There has been a heartfelt public response to the setting-up of a permanent open-air memorial to "lost" fishermen in Newlyn. The recent public meeting to gauge opinion following requests from local families who have lost loved ones at sea and who have no known graves, was well attended.

In fact the Newlyn Mission was packed with people who were all keen to see the proposal become a reality.

Members of families who have lost loved ones in fishing tragedies were among the audience and made suggestions on what form the memorial could take.

Since 1980 more than 20 fishermen have set out from Newlyn and not returned.

In 1997 alone, 11 lives were lost - including the four from the local trawler, Margaretha Maria.

The public meeting achieved what it set out to do - to act as a catalyst to launch a major fund-raising campaign which will hopefully bring in the many thousands of pounds it will need to create a permanent memorial, perhaps a life-sized statue of a fisherman cast in bronze.

An account has now been opened at Barclays by the group's treasurer, Shirley Stevenson, and donations may be paid at the bank or sent to Mrs Stevenson at the Newlyn Mission, The Strand.

Local Methodist minister, the Rev Julyan Drew showed a range of memorials to fishermen, from this country and overseas.

Several showed a life-sized bronze figure, of a young fishermen.

The views of the audience were invited from Tony Woodhams, Mission chairman and a member of the steering group.

Sculptors from Cornwall and Wales have already sent potential designs and these were displayed in the hall.

Chairman, Douglas Williams told The Cornishman: "We want the whole of the local community and the county to join us in this venture.

"We have already received great support from local councils and on our committee are representatives from a wide range of interests, including the Cornish Fish Producers, Seafood Cornwall, RNLI, Mission and Harbour Commission."

He added: "Our aim is for it to be a permanent open-air memorial to all Cornish fishermen lost at sea, not only to those who fished from this port but from all harbours in Cornwall.

"We believe we have the hearts of the Cornish people with us."

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