Crowds Gallery

RNLI lifeboat Arab I at the quay, Padstow, Cornwall. 1883-1900

The lifeboat Arab I under sail off the quay at Padstow with the railway yards in the background. The lifeboat has a full compliment of women and children passengers with a good sized crowd of onlookers on the quay. It is noticeable that the crew of the Lifeboat are wearing cork life jackets, however, the passengers are not. RNLI Arab I (34 foot x 8 foot) was a gift from Mr R.A.B. Preston who had been saved from his yacht Arab. She was wrecked on 11th April 1900, without any loss of crew, while assisting the Lowestoft trawler Peace and Plenty. The steam lifeboat, James Stevens No 4, was also lost on the same night, together with eight members of her crew. Three crew members of the Peace and Plenty also lost their lives. Photographer: Unknown

© From the collection of the RIC

Procession on Bay Tree Hill, Liskeard, Cornwall. 6th July 1893

The procession is in celebration of the marriage of the Duke of York (future King George V) to Princess Mary. The photograph is taken from Bay Tree Hill looking down to the procession emerging from Fore Street, with E. Moon's Warehouse and Sketchley Dye Works on the corners. The surname of the young man dressed as a 18th century gentleman on a pony is Preston. Two boys on ponies are dressed like South African farmers (Boers) wearing slouch hats and ammunition bandoleers across their shoulders. Photographer: Probably Robert H. Preston

© From the collection of the RIC