The Orkney Image Library
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A Dougie Cooper picture, from 1969. The Irene, beached at Grimness.
Picture added on 05 April 2006
Can anyone tell me the date of the stranding?? Thanx
Added by Graeme Spence on 08 April 2007
17 March 1969.
Added by Allan Besant on 08 April 2007
The Longhope Lifeboat was lost attending the distress call from the IRENE. The lifeboat was lost on the 17th March 1969.
Added by Alastair on 08 April 2007
It was the night of 17th March 1969.
Added by Russ B. on 08 April 2007
Thank you, very helpfull.
Added by Graeme Spence on 10 April 2007
August 1972. On holiday in Scotland and Orkney. The "Irene" was somewhat in one piece, except for a huge hole on the seaward side. The propeller was in still in-situ. There was a rope dangling over the side and my wife and I, then in our twenties climbed the rope and got on board. Somewhere in the archives I likely have transparency photos. We didn't have a flashlight/torch so exploring below decks was not an option. Anything remotely souvenir worthy had been stripped from the bridge area. I did think about the scrap value of the bronze propeller, but with only a Swiss Army knife and a Ford Escort van, removal and transport would have been a problem. RIP the brave crew of the Lifeboat, your service was beyond reproach.
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Added by Peter Lawford on 03 July 2017
South Ronaldsay
