A model of the Hera will be presented by Kevin Patience for permanent display in Veryan church on Sunday 24 November after the service at 11 am. It’ll be a fitting addition to the church in the 110 year anniversary of the tragic events on the night of 31 January 1914.

The four masted sailing ship Hera ran aground off Gull Rock close to the coast at Nare Head on the night of the 31 January. Only five of her crew of 24 survived. They were rescued by the Falmouth lifeboat, Bob Newbon, after desperately clinging to one of the spars of the sinking ship in freezing temperatures into the early hours of the morning.

Kevin Patience, author of the book ‘Hera – A Cornish Shipwreck Tragedy’, made the model. He gave a splendid talk at the beginning of the year. He recounted Hera’s story and how the wreck was eventually located by the RAF St Mawgan Sub Aqua Club. With a single diagram to work on they launched a boat from Pendower beach and headed out to gull rock, eventually finding what they were looking for.

It has been a busy year of anniversary celebrations.

In February there was a special memorial service.

Among those who attended the memorial service was the great grandson of the lifeboat cox that night. And letters were read out from relatives of the survivors. 

In July a wreath laying took place as part of the National Coastwatch Institution’s (NCI) 30th anniversary celebrations.

After the presentation on the 25 November there will be time to chat over tea and coffee.