The Solomon Browne Hall is named in memory of the crew of the Solomon Browne lifeboat who lost their lives in December 1981 when trying to rescue the passengers and crew of the
Union Star.

The Solomon Browne lifeboat arrived in Mousehole for her naming ceremony in September 1960. She was a state-of-the-art Watson Class, 47’ long and costing the then-considerable sum of £35,500, most of which was donated by a Miss Lydia Browne to commemorate her father Solomon, a gentleman farmer from Landrake.

Over the years the Solomon Browne lifeboat was involved in many rescues.

On the night of 19th December 1981, the “Solomon Browne’s” crew were put on standby as the coaster “Union Star” had reported an engine breakdown on her maiden voyage. She was launched into ferocious seas to make her way to the coaster, which was drifting just to the west of Tater Dhu lighthouse. A helicopter had been on scene for some time but had been unable to rescue the crew of five or the captain’s wife and two teenage stepdaughters due to the storm-force winds and huge waves which threatened to entangle her rotors with the ship’s mast. A salvage tug had also arrived but could offer no assistance.

By the time the “Solomon Browne” reached the scene after a dreadful voyage, the “Union Star” was only a few hundred yards from the cliffs. The waves were rising to as much as 40-50’, breaking, combining with the backwash from the shore, leaving deep troughs in which uncharted rocks might appear. Despite this Trevelyan Richards did not hesitate to engage the coaster, coming alongside time after time, trying to cajole the terrified crew to come across to the lifeboat, in vain. As the two vessels neared the shore the “Union Star’s” anchor parted, and she turned broadside to the waves. Attempting to come alongside the “Solomon Browne” was picked up and thrown onto the coaster’s hatches, clear of the water. As she rolled back into the sea the observers on the helicopter expected her to founder, or at least to break off operations, but instead watched in wonder as she immediately closed in for yet another rescue attempt.

When just 50 yards from the rocks the lifeboat radioed in that she had taken off four survivors, male and female, adding: “…There’s two left on board” before communications ceased. The helicopter having already left, no-one saw what happened next, but the “Union Star” shortly hit the shore and tipped over on her back, while the “Solomon Browne” was overcome and broken to fragments. Along with the eight lives from the “Union Star” the eight volunteer crew from Mousehole were all lost. They were:

Coxswain Trevelyan Richards, 56; mechanic Stephen Madron, 35; assistant mechanic Nigel Brockman,43; crewmen John Blewett,43; Charlie Greenhaugh, 46; Barrie Torrie, 33; Kevin Smith, 23; and Gary Wallis, 22.

Their names are commemorated in several places in Mousehole, and are read out every year in the lifeboat service in Mousehole harbour, and will never be forgotten. The RNLI awarded a
posthumous Gold Medal to Trevelyan Richards and Bronze Medals to the crew.
The loss of the “Solomon Browne” and her heroic final voyage captured the imagination of the nation, inspiring poets and painters, sculptors and composers, raising awareness of the magnificent and still dangerous work carried out by volunteers of the RNLI, and is still recalled by the media on every significant anniversary. However, Mousehole still feels the pain, loss and sadness of that shocking event, though coupled with an enormous sense of pride and respect for what her sons achieved on the “Solomon Browne”.

The Hall is proud to be named after the Solomon Browne lifeboat and we remain focussed on providing help and support to our local community.