'TIS almost the season to be jolly, but not quite…you've still got me to contend with…and I know that's not always easy to put up with.

But let's start with more feedback on one of the recent TRM photos.

Firstly, an email from Rob Whisby.

"Hi Jeff, your article shows a photo of 'busy days on the market,' the person facing the camera, with his foot on the fish box, is my late father, Bobby Whisby, who spent his whole life working on the fish market. Would it be possible to have a copy of the photo?"

I'm grateful to Rob for confirming the previous suggestions that it might be his dad, and I've already sent him a copy of the snap.

Then I had this email from Graham Clarke, about the same photo.

"Hi Jeff...I, too, thought I recognised someone in the fishmarket photo last week. I believe the other chap facing the camera on the left-hand side is Ben Blockwell, well known fish merchant and golfer of the town.

“By the way, I forgot to congratulate you on your book (The Games People Play...in Milford). It was brilliant. It needs to be made into a Brian Rix farce."

Thank you so much, Graham...and, with no qualms whatsoever, that gives me the chance to remind all those who may be interested that tomorrow (Friday) between 11 and 1, I'll be doing ‘an Xmas stocking-filler’ book signing at Milford News, followed by the cheque presentation to the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Charity.

As well as the ‘Games’ book, I've also managed to dig up some copies of ‘Giggles Galore’...which I brought out about 25 years ago, and which includes a selection of contributions from pals of mine, like Mel Horn's, ‘Seems like only yesterday’…’Girl Talk’ by the late Jackie Adams (nee Buck)...a tale from my dad about his arrival in Pembs...’Who's running this war?’ and Ralph Potter's caricature drawings and captions.

Hope someone turns up...I'll be wearing my Xmas jumper!

Now let's take a peek into TRM's Trawler Corner, and, this week, we're going back a bit with Palestine M167. A wood long liner, built in 1889 in Peterhead. 68 tons. 76' long.

Landed at Milford from Nov 1901 to May 1906.

Listed Milford owners…John Grand and Wm James Pyle Hart.

The year of 1906 must've been a particularly stormy one, because in January, the Telegraph reported..."On Saturday morning, a strong south-east gale sprung up and continued, without abatement, until Monday night, and, as a natural consequence, the harbour's safety, especially the lower part, was taken advantage of by craft of every description sheltering from the storm...On Tuesday morning, the Queen Alexandra brought in the Elizabeth Ellen Fisher, and later, the steam trawler Palestine arrived with the James in tow.

“Fortunately, little or no damage has been done to either of the sailing vessels, and the crews are now back on board."

Later that month it was reported that the Palestine had landed over 50 boxes of conger, making a splendid trip of 150.

It was also mentioned that heavy weather and a strong gale was once again springing up.

But, on May 30, 1906, it was fog that brought down the final curtain on this particular ship, as reported by the local press.

"The steamer Palestine, of Milford, whilst fishing off the Smalls on Tuesday night about 11.30pm, during a dense fog, was run into by the steamship Westport, of London, bound for Greenock. The Palestine was severely damaged about the bows, so the Westport stood by and offered assistance, which was, however refused.

“The captain of the Palestine, hoping to save the vessel, started to steam for Milford, but at 3.30am, the crew had to abandon her and take to their boat, the vessel almost immediately sinking. The boat was eventually picked up by the Lorna, and the crew, consisting of nine men, landed at Milford at 3 pm on Wednesday. This makes the fourth liner lost to Milford during the year."

I've said it many times before, it's stories and recollections like these that help you appreciate the dangerous, precarious life of a trawlerman...never really knowing how quickly the elements can change, nor what calamities they were going to face next. Total respect.

Here's a snap of the Palestine.

Now for our teasers, and here's one rung through by the deviously minded Les Haynes. My mother had a baby. It was neither my brother, nor my sister. How?

Before I shove off, I've got a further two snaps to interest you.

One is another from the bottom of Hakin's, Lower Hill Street...there's no date to it, but it's pretty ancient.

The other is of my old stomping ground. The Pill side of the Rath, with, what we always called... ‘Russell's Bungalow’... overlooking the playground that was also known as ‘Ward's Shipbreaking Yard’.

As well as myself, one of Pill's Vicary Crescent ‘children of the 1950s’ was Anne Fee (now Mrs Jets Llewellyn) and, whilst poring over Gerald's ‘scrapbook,’ I came across this news cutting.

"Someone who seems to be getting forgetful in her old age is Anne Llewellyn, well known supporter of sport in St Ishmaels…It seems that Anne recently went into Milford on a shopping spree with her daughter, wearing trousers and black ankle boots. She has two pairs of the boots (Gerald is renowned for his generosity) and it was only when she got into Milford that she realised she had one of each pair on...one had a white flash on the front, and the other a black tassle. Mortified…she rushed back home to change."

Don't worry Anne...it happens to the best of us…one day in my office in H/west it was lunch time before I realised I was wearing one black and one brown shoe! Do you know, I wonder if our footwear failings has something to do with the brain addling stench from Pill's Fishmeal Factory that we had to endure back in our day! That's it, I'm off...now…where's my shoes?