A Tribute to Newlyn’s Own: "Mad Joe"
If there is such a thing as a self-fulfilling prophecy, Newlyn has just lost a prime example. Whether or not he was actually named after the eponymous hero of Henry Fielding’s Joseph Andrews is a matter for debate, but the association undoubtedly contributed to the legendary character forever known as "Mad Joe."
Joe was old-school through and through. In today’s "nanny state" working environment, his style might have raised eyebrows, but in the ports and driver’s cabs, it was simply the way of the world. He was a man of verbal disputes, sharp banter, and the occasional "traditional" settlement of a disagreement. Yet, beneath the rough exterior was a man regarded for his thoughtfulness and a deeply caring side.
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| Handlining for mackerel days |
He crewed for many, skippered his own and the boats of others... |
| Gill-netting for hake days skippering the Excellent |
A Master of All Trades
Joe’s career was as varied as the tides. He was your archetypal "hands-on-I-can-fix-anything" man—the exact skillset required when you’re responsible for a 60-foot fishing boat or a 40-ton HGV. He crewed for many and skippered for more, including one of Billy’s favourites: the Excellent, an ex-sidewinder turned hake netter. Joe took her to sea for years, including navigating her to the bi-annual Breton Douarnenez festival...
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| CBT driving days |
When he wasn’t at sea, he was on the road, driving anything from two to sixteen wheels across the UK and Europe...
In his younger years, he even endured months of near-total solitude aboard lightships like the Sevenstones and Goodwin Sands...
and, in more recent years until this week, he dished out ice and cold truths from the comfort of the Cornish Ice Company's head office underneath the ice plant.
Infuriating and Irrepressible
Even with the passing of many years and tides, being in Joe’s vicinity wasn't always easy. One skipper recalled the frustration of a night watch:
"I showed Joe exactly where I wanted the boat on the plotter so we could start hauling at first light. When I woke up, we were four miles off course, and he’d fiddled with every single electronic setting in the wheelhouse. It took me half an age just to reset the screens!"
He was also a great 'communicator'. Another skipper remembered a young Joe providing such a non-stop commentary from the deck that he was eventually told, "Joe, ffs, you only speak when spoken to—or else!"
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| Greenpeace attempt to blockade Newlyn Harbour with a floating barrier |
Quite when, and for what particular incident(s), he earned the nickname Mad Joe for are, as yet, buried in the mists of time. However, one incident more than any probably captures the spirit of Joe and that was back in 1994 and the day when Greenpeace arrived in town. In what became known as the 'Tuna Wars' by the national media at the time, Joe managed to get himself interviewed on TV being particularly vocal about what he saw as the totally unacceptable actions of this bunch of tree-huggers for whom he had precious little empathy. As can be seen in the photo above taken on the day, Greenpeace protestors are busy attempting to deploy a huge floating barrier of the type used to contain oils spills.
A number of their crew are in inflatables ready to pull the barriers across the harbour entrance to prevent the tuna boats like the Ar Bageergan, (above) Pilot Star and Sowenna from leaving Newlyn.
While others watched on, Joe seized the moment and, taking the bull by the horns so-to-speak, headed down the quay, jumped aboard his 12ft punt and tore across the harbour towards the Greenpeace activists in their ribs and their floating barrier with which they were now attempting to close off the entrance to the harbour.
Armed only with a large knife and a good dose of adrenalin, Joe entered the fray and began harassing the Greenpeace crews in their ribs and at the same time attempted to puncture the inflatable barrier, at first with the knife which proved pointless given the thickness of the rubber, so he then tried driving his punt over the barrier hoping the outboard's spinning propellor would do enough damage to sink the inflated barrier!
As he later told the TV crew that interviewed him on camera when they asked im what was the response of the Greenpeace guys he said, "They were a bit taken aback as I charged at them so I shouted, My name's Mad Joe, and you don't get called Mad Joe for nothing in Newlyn!"
Well, mad or not, Newlyn will miss his presence in every way it manifested—and there were many.Here's a few anecdotes from those who benefitted from Joe's company at some time in their lives:
Very sad, one of my oldest memories is Joe hand break turning his old Volvo on the end of the middle pier
Mine is mid / late 80s when he came St Ives in Sea Hunter and had a VW crewcab pick up with a dodgy hand brake.
Aww, never a dull moment with Joe around. You never knew what he was going to be towing home behind the Excellent 😂
Always had lovely chats with him stopping on his bike & up fields walking his dog,lovely soul
Ahh that's really sad,I sailed with Joe on the excellent and made a ton of money with him white fish up the channel.
I remember well one morning when I sliced my hand open quite badly and instead of going ashore as we were on big fishing I opted for Joe to give me some stitches to close the gash.
It must be one of the funniest things I've experienced in fishing with Joe missing a few fingers and he's trying to thread the needle with his half moon glasses all steamed up.. I had to thread the needle myself as even with one eye I had a better chance than Joel.
Well he gave me 7 stitches in the cut and it healed up really well, then on the next trip away he took them all out again.
Great memories. Rip Joe mate,one of the legends 🙏 😢
Awwww my Dad Kevin Williams (cow shit) spent many a Happy fun filled day With Mad Joe, as did I as a child, on boats or in the net shed, he always had stories to tell. Many days spent onboard boats growing up.
Great memories❤️
Joe a true Newlyn man who will be sorely missed
A certain Newlyn skipper, now retired, wanted a tree cut down but was horrified at the price he was quoted. Mad Joe offered to do it one Saturday afternoon for half the money. Unfortunately in doing it, he brought the electric lines down, cutting off electricity to half of Newlyn. The cost of getting an out of hours team out from SWEB and the armoured cable required to replace the line made hiring Joe a little expensive but gave the rest of us one hell of a laugh
Joe was a character for sure and will be missed in Newlyn.
Feel free to add your own in the Comments below!!
