|
The Newlyn Fish Festival will once again be celebrating the Cornish
Fish Industry on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August, amongst the wonderful
surroundings of Cornwall’s largest fishing port. The Festival is
organised in aid of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen
which provides care, compassion and support to working, retired and
disabled fishermen and their families.
  This year’s event aims to promote the Diversity, Quality and
Sustainability of Fish and Shellfish landed in Cornwall by a fleet of
vessels from 49 ports, harbours’ and coves around the 326 mile Cornish
Coastline. Visitors will be able to buy locally caught fish and
shellfish, learn about current fishing methods and enjoy a wide array
of seafood from the region’s producers.
The Festival will also host
over 100 Trade, Craft, Art and Charity stalls, as well as open Fishing
Vessels, a Navy War Ship, Cornwall Sea Fisheries Patrol Vessel, Gig
Racing, Helicopters and the RNLI Penlee Lifeboat. All this and more
will take place to an uplifting programme of music from Sea Shanty
singers; ‘The Rum and Shrub Shanty Men’ and ‘The Falmouth Shout’, the
award winning ‘Camborne Youth Band’, ‘The Cornish Worzels’, ‘The Newlyn
Male Voice Choir’, Newlyn’s very own ‘Heart and Soul,’ plus Janette
Eathorne and Jill Abbott singing Cornish songs and popular ballads.
Special guest Pete Goss will be opening this year’s event. Pete and
his traditional wooden lugger “Spirit of Mystery” shall follow in the
wake of seven Cornishmen who made a heroic journey to Australia 154
years ago. The 37ft “Mystery” was an open Mounts Bay Lugger built in
Newlyn. Times were hard and the seven Cornishmen made the decision to
try their luck at the Australian gold rush over a pint in the Star Inn,
Newlyn.
Now, 153 years later, Pete has built “Spirit of Mystery” to celebrate
their amazing achievement. The vessel will be as true to the original
“Mystery” as possible and, although there will be concessions to
safety, they will not use an engine and there will be no modern
electrical and navigational systems. “Spirit of Mystery” and her crew
shall set sail on their voyage during October but shall be open for
visitors at the Newlyn Fish Festival.
Further highlights of the Festival will include the Seafood
Cornwall Fish and Shellfish Master Class with champion fishmonger
Duncan Lucas, Fish Smoking demonstrations with the award winning
Kipperman, traditional Withey Pot making with Richard Ede and the
popular Fish Display and Charity Auction with Robin Turner. To ensure
all ages are entertained, there will be plenty of activities and
workshops to encourage children to learn about our coast and sample our
wonderful Cornish Seafood.
|
