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Thomas
Dudley has lived in the village of Mevagissey all his life.
He
was born in the same house he lives in today. Thomas' entire life
has been based around the harbour where he continues to work as
a boatbuilder.
"My
family have always been involved in the fishing industry, my father's
side of the family were into deep sea fishing," says Thomas.
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| The
harbour at Mevagissey in January 2003 |
"I
spent my childhood by the harbour. In the summertime we would build
and sail model yachts. We did a great deal of swimming too. In the
winter we would have a massive playground with Heligan Gardens before
all the work was carried out on it recently. So we had a massive
stomping ground!"
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| Looking
back at Mevagissey from the outer harbour |
"I
started my apprenticeship in boatbuilding when I was 15," he says.
"I was fortunate enough to be with a master craftsman building wooden
boats that still had the certain elegance, a finesse from the sailing
era. I think that has changed today. Boats are built now specifically
for the jobs they do now. The trade I learned was of a traditional
wooden boat construction where elegance had a big part to play."
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| Fishing
nets show fishing is still a major industry |
"My
life like many others locally was as a child going on boats, and
because my father was a shipwright in his younger days there was
a follow in father's footsteps," says Thomas. "Further
Education was going to the local Gramar School, and if that was
not the track you wanted to take it was going into the apprenticeship
system. We were fortunate back then as there were plenty of apprenticeships
available."
"It
has been a good trade," says Thomas. "Being involved
in boatbuilding has enabled me to carry on a tradition of the
harbour."
Find
out about plans for Mevagissey
Meet
a Mevagissey born councillor
Meet a memorabilia expert
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