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Toby - Home & Fishing

Arthur Charles 'Toby' West was born at 1 Winchester Gardens, at the top of High Street, to Bertram and Beatrice West.

Judging by the 1925 postcard (recently found in Dorset), his father took seasonal work on racing craft.

26 July: Dear Beat., coming to England, Wensday at Cowes"

Of course, Toby Sr. had to send Toby's mother a postcard of shrimpers at Boulogne sur Mer!

Greenbank Laundry and Winchester buildings

Distant view of "Toby's Triangle" off Greenbank Laundry Quay! Part of Winchester Buildings, inshore of the laundry.

Winchester Buildings can be seen beyond the R.C.Y.C., below Dunstanville Terrace

Old Victory out for a scrub, Restronguet Creek

Boyo seemed to think he was (on the right) with the girls above, and that they were Toby's sisters.

West Family outing on Old Victory

This appears to show Toby (standing?) with his brothers and parents (right lady and right gent) - off Mevagissey?

32 ft. fishing boat Ellen (Kelvin petrol-paraffin)

Moored close to what became known as "Toby's triangle" (R.C.Y.C astern - Date?)

Note Ellen's short 'stumpy' mast for lifting purchase when hauling in a trawl.

Stories of Toby flame-starting Kelvin engines, and their eventual demise....abound.

1972-1974 Waterfront views

(Courtesy of Falmouth Library Ref: D211)

Dry stone walls, 1972 view of Toby's Hacienda, 'Barnacles Ope' and Stuart Nield's shed

[Desdemona's is again the Star & Garter, as it was formerly]

Organised chaos featured throughout Toby's charmned life!

1984 - Rear of 49 High Street after Toby's cookshop was demolished

Site of the Hacienda - waiting for the drains to be fixed

Fresh bait! While trawling, we'll bait a pot or two, you knever know.

Don'ts ask... (what? - or, from where?!)

Any 'catch' was sold or bartered for bread, scrag of chicken, or even a pint. "Depends whose's first"

Trawl Winch - Arthur and, Whiffey watching for 'snags' on the way up

You see how easy it looks... just a drum on an old axle, but easy to get a 'riding turn'

Toby always operated the Sylvia's winch with respect, having been 'caught' himself

Man has to eat, you know.. it's no good working on an empty stomach.

... but this takes the biscuit, on Sylvia!

Just going for a short drag, up by Pill Creek

"You never know, there might be a few prawns up here"

(Boyo said he and Arthur once had their biggest haul of prawns in one drag, years ago, off Pill Creek)

"Dammit, keep to the marks, line up with the tree that used to be in Trelissick garden!

The trip ashore Echoes of... "while you are there, don't forget to ......"

One of those days when Toby had Shanghied the boys to rig or repair Victory..

Dick went to some length to adapt the mainsheet tackle, fine in light weather, but best left perhaps!

The shore run was usually an excuse to have a quick beer while looking for a shackle or swivel,

'tho, in fairness, he always returned with stock for the crew - "better keep the boys sweet"