Whitby which had to be hauled through snowdrifts seven feet deep, to aid six men who abandoned a sinking Whitby brig, "The Visitor" in Robin Hoods Bay, Yorkshire, England. A great chorus! Performed in aid of the RNLI on their CD "See You When The Sun Goes Down". Dave (the ancient mariner)

Tom & Barbara Brown "Louisa's Journey" tells a similiar story of how because it was impossible to launch "Louisa" the Lynmouth (Devon) Lifeboat at its home port because of a force 8 gale, it was towed 14 miles cross-country to launch from the more sheltered harbour of Porlock. 1899. Dave Cousins (of The Strawbs) and Brian Willoughby sang Dave's song Grace Darling on their 1979 album Old School Records. Dave Bryant

The Bothy Folk Club in Southport put on a show Cork Jackets and Drill telling the story, through original songs and narration, of the 1886 Southport lifeboat disaster, which claimed the lives of almost all the crew members of the Southport and St Annes lifeboats.

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 20 Dec 21 - 09:27 AM

BBC Radio 4 2.15pm - 3.00pm Monday 20 December 2021

Solomon Browne; The story of the Penlee lifeboat

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 20 Dec 21 - 10:18 AM

Calm is the Sea performed by Mousehole Male Voice Choir

Still is the Sea

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Dec 21 - 12:40 PM

thankyou

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Dec 21 - 11:21 AM

I composed one about the sinking of the tall ship "Bounty" and the rescue of most of her crew in 2013: Click here!

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 22 Dec 21 - 01:30 PM

People in Cornwall are marking 40 years since the Penlee lifeboat disaster. The tragedy at sea saw 16 people lose their lives on 19 December 1981. The eight crew of the Solomon Browne lifeboat, based near Penzance, perished when called out to help the stricken cargo vessel Union Star, whose entire crew and on-board passengers also died.

Tributes will include the village of Mousehole's Christmas lights being switched off, with a single cross on an island off the harbour remaining lit. At the former Penlee lifeboat house - which was shut after the disaster and the RNLI's replacement vessel located at nearby Newlyn harbour - the RNLI flag has been at half-mast; and crosses, wreaths and flowers left in tribute. People in the village have also been asked to put candles in their front window to create a "wave of light" through the village, down to the harbour.

The Solomon Browne lifeboat, based at Penlee, near Mousehole, set off in horrendous conditions and hurricane-force winds after the alarm was raised. Waves of about 60ft (18m) tall confronted the lifeboat crew as they headed to the Union Star, which was being driven towards rocks after its engines failed. The lifeboatmen made multiple attempts to pull alongside the vessel before being overwhelmed by the conditions. A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was unable to lift any of the eight from Union Star, and both boats were wrecked with no survivors.

The loss of the crew of the Penlee lifeboat was a tremendous blow to the small local community, just as the loss of the crew of the Longhope lifeboat had been in 1969. All eight crew died when the Longhope lifeboat capsized on 17 March, 1969, after setting out late in the evening from Hoy in Orkney, to help the Liberian cargo ship Irene. The TGB set off in conditions of near-zero visibility. A Force 9 gale, coupled with a spring tide, led to waves 60ft (18m) high. The lifeboat is believed to have been overturned by a freak wave, possibly 100ft (30.5m) high. The loss of TGB led to the development of self-righting lifeboats.

Sadly, even more lifeboatmen lost their lives in the Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster. Commonly known as the Mexico disaster, it occurred on the evening of the 9th December 1886. In all, 27 lifeboat men lost their lives trying to save the crew of the German barque called the Mexico. 14 of the 16 crew members aboard the Southport Lifeboat, Eliza Fernley, drowned along with all 13 of the St Anne's Lifeboat, Laura Janet. The 12 crew of the Mexico were eventually rescued by the Lytham Lifeoat, Charles Biggs.

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 25 Dec 21 - 05:46 AM

From Felipa; Another Christmas tragedy THE KINGSTOWN DISASTER
by Johnny McEvoy recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4S96bsaiQ8

It was Christmas Eve in eighteen ninety-five
The biggest storm in years was blowing wild
Never had we seen it’s like before
As we drifted helpless towards the Kingstown shore

With burning eyes, we stared into the night
I must admit it was a wonderous sight
The Kingstown lifeboat drawing up abeam
Our eyes could not believe the sight we’d seen

Then through the night there came a mighty roar
A towering wave of twenty feet or more
Came crashing down upon the men below
Such fear and terror you could never know

Alex Williams was the cockswain’s name
His likes I know we’ll never see again
Fifteen men and boys were lost that night
Gone to their reward before daylight

Saint Stephen’s day they laid them in their grave
Wives and mothers prayed their souls to save
And we stood by just glad to be alive
That Christmas time in eighteen ninety-five.

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 25 Dec 21 - 04:25 PM

Kingstown Aftermath

On Christmas Day, 25 December, crowds watched and prayed as the Palme was being broken by the gales. There was widespread public and press interest. On St. Stephen's Day 26 December, the Irish Lights steamer Tearaght under Captain McCombie managed to reach the Palme and rescue all twenty on board. In addition, they rescued the ship's cat. By then eight bodies of the lifeboat men had been recovered. In time, all fifteen bodies were found.

The funeral was the largest seen in Dún Laoghaire. Flags were lowered in all European ports. All fifteen were buried together in Deans Grange Cemetery. A fund was raised to support their dependents. There were donations from the ship's owners in Finland and from 'the people of Russia'. There is a plaque on the old lifeboat station wall and a granite memorial. Every year the event is remembered. At noon every Christmas Eve there is a procession along the East Pier, led by a piper. A short service is then held. Wikipedia

24 December 2021 During a service to the brig Ellen in an easterly gale on 28 December 1821, the lifeboat with 14 crew members onboard, was swamped and the crew were washed out of the lifeboat with four people losing their lives; Hugh Byrne, Thomas Fitzsimons, John Archbold and Thomas Grimes. On Christmas Eve in 1895, the number two lifeboat was capsized in gale force winds while proceeding to the assistance of the SS Palme of Finland that had run aground off Blackrock. All 15 crew members onboard drowned.

During today’s ceremony, wreaths were placed by the lifeboat crew at sea off the East Pier in memory of all lives lost at sea. The Covid-19 compliant ceremony beside the lighthouse, featured musician William Byrne performing The Ballad of the Palme and Sports broadcaster Des Cahill reading a newspaper account of the disaster, which was published at the time. An ecumenical blessing was given by Reverends Bruce Hayes and Fr. Padraig Gleeson before a lament was played by piper Paul McNally. There was a joint guard of honour provided by representatives from the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit and Civil Defence.

Subject: RE: Solomon Browne: lifeboat/sea rescue song
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 25 Dec 21 - 05:37 PM

Ballad of Lifeboat 954

Nine five four, built on Watson’s lines,
She lay inside these walls, it’s here she served her time.
Standing ready to assist those in peril on the seas,
Although her house stands empty now, I see her in my dreams,
I see her in my dreams.

Timber-built in the sixties, named the Solomon Browne,
A hundred and twenty horse power, she made nine knots per hour.
She launched in weather calm and rough, in sun and fog and rain,
She made the slipway for to roar, and she caused the winch to strain.

See the Christmas lights twinkle in the dawn,
There’s a red sky overhead, a fierce impending storm.
The Union Star, her maiden voyage, it’s down the channel she must go,
With passengers and crew on board and it’s coming on to blow,
It’s coming on to blow.

Nine five four, built on Watson’s lines,
She lay inside these walls, it’s here she served her time.
Standing ready to assist those in peril on the seas,
Although her house stands empty now, I see her in my dreams,
I see her in my dreams.

At six o’clock that night, the Union’s engines failed,
She’s lying ahull, and she’s riding out the gale.
Salt water in her fuel tanks, waves breaking on her beam,
Storm force winds just west of south, the worst they’d ever seen.

The helicopter calls to the vessel in distress,
R eight zero to Union Star, it's too difficult for us.
The winchmen cannot land on deck, no hope of rescue from the sky,
But hold on on the Union Star, for the lifeboat's standing by,
The lifeboat's standing by.

Nine five four, built on Watson’s lines,
She lay inside these walls, it’s here she served her time.
Standing ready to assist those in peril on the seas,
Although her house stands empty now, I see her in my dreams,
I see her in my dreams.

This is Penlee lifeboat calling Union Star:
We understand you've had trouble with the chopper,
The Union Star she’s anchored now, the seas break mountains high,
The lifeboat comes around again for another try.

The pilot hovers low, he sees the Solomon Browne,
Nearly breaks her back as on the Union’s deck she’s thrown
Bears witness to her bravery as she takes off four,
Then sees her standing out to sea, so close to Kernow shore,
So close to Kernow shore.

Nine five four, built on Watson’s lines,
She lay inside these walls, it’s here she served her time.
Standing ready to assist those in peril on the seas,
Although her house stands empty now, I see her in my dreams,
I see her in my dreams.

Outside a shrieking gale, the weather’s closing in,
There’s matchwood on the shore, there’s diesel on the wind,
There’s friends and family listening not knowing if she’s there,
R eight zero to Penlee lifeboat, if you read me fire a flare,
If you read me fire a flare.

Hold them in your hearts, those men who made you proud.
Let your tears fall and say their names out loud,
Though years pass by like falling leaves and many things have changed,
It still feels like yesterday, you’ll miss them just the same.
You’ll miss them just the same.

Nine five four, built on Watson’s lines,
She lay inside these walls, it’s here she served her time.
Standing ready to assist those in peril on the seas,
Although her house stands empty now, I see her in my dreams,
I see her in my dreams.