Looking down on us now.

Dudley Penrose 1939-2017

The service provided by Penlee lifeboat station relies almost entirely on the unstinting support of volunteers - from the sea-going crew who see all the action to lifeboat station crew, to tea-making, cake-baking, stall-manning volunteers. So, it was particularly sad this morning to learn of the deaths of two outstanding of its most loyal and long-standing supporters:

"It truly is a very sad day for Penlee Lifeboat Station - their flag is flying at half mast for long-serving Head Launcher, Dudley Penrose, who passed away earlier today as well as long-serving supporter, Binkie Wallen.

Shipwright Dudley, a Mousehole man born and bred, joined the Penlee Lifeboat Shore Crew at the age of 17yrs. He was a 'runner', who at the sound of the maroon would run from his home on Raginnis Hill, Mousehole to the lifeboat station at Penlee Point to assist with the launching process.

In 1970 he became Head Launcher and served 47 years with the RNLI, retiring in 1983 when the lifeboat moved to Newlyn. Dudley loved the RNLI and everything about it - he was a loyal, dedicated, hard working, well respected volunteer, who was much loved by all at Penlee - in Dudley's words, 'The RNLI was my life, the lifeboat always came first'.

Our thoughts are with his daughter Linda (wife of Ajax skipper Alan Dwan) and the family. Another loyal member of our lifeboat family has crossed the bar."

Get the full picture from the Penlee RNLI lifeboat page on Facebook.