After a run of exceedingly good luck and riding the wave to fame and fortune, tragedy has struck the Fisherman’s Friends.
They were due to perform at the music venue GLive in Guildford, Surrey on the evening of Saturday 9th February, 2013, but at 11:45 that morning a metal door in a loading bay fell trapping two men underneath. Tour manager Paul McMullen, of Disley in Cheshire, was trapped by his legs and so seriously injured that he died in the accident, and singer Trevor Gills suffered critical injuries and was taken by ambulance to St George’s Hospital, Tooting in South London where he is said to be in a critical condition.
It was a chance encounter in a local pub which led to the ten Cornish sea shanty singers being discovered by Universal records and a million pound recording contract was theirs, with their debut album being released on 26th April 2010.
“It’s been a fantastic ride” said group member Jeremy Brown “and it’s great that we’re all able to stay together”.
That success led to Ealing Studios working on a film of their story, and the friends, who have been together for fifteen years, have also fronted the Young’s Seafood TV advertising campaign, won the ‘Good Tradition’ award at last year’s BBC Radio Folk Awards at London’s The Brewery, and last year performed at the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations.
The men are all fishermen, coastguards or lifeboat men and, as sea shanties were originally sung by crews of ships while working on deck, it seemed at good choice for their group. They almost all grew up together and each Friday night they would sing at the Platt, by the harbour in Port Isaac, retiring to the pub when the weather was too bad.
Surrey Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the incident and Guildford Borough Council has said it is helping in any way it can, while the building control team will also continue to advise on ensuring the site remains safe.