The Local Fishing Industry, c. 1910-60

Tape-recordings made 1976-83

The recordings were made with local people, with the intention of producing a sound archive to record an important part of the Lowestoft area’s industrial and maritime history. They form the basis of six published works: The Driftermen (Reading, 1978), The Trawlermen (Reading. 1979), Living From the Sea (Reading, 1982), Following the Fishing (Newton Abbot, 1987), Fishing Talk (Cromer, 2014) and The Last Haul (Lowestoft, 2020). Listed below are the male and female respondents who contributed material for this project, together with a brief outline of what information each interview contains, the date that the recording was made, and the reference number of each individual transcript.

The original recordings (on BASF C60 cassettes) – together with the original, handwritten transcripts – were gifted to the Suffolk Record Office (now Suffolk Archives) in 2007 and form part of the County Oral History collection. The recordings have been digitised and the transcripts word-processed. Two photo-copied sets of the latter were made – one of which is deposited with the Port of Lowestoft Research Society (Central Library) and the other at the University of Freiburg, in Germany, where it forms part of a bank of material for the advanced linguistic study of English regional dialects.

The transcripts are written in such a way as to reflect the local way of speaking, with spelling which represents the particular pronunciation of words and with grammatical forms which are (or were) commonly used. There was no attempt made to represent the dialect in full phonetic form, as this would have been time-consuming and have led to the transcripts being hard to read by non-specialists. On average, it took something like eight to ten hours to write up each hour-long interview. A small number of sessions were a half-hour only. 

1. Robert Ernest (“Skipper”) Knights (1884-1972) – fishing experiences in smacks and steam drifters – 17 February 1976 (R.E.K.1).

2. Ernest James (“Jimmy”) Fisher (1912-89) – herring fishing on steam drifters during the 1920s & 30s – 9 March 1976 (E.J.F.1).

3. Jack Rose (1926-2000) – fishing experiences post-WW II – 9 March 1976 (J.R.1).

4. William (“Billy”) Thorpe (1908-94) – fishing experiences during the 1920s & 30s (mainly connected with herrings) – 9 March 1976 (W.T.1).

5. John Robert (“Jack”) Sturman (1891-1978) – engine-room experience and drift-net fishing pre-WW I and during the 1920s & 30s – 5 April 1976 (J.R.S.1).

6. William Charles (“Flip”) Garnham ((1909-89) – the servicing and maintenance of drift-nets, 1920s-60s – 14 April 1976 (W.C.G.1).

7. Reginald (“Reggie”) Reynolds (1906-91) – fish-curing activities from the 1920s to the 60s – 20 April 1976 (R.R.1).

8. Clifford Arthur Gouldby (1889-1977) – fish merchant & boat-owning activity, early 1900s to 1950s – 4 May 1976 (C.A.G.1).

9. Ernest Lubbock (“Jumbo”) Fiske MBE (1905-77) – drift-net fishing from the 1920s to the 60s – 10 May 1976 (E.L.F.1). 

10. Annie Watt (1892-1978) – gutting-girl experiences, early 1900s to 1950s – 19 May 1976 (A.W.1). 

11. James Watt BEM (1892-1977) – coopering and Scotch cure experiences, early 1900s to 1950s – 19 May 1976 (J.W.1).

12. Annie Watt (1892-1978) – gutting-girl experiences, early 1900s to 1950s – 3 June 1976 (A.W.2). [Both of Mrs. Watt’s transcripts are clipped together.]

13. James Watt BEM (1892-1977) – coopering and Scotch cure experiences, early 1900s to 1950s – 3 June 1976 (J.W.2). [Both of Mr. Watt’s transcripts are clipped together.]    

14. Ernest Lubbock (“Jumbo”) Fiske (1905-77) – round-the-year herring fishing seasons – 1 June 1976 (E.L.F.2).

15. Ernest Lubbock (“Jumbo”) Fiske (1905-77) – weather conditions and other matters relating to herring fishing – 14 June 1976 (E.L.F.3). [Mr. Fiske’s three transcripts are clipped together.]

16. Arthur Harold Pitcher (1905-90) – Ice Factory production and supply from the 1920s onwards – 22 June 1976 (A.H.P.1).

17. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – Fish Market experiences and the herring trade, 1920s onwards – 30 June 1976 (E.A.A.1).

18. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – herring trade experiences, locally and further afield, 1920s onwards – 21 July 1976 (E.A.A.2). [Mr. Armes’s first two transcripts are clipped together.]

19. Frank Lewis Fisk (1899-1984) – herring fishing from 1913 to the mid-1950s – 6 July 1976 (F.L.F.1).

20. Florence Mary (“Mary”) Fisk (1896-? Post-1984) – working as a beatster/beetster from the 1920s onwards – 6 July 1976 (F.M.F.1).

21. Minnie Florence Pitcher (1905-1992) – net factory worker and beatster/beetster, 1919-1950s – 13 July 1976 (M.F.P.1)

22. Jack Rose (1926-2000) – life on The Grit (Lowestoft Beach Village) during the 1920s & 30s – 10 August 1976. (J.R.2)

23.  William Edwin Beale (1901-76) – work as an officer for Poor Relief during the 1920s & 30s – 19 August 1976. (W.E.B.1).

24. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – early fishing experiences and WWI naval service – 21 September 1976 (E.J.M.1).

25. George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – early experiences on sailing smacks and steam drifters during the 1920s – 7 October 1976 (G.C.S.1).

26. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – Danish seine-netting (1920s) and seasonal fishing in drifter-trawlers – 19 October 1976 (E.J.M.2).

27. George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – father’s longshoring and salvaging activity – drifting and trawling during the 1920s & 30s – 16 November 1976 (G.C.S.2).

28. Horace James (“Horrie”) Thrower (1904-90) – general fishing experiences, 1917-1960s – 25 November 1976 (H.J.T.1).

29. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – Fish Market activity in Lowestoft and Scotland, 1920s onwards – 23 December 1976 (E.A.A.3).

30. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – the herring fisherman’s working year – 6 January 1977 (E.J.M.3).

31. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – herring fishing activity and on-board procedures – 1 February 1977 (E.J.M.4).

32. Horace James (“Horrie”) Thrower (1904-90) – life on board drifter-trawlers, inc. engine-room details – 10 February 1977 (H.J.T.2).

33. Edward (“Ted”) Fenn (1898-1983) – WW I armed smacks and the sinking of the Nelson – 20 April 1977 (E.F.).

34. Arthur E.B. Evans (1901-84) – fish-trade experiences during the 1920s & 30s – 5 May 1977 (A.E.B.E.1).

35. Annie Short (1902-84) – girlhood and later life on The Grit (Lowestoft Beach Village) – 17 May 1977 (A.S.1).

36. Herbert Edward (“Herbie”) Doy (1900-87) – early experiences on smacks and steam drifters – fishing during WW I – 24 May 1977 (H.E.D.1).

37. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – beam-trawling and working on board a smack – 14 June 1977 (E.J.M.5).

38. Annie Short (1902-84) – working as a beatster/beetster during the 1920s & 30s – 21 June 1977 (A.S.2).

39. Edward (“Ted”) Fenn (1898-1983) – drift-net fishing post-WW I – 19 July 1977 (E.F.2).

40. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – the Lowestoft Fish Market: general activity round the year – 15 September 1977 (E.A.A.4).

41. Herbert Edward (“Herbie”) Doy (1900-87) – working-life on board a smack before and after WW I – 6 October 1977 (H.E.D.2).

42. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – everyday life in Pakefield during the early 20th century – 3 November 1977 (E.J.M.6).

43. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – family life in Lowestoft during the early 20th century (north end of town) – 15 November 1977 (E.A.A.5).

44 George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – hard times in Lowestoft during the 1920s & 30s; moving to Fleetwood – 13 December 1977 (G.C.S.3).

45. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – general activity on the Lowestoft Fish Market during the 1920s & 30s – 23 February 1978 (E.A.A. 6).

46. Horace James (“Horrie”) Thrower (1904-90) – boyhood life in Carlton Colville and starting a life at sea – 21 March 1978 (H.J.T.3).

47. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – the local autumn herring voyage during the 1920s & 30s – 4 May 1978 (E.A.A.7).

48. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – North Sea herring fishing details (1920s & 30s) – 18 May 1978 (E.J.M.7).

49. Herbert Edward (“Herbie”) Doy (1900-87) – herring fishing during the 1920s & 30s, in local waters and other areas – 15 June 1978 (H.E.D.3).

50. George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – North Sea trawling during the 1920s – 22 June 1978 (G.C.S.4).

51. Arthur E.B. Evans (1901-84) – fish merchant activity in Cornwall & Lowestoft, 1920s & 30s – 6 July 1978 (A.E.B.E.2).

52. Evelyn Cooper (1908-1984?) – working in skipper-owner father’s fishing business during the 1920s – 26 July 1978 (E.C.1).

53. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – mackerel fishing out of Newlyn and in the North Sea during the 1920s & 30s – 7 September 1978 (E.J.M.8).

54. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – onshore herring trade activity around the British coast during the 1920s & 30s – 21 September 1978 (E.A.A.8).

55. George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – general North Sea fishing experiences during the 1920s & 30s – 25 October 1978 (G.C.S.5).

56. Herbert Edward (“Herbie”) Doy (1900-87) – mackerel fishing in Irish waters and comments, also, on other areas – 7 December 1978 (H.E.D.4).

57 Horace James (“Horrie”) Thrower (1904-90) – mackerel fishing out of Newlyn during the 1920s & 30s – 14 December 1978 (H.J.T.4).

58. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1891-1986) – North Sea longlining during the 1920s – 4 January 1979 (E.J.M.9).

59. William Ellis (“Winky”) Jarvis (1906-90) – general fishing experiences out of Gt. Yarmouth during the 1920s & 30s – 11 January 1979 (W.E.J.1).

60. George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – father’s longshore fishing during the early 1900s & 1920s and own North Sea trawling activity during the 20s – 25 January 1979 (G.C.S.6).

61. Ernest James (“Jimmy”) Fisher (1912-89) – longshore fishing at Pakefield, plus local boyhood experiences and later, adult ones – 20 February 1979 (E.J.F.2).

62. William Ellis (“Winky”) Jarvis (1906-90) – trawling experiences on Lowestoft smacks during the late 1920s & early 30s – 21 March 1979 (W.E.J.2).

63. Herbert Edward (“Herbie”) Doy (1900-87) – North Sea and West Side trawling experiences during the 1920s & 30s – 5 April 1979 (H.E.D.5).

64. Newham Timm (1899-1984) – railway connections with the Gt. Yarmouth fishing industry during the 1950s & 60s – 12 April 1979 (N.T.1).

65. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – onshore, fishing-related, ancillary industry in Lowestoft during the 1920s & 30s – 2 May 1979 (E.A.A.9).

66. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – general trawling experiences in the North Sea and Western waters during the 1920s & 30s – 10 May 1979 (E.J.M.10).

67. George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – trawling out of Fleetwood during the 1930s – 18 June 1979 (G.C.S.7).

68. Horace James (“Horrie”) Thrower (1904-90) – trawling experiences in the North Sea and Western waters before and after WW II – 2 July 1979 ((H.J.T.5).

69. Rose Hannah Thrower (1909-89) – early life experiences in a Kessingland fishing family – 16 July 1979 (R.H.T.1). 

70. Stella Margaret Walpole (1900-90) – early life experiences in a Corton fishing family – 30 July 1979 (S.M.W.1).

71. Henry Frederick James (“Harry”) Eastick (1912-83) – Gorleston boatowner family experiences during the 1920s & 30s – 10 October 1979 (H.J.F.E. 1).

72. Frank Lewis Fisk (1899-1984) – trawling & seine-netting experiences, with added WW I & WW II references – 22 October 1979 (F.L.F.2).

73. Florence Mary (“Mary”) Fisk (1896-? Post 1984) – life as a fisherman’s wife during the 1920s, 30s & 40s – 22 October 1979 (F.M.F.2).

74. Jack Rose (1926-2000) – post WW II trawling experiences in a motor smack – 14 November 1979 (J.R.3).

75. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) – North Sea seine-netting during the 1920s – 3 December 1979 (E.J.M.11).

76. Harold James William (“Dibro”) Colby (1902-95) – distant-water fishing out of Fleetwood, 1920s-60s – 16.1.1980 (H.J.W.C.1).

77. Edward Charles (“Ted” or “Teddy”) Quantrill (1911-88) – the Lowestoft “Town Hall Raid” of 1933 – 7 February 1980 (E.C.Q.1).

78. Edward James (“Ted”) Frost (1901-91) – shipyard experiences (John Chambers) during the 1920s & 30s – 8 May 1980 (E.J.F.1).

79. Harold James William (“Dibro”) Colby (1902-95) – Irish Sea experiences on the steam trawler Blanche during the 1930s – 14 May 1980 (H.J.W.C.2).

80. Edward John (“Ned”) Mullender (1896-1981) - North Sea experiences on early diesel trawlers, mid 1930s-1940 – 21 May 1980 (E.J.M.12).

81. George Christopher Stock (1903-85) – overview of fishing experiences in the North Sea and Western waters, 1920s onwards – 16 June 1980 (G.C.S.8).

82. William (“Billy”) Thorpe (1908-94) – Mission smack information; fishing out of Plymouth during the 1930s; experiences as a ship’s husband during the 1950s & 60s – 30 June 1980 (W.T.2)

83. Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) Armes (1902-93) – overview of the Lowestoft fishing industry from the 1920s onwards – 9 July 1980 (E.A.A.10).

84. Herbert Edward (“Herbie”) Doy (1900-87) – working for the Ministry of Fisheries, at sea and on shore, 1946-65 – 23 September 1980 (H.E.D.6).

85. Horace James (“Horrie”) Thrower (1904-90) – post-WW II fishing experiences on diesel drifter-trawlers – 13 October 1980 (H.J.T.6).

86. Arthur E.B. Evans (1901-84) – fish-trade experiences and overview, from the 1920s onwards – 21 October 1980 (A.E.B.E.3).

87. Bertie (“Bert”) Stubbs (1903-91) – Gorleston beach companies and volunteer lifeboat – 5 January 1981 (B.S.1).

88. George Francis Kent (1907-98) – West Side longlining voyages during the 1920s & 30s – 19 January 1981 (G.K.1).

89. Harold Mitchell (1903-85) – family fishing business experiences and recollections, 1920s to WW II – 3 February 1981 (H.M.1).

90. Vernil (“Vernie”) Tuck (1907-85) – Lowestoft beach companies and lifeboat activity during the 1920s & 30s – 27 April 1981 (V.T.1).

91. Stanley Quinton Bird (1917 - ?) – aspects of the basket-making craft and its connection with the Gt. Yarmouth & Lowestoft fishing industry – 16 June 1981 (S.Q.B.1). 

92. Bertie (“Bert”) Stubbs (1903-91) – marine engineering experiences at W.F. Crabtree & Co., Gt. Yarmouth, 1917-22 – 19 October 1981 (B.S.2).

93. Jack Henry Turrell (1912-85) – experiences on Trinity House lightships (1930s & WW II) and of policing the Lowestoft railway and docks (1940s-60s) – 1 December 1981 (J.H.T.1).

94. Henry Leighton (1910-93) – personal account of the Veracity treasure-hunt to Cocos Island in 1935 – 15 February 1982 (H.L.1).

95. William Stephen (“Pod”) Thurling (1908-97) – fishing experiences out of Lowestoft and working on the railway during the 1920s & 30s; Naval service during WW II – 7 April 1982 (W.S.T.1).

96. Arthur James Nicholls Collins (1914 - ?) – account of working experience in fish-box manufacture and food-processing, 1930s-70s – 8 November 1982 (A.J.N.C.1).

97. Frank Joseph Bristow (1913 - ?) – experience in the fish-processing industry, 1920s-70s – 15 February 1983 (F.J.B.1).

98. Stella Margaret Walpole (1900-90) – working-life experiences in the Lowestoft area (1913 to the 1960s), including canning factory and holiday camps – 3 May 1983 (S.W.2).

99. William Ellis (“Winky”) Jarvis (1906-90) – Gt. Yarmouth fishing experiences during the 1920s – 14 June 1983 (W.E.J.3).

100. Edward Charles (“Ted” or “Teddy”) Quantrill (1911-88) – experiences on Lowestoft sailing smacks during the 1920s & 30s – 5 July 1983 (E.C.Q.2).

101. Thomas George (“Tom” or “Tommy”) Outlaw (1915-1997) – West Side longlining voyages during the 1930s – 4 October 1983 (T.G.O.1).

102. Thomas George (“Tom” or “Tommy”) Outlaw (1915-1997) – Trinity house lightship career, 1938-82 – 10 November 1983 (T.G.O.2).

Alphabetical Index of Tape-recording Respondents

1. Armes, Ernest Albert (“Ernie”) – 1902-93 – Fish Market worker.

2. Beale, William Edwin – 1901-77 – relieving officer & social welfare worker.

3. Bird, Stanley Quinton – 1917 - ? – basketmaker.

4. Bristow, Frank Joseph – 1913 - ? – fish-processing factory worker & (later) manager.

5. Colby, Harold James William (“Dibro”) – 1902-95 – fisherman.

6. Collins, Arthur James Nicholls – 1914 - ? – factory hand (fish-boxes & food-processing).

7. Doy, Herbert Edward (“Herbie”) – 1900-87 – fisherman & Ministry of Fisheries employee.

8. Eastick, Henry Frederick James (“Harry”) – 1912-83 – boatowner’s son and onshore worker in the family business.

9. Evans, Arthur E.B. – 1901-84 – fish merchant.

10. Fenn, Edward (“Ted”) – 1898-1983 – fisherman & (later) farmer.

11. Fisher, Ernest James (“Jimmy”) – 1912-89 – fisherman & longshoreman.

12. Fisk, Frank Lewis – 1899-1984 – fisherman.

13. Fiske, Ernest Lubbock (“Jumbo”) M.B.E. – 1905-77 – fisherman & famous skipper.

14. Frost, Edward James (“Ted”) – 1901-91 – shipwright & (later) sea-defence operative.

15. Garnham, William Charles (“Flip”) – 1909-89 – ransacker.

16. Gouldby, Clifford Arthur – 1889-1977 – fish merchant & boatowner.

17. Jarvis, William Ellis (“Winky”) – 1906-90 – fisherman.

18. Kent, George Francis – 1907-98 – fisherman.

19. Knights, Robert Ernest (“Skipper”) – 1884 -1976 – fisherman.

20. Leighton, Henry – 1910-93 – chef/restaurateur.

21. Mitchell, Harold – 1903-85 – fish merchant.

22. Mullender, Edward John (“Ned”) – 1896-1981 – fisherman & skipper.

23. Outlaw, Thomas George (“Tom” or “Tommy”) – 1911-88 – fisherman & lightshipman.

24. Pitcher, Arthur Harold – 1905-90 – ice factory engineer.

25. Quantrill, Edward Charles (“Ted” or “Teddy”) – 1911-88 – fisherman.

26. Reynolds, Reginald (“Reggie”) – 1906-91 – fish-curer.  

27. Rose, Jack – 1926-2000 – fisherman.

28. Stock, George Christopher – 1903-85 – fisherman & skipper.

29. Stubbs, Bertie (“Bert”) – 1903-91 – marine engineer, lifeboatman & ocean liner chief engineer.

30. Sturman, John Robert (“Jack”) – 1891-1978 – fisherman (driver/chief engineer).

31. Thorpe, William (“Billy”) – 1908-94 – fisherman & ship’s husband.

32. Thrower, Horace James (“Horrie”) – 1904-90 – fisherman (stoker).

33. Thurling, William Stephen (“Pod”) – 1908-97 – fisherman & railwayman.

34. Timm, Newham – 1899-1984 – railwayman & station master.

35. Tuck, Vernil (“Vernie”) – 1907-85 – beachman & lifeboatman.

36. Turrell, Jack Henry – 1912-85 – lightshipman & (later) railway/docks policeman.

37. Watt, James B.E.M. – 1892-1977 – Scottish foreman-cooper.

1. Cooper, Evelyn – 1908-92?) – skipper-owner’s daughter & beatster/beetster.

2. Fisk, Florence Mary (“Mary”) – 1896 - ?  – fisherman’s wife & beatster/beetster.

3. Pitcher, Minnie Florence – 1905-92 – net factory worker & beatster/beetster.

4. Short, Annie – 1902-84 – fisherman’s wife & beatster/beetster.

5. Thrower, Rose Hannah – 1909-89 – skipper-owner’s daughter & fisherman’s wife.

6. Walpole, Stella Margaret – 1900-90 – fisherman’s daughter & canning factory worker.

7. Watt, Annie – 1892-1978 – Scottish gutting-girl & foreman-cooper’s wife.

CREDIT:David Butcher