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