Mousehole AFC stand named for Solomon Browne crew anniversary

The stand has been named 'Solomon Browne' after the lifeboat that attempted to save eight men trapped at sea.

Sixteen people died in the disaster off the coast of Cornwall, including eight sailors from the imperilled Danish ship 'MV Union Star' and eight lifeboat volunteers on RNLB Solomon Browne.

The new stand opened at Mousehole AFC, a small football club near Mousehole, in Cornwall, on Saturday.

The sons of a crewmember of the Solomon Browne, who died in the tragedy, opened the stand in Paul, near Mousehole, on Saturday.

Kevin and Neil Brockman, sons of Solomon Browne Lifeboatman Nigel Brockman were there to open the stand.

Kevin, who played hundreds of games for the club, as did his dad, said: "It's absolutely amazing, my dad would be doing somersaults on the moon if he was still here now".

The chairman of Mousehole AFC said the crew would be "remembered forever".

The stand was opened by Kevin and Neil Brockman Picture: Penlee RNLI

The lifeboat had been called out to assist in the rescue after a sea king rescue helicopter had proven unable to rescue anyone from the stranded vessel.

Despite managing to get four people off the stranded ship, both the Union Star and the Solomon Browne were lost at sea.

In 60ft waves and hurricane force winds, the eight lifeboat crew tried to get alongside, but both boats were overwhelmed and there were no survivors.

Lt Cdr Smith USN, the pilot of the rescue helicopter, said later that the efforts of the lifeboat crew were a tremendous act of courage.

He said: "The greatest act of courage that I have ever seen, and am ever likely to see, was the penultimate courage.

"They were truly the bravest eight men I've ever seen, who were also totally dedicated to upholding the highest standards of the RNLI."

Many Penlee Lifeboat members were there to see the stand opened Picture: Penlee RNLI

Mousehole AFC has close ties to the Penlee lifeboat, as many of those who died lived in the village.

Deryk Heywood, chairman Mousehole AFC told the BBC: "It's really special for the community because we've always had this close association, Mousehole Football Club with the Penlee lifeboat, we want to keep that going.

"Naming [the stand] the Solomon Browne stand is in honour of the boat that was lost. There's no words that can describe the act of bravery, they're immortal, they'll be remembered forever."

Penlee RNLI it as a "very poignant and proud moment for all present," adding: "A wonderful tribute to the eight brave and courageous crew of the Solomon Browne lifeboat who gave their all on December 19, 1981."