REWARDS CAN BE GOOD BUT AT TIMES COST IS SIMPLY TOO HIGH

My column in this week's print edition of the Herald Express

Next time you tuck into a plate of fish and chips spare a thought for those brave folk who bring in the harvest. Think about the bobbing crabber facing a freezing ‘northeaster’ winching reluctant pots from the deep, as you take a bite out of that delicious sandwich stuffed full of fresh crab.

For the past forty years I’ve been working and messing around on Paignton’s little harbour and have been shaped by the changing seasons. The quiet sunlit days that seem to last forever suddenly give way to a raging storm often leaving me breathless.

I’ve always had tremendous admiration for the men that go out in small boats to fish. It’s a tough way to make a living and whilst the rewards can be good there are times when the cost is simply too high.

Some years ago I had a young lad working with me on the harbour that had listened to crabbers talk about their work and decided that was the life for him. His only nautical experience was bobbing around in a small boat near the harbour, balancing on a windsurfer and the occasional cross-channel ferry trip.

I did point all that out to him and the fact that for the best part of a week he would be crashing around on a crabber in an often hostile sea. As it turned out he had the most miserable time as immediately freezing cold waves crashed across the deck and an icy wind sucked the air from his lungs. Sadly he spent the entire trip curled up in a bunk being incredibly sick.

Once back on dry land he made the decision not to climb on board ever again. It seems to me that people find their way into fishing in two ways. The first is family tradition and around South Devon you will find many people fishing today with a father and grandfather who had also made their living from the sea.

Others end up fishing by accident but I actually think it may be a vocation that has called them to the sea. It certainly isn’t a career for the feint-hearted.

I’m also fascinated by the number of fishermen and fishing families with a strong religious belief. That isn’t true of all fishermen of course but I can name many that do believe and evidence that belief in their daily lives. Perhaps being that close to ‘the edge’ on a daily basis offers a perspective that is not experienced by others. I don’t know.

It is a hard and often dangerous way to make a living. Of course there are the sunny days that bring joy and magical moments making the spirit tingle. But the thing about the sea is that you can never be sure of the motion of the ocean!

Former crab boat skipper and fish festival guru Adrian (Adi) Bartlett sent me a rather nice photograph the other day. It featured Paignton’s harbourmaster Simon Pinder and friends presenting a large cheque to Superintendent Matthew Skinner of the Brixham Fishermen’s Mission.

The cheque, for ￡1100, was a gift made possible from the proceeds of this year’s Paignton Harbour Festival. The fact that all the proceeds were donated to this worthy cause hit a chord with me.

I remember Adi telling me about the thinking behind the first Paignton Harbour Festival. He spoke of the nature of a fishing community and the high price too often paid. He mentioned the tragic loss of Mark Lane back in 1985. Mark’s boat capsized and sank seven miles off Dartmouth.

Mark’s brother is well known local mobile fishmonger Simon Lane and he probably more than most appreciates the donation of money to The Fishermen’s Mission. I did mention to Simon that I would be writing this week and wanted to mention Mark. At the time of our conversation I couldn’t remember the exact date of the tragedy. Simon said “There have been so many young men lost over the years that the memory often moulds them together.” That is something to think about.

Simon sent me a clip from a BBC Songs of Praise back in 2005 featuring his father, Ernie Lane. The film clip is based in Brixham and is so very moving. The music that follows in the hymn ‘Abide with me’ written by Brixham’s Henry Lyte. I soon found myself in tears (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMdBZd8KVok&app=desktop)

With all that in mind I phoned Matthew Skinner at Brixham Fishermen’s Mission (https://www.fishermensmission.org.uk)   to learn more about their work. Apparently “The Fishermen’s Mission is the only fishermen’s charity that provides emergency support alongside practical, financial, spiritual and emotional care. We help all fishermen, active or retired, and their families.”

Matthew said how much they appreciated the money raised by The Paignton Harbour Festival because it comes from a harbour based community. The cash will be mostly used in the South West and that warmed me.

I love the fact that this is the third year that this festival has happened and that is a credit to the small group of dedicated people who work tirelessly to make it possible. I’ve attended all three festivals and love the way in which the local community comes together.

Too often in any community people become divided and so events like the Paignton Harbour Festival can bring unity. That is something to celebrate.

Last Saturday I found myself wandering around Brixham and spent a little while looking at the Man and Boy statue. It took my mind back to a time when the fishing boats sailed out to sea with just a man and a boy! A year or so ago I did sail on Brixham sailing trawler Pilgrim BM45 on an overnight trip to Dartmouth and back. That was a fun thing to do but I rather suspect that I might not have been so chirpy pulling in fishing nets all those years ago.

By the way, next year’s Paignton Harbour Festival is on Saturday 28th July. I predict the weather will be stunning with wall to wall sunshine and a warm salty sea breeze making the harbour tingle. See you there.

Meanwhile continue to keep the smile…….