The photo of the timber ship being unloaded brings back memories to me. I was secretary of the British Soviet Friendship Society and I visited just about every Russian ship that came into the harbour. This is from the late 1950s to 1990. We had a wonderful time on these ships and me and my group took Russian sailor's to the local pubs and to Norwich. I have photo's of nearly every Russian ship that came into our harbour. The first Russian ship was in 1924 and the flag was half mast owing to the death of their leader. I think one of the crew fell into the hold and was killed and I think he was buried in Gorleston graveyard. Inthe late 70s a Russian captain was killed walking across a crossing by a bus. The stewardess was badly hurt and I visited her in Yarmouth Hospital. There was quite a bit in the EDP and Mercury and I sent the cuttings to Klaipeda where the ship was stationed. I had a nice letter from the mother of the stewardess. We also used to take the captain and some of the crew to the Town Hall and met the Mayor-Mayoress. Anything you want to know about the Russian ship,let me know. Ivor Steadman.

My father William Hodds was a stevedore down at the docks in Great Yarmouth, employed on a casual basis in the fishing season from September to December. When he was not doing this, he would get work wherever he could whether it was on the beach on the fruit stalls or street sweeping for the corporation. We lived at no.2 Row 50.

Usually, he would queue each day as the ships came in, and be allocated to a job by the gang master who would say how many men were needed for the day. They would load barrels of salted fish or coal onto the ships by crane. The ships were bound for Russia, Germany or Lithuania. He would work all day for a days wage - not an hourly rate - until the work was done. I remember once he came home injured after being hit by a load of coal being loaded by crane into the hold. He told us he had to struggle up the ladders back up to the deck from the hold, before losing conciousness. No compensation in those days!

The fish wharf was on the docks opposite the timber yards on the other side. There were bustling lines of Scottish girls on the wharf gutting the herring, and any other fish would be gutted and thrown to the side. We, as children were allowed to pick up these fish usually mackerel whiting or codling, and we would take them, six on a piece of string, and sell them to the neighbours for a penny a piece. This would supplement our Dads wages.

I would go on to the ships as a boy of about ten and ask for stamps as I liked to collect them. I would walk around the ships with ease, into the engine rooms and talking to the foreign crew. I didn't feel in any danger.

We would recognise where the fishing boats came from by their id's, and we would watch them come in through Gorleston harbour and even in the fog the ferryman would weave his way across the river through the 'traffic' of the ships and fishing boats coming in.

The steamers with tourists on would go up and down the river and we would run as children to keep up with them, and every now and then the tourists would give us a penny if we managed to keep up!
Where the river met the sea (at the 'bar'), people on the steamers would often be sick due to the swell of the water. My sister took me on one of these boats when I was about 5yrs old and I was sick too.

My brother and I would fish in the harbour overnight some times, with a candle in a jar for light, catching dabs or whiting. I would have been about 12 at the time.

I have just started researching my family tree, and my grandparents hail from Gorleston. My great grandads profession is listed as a 'port corrage boy'. Has anyone heard of this? I cannot find any information on this. Hope someone can help!
Many thanks, Amanda

Just like to add a few words. I worked on the s/s Queen of the Broads and my uncle Mr G Cooke of Girton Road used to run the steamers and try and beat them to their mooring and was given a penny or half penny depending on how generous people were who travelled on the steamers.

Im sorry but this is not related to the above, but I must tell you, my sister and I were recorded on promo film visiting the beach by the Iron Duke with one deckchair we had to share. I knew they were filming, but took no notice. I think its "the resort that has everything" thanks.

i worked on the M.V. Norwich Trader of Great Yarmouth shipping co from 1962-1964. I also worked on two supply boats in 1967 for IOS I was on The Lady Brigid and the Lady Fiona. I also worked for FT Everard &Sons and frequently took coal to Norwich Power Station. We also took scrap metal from Riverside Norwich to Rotterdam on the Norwich Trader. It is about time that Great Yarmouth shipping co. had some recognition relating to the history of Great Yarmouth. As an addendum I am the only person still alive of the crew I sailed with on the nor trader.

My great grandparents and their family lived in Great Yarmouth from 1862. On the 1881 Census my great grandfather's occupation is listed as "Smack Owner Last Head Out Provider". Can anyone tell me what this means exactly please.

Many thanks. Erica.

I worked at Fellows & Company Shipbuilders on Southtown Road until I was 18 and did my National Service in the RAF at Hopton. I have many happy memories of that period and can remember the MV Singularity being launched in time for the Coronation,it was painted cream and looked great - I have a picture and also a picture of the dry dock when we had the flood. After N.S they were unable to re-employ me so I worked with The Great Yarmouth Shipping Company for a while. I also have many stories of that time. I once fell into the river just opposite the Customs House after being given too much Dutch gin by a jolly Dutch Captain. It was a week before Christmas! I also worked at The Little Theatre and Britannia Pier but this info' is all ready on your site. I now work in professional theatre and would love to visit and record some memories.

Jon.

PS Through the magic of your Site,
I'm now in contact with Colin Brown - an old Prioy School Boy. Many Thanks.

I came across your page while searching the net, and found the comments about the port very interesting. I was involved with the port all my working life. From 1953 to 1956 I worked for the Gt. Yarmouth Shipping Co. on the ABC Wharf as a warehouse stock clerk then after 2 years National Service from 1956 to 1958, I returned to the GYSC and worked as a shipping and forwarding clerk clearing various cargoes through Customs & Excise that were shipped into Yarmouth on the "Lowestoft Trader", "Norwich Trader", "Norfolk Trader", "Plover" & "Mavis" until 1965. I then joined Brown & Root Wimpey (which later became Wimpey Marine) as Senior Customs and Agency clerk preparing customs & shipping documents for materials that were shipped to the rigs on the supply vessels until 1984 when the company was taken over by Ventureforth. I continued there as Customs and Agency Supervisor until being made redundant in 1994. I joined Seletar Shipping in 1995 and worked as Sales Invoicing Clerk until my retirement in 2002.