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Sir Galahad enters the harbour piloted by Will Mitchell. Sir Galahad is staying in Fowey as an integral part of 'Regatta Week'

FOWEY MARITIME DAY

The Port of Fowey was delighted to welcome HRH The Duke of Kent on Wednesday 20th July.

Arriving at RAF St. Mawgan, the Duke travelled by car to Fowey Docks where Lady Mary Holborow, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall introduced the Civic welcoming party. He was welcomed by the Mayor of Restormel, Fowey’s Marilyn Wellman and the Mayor of Fowey, Cllr Tony Dando. The Duke was then given a tour of the Mission to Seafarers by Mrs. Dilys Wolters the Mission Chairman, meeting groups of guests along the way and was also introduced to Mrs. Elaine Elliott, the Manageress of the Centre. The Mission is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in its’ current Fowey location and whilst there the Duke unveiled a commemorative plaque. Ships crew who use the centre from the Union Neptune chatted to the Duke.

As he left the Mission, Lady Mary Holborow presented Mr. Ashley Shopland, Director, Mr. Ross Facey, Ports Superintendent and Mr. Ben Jones, Agency Manager from Imerys, following which he then embarked on a brief tour of the ports facilities and commercial activities.

HRH was then escorted to the Pilot’s Pontoon where he was introduced to Mr. Gerry Williams, Chairman of the Fowey Harbour Commissioners and Capt. Mike Sutherland, Chief Executive and Fowey Harbour Master. On the pontoon were Mr. Graham Nolan and Mr. Steve Barker, Masters of the tugs Pendennick and Tregeagle used to handle the ships up to 17000 DWT tonnes. Also introduced was Cmdr Paul Thomas the duty pilot who would assist in escorting the Duke around the harbour.

He boarded the new Pilot Cutter “Polmear” whose crew of Nathan Perkin, Jimmy Allen and Mike Elliot, the duty cox’n welcomed him aboard. Once the Royal Party were safely aboard, lines were cast off for the boat trip around the beautiful commercial port used to export 1.4 million tonnes of Cornish China Clay to the world.

Heading up river the party was taken to view the commercial jetties and loading operation of the cargo ship Union Neptune on No. 8 Jetty and the railway system so important to rail systems in the south west. The Duke was told how the clay arrives in the port by rail and the private road, previously a rail line from Par Harbour. The ship was loading for Lixhe in Belgium and would be sailing during the Dukes’ visit. From here the Duke was able to see the beautiful wooded estuary and harbour which extends upriver to Lostwithiel where the Duchy of Cornwall once had its maritime base. He went into the wheelhouse where the crew discussed operations and showed him the Fowey Harbour chart whilst heading back downriver towards the town.

Off Bodinnick the Duke came back out on deck to view the house at Bodinnick where Daphne Du Mauriers lived. He was particularly interested in the large numbers of motor cruisers from the Motor Boat Monthly magazine Raleigh moored off Prime Cellars and the numbers of leisure craft moored in the harbour and visiting. He appreciated the importance of the leisure trade in a busy harbour, asking questions about these.

20 junior members of the Fowey Gallants S.C. were undergoing sail training in Optimist and Pico dinghies and the Polmear passed close by them and to the tugs dressed overall moored off Whitehouse Quay. Time permitted a trip to the harbour entrance to see the castles guarding the entrance, Readymoney Cove and Headland Gardens. Returning back up harbour he disembarked on the slipway at Town Quay and was introduced by Mr. Williams to Dr. Max Pemberton, Vice Chairman of the Harbour Commissioners and Captain Matt Hodson, Deputy Harbour Master.

The Harbour Master then introduced a group of harbour staff including Mark Newcombe, harbour patrol, Steve Tabb chargehand shipwright and 3 of the harbour office admin. team of Chrissie Cheshire, Janet Ford and Michele Tuckley whom he chatted to before Mr. Williams and Capt. Sutherland escorted HRH through the town to The Royal Fowey Yacht Club. Passing through a guard of honour provided by R.N. Midshipmen, he was introduced to the Officers and staff of R.F.Y.C. and enjoyed a buffet style lunch along with the guests. During lunch they were able to further watch the youngsters from the Gallants Sailing Club enjoy their sailing demonstration and the departure of the Union Neptune.

After lunch HRH was taken back to Town Quay where he met Mr. Adam Luck, Chairman, Fowey RNLI Lifeboat Branch and the Commanding Officers from HMS Express and HMS Exploit. These vessels were in the port as part of the Maritime Day Celebrations . Large crowds of onlookers, locals and visitors had gathered to watch in the sunshine.

Ray Rigg, Tessa Skola and Norma Savery, members of the National Coastwatch Team at Polruan, told the Duke about their voluntary duties and pointed out their lookout at the top of the hill before Lady Mary re-presented Mr. Allen Toms, Commodore, Fowey Gallants Sailing Club who introduced the youngsters from the Club who had taken part in the sailing demonstration and “Spud” Paul their instructor and other helpers gathered around one of their colourful Optimist dinghies. He had a long chat with them about what they enjoyed about sailing.

The Duke, together with guests and all the onlookers, then watched an emergency rescue display from the Quay involving the RNLI Lifeboats and the RAF Chivenor training helicopter. Lifeboat crew members were “rescued” from the water by the helicopter and transferred to the inshore and all weather boats stationed in Fowey. Fowey is used as the sea training centre for air – sea training and sea survival for RAF aircrew. Capt Sam Guy, the Fowey Lifeboat Operations Manager and a Fowey Harbour Pilot, described the various operations during the display which was one of the best seen in the harbour. The display also formed part of Fowey Lifeboat Week. The Duke of Kent as President of the R.N.L.I. was most interested to meet Mrs. Jean Hill who is a keen supporter and raises money for the Polruan Branch by opening her Headlands Gardens to the public. HRH was introduced to and also met members of the Fowey Lifeboat crew and station management. Before boarding the Lifeboat , “Maurice and Joyce Hardy” which had come alongside the slipway, Capt. Sutherland presented him with a gift of a cooked lobster and Cornish wine on behalf of the Fowey Harbour Commissioners.

On boarding the Lifeboat, Keith Stuart, Coxswain, Fowey Lifeboat welcomed him and presented his crew. The Duke having donned his all-weather gear and lifejacket went to the flying bridge and waved goodbye to the people of Fowey gathered on the Quay. The Lifeboat then took up station at the centre of the escort flotilla to give the Duke a Fowey farewell. At the head were the naval vessels with the Harbour Master aboard the Pilot Cutter Treffry, an ex Thames class 15.49 m lifeboat, leading the lifeboats , tugs Tregeagle and Pendennick, pilot cutters Gorepoint and Polmear and local boats proceeding down harbour to the mouth before heading for Charlestown Harbour.

The Duke was given the helm of the 14.26 metre long Trent class lifeboat doing speeds of up to 25 knots under the watchful eye of “Bonny Lad” the Coxswain. The Duke was given a good view of the coastline around St Austell Bay. During the passage an emergency involving a small sailing craft off Gorran Haven arose and H.M.Coastguard requested the lifeboat to attend. As a result, the Duke and his party had to transfer aboard the escorting Pilot Cutter Treffry under the command of Jonathan Pritchard to finish the journey to Charlestown. HRH took all this in his stride and whilst wind and spray swept was still smiling when he arrived in Charlestown where Captain Sutherland and Captain Guy said their goodbyes and Robin Davies, the owner of Charlestown and Square Rig, escorted the Duke on the last stage of his maritime visit saying a quick hello to auxiliary coastguards based in Charlestown and Cornish gig crews on the harbour side before the journey back to St. Mawgan.

'Polmear' the new Par pilot boat was named today in Fowey Harbour. Here it can be seen the difference in size of the 'old and new'.

Paul Thomas, Will Mitchell, John Averill and Andy Dunn toasting the Polmear.

The new pilot boat / tug for Par was put through its paces today to swing the cruise liner Hanseatic.

TS Royalist paid a visit to Fowey, pilot's eye view!

The new pilot boat for Par, 'Polmear' begins to take shape. She is due to be launched in March/April

We all have bad hair days, even the boatmen! Here we can see Alan Beresford and Eddy Teuton attending a social gathering in Polruan.

At last someone has sent me some newsworthy copy. Unfortunately I can't be held responsible for the content!

Today marks a milestone for Will Mitchell. He reaches the venerable age of 40 and, as these photos show, he has come a long way from his early, confused years as a teenager in Polruan…….

During his childhood the young and impressionable William leant heavily on the older, wiser Pilots and Boatmen who, through their personal example and guidance turned him into the man he is today!

Happy Birthday Will from all your mates!

Well not much news at the moment but we wish all our visitors (especially those who use this website as their homepage) a very merry Christmas and a prosperous 2004.

Next week we will have some date sensitive news so keep a watch from next Sunday.

You would be forgiven in thinking that either Fowey Pilots wound up with Mike's retirement or we had an incredibly long celebration!

No excuses, but I shall try to attend to the website more often.

So what's happened in the last few months?

Paul has started training full time now and is progressing well. It ishoped that he will be authorised for ships up to 90m in Fowey before Christmas. Until then Mike Randolph has been very kind in standing by for us when needed.

We have had courtesy visits from Sir Percivale (RFA) and HMS Brecon.

Charlie has once again represented us at the UKMPA annual conference in Liverpool.

Hopefully this space will change more often in future, if you think it needs updating then send me a 'motivation' email! richard@foweypilots.com

After over 40 years of piloting Mike Randolph retires. His retirement 'do' was held in the Mission to seamen in Fowey and was attended by about one hundred of his friends colleagues and acquantances as well as his daughter Anne. He received many gifts from the pilots, boatmen, retired pilots, agents, tug crews and also one from the Master of the Hoo Swan who had framed his last passage plan completed in Par. His humour and expertise will be greatly missed.

Following are a selection of photos for those who couldn't be there or couldn't remember!

Anne (Mike's daughter) and Mike listening to Sam's speech

Invited guests also listening to Sam's speech!

Sam, Anne and Mike with his new 'Power Caddy'. Will it improve his game though?

And a print of Lt Cook's chart of Fowey

Jerry Williams, Chairman of Fowey Harbour Commissioners

Clive Kessell, Port Manager

'Knuckles', Chief Engineer M/T Tregeagle

Andy Dunn and Tom Endean, Par boatmen

Sam, Alan Beresford, Fowey boatmen

An excellent spread laid on by Elaine and her helpers from the Mission

Just to prove that he really does do some work! Paul (trainee pilot) is steering the Eos through the harbour to sea

On RNLI day there was an exercise in the harbour involving both lifeboats and an RN rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose. Despite the weather many turned out to watch.

The new Polruan ferry went into service this week.

Par Pilot went for her annual slip this week. She has been replaced by Penleath as the duty boat at Par.

This is Paul Thomas, our new pilot elect undergoing serious training on board the cruise liner 'Song of Flower'. The Royal Navy has obligingly sent Paul on a number of courses in preparation for his new role. These have included a fortnight on a P&O cruise and trips to New Zealand and Brazil! We welcome Paul to the real world when Mike Randolph retires after regatta week.

Treffry back at work after extended period of repair

Mike Randolph has decided to hang up his Seasafe this year so we are now starting to look around for someone to fill his boots! Anybody who may be interested please email richard@foweypilots.com for an application form.