The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is offering a reward of £1,000 for the safe return of the historic gold medal awarded posthumously to the coxswain of the Penlee lifeboat the Solomon Browne.

The medal was discovered to be missing from the RNLI’s head office in Poole earlier this year and despite an extensive search and Police investigation, has not been found.

The charity is now launching a fresh appeal for any information, with the help a £1,000 reward, which has been donated by a long-term RNLI supporter specifically for this purpose.

RNLI chief executive Paul Boissier said: ’It is an important and significant part of the RNLI’s heritage, but its primary value lies in its emotional significance, particularly to the families of the crew of the Solomon Browne and the local communities in Newlyn and Mousehole.’

The medal was awarded posthumously to William Trevelyan Richards, coxswain of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne, which sank after going to the aid of the coaster Union Star on the night of December 19, 1981. All eight volunteer crew members were lost in the disaster, and the whole crew were awarded gallantry medals by the RNLI.

The charity is especially interested in hearing from the member of the public who contacted Dorset Police anonymously with information and are appealing for them to get back in touch.

Anybody with any information about the medal’s location is urged to contact Dorset Police, quoting crime reference number I02 136, to contact the RNLI direct or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990.