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From the blue sea to the Black Country : a former Campbeltown newspaperman recalls life on the local 'Courier' and the Wolverhampton daily 'Express and Star' during the glorious 1960/70s UK newspaper era of 'hot metal and cold pies'

Gillies, Freddy2012

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Summary

In his early teens, Freddy Gillies decided to become a fisherman, following the footsteps of his father. His parents had other ideas, though, and out of respect he reluctantly agreed to follow a land-based occupation. On leaving Campbeltown Grammar School, Freddy joined his local newspaper, 'The Campbeltown Courier' as a trainee journalist. A progressive career move a few years later led him to the English West Midlands 'Black Country', where he became a head office reporter on Wolverhampton's mass circulation evening newspaper 'Express and Star'. He enjoyed being part of a big press operation, but the lure of the sea eventually won the day, and the notebook and typewriter were exchanged for a set of heavy seaboots and oilskins.Freddy spent 25 years as a deckhand and skipper, working from Scottish west coast ports, The Irish Sea and the North Sea, until the decline in the UK fishing industry forced him to change tack. Following studies as a mature student at Glasgow Nautical College, he now skippers Loch Class car ferries for the Scottish national ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne. He is also a published author, and this book recounts some memorable incidents from his time in the newsppaer world.