English hearts recalled

Wed 9 Jul 2014

Thomas Kew by the Eliza Adams memorial

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The station was delighted to receive a donation for the Shannon Appeal from Victor and Sarah Pierce of the Isle of Arran. Mr Pierce's great grandfather was Captain Thomas Kew, a Wells lifeboatman and one of the two survivors of the Eliza Adams disaster in 1880 when the Wells lifeboat capsized on service with the loss of 11 lives.

Mr Pierce's mother lived for a time with Thomas and his wife Louisa in Staithe Street when she was a girl. She passed away recently aged 98 and the donation has been made from her bequest. Her ashes are to be interred in Wells churchyard later this month.

Thomas Kew was responsible for fund-raising for the memorial for the lifeboatmen lost in the disaster and it is wonderful that, over a century later, his grand-daughter and great grand-children have been able to contribute towards the town's new lifeboat.

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