Fish 'n chips at Swanage

St Piran's day.

Click on the Cornish flag above to see a selection of images in celebration of St Piran's day.

The Cornish tin mining industry had numerous days to celebrate throughout the year - most of which seemed to involve the imbibing of huge amounts of alcohol - so much so that in the 19th century the phrase, 'drunk as a Perraner' was used to describe someone who appeared to have had more than they should. Today, St Piran's day is often celebrated with the use of the colours found in the St Pirans' flag of black and white - also identical to the Bretons', 'gwen ar dhu'. Gold in the images represents the wealth and prosperity that tin brought to Cornwall - at one time the area around Camborne and Redruth was home to more millionaires per square mile than any other place in the world!

Anchovy taster

Work in the new dawn.......
as Dennis Pascoe lands a handful of anchovies from the Bay......
a double dose of patriotism on the flag pole.

Mission skipper names Govenek of Ladram

A crowd of family, friends and well wishers gathered on the quay alongside Phil Mitchell's new command, Govenek of Ladram ....
to here mission skipper Keith Dixon give a naming ceremony for the new boat.....
in time honoured tradition with new Bible safely in his hands, Phil thanked his shore based skipper.......
and then gave the naming honours to both of his daughters......
who duly obliged by showering the hull with bubbles......
the three of them then welcomed aboard all those keen to see over his new home.....
a proud Dad aboard the latest addition to the family......
meanwhile on another quay the harsh reality of the working lives of fishermen saw the Les Sable boat Black Pearl tow in his partner boat......

where Harbour master and French Consul, Andrew Munson took the dive master aboard the Les Bargees to supervise the divers about to try and remove the trawl from the boat's prop......
a job for local SMS from Falmouth......
as a couple of visiting Irish beamers prepared to leave after landing.

Drama on the high seas - the epic voyage as told by Pete Goss

This weekend the Rose-in-Vale Hotel is host to what promises to be a fascinating evening of daring-do as Pete Goss tells the story of the Spirit of Mystery's voyage from Newlyn to Australia last year - a voyage that so nearly ended in disaster when, at the tail end of a huge storm with the Australian coastline to the North, the boat was rolled over to almost 180° - in the near capsize crewman Mark Maidment suffered a broken leg and had to be put ashore - the rescue services could not risk an airlift from above a sailboat with so much rigging in the air!

Pete's talk will be amply illustrated with slides and dram tic images of the entire voyage - from heavy weather off the Azores to flying fish, flat calms and that oh, so near fatal capsize.

You can choose to attend the dinner, or take advantage of an evenings entertainment and room for the night. A four course meal will precede the talk courtesy of head chef, Colin Hankins. Proceeds will go to the Cornwall Playing for Success charity. Make sure you check the hotel's dress code before turning up in oilskins!

On top of the talk this weekend comes the news that the Spirit of Mystery is now on her way to Kembala port (in Australia) where she will be loaded on to a ship which will eventually see her arrival in Holland, after which she will sail back to Newlyn - around the end of April!

Breton sailing fishing boats site.

For anyone interested in days of yore, sail and Breton fishing vessels in particular here is a useful reference site. One of the boats featured is the Corbeau des Mers which will be visiting Newlyn this summer.

Take note of today's top IT technology tip - the site will provide another opportunity to improve your knowledge of the French language - if that eludes, then simply highlight the text needed, copy (or use the keys CTRL + C) and go to Google's translate page and paste (CTRL+V) in the text a la!

Beach seining for mullet at Sennen.

Apart from shelves stocked with almost anything you might ever want for anything (almost), Waghorn's Stores also trades in unusual models.......
some idea of just how high the Govenek of Ladram's stern deck is compared to the top of the crabber Intuition's wheelhouse.....
the Sennen boys managed a shot of mullet using the centuries old technique of a beach seine yesterday morning at high water.......


this short video is an example of beach seining, a technique used by fishermen the whole world over, the Sennen boys use a tractor to haul the net up the beach and close it - years ago, anyone available from the village would have turned to and lent a hand.....
pot skeletons awaiting the attention of the crabber's crew......
along with the rest of the parts on board the pickup.

Contemporary Cornish art and music go on show in London.

First up, a group exhibition includes some of Cornwall’s finest painters, whose work has been exhibited and collected throughout the UK and abroad. Their paintings encompass a broad spectrum of styles, from semi-abstract interpretations of the Penwith landscape to still-life works exploring structure and form.

Then, there's a bit of Cornish rock music on the to do list for those in London town on March 5th at ICA - ex Rialto man Louis Eliot (whose father is the 10th Earl of St Germans if you thought the name rang a bell) is headlining a show with his band The Embers and fellow Cornish musicians to celebrate St Piran's day.

A few of The Embers' tracks can be heard here.

Raid that attic, basement or granny's cupboards - the Newlyn Archive needs you!

Newlyn: Fishing Boats, Fishing & People

Saturday March 6, 2010
10am – 3pm

Newlyn Centre

Anyone who loves Newlyn and has an interest in collecting, preserving, storing and sharing written, pictorial and oral materials relating to the history of Newlyn should be interested in the Newlyn Archive. Don't forget, the archive is open in the Mount’s Bay room at Trinity Centre, Chywoone Hill every Friday morning between 9.30 and 12 o’clock.

WHY NOT COME TO OUR NEW EXHIBITION AND JOIN US WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND HELP WITH IDENTIFYING BOATS, THEIR SKIPPERS AND CREWS AND PERHAPS BRING MODELS, ARTICLES AND PHOTOS TO HELP US WITH OUR ARCHIVE.

The exhibition will include photographic displays on the themes of the Rosebud, the Mystery, Fishing boats, Fishermen, Fish markets and Fishwives. There will be exhibits of Basket Making, Model Boats, and the Cornish Language of Fishermen.
There will be original paintings, some from the Newlyn School – of boats, the sea, fish markets, and Newlyn characters.

A number of other activities planned include an art activity for children organised by Newlyn Art Gallery about fishing boats and a, 'Name the Fisherman' competition for adults.

The BBC film documentary, 'The Skipper' – about the notorious Newlyn skipper Roger Nowell, will be running and there will be Cornish fishing music playing.

And much more! including free admission and refreshments.


THERE WILL BE A FRIENDS DESK AND WE HOPE YOU WILL SIGN UP AS A FRIEND AND GET INVOLVED IN OUR NEW PROJECT, WHICH IS CALLED NEWLYN FAMILIES. WE AIM TO CREATE A SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE FOR FAMILY HISTORIES TO CONTAIN INFORMATION, PHOTOGRAPHS, BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH CERTIFICATES ETC OF FAMILIES ASSOCIATED WITH NEWLYN.


Here is the kind of story that the archive is looking for - this relates to the forthcoming visit by the Free French flotilla of boats this summer - submitted by Mary Chown, it describes some of her childhood memories and involvement with the fishing industry.

Mary Chown writes:

"I was delighted to read of the plans to commemorate the 70 anniversary of the Free French in Newlyn. My late father, John Douglas Nicholls (1914-1994), was in the Intelligence Corps during World War ll. He was based at Newlyn harbour where he had his office during the period concerned - until he had a bad accident and had to spend the rest of the war receiving treatment for bad head and arm injuries.

My parents, John and Minnie Nicholls married on 1st January 1944 and a Belgian called Jules Hart, who also worked with my late father, was best man at their wedding. I have recently discovered photos of them.

I recognize many of the names in your article - amongst them the Couillandre family.

After the war my father returned to the family business 'Wilton & Co. Ltd', Ironmongers, of Market Jew Street, Penzance. I myself remember how many of the Breton fishermen would seek out my father in the shop when they ever came into Newlyn or visit my parents at their Mousehole home.

I find it thrilling that the work of these many brave people is still remembered."


Mary Chown nee Nicholls

CONTACT:
For further information and a chance to contribute in any way the following Archive staff can be contacted using the details below:

Pam Lomax newlynarchive@aol.com

Linda Holmes 01736 364537

There's a new kid on the block.

It's back to the megs for the beamers now the cuttlefish fishing has fallen away.....

the netters who stuck it out at the weekend, despite the forecast, landed good shots of fish with big haddock featuring well......

here's the new number to watch out for in the port.....

check out the rear end of the new girl, "does my bum look big in this?"........

compared to the genteel, more rounded stern that graces the beamer.....

the Govenek of Ladram is the replacement vessel for the Carol H.....

her huge stern net compound fully shelter decked giving maximum protection for her crew and skipper Phil.

ice flows aboard the William Stevenson.......

while across the lorry park, Radio Cornwall are broadcasting a spot with ex-fisherman Spike Searle, poacher turned gamekeeper as it were, who now works for Finding Sanctuary......

the William makes her way back to her berth alongside the Lisa Jacqueline.

Severe storm stays south.

Despite the shipping forecast for Biscay on Saturday giving Force 12, the south west of the UK escaped the storms that battered the Atlantic Arc coastal region and left over 50 dead.