These photos come from the collection that will be used to illustrate a new edition of A Boatbuilder’s Story, the autobiography of legendary self-taught Port Mellon boat builder Percy Mitchell, who was born in 1901.
I gather he was described by yacht designer and cruising author Dr Claud Worth as ‘an artist in wood’.
A Boatbuilder’s Story is said to include a particularly moving account of the building of the large Cornish fishing lugger Ibis.
Read all about the new edition here.
really interesting, I met Percy’s son in port Mellon five or so years ago, I though his name was Barry but could just be my memory, he lived in what I recall was a bungalow just up from the boat compound with great view of the bay.He showed us an old blue well read copy of Percy’s autobiography and I’ve been wanting to get a copy ever since – he (Barry or Garry) was a really nice guy, was trying to help sell his friend’s jewel class keelboat.