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Bill
Cowan was born and bred by the Barbican in Plymouth but has spent
the majority of his life in Polperro.
His
arrival in the fishing village came about by a chance meeting with
a skipper in Newlyn.
"After
the war I started working on fishing boats in Plymouth with younger
members of the family," remembers Bill.
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| Bill
would go out fishing in stormy seas |
"I
was a little bit older and maybe wiser and didn't feel I fitted
in as well as I had done before the war. I was told there was a
job going on a boat in Newlyn. I caught the train to Penzance and
walked into Newlyn."
But
Bill did not get too far when another offer came his way that proved
to be the move of a lifetime.
"I
was walking along the harbour when I met the skipper of the Patsy-Anne
which was registered in Polperro," smiles Bill. "I told him where
I was going to be working, and he offered me a job straightaway,
saying it would be nearer to home. He told me to go and tell the
Newlyn skipper I had changed my mind."
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| The
Polperro fishing boats rest up in harbour |
Bill
was a bit reluctant but decided to go and tell the Newlyn crew he
was taking up the Polperro job. Fifty years later Bill is still
in Polperro.
"I
went aboard the Patsy-Anne and started work in Polperro," he says.
"It was very hard going, there was no radio or life-jackets. It
was done with a compass and a clock. They have radar and satelite
navigation nowadays. Ours was a little more hit and miss than that."
Bill
may have been based in Polperro but he would spend many days away
from home.
"We
would fish around west Cornwall for maybe a week and then would
come back to Polperro for the weekend."
Bill
stayed with the Patsy-Anne for a few years. He started dating a
local girl and married in 1952.
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| Bill
shares his happy memories of life in Polperro |
"I
was harbourmaster before Chris Curtis took over from me," says Bill.
"Nobody gets paid for the job, but I did the best I could. I think
occasionally I would get one or two people who wouldn't stick to
the rules which made it a bit of a difficult and thankless task
at times."
During
his fishing career in Polperro Bill did not have much spare time.
"When we weren't out at sea we would be fixing nets and doing boat
repairs," he remembers. "There wasn't much time for yourself back
then."
Although
it was hard work Bill would happily do it all again.
"It's
a way of life, it isn't done for gain and money," he says. "I had
my own boat come the end. It was a different lifestyle, there was
none of this 9-5 shifts. You would work 14 hour days. It certainly
wasn't done for the money. I am a pensioner today and it's a struggle
to get by on that."
Polperro
has depended on fishing for generations. In the 19th century, when
pilchards were landed in large quantities, the fish were processed
and packed in three factories near the harbour.
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| The
Polperro Museum Bill helped to launch |
The
Heritage Museum now occupies one formerly owned by the Teglio family
from Italy. Bill played a major part in the setting up of the museum.
"We
had a meeting and it was decided we could utilise the stores that
were empty for the museum," says Bill. "With a bit of moving around
we put the three stores together. It took a few years to get it
off the ground. I am very pleased to say its been a great success.
Several thousands of people go through the museum each year. The
museum generates the same amount of income as the fishing boats
do for the harbour."
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| A
horse and cart carries people to the harbour |
Located
in The Warren overlooking the harbour, the Polperro Heritage Museum
of Smuggling and Fishing houses a remarkable collection of exhibits
and 19th century photographs as well as many items of memorabilia
dating from the 18th century when both smuggling and fishing thrived
in Polperro.
It
vividly brings to life the story of this Cornish fishing village's
extraordinary history and many of the people who featured in it.
2003
opening times
The
Polperro Heritage Museum will be open between 10am and 6pm from
March until October 2003.
For
information and party bookings telephone 01503 272423.
Admission
charges:
Adults: 拢1.50
Children: 拢1 (children under 5 free)
Family: 拢4 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
Meet
the local vicar
Read the story of The RYDER
Growing up in Polperro with
Chris Curtis
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