Description
Sea, Salt and Solitude
Following the huge success of Salt of the Earth, about the fishing community in Newlyn which raised £40K or so in 2014. Julian Waring (Fundraising Manager for the Fishermen’s Mission in the South West) wanted to repeat the idea in different ports. Moving North to Newquay, Padstow, Rock and Port Isaac this project would be similar to but not slavishly like the Newlyn book.
Photography was done on location, at harbours and in boats in a range of weather conditions. The backgrounds giving as much as the individuals: fish cellars in Port Isaac on a miserable wet March day, Newquay harbour portraying a challenge to the surfing stereo type and shots of individuals as working pictures rather than studio portraits. Individuals talking or laughing together, relaxed, human and varied, straight down the lens and comfortable. Some are magnificently creative, some bleak, others raise a smile. Chris’s photographs tell a story alone, all in black and white.
Narratives have been written from ‘interviews’ this time. The aim being to give direct voice to their stories. Large amounts (95% or so) are formed from exact quotes taped while talking to people, only re-configured to make them readable. Thus meeting Deborah’s wish to create a record of people involved in fishing today. A type of oral history. The interviews were intended to be like conversations over a pint in the pub or over a coffee at lunch. Each worked from between five and ten minutes recording. Some refused some were reluctant, fearful of ‘getting it wrong’. Some astonishing short stories are recorded while others could have filled whole books.
Across the four ports themes have appeared; rather than repeat the same words, different aspects have been chosen to weave into a whole. The thread is the same, but different tones and shades of the same colours are included. This gives the reader a sense of the complexities in these communities and how much individuals work to preserve their traditions and community spirit.
Salty Cove
“Salty Cove” is the title of the third in a trilogy of beautiful books celebrating the Cornish fishing industry. Due to be released in June 2022, Salty Cove follows the successful 2014 title “Salt of the Earth” by David and Jan Penprase which featured a moment in the history of the Newlyn fishing community. This was followed in 2017 by “Sea, Salt and Solitude” by Chris Hewitt and Deborah Richards which focussed on North Cornwall. Salty Cove is a collection of professional black and white portraits of those connected to the Mevagissey fishing industry and their accompanying life stories. It is a living piece of social history, dedicated to the unique, amazing and hard-working people from this beautiful part of Cornwall.
Our volunteer photographers Matt and Sally, along with writers Barbara and Jill, have spent many long days, come rain or shine, taking images and recording stories to create this unique coffee table book, bringing to life the fishing community of Mevagissey.
Volunteer writer Barbara Hocking said:
“This wonderful book will tell the story of the second largest harbour in Cornwall; it holds dear for one and all the many generations of fishing families in this close community. The personal social histories of families past and present will come to life off the pages, both written and photographically. It holds time still, speaking of what Cornwall prides itself on in being a welcome port in a storm to sailors and visitors alike and why it’s held worthy of preserving, just as it is, for the future. Kernow bys vyken!” (Cornwall for ever!)
Everyone has volunteered hundreds of hours to make this project a success. We are delighted to say Salty Cove will be printed in Cornwall and is a practical fundraiser for those we support as the charity, the Fishermen’s Mission.
Thank you for visiting this page and purchasing the pre-order of the Mevagissey book “Salty Cove”. This is the third in a trilogy of beautiful books celebrating the Cornish fishing industry. Due to be released in June, Salty Cove follows the successful 2014 title “Salt of the Earth” by David and Jan Penprase which featured a moment in history of the Newlyn fishing community. This was followed in 2017 by “Sea, Salt and Solitude” by Chris Hewitt and Deborah Richards which focussed on North Cornwall. Salty Cove is a collection of professional black and white portraits of those connected to the Mevagissey fishing industry and their accompanying life stories. It is a living piece of social history, dedicated to the unique, amazing and hard-working people from this beautiful part of Cornwall.
Salty Cove is a creative fundraiser in aid of The Fishermen’s Mission. Julian Waring, Fundraising Manager for the charity says: “This book is three years in the making and reflects the energy of our dedicated volunteers in Mevagissey who have kept this project alive during the hard times of restrictions. It all started with a conversation with volunteer Lauren Brokenshire, a resident from Mevagissey.”
Our volunteer photographers Matt and Sally, along with writers Barbara and Jill, have spent many long days, come rain or shine, taking photographs and recording stories to create this unique coffee table book, bringing to life the fishing community of Mevagissey. Another volunteer, Mark has been working hard behind the scenes proof reading.
Everyone has volunteered hundreds of hours to make this project a success. We are delighted to say Salty Cove will be printed in Cornwall. The successful crowd fundraiser in March reached its target so the book could be printed.
