About Gary Hicks, Author of Plymouth’s Other Fleet

The Merchant Shipping Registers of the Port of Plymouth 1814 to 1945

Plymouth’s Other Fleet: The Merchant Shipping & Fishing Boat Registers of the Port of Plymouth was developed by the late Gary Hicks (1946-2020), with a view to making the historic merchant shipping and fishing boat registers of the Port of Plymouth more easily available to those interested in maritime history, genealogy, economic and social history.

Gary’s love for maritime history began with a family walk and a visit to Rame Church, more than 30 years ago, where he happened upon the tombstone of James Drew, which read:

“In memory of James Drew, who in attempting to rescue others was unfortunately drowned near Rame Head. September 28th 1939 in the 29th year of his age.”

Gary’s children were of an age where parents were expected to know the answer to everything and so the inevitable question came about what had happened to this man. Gary was never one to shirk a difficult question, and set about researching his response. James Drew was a coastguard who was washed off the rocks of Queener Point in attempting to save the crew of the Exeter registered Collier brig Albion, which had become embayed in Whitsand Bay.

Thus began his entanglement with the Plymouth Shipping Registers, which saw him generating detailed information on the history of Plymouth’s ships, shipowners and shipbuilders. Gary’s research was meticulous, thorough and orderly, whether in record offices in Plymouth or Kew, or using other written and online sources. However Gary not only acquired and sorted copious amounts of data – he analysed and contextualised it imaginatively. He was a highly intelligent and perceptive thinker, an acknowledged authority in his field.

Preserving Gary’s Work

Sadly, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer, Gary passed away in early 2020. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, who supported him through his research, and his children Jean, Sarah and John.

Gary was always keen to share his knowledge. In keeping with this drive, and his final wishes, the family are proud to share the research material free of charge.

Gary Hicks