Brixham hosts Devon's first National Fishing Remembrance Day

National Fishing Remembrance Day - 12 May 2024 - was a day for reflection and commemoration of all those who lost their lives while working in fishing in the UK.

In Devon, Helen Lovell-Smith, Fishermen's Mission Area Officer, held a quayside service in Brixham at 11am.

The RNLI Torbay was in attendance to take floral tributes to sea following the service (plastic wrapping removed) and we were joined by Kevin Foster MP, Black Gold, and Missin' Tackle.

A roll call of fishermen's names lost in the pursuit of fish in local waters, or lost away but from local ports was read out and sadly, names had been added since last year's Service in August. Fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations in peacetime England. In the future, fishermen's names which began in 1817 would be written in a memorial book to be displayed at All Saints Church, Brixham.

Helen Lovell-Smith from the Fishermen's Mission said: "I wish to thank everyone who attended the service and paid their respects to fishermen who didn't make it home to their families. It was also shown live via Facebook and was watched across the world.

"For families who still grieve their loved ones, I know how important it is that they hear their loved one's name read aloud so that their memory lives on. The service was incredibly well supported and attended by Deputy Mayor Cllr Paul Addison, Kevin Foster MP, the Torbay Lifeboat Crew, representatives from the local fishing industry and Brixham Coastguard. The Tor Bay Harbour Team worked incredibly hard to prepare the area for the service in the days preceding.

"I would like to acknowledge the strong relationship the Fishermen's Mission has with the crew on the Torbay Lifeboat and thank the on-duty Coxswain Adam Fowler for bringing the ALB alongside the quay and scattering the floral tributes at sea after the service . This year I had support from two singing groups, 'Black Gold' and 'Missin' Tackle' who sang fitting maritime songs that resonated across the harbour and added to the poignancy of the service.

"Next years National Fishing Remembrance Day will be held on Sunday 11 May 2025 on the quayside in Brixham."