Bridlington
August 19, 2021
19 Aug '21. HM 151. Bridlington in East Riding*
You can tell a good harbour by how they answer the VHF or phone. When I spoke to Wendy and Margaret in the harbour office, I knew the Harbour Master would be a good bloke - and he was. Smiling ex army chef Terry (photo 4), took our ropes on the quay and he even recognised my Royal Armoured Corps Blue Ensign!
HM Lawrence Porter was in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary for 13 years as an engineer, and clearly runs Europe's largest shell fish landing port as a tight ship. 41 fishing boats (25 crab and 16 lobster) land catch 24 / 7 creating an £8M turnover for the harbour with the harbour charging 4.3% - a healthy income for this Trust Port. Lawrence's skills are wide ranging, he is currently overseeing an expansion of the harbour piers (photo 5), he is the RNLI "launcher" and he was even asked to appear on the ultimate TV show - CBeebies!
Good Dog settled into deep mud on the wall (photo 6) which was not a problem for us, but was costing the harbour commissioners £100k every time it needs dredging. Their solution was to buy and rent out their own dredger. It will be busy.
This part of the coast is so distinctive to anyone who loves the shape of our coast (me!). North of "Brid" are the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head (photo 9) and in the south is the wispy end of Spurn Point. Longshore drift has been pushing sand down this long coastline for thousands of years which makes it a real challenge for navigation, which I love.
So the last of the Yorkshire's three "sea facing" harbours and a very happy visit. Thank you Lawrence, your staff and kind Mark of Yorkshire Powerboats who pressed £30 into my hand for the Seafarers Charity. After a rocky start in Whitby, Yorkshire came good and I really recommend a visit to "Brid"!
The word Riding comes from a Viking word for "third" - hence there is no "South" Riding of Yorkshire. Now you know!
You can tell a good harbour by how they answer the VHF or phone. When I spoke to Wendy and Margaret in the harbour office, I knew the Harbour Master would be a good bloke - and he was. Smiling ex army chef Terry (photo 4), took our ropes on the quay and he even recognised my Royal Armoured Corps Blue Ensign!
HM Lawrence Porter was in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary for 13 years as an engineer, and clearly runs Europe's largest shell fish landing port as a tight ship. 41 fishing boats (25 crab and 16 lobster) land catch 24 / 7 creating an £8M turnover for the harbour with the harbour charging 4.3% - a healthy income for this Trust Port. Lawrence's skills are wide ranging, he is currently overseeing an expansion of the harbour piers (photo 5), he is the RNLI "launcher" and he was even asked to appear on the ultimate TV show - CBeebies!
Good Dog settled into deep mud on the wall (photo 6) which was not a problem for us, but was costing the harbour commissioners £100k every time it needs dredging. Their solution was to buy and rent out their own dredger. It will be busy.
This part of the coast is so distinctive to anyone who loves the shape of our coast (me!). North of "Brid" are the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head (photo 9) and in the south is the wispy end of Spurn Point. Longshore drift has been pushing sand down this long coastline for thousands of years which makes it a real challenge for navigation, which I love.
So the last of the Yorkshire's three "sea facing" harbours and a very happy visit. Thank you Lawrence, your staff and kind Mark of Yorkshire Powerboats who pressed £30 into my hand for the Seafarers Charity. After a rocky start in Whitby, Yorkshire came good and I really recommend a visit to "Brid"!
The word Riding comes from a Viking word for "third" - hence there is no "South" Riding of Yorkshire. Now you know!