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The final resting place of four Spanish sailors who perished after their 640-tonne Spanish coaster - the Juan Ferrer - ran aground on the rocks of Boscawen Point on October 23, 1963 has finally been marked with a memorial stone.
Only four of the 15 crew survived the tragedy after a south-westerly gale and poor visibility got them into trouble near Porthcurno. The radio was dead, the ships lifeboats were out of action and the Juan Ferrer, fatally gashed by the rocks, was sinking fast. Three of the crew knelt on the deck praying for help, the screams of the dying crew rang in the captain’s ears. They underlined his desperation. For he knew that he, too, must surely die before that terrible night was over. But Captain Luis Ruiz lived because of the volunteer crew of the Solomon Browne lifeboat. And afterwards he was able to explain what had made him cling to his life that night when his ship hit rocks off the Cornish Coast.
Eleven members of the stricken vessel's crew did not live to tell the tale of what happened next. Only four - including the 32-year old captain - could recount the desperate battle against a very angry sea. The survivors were taken to Newlyn Fishermen's Mission and, after being treated at West Cornwall Hospital, were flown back to Spain from London.
Seven recovered bodies of the sailors were transported back to Spain on the Juan Ferrer's sister coaster, but the remaining four that were found afterwards were buried in the Roman Catholic section of Penzance Cemetery. Manuel Corral Castiñera, 29, Carlos Coello De Castro, 31, Manuel Esperante Esperante, 41, and Domingo Vidal Blanco, 30 - whose son Domingo was only 12 months old at the time – lay in that unmarked grave until the memorial was recently bought and installed with the funds raised.
The unmarked grave was found whilst the new Penlee Lifeboat History book 'Service Not Self' was being researched by the Penlee Lifeboat Press & Heritage Officers, Elaine Trethowan and Martin Brockman. Elaine's father, 83-year-old Nim Bawden, and his friend Malvin McClary, were members of the Solomon Browne lifeboat crew from Penlee, who went to the sailors’ aid on that fateful night.
The only surviving member of the Juan Ferrer crew, 71-year-old Benito Mayo Núñez, travelled back to Cornwall to see the memorial stone for himself and to pay his respects. The dedication and blessing of the Juan Ferrer memorial stone took place on Saturday 8 July at Penzance Cemetery. Followed on Sunday 9 July with a visit to the wreck site onboard the Penlee all-weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen. A blessing carried out by the Penlee Lifeboat Chaplain, Julyan Drew, and Mr Nunez and his family placed a wreath in memory of those who perished at Boscawen Point.
RNLI Penlee Press Officer Elaine Trethowan said: 'It has been a very emotional journey. Two communities have been pulled together through a tragic event in 1963 - situations like this really do show the Internet and Facebook at its best - the reaction has been brilliant and we are so grateful for all the donations.’‘For my dad, who is now 83, and Malvin McClary, who were both part of the Solomon Browne crew that night, it's a reminder of the tragic event. It's touching to think that after all this time there are still people who remember and want to do something for those caught up in the tragedy.’
The Penlee Heritage team would like to thank all of those who helped put this weekend together, particularly a huge thank you to Longrock memorials for helping us place the memorial stone.
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