The countless fishermen of many nations who have been helped by those running the fishermen's mission in Newlyn also have the Bolitho family to thank because without them its development and achievements would not have been possible.
Without their generosity the port would not have such a splendid headquarters – and it was Miss Nora Bolitho of Trengwainton who made the funds available for its construction exactly 100 years ago.
Miss Nora was already deeply involved in the work of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, which was established at Newlyn in the very early 1900s. She would read newspapers and novels to the fishermen and paid for improvements to its premises, Stanley House. By 1910 it was agreed that the building was too small, so Miss Nora offered to provide more than £4,000 for a new building as a gift "to the men of the fishing community".
It is ironic that when the doors of the Ship Institute – so labelled because of the proud golden galleon above the high clock – were opened on September 30, 1911, women were not allowed in. Doubtless Miss Nora was excluded from this prohibition.
At this time, and during the 19th century, the Bolitho family had a deep interest in the industry through ownership of fishing boats and seines, as well as through banking, mining and farming. Indeed, the family was to the forefront in financing of the building of the north and south piers.
The opening of the fishermen' s institute came at the conclusion of the summer pilchard fishery in Mount's Bay in which between 200 and 300 craft were afloat at Newlyn, St Ives, Mousehole and Porthleven.
It was recorded in the Cornish Evening Tidings of that opening day: "The new Ship Institute, which has been built by Miss Nora Bolitho, was formally opened this afternoon. Prayers were said by the diocesan chaplain to the Bishop, Reverend A Hume Smith. It has been built from designs supplied by Edward Warren and handed over to the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. This mission, which has for many years past done much good work in Newlyn, will move into its new headquarters early in 1912 when it will be free to all fishermen and sailors."
So the powerful Bolitho connection was established. The fishermen reciprocated Miss Nora's generosity by presenting her with a silver bowl, silver inkstand and a visitors book. Today only the inkstand remains and is on display at Penlee House museum and gallery in Penzance.
Miss Nora wrote, in her letter of thanks in November 1911: "I understand these lovely presents come from the fishermen of various parts of England whose boats come into Newlyn for fishing as well as very many Cornish fishing friends. On stormy nights, when you are at sea, I will think of my kind fishermen and wish them safe home to port. I hope the new institute, which is strictly non-political, non-sectarian and called The Ship, will flourish."
She added, with foresight: "I hope for many years to come this institute will be a blessing and a comfort to all those who use it."
Nora died in 1929, as did Skipper Bosworth, the superintendent at that opening. Down the century there have been more than 20 superintendents, from Skipper Collett at the first building to Superintendent Keith Dickson today. Throughout that time members of the Bolitho family have kept close links with the institute and maintained a family tradition.
In 1969 a fine portrait of Miss Nora was unveiled and is displayed today in the room named after her. With the opening of a memorial room in 1993 and the recent unveiling of a statue to fishermen lost at sea, the institute continues its important role in the life of the Newlyn and the Cornish seafaring community.
Through the dark days of the Penlee lifeboat disaster in 1981, the calamity of he Torrey Canyon oil tanker and the hundreds of fishing and sailing boat losses, the institute has remained a beacon. A number of events to mark the centenary – and the Bolitho connection – are being planned for the coming months.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN