ARROWWORD
In this crossword the clues are printed in what would normally be the ‘black’ squares. Follow the arrows from each clue to find where the word should fit.
is one of those fishing communities’ that has one main road in and one out – so if you don’t live in the town you have a drive in.
“There has also always been the fact that we do not have a harbour here – all our vessels are anchored at sea with tender support.
“If the weather turns foul all we can do is head to Chichester Marina where we can berth until we are able to get back to Selsey.
“If this happens it can add an extra five working hours to our day.”
Plans have been muted several times for a small
harbour to be situated at Selsey but sadly due to the current economic climate this has had to be put on hold. Maybe one day.
“Chichester Marina is very fair when it comes to us mooring boats there and they look after us well – it is just the inconvenience of the extra travel involved.”
They have purchased some large fish tanks from the Scottish firm Todd Fish Teck and put these into their shed at Selsey.
“This means that they can now bring their live lobsters and crabs and place them into these tanks.”
These then are sold via the beachside café called Potters, which is run by their sister Katherine with her mother Trisha and their sister-in-law Sammie, Chris’s wife.
Katherineandtrishlearned about the fishing industry by working with Chris in his netmaking business.
Following its closure the family decided to look towards fresh challenges.
Katherine said: “As one door closed another opened and Potters was launched.
“Once the new lifeboat station became operational we were able to open up our stall on the Kingsway.
“Visitors love it as well as many locals.
“Fresh shellfish is cooked each day by my father which then goes on sale at the stall.
“To be able to say the catching, cooking and preparation is all done by our family makes us feel incredibly proud.
“As for the boys, their father has watched them grow up with a determination to succeed.
“It is what fishing is all about – he respects and admires them immensely.”
Both Chris and Mike put everything they can into running the business.
“We have 500 pots and on a daily basis we fish 280 to 300 pots.
“Having the new tanks has proved to be a real bonus and the live catch can go into these.
“In Selsey the fishermen work well with each other, but go their separate ways.
“In the event of any incident at sea they all pull together to support each other.
“There is a Fishermans Association but sadly due to the coronavirus we have not met as normal.
“It is a very stressful time for all those there and extra pressures do come to the fore at times.”
The local council has been very supportive indeed and they ran ‘The Sea’s The Day’ event with an exhibition in Chichester and published an excellent book, Bring the Catch Home, written and edited by Janet Mcmeekin with the support of Selsey fishermen.
This was a great success and highlighted the challenges they all face in earning a living in this strong fishing community.
When you both wake up in the morning, do you both say to yourselves that you are looking forward to going out for another day’s fishing?
“It has been a frustrating year and a slow one, but it is a way of life that we both enjoy and would not change.
“Selsey beach is a working base and if not at sea we are often there doing things and like to talk to people.
“We support the Fishermen’s Mission and they often pop down to say hello and to reassure us in the current times of need. It is nice to know they are there.”
In conclusion it was something both Chris and Mike wanted to do. Yes! They were encouraged by their parents.
Living in a fishing community did help and it is something from a very young age we were used to.
The next 12 months are going to be interesting but the Harveys feel they are ready to take them on: “We enjoy every part of it.”
It’s the hunting for things and just being out there doing it, that they like.
Listening to the older generation talk about their experiences still motivates them both – survival of the Selsey fishing fleet is what it is all about!
And the fishing community there intend to see that this will happen!