Coasting Bargemaster. A.W. Roberts

[Praxinoscope]

Published back in 1949 a very readable account of life as a sailing bargemaster between the two World War.
These guys were incredible sailors in a really tough world.

 

[Poignard]

His "Last of the Sailor Men" is also a good read

 

[Praxinoscope]

His "Last of the Sailor Men" is also a good read

Haven’t managed to get hold of a copy yet, but I’m sure it will be as good.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Bob Roberts was an interesting character who was unusual in his day that he courted a 'media profile'. He wasn't native to the East coast and for lots of reasons, including I'm sure a degree of jealously from other barge and oyster men, he wasn't universally liked or even admired. I grew up being regaled by all sorts of stories about him from from my grandparents, including his lack of seamanship and his matrimonial arrangements, that painted him as a right rum 'un.

Reading more widely about him in recent years allows you to mainly see that back then, being a little 'different' did rather set you apart. Although the same group of people were very accepting of Kim Holman and the Rabbi Lionel Blue, so who knows?

 

[Ladybirdgaffcutter]

His folk songs pop up on shanty compilation CD's sometimes, with tales of drunken bargemen running aground on the Nore etc..
good book tip thanks

 

[ianc1200]

I love his recordings and his books. However, an old sailing barge sailor I know is very disparaging about him. He said him and his crew would have enough for half a pint each, and have to make it last whole night, whereas Bob Roberts would have people queueing to buy him a drink.

I'm sure most will have seen this but just in case;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r785dfa_PKQ&t=876s

 

[Ladybirdgaffcutter]

Thanks for the link.
I wonder what B.R. would have to say about the exciting wooden cargo ship revival, (ethically and greenly shifting craft rums, fancy wine and chocolate etc, rather than general bulk cargo) exemplified by the engineless, ocean-going Tres Hombres, the Nordlys (a very old converted Brixham trawler), the great new lugger Grayhound, etc?

The talk of 'last wooden vessel trading under sail' was happily wide of the mark, and in addition, the likes of Luke Powell's Working Sail (planning to reconstruct the Rhoda Mary, a big trading schooner, on top of his pilot cutters) make this a wonderful era to be involved with, or just an enthusiast of, heritage working craft, new and old.

 

[ianc1200]

Dick Durham on being the last mate etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAFrAtQ7ZBc

 

[Ladybirdgaffcutter]

Thanks again, ghastly paint job in the hold..

 

[Wansworth]

Served as the mate on the Vectis Isle with BR an interesting character with a way with words

 

[ianc1200]

How did reconcile his former hatred of boats with engines & then having one himself? Be interested in how he justified it to himself.

 

[Wansworth]

I don’t recall any conversation about not liking motors .The Vectis Isle was very slow and we hand steered much of the time and the anchour was manual as well although it did have a Lister motor at times.On one occasion we ended up going backwards at the height of a gale in the channel......in many ways it felt like an old sailing coaster!