WE'RE advised to destroy private documents by passing them through a shredding machine.

Fair enough, but sometimes that might remove part of our heritage.

Let me explain! Boat builder Bobby Cann is working down in Cornwall, restoring the National Trust's famous old sailing barge, Shamrock.

One of the locals, discovering 'Canny' lived in Brixham, handed him an old folder which apparently he'd retrieved from a skip.

The folder originated from the American offices of the Kerr Steamship Company, Broadway, New York.

The name on the cover was Captain John Kennar (MN) Brixham.

Inside was a collection of accounts and receipts for work done on the fishing smacks, Day Spring (BM201) and Prairie Flower (BM219) — skipper/owner John Kennar.

The documents ranged from 1908 to 1925 and covered items from various boat-repair businesses, including the Gourock Ropework Co, Jackman & Sons and JW & A Upham.

One particular item on Upham's bill would make today's owners smile... labour at 1/6d per hour.

Another surprise was several insurance claims. For instance, 'July 17th. Vessel. Day Spring. Position. Seven miles south of Small Lt. Hove-to shooting trawl, sea filled jib causing bowsprit to break.'

The cost of a new bowsprit amounted to £4.

A crew list gave details of the four-man crew, their wages and next of kin.

The young 16-year-old cook (A Kennar) was paid the princely sum of 12 shillings per week, plus one share.

There was even a 1924-25 demand for land tax on John Kennar's property in Berry Head Road.

The amount was for the grand sum of £1.10p. Ah, happy days!

The contents of the folder were fascinating, giving a brief insight to the cost of running a fishing vessel almost 100 years ago and the tremendous hardships the industry endured and, indeed, still does today.

Another interesting document was a copy of a claim against the German Government for the loss of the smack Day Spring, dated December 6, 1918. The total claim amounted to £1,176, 13 shillings and four pence.

It would be interesting to know if 'Jerry' ever settled the claim.

After some research, several Brixham folk with connections to the Kennar family — people like Mrs Ralph Bowles (Anne Kennar as was), and Laurie Bell — offered some interesting theories.

However, Bage Davis's wife, Diana, feels that the gentleman in question was her grandfather.

The Cornishman who handed Canny the folder requested that it be handed over to the Brixham Heritage museum for safe keeping, which I'm convinced will happen.

THERE was an interesting article in this month's Telegraph, the MN newspaper, about piracy.

Homeward bound from Malaysia towards Hull, the 18,000-tonne freighter Boularibank, under the command of Cap'n Peter Stapleton, was some 200 miles off Somalia approaching the Gulf of Aden.

Chatting to the chief officer on the bridge after breakfast one morning, the master noticed two fast-moving skiffs approaching his vessel.

As they came closer, shots were fired at the ship including several propelled grenades.

Cap'n Stapleton tried zigzag manoeuvres to stop the pirates coming alongside and flinging boarding ladders over the ship's rail, but couldn't shake them off.

High pressure fire hoses also failed to deter the pirates who retaliated by opening fire on the ship's crew.

Stacked on the Boularibank's deck were a number of old railway sleepers used for deck-cargo stowage and, keeping his head well down on the bridge, Cap'n Stapleton waited until the skiffs came alongside before directing his crew to toss the sleepers over the rail.

After several direct hits by railway sleepers, dropped from 20 feet, the Somalian scallywags turned and hightailed it back to their mother ship.

The relieved master gave his crew the day off and all hands relaxed over a barbecue on deck. How wonderfully British!

THE other afternoon my eyes were drawn across the bay, which looked absolutely tranquil.

On the horizon three big tankers lay snugly at anchor, perhaps waiting for the maritime market to improve.

Inside Torbay the little red tug was still there, as was the big barge anchored off Torquay, loaded with rocks from Norway to repair and protect Haldon Pier.

While part of my brain questioned Torbay Council's expensive method of maintenance to that section of the harbour, another part thought, 'keep out of it, Robert, they must surely know what they're doing?'

The calming effect of the bay made me remember a quiet gentleman who recently passed away after celebrating his 100th birthday, Frank Pearce, local historian and author.

I recall first meeting the prolific writer at a book-signing in Torbay Bookshop, about 10 years ago, where he was promoting his book, Brixham: Portrait of a Harbour Town.

Standing in the queue waiting for his signature I was amazed when he looked up, gave me a big grin and without asking my name, wrote 'To Bob Curtis. Best wishes. Frank Pearce'.

Later, when the crowd eased, we had a yarn and he told me about some of the horrors of WW2 Arctic/Atlantic convoys and how he was almost drowned when his ship, HMS Trinidad, managed to torpedo itself.

Frank's history of Brixham is a fascinating account of the old port from 1688 with William Prince of Orange's arrival.

He wrote also about the many deaths and ships wrecked in Torbay during the great storm of 1866.

The book's stories and photographs ranging back over the years included early fishing, boatbuilding, religion and smuggling.

There's even a photograph of the Mellrose, an early pilot boat, registered in both Dartmouth and Brixham and skippered by John Pillar.

There's a reminder of the Brixham flooding during 1946/7 and details of prominent local councillors and other dignitaries who, over the years, have influenced the way Brixham has evolved. Great stuff!

This quiet gentleman has, over the years, by the energy of his pen, contributed to so many historic memories of this place we call home.

If ever a man deserved to be recognised by the people of Torbay it must surely be Frank Pearce. Over to you, Mr Mayor?