Recorded by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band conducted by Ian Porthouse at the 2008 Christmas Concert
Commissioned by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band.
Commemorates the Penlee disaster of 19th December 1981 when eight crew members of the Solomon Browns Lifeboat and eight members of the Union Star lost their lives.
On the score Simon has written, “To some, the tragic story of the Penlee lifeboat, the Solomon Browne, needs no introduction and to some the pain felt is still very much a reality. I was brought up in the full knowledge of the story having been born just a few weeks before the fateful night. This commission allows me the opportunity to pay musical homage to the bravery of the souls involved. Penlee is the result of my feelings regarding the event and is dedicated to all those who lost their lives in Cornwall’s treacherous waters, including the volunteers on the lifeboat and the crew and passengers of the Union Star.”
The bell used in the first performance was kindly loaned by the RNLI and was from the present Penlee Lifeboat, the “Ivan Ellen”.
The first public performance was in 2008 by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band conducted by Ian Porthouse.
Used as a contest test piece including:
2011: Belgian Nationals (Third Division)
2011: North American Championships (Second Section)
2013: National Championship of Great Britain (Third Section Final)
2010: Swiss National Championships (Second Division)
2014: West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Second Section)
2017: National Youth Brass Band Championships – Championship Section
2017: Australian Championships (B Grade)
2019: New Zealand National Championships (C Grade)