My paternal grandfather, Wyndham Howells, was a salmon fisherman at Goldcliff on the River Severn. In fact I believe he was one of the very last salmon fisherman to fish using traditional techniques in the area.
Radio Recording
At some point in the 80s he was interviewed for the radio (station unknown) and a recording was found on an old C90 cassette tape in a drawer by my aunty. I transferred it and did some clean-up on it to remove all the noise. The most startling thing listening in 2010 is how un-Welsh he sounds. He sounds more like a farmer from Somerset, but I guess Somerset isn’t so far away from Goldcliff, just across the Severn Estuary.
He started working at the fishery after WWII and worked right until his death aged 85, in 1985. He was a also a craftsman making and repairing the wicker baskets; known as ‘Putchers’ that crossed the Severn in ranks catching the fish as they swam blind in the muddy water.
As I remember, he didn’t speak much (the recording above is the most I ever heard him talk) and he spent most of his time outside on the back doorstep area smoking a pipe with the latest dog. I’m not entierly sure he was allowed in the house. The dog definitely wasn’t. He called me ‘boy’ (I’m not convinced he remembered which one I was) and patted me on the head a lot, with affection.
He died as the result of a Shrove Tuesday, pancake-induced heart attack. Extra-thick pancakes, I’m told. I must remember to go steady on them next year.
I never really knew him, but I think I understand him a lot more now.
