The following appeared on the recent Merchant Navy Association bulletin:
Dear Mr. Brant,
My name is Kosta Papanicolas and I am the Assistant Producer working on BBC One series called Heir Hunters. I understand that you spoke with my colleague Madeline regarding the program that we are working on.
Heir Hunters follows the work of probate research firms and genealogists who trace the relatives of people who have died without leaving a will.
We are working on a story about a man named Josiah Arthur Webbe who past away in 1987 and who was a Master Mariner.
In addition, we know that his father, also known as Josiah Arthur Webbe was born on the Island of Nevis in the West Indies and was a Second Mate on the SS Whitby and died when the ship was sunk in 1916 by a German U-Boat.
We would like to interview someone on the subject of Master Mariners and life at sea. Ideally we are looking for a local historian, or amateur historian or someone who is equally knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject and can paint a picture for us of what a Master Mariner was and what life at sea was like. Please see below a list of possible questions that we would want to ask:
What is a Master Mariner/Second Mate?
How did you become a Master Mariner? What would you need to do?
Would people start at an early age? What kinds of things would you learn?
What kinds of characteristics best describe a Master Mariner? Would they be natural leaders? Strong nerves?
Was the job dangerous at times? What sorts of things would present danger? What risks were there? (ie. Weather/storms, wars, etc?)
What would life be like on a boat for a Master Mariner? Was it very multi-cultural?
Was it an adventure? Or just a job?
What risks did ships face during WW1 and WW2?
Please do let me know if think anyone at the Merchant Navy Association would be interested in helping us out. Ideally we would want to set up a quick interview with someone early next week if possible. But we are a bit flexible with dates and times.
