Rough Seas

A trawlerman's life was hard, often up against bad weather, rough seas and black frosts, although on calm days it was a pleasure to be at sea. In this eventful memoir, deep-sea trawlerman James Greene relates his life at sea, from his childhood when his father would take him out in some of the worst gales and hurricanes imaginable to his early career as a deckhand learner, obtaining his skipper's ticket, and the many experiences - both disastrous and otherwise - to occur throughout his time at sea. During his career he was involved in ship collisions and fires, arrested for poaching, fired upon by Icelandic gunboats, in countless storms and even swept overboard in icy conditions off the Russian coast. The British trawling industry is largely a bygone age and people are beginning to forget the adventures, hardships and joys that characterised this most dangerous of professions. This book seeks to keep the memories of a once great industry alive.

Autorentext

James Greene was born in Fleetwood in 1938. He left school at 15 and joined Boston Deep Sea Fishing Co. as a deckhand learner, moving to Grimsby in 1953. At the age of 22 he achieved his lifelong ambition and passed his skipper's ticket. When the fishing industry collapsed he became master of a supply vessel until a heart attack ended his sea career. When he was working as a tour guide at the Grimsby Heritage Centre many people suggested he should record his experiences, which is why he penned this book.