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.
Losing traditional skills
"I suppose at one time yards would have their own men to do it, like, but I don’t know, I don’t know, the loss of apprenticeship schemes and all this sort of thing, it just seems to have died a death"
I suppose at one time yards would have their own men to do it, like, but I don’t know, I don’t know, the loss of apprenticeship schemes and all this sort of thing, it just seems to have died a death, I don’t know why, but, plus all this plastic modern stuff.
Interviewer: Did you mention the last time I met you, you were training somebody?
No, there’s nobody interested. I asked a couple of the lads to do it when I couldn’t get round to everybody, you know, when I get really busy, and those two fellows had a go and, “I’m not doing that,” they expected to be sitting there in their white overalls, you know, their white overalls nice and clean. Working on boats and ships is different to normal work like, jumping around staging and covered in oil and grease.
Paul has 16 memories in the memorynet:
Paul's memories with a Community theme:
Paul's other memories:
Growing up in a fishing community- First boat
- Learning traditional fishing skills
- Fishing routines
- Superstitions
- Leaving the sea and sign painting
- Sign Painting
- Sign painting techniques and methods
- Making and mending equipment
- Losing traditional skills
- Going out in his coble
Paul in his workshop- A hand painted sign
- Paul's coble
- Examples of Paul's sign painting
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