Andy Foot

Longshoreman

A book by local author Benjamin Pond

Growing up in the early part of the 20th century, Benjamin Pond shunned the stable life he could have had if he had taken over his father's drapery business. Instead, he headed down to Dorset, purchased a boat and set up a business as a longshoreman, renting his boat to fishermen. During his life it is estimated that he spent 19,000 days fishing and caught 1,390,000 fish.

In Benjamin Pond's memoirs he descibes the harsh life before the existence of the welfare state and how beachcombing assisted his poor income. He recounts his journeys of sailing around the coast of Hampshire and Dorset, of the changing conditions and weather and of his part in salvaging and rescuing other stricken craft piloted by less able people. Alongside he provides anecdotes and tales of the people and characters he once knew.

This is a warm and charming autobiography that will transport the reader back in time, experiencing the unusual and carefree life of the author and his surrounding environment.

Buy your copy of Longshoreman from Amazon.Com

Please Note: Amazon have mistakenly listed this book as a paperback. Longshoreman has only ever been printed in hardback format.

Benjamin Pond

Through friendship with the Marconi family, Benjamin Pond became interested in radio and received the last night's messages from the grief stricken S.S.Titanic on a receiver that he owned. He was a highly respected figure of the community so much so that he was often referred to as 'Lord Goathorn' - 'Goathorn' is a peninsular opposite side water from Sandbanks.

In 1939 with the outbreak of WWII, his boat was confiscated as part of the war effort and he became the river keeper for the Countess of Brecknock in Wherwell. Whilst there, he was on several occasions, asked to help with the fishing at Broadlands, Lord Mountbatten's home in Romsey. There he fished with the Queen Mother and had dinner with the Queen.

Benjamin Pond passed away at the age of 83.

Reviews

Benjamin Pond's book, Longshoreman, recounts his many adventures during his varied career and reveals him as a natural story-teller. His knowledge of and love for the Purbeck heathland between the wards shine through as he vividly evokes that place and that time. It makes for a fascinating story, well told -- Hamish Murray, Dorset Life

A fascinating insight into life in the early 20th century around Poole and Dorsets waterways. A good read for anybody interested in fishing and country life in this area. Strongly recommended. - - goodreads.com

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