Barry Pearce studied art in his youth but went on to becoming a shipwright and barge master during the 1960s. He has been a life-long barge ‘buff’ – historian – and chronicaller of the Thames Sailing Barge. I first met Barry in 1964 at Cooks Yard in Maldon when the May Flower, my childhood home, went on the blocks to have her port bow rebuilt.

I recently came across a couple of Christmas cards Barry had sent us a little while ago: we kept up a contact after he’d helped with some information back in early 2000s when I was writing, The May Flower, a barging childhood‘ published in 2007, (still in print). His once annual card had always a delight.

Another couple of cards were found inside the book by John Kemp featured below: Barry illustrated this book profusely with his line and ‘dot’ works of art.

I then did a search of all the books in my area of our book shelves for I often use birthday and Christmas cards as book marks. I eventually rounded up seven, there may be more not yet discovered.

Cover of book, ‘At The Wash of Oysters’ illustrated by Barry Pearce.

Now that we are into Advent and on the run up to Christmas, I thought it would be nice to share what I have…

A number of Barry’s Christmas cards are featured below.

This one depicts a loaded barge heading round last bend before Stambridge Mills at Rochford.

Above is a depiction of the shapely Memory, now a ruin in the saltings off Woodrolfe Creek, Tollesbury.

Here, above, is the recognisable shapely Cambria captured during the last decade of her trading life.

The Xylonite with a bone in her teeth surging past a buoy. Is it ‘down’ the Swin, who knows…

Above, again Xylonite. She’s either just brought up to anchor or about to sail…

Few of Barry’s cards were dated but we have a card from 2021, which I believe was the last he sent: his health has been failing. The one above is dated 2014. We must have had many others … perhaps not all have been saved!

Clearly this is a winter depiction of Maldon and the ‘bargemen’s church’ up on its hill above the Hythe.

A shapely old girl in a breeze…

The card shown above is the 2021, sent during the Covid Pandemic. Barry comments: ‘I think I will mutate!’ Typical of his sense of humour…

I have added a couple of illustrations from ‘At The Wash of Oysters’ by John Kemp. The book is a lovely read and if you know the River Blackwater and Dengie peninsular much will be familiar.

An old farm waggon being over grown with briars – today it could be an old tractor of plough…

The book’s artwork is varied in style and covers a wonderful cross section of subjects to illustrate the stories within, all based around the Blackwater and Dengie – the land between the rivers Crouch and Blackwater – an enchanting area.

A tired old girl with sprung planks and gnarled woodwork…

So, on this Advent Sunday, when traditionally Christmas cards are written and readied for the post, the Mate, Christobel, and I wish you all a happy Advent and our good wishes for this coming Christmas.