Memory from Emma-Jane Richards
As a child, it always felt like all our weekly meals were fish in some form or another. Fish Curry, Fish Mince, Fried fish, Roe, conger bones, ‘bite’ mackerel soup, Tuna Plo’, Fish in Batter and of course Fish Cakes. I remember watching my nanny standing in her small kitchen rolling ‘bite’ fish cakes into perfect round patties rocking from side to side as she hummed hymns as she worked. I think of her singing in her kitchen every time I’m making fishcakes in my kitchen, even now 30 years later, as if it was yesterday. Papa, Daddy and my uncles would always be fishing on the rocks and on a boat. And I can remember my Dad would bring home soldiers, Jacks, Grouper and sometimes conger in a big blue bucket for my Mum to make all kinds of delicious fish meals.
Fishcakes were always my favourite. Mummy would serve it with onion gravy and string beans for dinner and any that were left over were used for my school lunch the next day. I can remember as a kid loving fishcake sandwiches. Fresh bread from Solomon’s bakery, a fishcake mashed up and smothered in salad cream….hmmmm makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Memory from James Miller
I remember having English fishcakes for the first time. Yes, they were good but little did I know that my Nan was and still is the Fishcake Queen! After trying nan’s St Helenian Fishcakes, I became practically ravenous… I would rugby takle any family member just to get Nan’s fist fishcake!