THE latest Second World War blockbuster may be packed with top names from the showbiz world, but a small museum on Poole Quay is home to one of the true heroes of Dunkirk.

Thomas Kirk Wright, Poole's lifeboat from 1939-62, was one of the Dunkirk 'Little Ships' and the first lifeboat to make the crossing to evacuate Allied troops trapped on the beaches.

Christopher Nolan's hit movie, which was filmed in part in Dorset, is currently out-gunning the opposition at the UK box office - and RNLI spokesman Anne-Marie Clark hopes this success will prompt heightened interest in the historic Poole vessel.

The Thomas Kirk Wright, captained by Leading Seaman Huntington and manned by naval ratings, arrived off Dunkirk on May 30, 1940.

Anne-Marie explained: "According to Leading Seaman Huntingdon's official admiralty log, now held at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, on her first trip to Dunkirk, Thomas Kirk Wright was kept offshore by gunfire from shore batteries.

"She returned to Dunkirk for a second trip on June 2, 1940, when she was towed across by the tug Foremost 87, together with another RNLI lifeboat.

"Leading seaman Huntington's log records show that they managed to get troops off the beach east of Dunkirk, and also tried to save survivors from two or three trawlers that had been blown up, one of which was French, the others English."

In some respects the Thomas Kirk Wright proved ideal for working off Dunkirk, because her relatively small draught allowed her to operate in shallow waters - too shallow for larger boats to reach to the stricken troops. But her crew were woefully exposed to enemy fire.

Anne-Marie said: "The Thomas Kirk Wright is on display in the Old Lifeboat Museum, Fishermen's Dock, Poole Quay.

"This is the lifeboat station where she served - come down and give her a pat on the bow and the reverence that she deserves as she took part in one of the major moments of our history which Churchill dubbed 'The Miracle of Dunkirk'.

"We're also looking for volunteers to man the old lifeboat station, so that we can keep it open longer for people to visit."

Call Anne-Marie on 07887 855073 if you are interested in helping out.