Retiring from the Fishermen’s Mission after 34 years, North East area manager Peter Dade reflected that his job has been ‘a calling’.
The Mission’s longest serving employee in recent years, Peter has been a familiar face on North Shields Fish Quay and for many years has supported fishing families from Amble to Redcar through some of the most difficult times in their lives.
His earlier career involved working in Scotland, including Peterhead, the Shetland Isles, Scrabster, Mallaig, and Newlyn in Cornwall but for around half of the time he has worked out of North Shields, serving ports along the North East coast.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my job which I have seen as ‘a calling’. It has been an absolute privilege to work so closely with the fishing community, with both active and retired members. I have had to work hard to get to know them and gain their trust and some days have been long and challenging but always satisfying, particularly when I have been able to help someone to gain a grant or some other much needed support,” he said.
“Sadly, I have also had to liaise with families during the worst times in their lives, following fishing tragedies, when there are no words and I was just there as a listening ear, providing what support I could to make sure their wishes were met.”
Peter’s career with the Fishermen’s Mission began in 1992, after he spotted an advertisement for an assistant superintendent trainee in his local newspaper in Norwich. He had worked for several years in catering, with no fishing or seagoing experience.
“I had always loved boats and really wanted to work with people, so I was very much attracted to the job,” he said.
His application was successful and after training for two years at nearby Lowestoft, he was sent more than 500 miles away to Peterhead where sadly he dealt with his first fishing tragedy when a trawler sank and four men lost their lives, with only the skipper surviving.
“Although I had been trained, nothing prepares you for such a tragedy. My boss was away at the time, and I just had to get on with it until he returned to work. It was an absolute tragedy for the families, but the Fishermen’s Mission was there for them. At the time there was national and local media interest,” he said.
After three years he worked in Shetland until 2002, when he came to North Shields for three years as a relief superintendent, based in the Fishermen’s Mission building on the fish quay that is now an Italian restaurant. During this time, he was sent to work at other ports, including Mallaig, Peterhead, Scrabster and Newlyn when relief support was needed.
In 2005 he went back to Shetland as superintendent area manager, before returning to North Shields in 2009, having recently met Sue, who he married.
“She was originally from Leeds, and I just hoped she would be okay living by the sea. Fortunately, she was and she has been a great support to me as a volunteer with the Fishermen’s Mission, helping in lots of ways, including at events,” he said.
Over the years, although the founding ethos of the Fishermen’s Mission which was established nationally almost 145 years ago and has been in existence in North Shields around 125 years, has remained unchanged, Peter has seen many changes.
These include the use of technology which means providing 24/7 on-call cover is easier and can be shared over large geographical areas.
The size of the fishing fleet has reduced, although North Shields remains the largest prawn port from Peterhead in Scotland, right down the east coast of England, with the prawn season starting in late September until March when the Gut becomes busy with visiting fishing boats.
In the last couple of years Peter has worked successfully with C Aware, a project led by the Fishermen’s Mission and MacMillan Cancer Support to raise cancer awareness and help fishermen and their families to access early screening and health services.
Late last year, the Fishermen’s Mission moved out of the building which had been its third headquarters on the fish quay. Peter’s role remained unchanged, covering the same area, except he was home-based.
The role he has had is also changing, although it will continue to be based in North Shields, the new person will cover both North East and North West England, with two support officers.
Peter added: “The post I have enjoyed the most has got to be North Shields. I have enjoyed a good working relationship with active and retired fishermen and with local partner organisations. I have also been fortunate to have the support of dedicated volunteers. For years we had a women’s group, The Ladies’ Luncheon Club, which raised funds for the Fishermen’s Mission and in fact still has one of our “Albert” collection boxes and I have also enjoyed working alongside Mike Smith, who is the oldest and longest serving volunteer nationally.”
In his retirement, Peter and Sue hope to spend more time with grandchildren and they are also very involved with the Baptist Church in North Shields.