A short film telling the story Sidmouth’s last fishing family’s ‘passion, loss and resilience’ got regional exposure on BBC One and is still available online.
Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub collaborated with Butterfly Effect Films to create Working the Sea last year and the section on the Bagwells was shown on Inside Out.
It is still available on BBC iPlayer.
Mary Bagwell said: “I want people to understand that the commercial fishing community has a very special bond. It is not a job but a way of life that involves the whole family.
Tragedies, unfortunately, are all too common and being self-employed it is left to the other members to pick up the pieces and carry on.
“The heritage of the fishing fleet is that of strong determined characters and the wives soon learn to respect the dangers, knowing that husband and son could be lost at any time.
“It is the women who carry the full burden of providing for the family using the knowledge and skills acquired.”
Hub director Louise Cole said: “I am so pleased and excited that in this way our beautiful film about Sidmouth’s fishing past is getting another outing and hope the BBC film will draw new audiences to watch our wider community film. This is great news for Sidmouth.”
The film can be viewed at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0071mt5/episodes/player.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here