A FAMOUS lifeboat regarded as a "national treasure" is being lovingly restored to its former glories.

The ex-RNLI lifeboat W&S had an outstanding career, including notable war service, and is recorded on the National Register of Heritage Boats.

The vessel, built in 1930, was stationed at Penlee, near Mousehole in Cornwall, until 1961.

It still holds the record of being the longest-serving lifeboat on a single lifeboat station and, when it was eventually changed, its replacement, Solomon Browne, was tragically lost with all hands when trying to rescue the crew of the Union Star vessel on December 19, 1981.

The Union Star's engines failed in heavy seas and, after the lifeboat rescued four people, both vessels were lost with all hands.

Sixteen people died, including eight volunteer lifeboatmen.

After being retired by the RNLI, the W&S was converted into a long-range cabin cruiser and completed a number of trips from Ireland to the Mediterranean, during the time of the Irish troubles.

It ended up laid in a field near Falmouth, where it gradually deteriorated, before being salvaged by captain Rod Shaw and transported back to Harwich.

Now he is lovingly restoring it back to a serviceable boat.

"This lifeboat is considered a national treasure, having had an outstanding career, including meritorious war service," said Shaw.

"It still retains many of its original features and has been the subject of many books and films.

"During the war years, the lifeboat, tucked away under Lands’ End peninsular, was called out to the many cargo ships sunk by German submarines off the Cornish coast.

"The E-boats used to hide submerged in the coastal bays, awaiting for a convoy to come by.

"Irrespective of the weather, the W&S would launch in an endeavour to save the distressed seaman.

"It is recorded that this boat saved over 101 lives and rescued many more."

One of the boat's last wartime missions was when the W&S was called out to the Canadian warship HMCS Teme, off Cape Cornwall, on March 29, 1945.

A torpedo had blown her stern away.

This lifeboat stood by as another warship and tug tried to attach tow ropes as the ship was drifting onto the longship rocks in worsening weather.

Coxswain Frank Blewett advised the warship to let go its anchor, which it did, and the lifeboat took off all 57 officers and crew.

Space onboard the lifeboat was cramped during its run back to Newlyn.

However, the cox reported everyone was very happy as the lifeboat crew issued rum and biscuits to all survivors.

"The W&S was called out by the British government when a German U-1209 submarine went aground on the Wolf Rock, in the hope it could recover the enigma machine," added Shaw.

"It was the first lifeboat to be fitted with a radio installation to assist communications with distressed vessels.

"One of its medal services was to HMS Warspite, which broke adrift from the two tugs towing it to the River Clyde and was drifting ashore.

"The only way the W&S could rescue the riding crew was to go between the ship and the rocks to get some lee for the transfer.

"The weather was a south-westerly gale, gusting up to force ten, with nine-metre waves.

"However, all crew were rescued safely and the coxswain and crew were awarded bravery medals for their outstanding rescue."