136. Lawrie Grove: For the Sake of William, George and Billy

On New Year’s Day, 1916, Horton and Port Eynon lifeboat volunteers paid a heavy price after braving conditions some called the worst in living memory

When a steamer ran aground near Pennard Cliffs on the Glamorgan coast, Horton and Port Eynon volunteers launched their rowing lifeboat into the teeth of a gale. Unable to reach the steamer due to the conditions, the lifeboat – Janet – began to head back. But it was too late. The lifeboat capsized twice. And after she was righted for the second time, three crew members were missing.

Without oars, and drifting towards Mumbles, all the crew could do was huddle in the bottom of the lifeboat and hope. The grandfather and great-grandfather of the current lifeboat station’s Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, Lawrie Grove, were on the Janet that day. In this episode – dedicated to William Eynon, George Harry and Billy Gibbs – Lawrie recounts what happened.

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI   

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls   

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200