Looking for the Silver Lining - BY MARTIN BARRACLOUGH

This to me was an absolutely fascinating book. Extensively researched it tells the impressive story of British family shipowning, not just the ships and the businesses, but the real people ashore and afloat involved in running and building a fine shipping company.

Reviewed by Dr Malcolm Cooper

There are now very few people alive in the UK who are qualified to write the history of a century of family ship-owning in which they played a personal part. Martin Barraclough is one of that select few, and the maritime history community should be grateful to him for what must have been years of meticulous research to produce this splendid volume.

Reviewed by Alan Phillips, Director, The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers

Martin Barraclough’s choice for the title of his book surely epitomises the history of British shipowning during the one hundred years that the story covers.

Some company histories hold little interest for the outsider, concentrating as they do upon statistics interlarded with anecdotes that are only really relevant to those in or close to the company. Barraclough’s book does indeed have plenty of these but more importantly, it also provides a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone with the slightest interest in British shipowning at its best.

TOWN PAST TRACED IN NEW BOOK
Hartlepool Post, reviewed by Mark Payne

A family’s role in Hartlepool’s rich maritime heritage has been revealed following the publication of a fascinating new book. Author Martin Barraclough delved into his family’s history to uncover details of his grandfather, who launched a successful shipping company during Hartlepool’s industrial heyday. It marked the beginning of a family tradition of ship owning that continued for the next 100 years.

“….a most wonderful (and valuable) record for those who have served and many others in the shipping world. It is a fine example of the well-researched work with fine assembly in words and picture. I hope it reaches out to a lot of people….” - R.G.

“I found it completely fascinating………I just hope your book has some publicity for the story is more than that of your family’s doings and is symptomatic of a very important part of the country’s history…..it’s beautifully written with a light touch. It’s very good to see the prominence you’ve given to various captains and engineers who served in the ships – they so often get overlooked…..you’ve rendered a service to maritime history.” - R.I.C.

SHINING EXAMPLE OF SHIPPING'S FAMILY SILVER
Reviewed in Lloyd’s List by Michael Grey, former Lloyd's List editor, on Monday 27 April, 2009

"...hugely interesting for the intense detail...beautifully illustrated"
"...garnished with numerous anecdotes and quotations from masters and cadets, managers and engineers..."
"...Martin Barraclough’s story is…one of a fast changing shipping world...
"...a microcosm of British shipping...deserves a far wider readership than one which has some direct involvement in the various companies..."

The British family shipping companies are so few and far between that they have become an endangered species. But they were once numerous, and indeed, running shipping companies was what families once did.