Tome Leaper donates memorial statue 'Tom' to the Musee de Peche at Concarneau.

Photo with thanks to the Facebook page for the Musee de Peche, Concarneau.

Local sculptor Tom Leaper has donated the model memorial statue to the fishing museum in Concarneau, Brittany.  The town is twinned with Penzance. Tom is seen here alongside the statue in the museum, those with keen observational powers will have spotted the tins of Cornish Pilchards on the shelves in the background! 

"Friday evening, in the Fishery museum, some representatives of the Twinning committee Penzance-Concarneau proudly offered a bronze statue representing a fisherman throwing a rope. Some other representatives of the M’Bour (Senegal) twinning committee with Concarneau, and from the local fishermens' association also attended the ceremony. Jean-Jacques GOUSSET, from the museum, underligned the symbolic nature of the statue, “the way to represent the fisherman is highly human, it is a respectful gesture for all fishermen who daily risk their life. “tThe towns of M’Bour, Penzance and Concarneau are joined together thanks to this symbol” said the spokeman from the fishermen association.

The statue was created by Cornish artist Tome Leaper from Newlyn.

Who's up for a Cornish Sardine photo challenge?

Over the last few years huge shoals of sardines have shown up off the coast of the Philippines and have been captured on film by underwater photographer Dr Alexey Stoyda who travelled there especially to capture the images. Maybe the same dramatic scenes exist in the waters of Mount's Bay and the huge shoals of Cornish Sardines could be captured by an intrepid underwater photographer or diver - who knows?

Any of the local sardine skippers will happily point you in the right direction.

Coming this Bank Holiday weekend - Newlyn Fish Festival 2011

Duncan and Sue Lucas from Passionate About Fish will introduce you to one of the biggest displays of fish you’re ever likely to see!

Don't miss the chance to celebrate all things fishy on August 29th in one of Cornwall's most distinctive and original fishing ports.  Satisfy your appetite with the best seafood you can get whilst enjoying great cooking demos, live entertainment or bidding at the seafood auction.

August Bank Holiday Monday sees the annual Cornish celebration of the sea, fishing and seafood at the 21st Newlyn Fish Festival, where you will find more fish than you can shake a mermaid’s tail at!

Click here for information and entry times
Click here download the official programme for this year
Click here for the latest press release!

Chef Paul Ainsworth to open this year's festival!

Renowed and TV celebrity Chef Paul Ainsworth will be opening the Newlyn Fish Festival at 10:00 am. Paul was selected to compete to represent the South West in the finals of the Great British Menu against some of the most respected chefs in the country.

The festival is in aid of the Fishermen's Mission in Newlyn which plays a vital role in supporting fishermen and other seafarers who use the port.

Fishstock Brixham 2011

 FOUR WEEKS TO GO! - if you happen to be up in you'm we'm land (South Devon that is) make a beeline for Brixham's big fish fest of its own.

Tension is mounting and the crew are getting very excited as plans start to gel for this year’s Seafood and Music Celebration of the fishing industry and maritime heritage of Brixham, with the aim to raise much-needed funds for the Fishermen’s Mission. With only 3 weeks to go ‘til Saturday 10th September, festival committee chairman and local fishing industry spokesman, Jim Portus revealed some of the tempting details of the one-day extravaganza that transforms the new Fish Market Hall into an exhibition centre and the Quayside into Seafood Cookery Kitchens of the highest quality.

Speaking after the penultimate meeting of the organising team, Jim said, “We seem to have most of the ducks-in-line for a great late-summer day out for all the family in this jewel-in-the-crown of Torbay that is Brixham. “Stagecoach SW will be running Park & Ride buses all day and to Midnight from Churston Park & Ride Car Park to the Town Centre, so there’s no need to worry about congestion! Why not take the Ferry from Torquay, with Greenway Ferry & Pleasure Cruises or Western Lady Ferries? “We have a team of Brixham chefs, including Rob Bateman, Andy Sewell, Gordon Gout and Simone Cook whose Fishstock Brixham Piazza this year is sponsored by Kitsons Solicitors. Visitors can expect the finest local fresh fish cooked to perfection al-fresco under the Kitsons Marquees. Brixham Sea Farms and River Teign Shellfish will provide the Mussels. Blue Sea Food Co, Really Interesting Crab Co and the Potted Crab Co will provide the crabs. Members of SWFPO and SWIFA will provide the fish and scallops.

What a treat! “South Devon College chefs will take turns offering seafood cookery lessons throughout the day to local Primary School children in the Yeovil College Feast-Bus. The children will learn how to handle, prepare and cook deliciously simple seafood dishes that their parents will sample at the end of each class session. We are proud of the Berry Head Hotel, Ashfords’ Solicitors and the Billingsgate Seafood Training School for sponsoring this great facility. Also the S D College students will be running a Devon Cream Teas area where the public can relax and enjoy traditional scones and tea under the Y.E.S. Marquee, next to the Acoustic performers stage.

Ady Delaney and John Charlton from Eat Right UK will also provide children with hands-on food preparation sessions, as will Felicity Sylvester and the Brilliant Fish team. “Intoto Kitchens and Castle’s Kitchens have again provided us with wonderful cooking facilities that the team from Sound Events (Exeter) will turn into “Live Theatre Kitchens” with Plasma Screens to aid public enjoyment of the Chefs’ demonstrations. Richard Hunt (The Grand Hotel), David Jones (Manna from Devon), David Galpin (S D College), Russell Goodwin (Occombe Farm), Andy Sewell (Quayside Hotel) and Felicity Sylvester (Brilliant Fish) are the seafood specialist chefs booked to appear and to do “Ready Steady Cook” style demonstrations. Duncan & Sue Lucas (Passionate about Fish) will show-off their fish-mongering knife skills. Moshi Moshi Japanese Sushi chefs make a welcome return. Ian Perkes, Roberts Fisheries and Dave Walker will put on Fresh Fish displays for you to buy-to-try the recipes you will see demonstrated.

“Fishing boats, young and old and of all varieties will be on show, thanks to owners Dave Langdon, Alex Philip, Nick Bright, Ginger Wright, plus the Vigilance and Pilgrim Trusts. Also alongside will be the STS Stavros S Niarchos and the all-weather RNLI Torbay Lifeboat. These fine vessels will be complemented with marine and maritime heritage displays, sponsored by Astra Zeneca from MCA Receiver of Wrecks, RN Fisheries Protection Squadron, Marine Management Organisation, Millennium Marine Divers, Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust and many more. “The children will have plenty to see and do while Mum & Dad & Grandparents too enjoy the Seafood & Music. Melody the Mystic Mermaid will tell her tales of life under the ocean waves, Play Torbay will provide face painting, colouring and craft, Funtasia Bouncy Galleon and Tea-Cup have rides for fun, Maya Plass provides a Learn to Sea experience (as seen on BBC Countryfile). Birdline Parrot Rescue will have some of their magnificent birds on show.

“This year’s music and dance line-up is simply fantastic, with such local bands as M.I.U., Slytherin and Blue Tattoo. Paddy’s Whiskers perform a lunchtime set after a warm-up session by the fabulous Port Isaac Fishermen’s Friends, who are staging a concert in the evening in Brixham at All saints’ Church in aid of the Fishing in Sculptural Heritage (F.I.S.H.) Fund. After the cooking show and through the evening there will be lots more music to Midnight with Ashbird, Morning Rush, The Morrisons, The Normals and culminating in The Blues Brothers Collective. “There’s an acoustic stage for those who like to relax with their Pint or glass of wine. Philip Henry and Hannah Martin open the show, there are sets by Maggie Duffy & Mike Weed, Southern Comfort and Dave Johnson. Shanties by The Old Gaffers and Swashbuckle, folk music from Kaeravel and the beautiful sounds of Welsh singer Lisa Angharad, the face of S4C Wales. “Those who like dancers to entertain we have the Beats of Polynesia troupe from London, who have a close connection with Brixham. Kalash ATS Belly dancers are back by popular request! Brixham’s Bollywood Belles will also provide workshops. Cats Eye Morris and Shuffle the Deck Clog dancers round-off a packed bill of music and dance to delight all.

“It’s all for the Fishermen’s Mission. It’s all for only £5 per person, accompanied under 15s FREE. There’s plenty of hot food and drink provided by carefully selected concessions, including vegetarian options. (It’s not all fish!) Bay’s Brewery and the Crown & Anchor provide a bar service, plus fine wines and ciders. There really is no better way to end the summer holidays than to spend the day and evening too at Brixham Fish Market on Saturday 10th September at Fishstock Brixham 2011. Gates open at 10am. The shows start at 11am. The last band finishes and the bars close at Midnight! ENDS.

Fishstock Brixham 2011 E-mail mail@fishstockbrixham.co.uk Website www.fishstockbrixham.co.uk Tel: Jim: 07860542071 Dale: 07816513934 Karen: 01752690950

The funeral of Roger Thomas (Chloe T)

The funeral of Roger Thomas who passed away this weekend will take place on Friday this week.

Roger's daughter Gemma and family, would very much like as many people as possible to know, especially any fishing friends from Brixham and Plymouth.


Funeral details are as follows:

Roger Thomas (Chloe T)

Friday 26th August 

St Peters Church - Newlyn 

TIme  10.00am

View St Peter's Church Newlyn. in a larger map

Misty Monday morning.

 Here's a man who takes his BBQing seriously.......

 things move quickly on Monday's market......

 with the grading machine at full tilt......

 and more space created by the removal of the backup grader.......

 there's still good supplies of mackerel coming in from St Ives........

 a cracking quality trip from Mr Curtis aboard the trawler, Elisabeth Veronique.......

 compliment these top red mullet from the inshore boat Evening Star......

 another goodnight on the Cornish Sardines fro the local fleet......

 apart from the boys aboard the Resolute of course who are still busy mending their net......

 follow that trail.......

 first time in Newlyn for the Brixham beam trawler, Lloyd Tyler......

 should be sailing time any day soon for the tuna boat......

 another chance to capture times gone past and fishing with luggers from a different era over the coming Bank Holiday weekend....... 

 the the boats that fish for litter missed this piece of trawl net.......

 rolling fog passes the base of St Michael's Mount.......

 and the rising sun casts a shadow on cloud from the contrail......

 on a flat calm morning........

  the Lyonesse makes her way back to her berth.....

then it's time for the first angling trip of the day to get underway.

The best in Cornish beaches and a BBQ.

 Keeping an eye on things, one of Culdrose's SAR helicopters traverses Porthchapel beach......

 looking back at the beach from the west, not a beach for people who don't appreciate the power of the sea as it is susceptible to a big shore break which will easily sweep an adult off their feet.......

 next beach along heading towards Land's End at Porthgwara with crystal clear water......

 PZ1218 heads back to Newlyn, only these high speed punts have the speed to make working off Land's End viable from the port........

 they just can't resist......

 back in the kitchen its time to repare a BBQ dish......

 headed and scored in readiness for a curry spice.......

 rubbed into the inside and out of the fish......

 a great device makes cooking fish an easier task.......

 a touch of the med........

 before the onion based sauce that goes with the curried mackerel........

 stating the blindingly obvious........

 get those fish on quick........

though, of course, this is a house with one of those girl's type gas affair!