Names of Lifeboatmen....
The gentleman laying on the ground in the front is my great grandfather John 'Teapot' West. He was a fisherman and lifeboatman but also well known for being a 'Fisherman Evangelist'. Together with William Craske and William Long he was a Methodist Preacher for over 50 years. They travelled throughout the county preaching and after visitors heard them they appeared at rallies in such places as London, Birmingham and Liverpool. These fishermen/lifeboatmen were strong, brave and somewhat exceptional men. There is a phrase used which I think fits them beautifully - 'Iron Men in Wooden Boats'. Pictured from left: 1. Henry 'Joyful' West 2. Wilson Able (with pipe) 3. Grice (in the background - unsure of Christian name) 4. 'Brighams' Bishop 5. 'Joyful' West (father of Henry - No 1) 6. John 'Sparrow' Hardingham (Young Lad) 7. John 'Rook' Reynolds 8. 'Potter' Hardingham (leaning on boat - father of John - No 6) 9. 'Fiddy' West (seated) 10. John 'Teapot' West (laying on ground). Fishermen nearly all had nicknames. In the days when this photograph was taken the fishing community here was huge - hundreds of fishermen on the beach and scores of boats. Fishing was a family tradition and sons followed their fathers and grandfathers for generations in going to sea, families were large and a lot of the community was related in some way. This resulted in men sharing the same names - both surnames & christian names (for example my great grandfather John pictured here had a son, my grandfather, who was also called John and he in turn named one of his sons, my uncle, John!). So you can see that this lead to some confusion when all of these men would have been working together on an overcrowded beach! Fishing was a dangerous occupation and it was important that when you called to someone the person you were talking to responded - not half the beach!! Therefore they all had nicknames to differentiate them from other men with the same name. I do not know the history of all the individual nicknames some are obvious such as 'Squinter' or 'Red Eye'. I do however know the history behind why my great grandfather was called 'Teapot'. He rescued a pilot who had crashed in the North Sea and brought him home in his fishing boat. In return for saving his life the pilot and his wife gave great grandfather a silver teapot.
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RE: RE: Names of Lifeboatmen....
Hi Barbara
I come from Grimsby and my family also have a strong fishing background. I know my family had strong connections with a West family that came from Sherringham. Actually one of them appeared to be living with my great grandmother as a lodger in 1891. I remember my father saying they were religious people but he also said they were related. I also remember him sailing with them in the 70's/80's. There is a strong possibility they are your relations perhaps?
Love the photograph and the story fascinated me.
Thanks, Karen
Comment from Karen Forsyth on Sunday, 8th October 2006.
RE: RE: Names of Lifeboatmen....
Hi Barbara,
All my mothers 8 Uncles (Long family) were members of the Stiffkey Lifeboat, I think around 1890-1950. Some were also fishermen. As my parents came to Australia in 1951 I only heard vague stories, so reading your article has been a link to my ancestry. Thank you. Barbara
Comment from Barbara Hanley on Tuesday, 11th December 2007.
RE: RE: Names of Lifeboatmen....
The fishing community of Sheringham is a way of life that has virtually died out within my own lifetime (born Sheringham, 1949). Because the industry was relatively small scale and not organised labour in the same way as coal mining for example, the death of the fishing industry has not had a public impact in the same way as the closure of the mines. The West family are probably the most famous fishing family in Sheringham. Barbara has pointed out her relatives "Teapot" West and "Fiddy" West in the photo. I remember in the 1960s occasionally helping my parents takes WRVS "meals on wheels" lunches to an elderly gentleman called Teapot West who lived in Beeston Road near the railway bridge, and of course just down the road from there was the Great Grimsby store full of fishermen's gear, run at that time by Fiddy West. Were these the same as in the photo or more likely the next generation? One fisherman's nickname was "Go father" Pegg. My mother told me he gained this nickname because when a young lad he was always pestering his father to go out with him in the boat - "Can I go, father?" Does anyone have another explanation for this amusing nickname?
Comment from Ben Young on Tuesday, 24th January 2012.