The Red Sails Project.

Film on Brixham's Sail Trawler Heritage Launched

On Thursday 29 May 2008 a capacity audience of over 150 people attended the premier of the film "Red Sails in the Sunset", the story of Brixham's sail trawling heritage. Funded by a £25,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery, the film marked the culmination of a two year project based on a partnership between the Brixham heritage trawler Vigilance and the Brixham Community College. Introducing the film, Chairman of Friends of the Vigilance, Colin Brokenshire, said that as a boy he had heard stories of Brixham's place as the mother of trawling from the old fishermen, now here was the chance to pass on that heritage to the next generation. Richard Burden, for the College, commented on the value of the project to link the students and the college with the community. The film, which included helicopter shots of Vigilance under full sail, archive shots of the old fishing industry in Brixham and the trawler race, as well as the old Brixham steam train, was enthusiastically greeted by the audience. Film maker Tom Adams, who had worked closely with both Vigilance and the student group, commented on the dedication of the crew, who had to raise and lower the sails repeatedly to get the right film shots, and the enthusiasm of the students in producing a film of broadcast quality.

Copies of the DVD 'Red Sails in the Sunset' are available now.

Copies of the DVD 'Red Sails in the Sunset' are available in Pope's, Fore Street, Brixham for £4.99 each or by post (p+p - £2.50). Send a cheque/PO for £7.49 made out to 'Friends of the Vigilance' to 'Friends of the Vigilance', c/o Hi-Rocks, Heath Road, Brixham, TQ5 9BH.

The partners in the project are:

• the Friends of Vigilance (the fund-raising arm of Vigilance),
• Brixham Community College,
• the Brixham Heritage Museum,
• the Brixham Sailing Trawler Archive
• and All Saints Festival of the Sea.

Mike Gilbert and Bob Tricker are the two Vigilance directors co-ordinating the project.

Friends of the Vigilance.

Formed in September 2006, Friends of the Vigilance is an association established with the objects of education, preservation and promotion of the heritage of sail trawling and sailing trawlers, including supporting heritage sail trawlers, particularly the heritage sailing trawler Vigilance. The creation of the 'Friends of the Vigilance' enables grants and other fund-raising activities to be sought, which could not be pursued by a limited company owned by shareholders. The 'Friends' have already made a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery for funding for the Red Sails project. The officers of the Association are the directors of the Vigilance of Brixham Preservation Company Limited.