One of Skinningrove’s well-loved landmarks, the Repus Coble, has recently been brought back to its former glory after being displayed for almost 20 years on the Skinningrove Beach.
The Rebus Coble was first displayed on the Skinningrove Beach in 2005 when it was saved from being destroyed. Afterwards, it was discovered that the cobble fishing boat belonged to a well-loved fisherman from Skinningrove, Wilbur Cox, who had died in the 80’s.
An even more surprising stroke of fate led to the boat being displayed right across the home of Wilbur’s daughter Marie Cox. For Marie and her sister, Margie, the boat is more than just an attractive landmark, it is a strong reminder of their beloved father.
Marie said: “As a family, we are all so very delighted to see our dad/grandfather’s boat being brought back to life. Many years ago, when Barry Hunt, Alan Daniels and Tommy Evans brought this boat back from South Gare as a project for our village, it was so heart-warming and overwhelming to find out it once belonged to our late dad Bill Cox. Not only does this boat hold fond memories of him for us, but it’s also a very fitting memorial to all our local fishermen who sadly lost their lives at sea. It’s amazing to see so many people enjoying this beautiful boat. We cannot thank everyone involved enough. And a special mention to Norman Brown for his unbelievable work restoring the boat. We hope the boat remains in our village for many more years to come.”
Since then, the Repus Coble became a part of the village’s heritage and identity, two statues depicting fishermen being created by a local artist to complete its authentic look. The local community developed a strong emotional attachment towards the boat which had also become a visitor attraction for people from all around the world traveling on the Cleveland Way.
After 20 years of exposure to the weather, the condition of the wooden boat and statues had been slowly deteriorating. However, Repus Coble has recently been repaired and repainted, the statues also being covered in fiberglass to ensure their future preservation.
Cabinet member for Neighbourhood and Housing, Cllr Adam Brook said: ‘’The Council is always happy to work with local communities and help restore significant local landmarks. The importance of the coble fishing boat and the two fisherman statues for the residents of Skinningrove is a well-known fact and I hope the boat will continue to proudly stand on the Skinningrove beach and attract visitors into the area.”
Supported by Ward Councillors for Brotton, Cllr Barry Hunt, who had initially brought the boat to Skinningrove in 2005 and has led its restoration, said: “Being able to bring Repus Coble back to its home in Skinningrove in 2005 was a wonderful experience, especially when we discovered that Marie and Margie, the fisherman’s daughters, lives so close to it. Repus Coble is a part of this community’s identity, all the locals know and love this boat and it’s amazing we were able to bring it back to life and brighten it up even more.”
The restoration of the Repus Coble was funded by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council with contributions from the Brotton Ward Councillors Cllr Barry Hunt, Cllr Martin Fletcher and Cllr Graham Cutler.