Fish filleting champ is back
TWO former Grimsby fish filleters have been reunited with their family following 40 years away, revisiting the docks they once called home.
Ron Rowson, 82, and his wife Betty, 79, emigrated to New Zealand in 1969, after years working as filleters on Grimsby Fish Docks.
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Filleters reunited – from left, Betty Rowson, Sally Barber, Betty's son Paul Rowson, back, Betty's husband Ron Rowson, front, Coun Cliff Barber, back, Ron's brother Chick Rowson, front, Paul's wife Susan, back, and Chick's wife Sheila Rowson. Betty and Ron have been living in New Zealand for 40 years and have returned to Grimsby to visit their family for the first time since they left.
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Recalling fish filleting days on Grimsby Docks, from left, Betty Rowson, husband Ron and Ron's brother Chick.
After four decades away – and not a single journey back home in that time – they decided to come back for a 10-week visit to see family, friends and their former workplace.
During the 60s, Betty was well-known in the area as a champion filleter.
She appeared on The Groucho Marx television show and once entertained the Queen when she visited the Docks, showing Her Majesty how to fillet a fish.
She said: "I was a really good filleter, a champion, in fact.
"While I am over here I will be trying to get a copy of the video from when I was on the television, showing how to fillet a fish.
"I really enjoyed my time working on the Docks and it has been great to come back and see my family and the area we grew up in all over again."
The Rowsons were born on Grimsby's West Marsh, where Ron's brother, Chick, 79, still lives.
He also worked on the Docks, at a time "when it was much busier than it is now".
He said: "It is great to see them again after all these years. We have lots of catching up to do."
Ron added: "It was so busy when we were filleters, with trawlers coming in everyday.
"You had to queue to get into the Docks, now you can just walk in, it is so much quieter."
While here, Ron visited his daughter, Anne Cummins, 62, who lives in Nottingham.
They also went to see Betty's brother, Kenneth Olley.
Coun Cliff Barber works at TC's Social Club on the Docks.
He said: "I was at the pub when I was told about this family coming back after all this time.
"I showed them around the Docks and they were amazed at how much it had changed."
Betty said: "It may be much more different now, but we still have lots of memories of this, as it was our home."
Ron added: "We went to New Zealand for a change and haven't been back to Grimsby since. It is great out there.
"This might be our last trip to Grimsby, so we plan to make the most of it."
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