United in grief

Portland mayor Tim Woodcock said the island was united in grief with the village of Anstruther in the East Nuek of Fife after both communities were left devastated by the loss of local fishermen.

He spoke as a family paid tribute to fishing boat skipper John Bowman, of Anstruther, who went down with his boat off Portland Bill.

Anstruther is still recovering from the loss of four local fishermen whose boat disappeared in the North Sea in October. A memorial service was being held in the village today.

After the feared drowning of 14-year-old Kyle Moore in Portland Harbour three weeks ago, Portland has been rocked this week by the loss of young fisherman Peter Lynham, who was lost overboard from his father Paul's boat off the Bill.

Floral tributes have been laid at Portland Bill in memory of karate star Peter, 20, who is from a well-known family of Portland fishermen.

One tribute simply read: It should not have happened to such a lovely guy'.

Mr Woodcock said: "Quarrying and fishing are the two historic industries of Portland and both are fraught with danger.

"These tragedies are a stark reminder to the rest of us what fishermen have to go through to put food on our table.

"We are united in grief with Anstruther.

Mr Bowman was trapped in the wheelhouse of his boat Unity when it took on water and capsized within seconds on Wednesday night. Crewmen Fergus Middleton, 19, and Graeme Hughes, 20, both from St Monans in Fife, managed to get into a liferaft and saw the boat sink before being rescued around an hour later.

Unity was on its way from Brixham in Devon to Weymouth when it got into difficulties after rounding the Bill.

The crew had been fishing off the south coast for a few weeks and were on their way home for Christmas.

Mr Bowman's father, John Snr, expressed his gratitude to those involved in the search for his son and said: "The family are devastated, we are just thankful that the crew were found safe and well."

Fife Constabulary is assisting Mr Bowman's family who they say are understandably shocked.

Anstruther councillor Elizabeth Riches said the news will only redouble the sense of tragedy within the local community. She said: "This is another body blow for a community whose identity and history are steeped in fishing. Thank goodness two of the crew were saved. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the missing skipper."

The tragedy is now being treated as a missing person's inquiry by Dorset Police. Inspector Alan Jenkins, the head of West Weymouth police, said: "Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Bowman."

Insp Jenkins said the surviving crewmen of Unity had been interviewed by Dorset Police's marine section as part of the investigation.