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There has been a heartfelt public response to the setting-up of
a permanent open-air memorial to "lost" fishermen in Newlyn.
The recent public meeting to gauge opinion following requests from
local families who have lost loved ones at sea and who have no known
graves, was well attended.
In fact the Newlyn Mission was packed with people who were all
keen to see the proposal become a reality.
Members of families who have lost loved ones in fishing tragedies
were among the audience and made suggestions on what form the memorial
could take.
Since 1980 more than 20 fishermen have set out from Newlyn and
not returned.
In 1997 alone, 11 lives were lost - including the four from the
local trawler, Margaretha Maria.
The public meeting achieved what it set out to do - to act as a
catalyst to launch a major fund-raising campaign which will hopefully
bring in the many thousands of pounds it will need to create a permanent
memorial, perhaps a life-sized statue of a fisherman cast in bronze.
An account has now been opened at Barclays by the group's treasurer,
Shirley Stevenson, and donations may be paid at the bank or sent
to Mrs Stevenson at the Newlyn Mission, The Strand.
Local Methodist minister, the Rev Julyan Drew showed a range of
memorials to fishermen, from this country and overseas.
Several showed a life-sized bronze figure, of a young fishermen.
The views of the audience were invited from Tony Woodhams, Mission
chairman and a member of the steering group.
Sculptors from Cornwall and Wales have already sent potential designs
and these were displayed in the hall.
Chairman, Douglas Williams told The Cornishman: "We want the
whole of the local community and the county to join us in this venture.
"We have already received great support from local councils
and on our committee are representatives from a wide range of interests,
including the Cornish Fish Producers, Seafood Cornwall, RNLI, Mission
and Harbour Commission."
He added: "Our aim is for it to be a permanent open-air memorial
to all Cornish fishermen lost at sea, not only to those who fished
from this port but from all harbours in Cornwall.
"We believe we have the hearts of the Cornish people with
us."
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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