Holy Mackerel
From a childhood fishing for mackerel on Holy Island to a career at sea and on the land, we caught up with fisherman and gamekeeper Jordan Richardson to find out how he fits it all in.
Words by Molly Haynes
(Above) Jordan wears his Ridgeline Men's Narvik Fleece in Oxblood, paired with his Ridgeline Men's Agri Pro Bib and Brace.
Nestled in a sandy bay between Lindisfarne Priory and Lindisfarne Castle, swallows soar through the air and rabbits burrow beneath the up-turned rowing boats. Anchors, buoys, lobster pots and fishing boat sheds are scattered across the shoreline, and just in from a morning’s work is Jordan.
“I grew up in Berwick-on-Tweed, but my grandparents lived here and I spent many holidays on Holy Island, fishing for mackerel and enjoying the freedom of island life,” he says.
A career at sea
At the age of 15, a family friend offered Jordan a job on his fishing boat catching lobster and crab. He jumped at the chance, often starting work in the early hours of the morning to gather the catch of the day.
“I’ve been doing it 16 years now and it’s not for everyone as the hours are long, the weather can
be challenging, and it doesn’t leave much room for a social life,” he laughs. Unable to live on the island because of the high property prices and demand from tourists for second homes, Jordan lives in a nearby village on the mainland. He points to a caravan nestled between the fishermen’s work huts.
“Because the road to Holy Island is cut off at high tide, I often come over several hours earlier so I’m here before the tide comes in. That means snatching a few hours sleep in the caravan before heading out. Sometimes I’ll be lucky and get five hours sleep, other times it’s three. But I’m usually back in bed by half seven in the evening.”
Game for anything
Fishing is not the only thing that Jordan works hard at. In his spare time, he looks after a small pheasant syndicate, something he grew up helping his dad with.
“I love gamekeeping,” he says. “When I get back from sea, I’ll take the dogs for a long walk and check the pheasants. It’s my downtime.”
He’s serious about turning the gamekeeping from a hobby into a job too and is currently working towards his Deer Stalking Certificates (DSC1 and DSC2).
A new role
Jordan recently welcomed a daughter, Esme, with his partner, and loves spending time with her when he’s not working.
I ask if he’d be happy if she followed in his footsteps.
“The gamekeeping, yes,” he says, “But I wonder if I might be one of the last fishermen on Lindisfarne. Tourism is slowly taking over. Locals are being priced out of property. Gone are the days of an island community cut off when the tide comes in. Things change.”
And with that, we bid farewell to one of the last remaining bits of industry on Holy Island and the man who still calls it home.
