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Photograph of Paul Robinson in his workshop

Paul Robinson

Paul belongs to: The Coble and Keelboat Society

Paul was born in Cullercoats. His family were in fishing and merchant navy. Paul got his first boat when he was 13. He has made a living from fishing and sign painting.

Paul was interviewed by Kylea Little on 1 December 2005. The interview took place at the Interviewee's workshop and lasted 38 minutes and 30 seconds.

Photograph of Paul Robinson in his workshop
Photograph of Paul Robinson in his workshop

Learning traditional fishing skills

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"I used to go off with the older fellows, like, give them a hand, at weekend sometimes in their boats"

I used to go off with the older fellows, you know like, give them a hand at weekend sometimes in their boats- that was your sort of training. How you served your time and, you know, you left school and were away with them for a few years, have your own little boat for when you wanted to go out yourself- and that’s a way of learning the trade, just by actually going or have a few in off the rocks. You’d see a few washed up, smashed up ones and made them up and threw them in, all very cloak and dagger like.

Interviewer: Was it a secret where you would go?

All over, you work close in where you can see all the rocks, and there were places further off, bits of ground and you would keep the marks in your head whereabouts they are like, just where you’re lining buildings up, what they call transit lines and just experience. Over the years you build it up and learn off other people as well.

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This memory has these themes:
Skills | The North East | Traditions | Training | Work

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