Here's coal for the Co-op so jump to it!

However, with the relevant pictures, after so many years, there is always the possibility that some will be repeated.

The script can be varied, though, promoting interest in a different part of the scene '“ this could well apply to picture No 1 today.

A tug towing out a sailing vessel. So what, you may say, is so special about that? Well that's a fair sized craft and she was built at Newhaven, for deep sea originally. But by the time of this photo she was demoted to just bringing the coal from the Newcastle area down what could be a very treacherous East Coast to the local Co-op to distribute to the residents of the Newhaven area.

Two of the last notables to operate this service were Captain 'Ted' Weller, first mate, and his brother, Skipper.

The Sussex Maid was built at the old shipyard in now Robinson Road and the accounts of some of their experiences coming down that East Coast in winter make very interesting reading.

A file of this is held in the museum.

I well remember Ted's pride when he referred to his wedding day '“ the Sussex Maid was dressed overall with the gayest of bunting.

It should also be realised that the Co-op was a very big concern in Newhaven and that Seaford and Eastbourne came 'under us'.

The Maid had one or two unwanted impacts in her time, which without any reverse gear must have been a common happening, but to my knowledge, she just wore herself out and other methods of propulsion were sending the 'sailers' into retirement.

Also, the means of loading and unloading were manual. Usually the coal was got out of the ship's hold by a method known as 'jumping'.

The ship would be moored at a stage with a fellow or two with a large wheelbarrow. Down in the hold would be a large metal container which would be shovel filled by one or two men. From this container went up a line over a pulley wheel on the mast and down to usually three men standing on a horizontal boom.

The bottom end of the rope was spliced into three short lengths, one for each man. When the container was filled, the three would jump down into the hold. Their combined weight was more than the coal and container, so that had gone up, was swaying and caught by a man on the landing stage who tipped it into the wheelbarrow and staggered to a nearby coal tip. This was continued until the cargo was discharged!

Imagine, on a hot day, sweat and coal dust or drowning with rain and coal dust '“ which ever. They deserved any sailing pleasures when they did occur!

The tug Alert I just remember. She was built in 1898. I saw her in 1924.

In her early days she had been a tender to the liners at Southampton, taking out passengers to vessels at anchor or the reverse, and a bit of pleasure steamering to the west.

It looks like the legendary Captain Len Pascoe at the wheel, who took over the wonder tug Foremost 22 when she arrived in 1924, till replaced by the Meeching in 1960.

You may well ask why estimate the date of the picture as 1911? Well, the steamer above the Alert's stern, with vertical funnel, is either the Normandy III or the Brittany II of the Newhaven to Caen service, freight and passenger of 1910 to 1912.

This was the third and final attempt to secure this route, so no more birds for Turkey Town '“ Newhaven's east side, please note!

PETER BAILEY

Peter Bailey is curator of the Newhaven Local and Maritime Museum based in its own fascinating premises in the grounds of Paradise Park in Avis Road, Newhaven. Winter opening hours are 2-5pm Saturdays and Sundays or by arrangement. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk