Remembering the St Ives Lifeboat disaster
Many communities carry the memory of a local tragedy which echoes down the generations. On a national scale, we might think of Aberfan or Hillsborough. In St Ives, the lifeboat disaster of 1939 will never be forgotten.
On the night of 23rd January 1939, the lifeboat, John and Sara Eliza Stych, was launched just before 2am to go to the aid of a stricken vessel near Cape Cornwall. Five hours later came the devastating news that the lifeboat had been wrecked on the rocks at Godrevy Lighthouse, and that of its eight crew, William Freeman was the sole survivor.
A poem and a song
A generation later, in 1975, local lady Patricia Hodge wrote a poem to commemorate the disaster, which has become much loved in the town.
Now, nearly 50 years on, the poems has been set to music and was performed for the first time on St Ives Lifeboat Day on 15th August.
I met composer Katrina Geraghty, who grew up in St Ives, and she told me how the poem became a song. Katrina had known of the poem for several years, but it was only in January of this year, when her friend Janet Mitchell – Pat’s daughter – sent a video commemorating the 85th anniversary of the St Ives lifeboat disaster, that the idea of writing a song based on the idea was planted.
How the song was written
Katrina says that the disaster is a very significant event in the town’s history. Every St Ives family was affected, one way or another, and its repercussions were felt down the years. She feels that Patricia’s spiritual poem captures perfectly the terror of that night and the fallout in the days that followed. It also carries much hope for the future, and for the generations to come, and recognises humbly and thankfully the bravery and dedication of all those who serve, or have served, in the RNLI.
She tried to create a song which captures the essence of ballad writing, ie, the telling of the story, which also has a strong Celtic feel, and a memorable tune which people can sing to, if they wish to do so.
When time and space allow, she is planning to develop the song further to include a string quartet, and already have the players lined up, keen to perform.
Reactions to the song
Janet, who has known Katrina since their schooldays in St Ives, is immensely proud of her late mother’s poem, which won a national competition. She says Katrina’s music has brought the poem to life, and every time she listens to it, she feels moved.”
Andy Smith, curator of St Ives Museum, agrees that the song is special. The first time he played it, he was at the museum, and he opened the door and looked out at the waves – and thought about the lifeboat.
The museum has a display about the disaster, with a reading of the poem by former curator Brian Stevens available to listen to, but Andy particularly wanted this musical version, and he hopes by next year to run it, with the film the museum has about the disaster.
Suzanne Tanner, fundraising manager of the RNLI in St Ives, says the memory of the men who were lost needs to be kept alive for the generations to come. She was delighted that Katrina san the song on Lifeboat Day, especially as this year is the 200th anniversary of the RNLI.
The Ballad of the St Ives Lifeboat – John and Sara Eliza Stych is available as a CD and a download.