Welcome .....

 ... to this blog of the life of Robert Henry West BEM of Sheringham, Norfolk UK, better known as Henry “Joyful” West. Known as Henry to his fishing and lifeboat colleagues; by the family nickname of Joyful to RNLI management and Dad in his closest family of wife and sons, for this blog we will call him Henry.

Henry: Recently elected as Coxswain of the Sheringham Lifeboat

His life spanned the lean years of the 1920’s and 30’s, World War II and the many changes in the fishing and lifeboat activities at Sheringham up to his death.

Henry died in 2009 and amongst his personal papers were found several which could be described loosely as “Henry’s Memoires” for the period 1923 to 1945. In addition, he wrote many notes, and collected photographs, on lifeboat activities covering the period from when joined the Sheringham Lifeboat crew in 1946 through his active career until his retirement as coxswain and for some 20 years after, as an active supporter to the lifeboat station. Less was written about fishing but Henry did put names to faces on many fishing and lifeboat group photos.

We consider that Henry wished to share these items with anyone who was interested – and when we had such a request from a long-standing friend of his - we decided to proceed!

Wherever, possible we will use Henry’s own words (black text) and any other comments will be identifiable (blue text). Photos used will be from the family’s collection unless otherwise ascribed.

Early Years

I was born on the 30^th November, St. Andrew’s day, 1923 at No. 2 Gun Street. This was a fisherman’s cottage, now a holiday cottage, only a stones throw from the North Sea that became my Life, as you will read in my memoirs.

I was born into the West Family, known as the ‘Joyful’ Wests. The nickname ‘Joyful’ has been handed down from my great grandfather, who was also a fisherman. All my ancestors were fishermen on my father’s side. On my mother’s side they were woodyard workers and farm labourers at Great Fransham near Dereham, Norfolk.

My parents, Bessie and Bob Joyful West

In the 1920’s there were over 100 fishermen fishing from Sheringham for crab in the season or herring in the autumn and cod and whelks in the winter. 

Sheringham Crab Boats, early 20th Century 

Times were hard for the fishing families, especially in the winter when the weather would keep the boats ashore for weeks on end.

In No. 2 Gun Street, we had just gas for light, cooking, washing, and bathing was in a galvanised bath. We shared a cold water tap with three neighbours. Toilet was across the road.

Sheringham High Street at the end of the 1800's 
The house where the ladies are standing is at the corner of Gun Street 

My brother Jack was also born in No.2 Gun Street, two and a bit years after me. I started school when I was about 4.

The school in those days was between Cremer Street and George Street.

Jack and me at Gun Street