Tag Archives: Harbour Commissioners

Billy Doe: Harbour Master 1950s

Billy Doe, Harbour Master

Billy Doe in launch in harbour

Billy Doe rowing launch in harbour: photo, Janet Hopkins

 

The big effort was when they used to go across to Lymington, seagull egging.  When there was a marsh over there, there used to be trillions of the things, black headed gulls, and they used to sell them as plovers’ eggs – that’s what they called them.    The Harbour Master when I was small, was Billy Doe.  When he retired the Harbour Commissioners gave him a launch, about eighteen foot.
The Commissioners gave that to Billy so he didn’t have to row across to go egging, because he used to go across egging as well.  The launch had a little Lister diesel.
The season of the year to collect seagulls eggs was about April on.
I can remember going across with grandfather. All the marsh was separated by little streams and the old fellows all had their own little bit; they used to bang a stake in with their name on. They all had some agreement with all the old fellows from around there and the first thing they did – the first day you went over – was to break all the eggs.
You broke all the eggs you could see, and went back a couple of days later and they’d pretty much be fresh. Alec Cokes b 1945

Phil Kelsey: Garages and coaches 1920s,1930s

I can remember the garage being built on the corner of Mill Road, it was about ’26.  I wasn’t very old.  I can remember them building that.  Royal Blue from Bournemouth had it built and they used to keep their Royal Blue coaches to go round the island.    There was another coach company in Yarmouth, Saunders  – yellow coaches.  They used to keep one down there on the corner where the Harbour Commissioners have got their yard. They used it during the war, the people on fire duty had a hut down there.  I know Newt and George, before they were called up, they used to take turn at nights down there. Phil Kelsey b 1920

Royal Blue charabanc

Royal Blue charabanc


Janet Hopkins: Early Days

Yarmouth harbour showing old bridge 1930s

Yarmouth harbour showing Bridge House on the old bridge 1930s

Doe family at Bridge House

Doe family at Bridge House

I can remember as a toddler going to visit my grandparents when they were living in Bridge House, and standing on a table to look up the river. The top storey burnt down when someone was doing some decorating and using a blow torch, then it was used as a Customs House, and later still the Sailing Club.

The Harbour Commissioners gave my grandfather, ‘Pop’ a nice present when he retired – a launch. When I was young I used to go out with him over to Key Haven collecting seagulls eggs. We used to bring them back and eat them, they were quite strong, but nice. We used to go out winkling and prawning, and cook and eat those. I used to go with him, pigeon shooting up the railway line.

I had my first dinghy at 8, before that I used to borrow Pop’s. I suppose it was a bit unusual, there were hardly any others moored up the river where I kept mine. I always enjoyed small boats. Janet Hopkins b 1947