That reminds me...

So let’s just relax, chill out for a few moments while we whittle away at our stick of life, making the best of how it is now, and reminiscing about how it was then.

As well as all those who regularly get in touch with their own little anecdotes or snaps of days gone by, I also get loads of people telling me that although meaning to contact me, they haven’t yet got round to it.

I am always delighted to hear from any old or new TRM readers who want to contribute to our weekly get togethers, and it can be about any topic, from Portfield Fair fun to Guy Fawkes frolics; and from tantalising trawling days to the ghosts of Christmas past.

If you want to share a TRM thought, you will be more than welcome.

Like Angie Bebb, who after last week’s TRM which included a bit about the River Spey trawler sinking in the Docks in 1955, contacted me with this cartoon taken from the March 1955 edition of the Milford Haven and District Reporter, the caption of which read: “Perhaps the incident which caused most interest on the docks last week was the raising of the trawler River Spey on Thursday afternoon after several attempts had been made by Mr D V Howells and Son, the well known salvage contractors.

“The dock wall was crowded with spectators when the vessel was finally raised and moved to more shallow water. On Thursday morning a heavy hawser was fixed to the stern of the River Spey from the Bar boat Succour and then pumping operations began from the salvage vessel Adherence. “Mr D V Howells was interviewed after this successful attempt. He said that the River Spey would remain where she was for the time being until the 70 tons of coal were removed. He admitted that the trawler had caused more trouble than expected but was glad that they had been finally successful”.

Angie joked that family gossip has it that it was raised at the third attempt by my grandfather and father – Dan Howells and Horace Howells – and that old Danny dried out every lump of that 70 tons of coal then sold it on – he was a shrewd old boy.

She also said that she could remember being on the Adherence many times in her childhood and talking to her dad as he descended into the water in his diving gear – those huge brass diving helmets.

Thanks for the story Angie, a smashing follow up to last week’s tale.

Another regular who could remember that particular incident was Haverfordwest’s Diane Tozer whose dad was chief engineer at the time, and worked on shore for Charlie Llewellin maintaining the trawler engines.

The Tozers, as usual, also managed to solve last week’s teaser, as did Eric Harries, Cliff Barrett, John Roberts, George Roach and Ceryth Pugh. For those who didn’t know, the answer was that it was during the “daytime”.

It is time to pass on my thanks to Jack Woodgate in Cardiff, who kindly provided this week’s trawling piece about the Aberdeen built Koorah whose first owners in 1912 included Edward Brand of Johnston Hall (prev Dewsland Street).

The vessel was requisitioned by the Admiralty during the Great War, and a young minesweeper described to the Daily Telegraph the perilous operation of minesweeping in the Dardanelles.

“The shells fell so thickly that had the Turks been good shots, not a man could have lived. The water splashed up by the falling shells almost swamped the trawlers. Captain Woodgate and his crew of the Koorah performed an extremely gallant act. When the Manx Hero was blown up, Capt Woodgate and his crew launched a small boat and in this hell of fire rescued the crew. The Koorah was now the last sweeper.

Capt Woodgate tried to save his boat but a shell smashed it as it was being hauled on deck. With powerful searchlights on his boat and the centre of fierce fire, he steered her to the northern shore. His daring deed took nearly 90 minutes to accomplish.”

Some 40 years later in February 1954 the Koorah ran ashore half mile west of Dunnet Head, Caithness and the crew were rescued by the seine-net boat Our Lassie and landed at Scrabster. Salvage failed, and the vessel sank.”

Right, nearly time for me to up anchor, I have got a busy week ahead. For a start we have got more of my Oz relations arriving, this time ones I have never met before. It is my cousin Ian, whose the same age as me and, though born in north Wales, left for Oz when he was just six months old.

I have warned Betty she will have to be on her best behaviour, because coming from farming stock, Ian might be an obsessive shearer!

Before I go here is one of those actual Parish bloopers that always make me smile..

“Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale, it’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.”

See you next week.