A glimpse of St Ives Lifeboat Day in RNLI 200, with the usual events plus the first live performance of an award-winning poem recently set to music in a fundraising project for St Ives RNLI which was sponsored by John Harry & Son.

From the St Ives Times & Echo : Lifelong schoolfriends and St Ives ‘maids’ Katrina Geraghty and Janet Mitchell have spent the past few months working on a fundraising project for St Ives RNLI. In 1975 Janet’s mother, Pat Hodge wrote a poem (below) called ‘The Ballad of the St Ives Lifeboat – John and Sarah Eliza Stych’ which describes the tragedy on 23 January 1939 when all the crew were lost, bar one survivor, William Freeman. Pat’s spiritual poem went on to win a national poetry competition.

PLUNGED INTO MOURNING

In this year of the 85th anniversary of the St Ives Lifeboat disaster, when Janet shared a video of her mother’s poem online read by Brian Stevens, Katrina asked permission to set it to music. Katrina comments: ‘‘The lifeboat disaster in January 1939 affected every St Ives family. I clearly remember my mother, who was 17 at the time, describing the events of that terrible night and the next day, when the town was suddenly plunged into mourning. Mum spent the next day visiting relatives who had lost loved ones, as did many St Ives people. She would often give accounts of how the repercussions of the disaster continued to be felt in the town for many years to come.’’

Janet, who has given unbounded support to this project, is immensely proud of her mother’s writing and commented: ‘‘Katrina’s music has brought the poem to life. Every time I hear it, I feel moved.’’

Katrina adds: ‘‘I also find Pat’s poem very beautiful and deeply moving, and it lends itself so easily to song. I have tried to create a piece which captures the essence of ballad writing (i.e. the telling of a story) with a memorable tune and a strong Celtic feel. There is also a passing reference to the well-known hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save and a section of ‘Baroque-style’ recitative. When time and space allow, I plan to develop the song further to include a string quartet.

‘‘I have dedicated this song to the brave men and women who serve, or have served, in our wonderful RNLI.’’

The song, which bears the same name as the poem, had its first public performance at St Ives Lifeboat Day on Thursday 15 August. Recorded professionally, the CD is on sale (£5) from the lifeboat shop at West Pier.

Katrina and Janet are grateful to Aspects Holidays (donated £2,000 to RNLI St Ives), The Beeches Nursing Home, Hayle and Pysk of Falmouth for their sponsorship and support. All proceeds raised will benefit the Royal National Lifeboat Institution..


THE BALLAD OF THE St IVES LIFEBOAT JOHN AND SARAH ELIZA STYCH

‘Twas 1939 on a wild winter’s night
when the maroons went off and began the fight.
Wild the weather and brave the crew
Launchers, women and children too.
"Tis wicked weather Cap'n, don't 'ee go"
But the call had come and go they'd go.
The sea it raged and the wind it roared
And those at home prayed to the Lord.

Morning broke on a restless town.
Word went out the boat had gone down
Then came the news, one man found
Please God that all were safe and sound
But not to be, the rest had drowned !
Families wept, wives were numbed
Fathers, brothers, friends and sons
Gone, gone.

All were lost on that terrible night
Hard they'd fought and lost the fight.
The wreck washed up on the eastern shore
Here's one lifeboat would sail no more.
Tradition ruled such boats must burn
No eye was dry as she took her turn.

And as long as there are lives to save
and souls to snatch from a watery grave
Then there'll be men who'll put to sea
Whatever the outcome is destined to be.
And years roll by, boys are men
New crews fill new boats again.
And ever will we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

Written by PAT HODGE (1936 - 2017)

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