CATCH OF THE DAY
The Fishermen’s Mission has just launched a new fundraising initiative, the ‘Catch of the Day’ online auction.
This involves nearly 100 national artists and celebrities, including Fern Britton, Louis Walsh, Caroline Quentin and Jonathan Dimbleby, giving up their time to paint a ceramic sculpture in the shape of a fish.
More locally, some of those taking part are Caroline Cleeve, Jon Cleeve, Nathan Outlaw, Barbara Hawkins, Paul Ainsworth, Helen Glover MBE, Alice Hole, Suzie Williams, Heather Howe, David Hosking, Jani Tully Chaplin, and Deborah Richards.
Each ‘Catch of the Day’ sculpture is 40cm high and 30cm wide, and each completed fish is displayed on the special auction website, fishmishauction.org.uk.
From the beginning of March to the end of April, as many of the completed fish as possible will be displayed in prominent, reputable establishments all over the UK, such as restaurants and community venues, where the fish can receive maximum exposure in order to ensure the success of the online auction.
You can currently see a ‘Catch of the Day’ sculpture in the following locations:
- Mousehole – The Old Coastguard
- Penzance – Blacks of Chapel Street, Senara Restaurant, Hotel Penzance
- Portheleven – Kota, Kota Kai, Seadrift, Rick Stein’s, Albatross, Four Crows Gallery, Custom House Gallery, The Square.
- Falmouth – Harbour Lights, SeaSalt Clothing, Greenbank Hotel
- Truro – Alverton Hotel
- Looe – Old Sail Loft
- Mevagissey – The Sharksfin
- St Tudy – St Tudy Inn
- St Mawes – Idle Rocks
- Port Isaac – Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Isaac Pottery
- Padstow – Paul Ainsworth at No 6, Rojano’s and Green’s
Presenter and author Fern Britton said, “I decided to wrap my fish in newspaper to remind me of my childhood when I would queue on a Friday night after judo (yes judo!) to collect a newspaper-wrapped portion of juicy cod and chips. The heat of the fish on the inky paper added to the fragrance of my supper.
“When I was approached by the Fishermen’s Mission about ‘Catch of the Day’ I just knew I had to be part of this unique campaign, not only to raise money, but also to create national awareness of the everyday challenges and dangers our UK fishermen regularly face to get fish on our plate.”
Registering and bidding has started and the auction will conclude between Thursday 16 and Sunday 19 May. All funds generated will help underpin the Fishermen’s Mission’s work in supporting active and retired fishermen and their families. For every £1 raised from the sale of a ‘Catch of the Day’ fish, 88p will be spent on delivering emergency and welfare care to fishing families most in need.
For more information or to place a bid, visit fishmishauction.org.uk, and for updates see Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.