|
Just three weeks after several hundred people packed Newlyn harbour for
the formal presentation of the new £2-million Penlee lifeboat, another
gathering has taken place - to formally unveil state of the art boarding
facilities.
The late Harold Lane Cox's £250,000 legacy to the RNLI has paid
for the new pontoon berth, security gates and 35 metre ramp to the lifeboat
- the Ivan Ellen - and on Tuesday a plaque was unveiled to mark the Truro
man's contribution.
A keen supporter of the RNLI, Mr Lane Cox had a special respect for Penlee
in the wake of the December 1981 tragedy which claimed the lives of the
entire crew of the Solomon Browne when they were going to the aid of the
coaster, Union Star, in hurricane conditions.
The new pontoon facility means that the Penlee crew no longer have to
climb into a punt in order to board the Ivan Ellen, which was recently
presented to Penlee by the son of brush salesman, Ivan leech, who left
a large portion of his family's £10-million fortune to the lifeboat
charity.
Penlee lifeboat coxswain, Neil Brockman of Mousehole said on Tuesday:
"These excellent new facilities have brought us up to the 21st century.
"It means that we can walk straight aboard rather than spend about
five minutes getting into a punt and hauling ourselves out with the use
of a rope."
The plaque unveiling was performed by Clyde and Margaret Mitchell, friends
of the late Mr Cox, and before the ceremony took place they were able
to enjoy a trip in Mount's Bay aboard the lifeboat.
Article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
 |
