A Sad Farewell to Former Coxswain/ Mechanic Peter Mitchell
A Sad Farewell to Former Coxswain/ Mechanic Peter Mitchell
Lifeboats News Release
It is with great sadness that all at The Lizard RNLI Lifeboat Station and indeed The Lizard village are mourning the loss of our friend and former Coxswain/Mechanic Peter "Pan" Mitchell who has sadly passed away.
Peter had a very long, loyal and distinguished career with the RNLI which began with him taking up the role of a travelling RNLI mechanic. With the lifeboat station still located at Polpeor - The Lizard Point, Peter returned to the village and took on the position of Mechanic succeeding Maurice Stephens during the late 1950's.
Peter saw the lifeboat relocate to her new station and current home at Kilcobben Cove in 1961 and became Coxswain/Mechanic following the retirement of Maurice "Bunny" Legge in 1976. A position he held until his own retirement on the 5th June 1988 when he handed over the Coxswain reigns to Philip Burgess.
Amongst his many heroic services Peter was awarded the Bronze medal of the institution in recognition of the courage and high standard of seamanship displayed by him when The Lizard lifeboat rescued the crew of three and saved the yacht "Bass" which had lost her rudder in a south westerly near gale and a rough sea on the 3rd September 1984. Peter and his crew also launched on the night of the 19th December 1981 when the crew of the Penlee Lifeboat and those on board the stricken coaster "Union Star" were all so tragically lost.
Our thoughts are with Peter's family and friends at this very sad time and our station flag flies at half mast in his memory.
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
