Richard “Tich” Oakes. 

A tribute by George Westwood - August 2023

So nicknamed because of his extra large physique and larger than life character but he was more commonly refrred to by the fishing fraternity as Oaksie, especially by his wife and daughter Shirley.

A man of immense knowledge and local trivia having spent all his life at the fishery with the exception of national service and in the near vicinity of the harbour.

He described himself as one of the “Red Sheaders” as opposed to the “Black Sheaders”, and brought up in Eastborough opposite Palace Hill. He was a mine of information able to tell you how many days were left to Xmas irrespective of the time of the year.

He was a fisherman predominantly in the basket line and winter line fishery with Skipper Dick Douglas in Progressive SH28 but in the latter of his sea time in the pocket trawler Our Margaret SH137 with Coilin“Dilt”Jenkinson before coming ashore to become watchman on the West Pier and Lighthouse. After release from national service he joined Progressive and was renowned for his bugle playing whenever the boat left or returned to harbour blasting out “Come to the cook house door boys” irrespective of the hour which didn’t always go down well with some of the local residents.

He married Shirley Williamson daughter of Ernie “Soapy” and Alice Williamson and  they lived in St Mary’s St fronting Adamsons Yard. Shirley ran a crab stall whilst Oaksie remained at sea before moving back to his childhood home in Eastborough where Shirley and daughter Shirley ran a rock and fancy goods shop that was until Shirley jnr and her husband Mick took the Leeds Arms.

Oaksie was very well known at Scarborough Yacht club where he kept a watchful eye on their boats from the comfort of the bar whilst entertaining the members with his enchanting stories of the harbour and its events.

After Alice Williamson passed on Oaksie and Shirley moved to the house of her parents on Quay St at the foot of Salmon Steps where they remained till the last.  Oaksie and Shirley has a son also referred to as Tich. He lives somewhere in Ireland. RIP Oaksie

Video clips of Richard talking with George Westwood about fishing.

A shared tribute to Oaksie written and read by Tom Fox at the funeral in St Mary's Church on 23rd August 2023:

• Richard William Sheader Oakes, sometimes called ‘Tich’ but affectionaly called by the family …… ‘Oaksie!’

• A ‘red Sheader’ and proud of it to boot, he lived an amazing 91yrs plus being born in Scarborough on 2^nd May 1932. He spent much of his growing up years between Sheffield and Scarborough.

• He was an only child, his mother and my mother’s mother were sisters, Flo and Kate, as a consequence they  spent a lot of time growing up together with The Elliotts… Grace, Dick, and Will. 

• He loved his sport and from an early age he shone at playing schoolboy football representing both Scarborough and Sheffield.

• Never work shy he started as an errand lad at Lunds chemist before landing a job as a fish filleter.

• National service called on him at the age of 18 but ever so cute, he realised you got better pay if you signed up for 3yrs or more. Very precisely he told me “3yrs 7mths Foxy, long enough for anyone!”  He was stationed in Germany  where he acquired a love of the language which he maintained throughout his life. 
• He was regularly called upon to converse with skippers of foreign vessels.

• He started fishing in boat 'Peggy' alongside Dickie Elliott   then 'Progressive' with Dick Douglas    and then 'Our Margaret' with Colin (Dilt) Jenkinson. 23yrs or so in total.

• After leaving fishing Oaksie became pier/lighthouse watchman where he was to be regularly seen, chatting to all and sundry and sharing his immense knowledge and love of the life and times of the harbour over the centuries. He was the font of so much knowledge; For  27 years he faithfully carried out this duty ensuring the safety and good order of so much within and near to the harbour.

• It was my great honour on one occasion to make an award to Oaksie for a selfless act, an act of  courage and determined endeavour when saving a most distressed person at considerable risk to himself and possibly others on the lighthouse pier.

1. The person in question was a powerfully built man and Oaksie on pier man duties,  ever alert to what was happening he saw this man, clearly distressed and agitated and correctly realised he was going to attempt suicide. It was a February  night, it was wet, the wind was fair up and anyone in the water would have no chance of rescue….and that included Oaksie! 

1. Without hesitation, Oaksie intercepted the man, took firm control and by his persuasive ways (“Get in there lad!” Or something like that!) got him into the watch hut which was then the lighthouse. He locked himself in with the guy to prevent his escape! 

1. The man’s agitation grew as by now the police had been called and were on their way. When they arrived all hell broke lose. Two officers were assaulted but thanks to Oaksie’s intervention the distressed man was subdued, handcuffed and taken away.

1. It was as I say, as the Police Commander for Scarborough and wider area that I was pleased to receive the report of the duty inspector that date to his actions. It was fair and correct that we commended this selfless, courageous act and to have both Shirls, proud as punch, with him when on our behalf the Mayor  presented him with his commendation.

1. I remember asking him some time after, “Weren’t you frightened what he could do to you Oaksie?”

1. With that enormous smile he said, “Nay lad, I had big bertha near to hand, he wasn’t going to  argue with that!” Ummmm!

• He married Shirley Williamson in March 1957 and had 2 children…their namesakes Shirley and Richard and their partners Mick and Julie.

• Lived in St Marys Street when first married then moved to Eastborough in 1963 and finally to Quay Street in 1997.

• They celebrated their Diamond wedding in 2017 just before Shirley passed away.

• 3 Grandchildren...Luke, Edward, and William…. I know how proud he was of all three of you. 

• And his Great grandchildren...Henry, Tabitha, Hugo, Isabella, and Freddie…. again so much love.

• So many grand and great grandchildren; but he  wasn't always the best role model for teaching them good  discipline. He had a distinct, almost unique approach;  and it worked….! Luke gained the benefit of that experience when as a child and sitting in his highchair…and not just on this occasion , he would be demanding more….. this day it was  custard….. Clearly fed up with Luke he said, quite calmly "you want some more custard?" and promptly tipped a new, full, custard bowl….neatly positioned… on his head. Luke got the message I think as he was quiet after that.

• He loved watching many sports including cricket, darts, snooker, boxing, and football and his beloved Sheffield United……(Well….he can’t be good at  everything…can he?)
• He was a life member of Scarborough Cricket Club where he watched any cricket played there from England and Yorkshire right down to primary schools where he was once asked to umpire for a schools Kwik sponsored cricket match. Ummmmm!
• His umpire career was however short lived when both team captains questioned his knowledge of the rules and his eyesight. (I’m thinking it was the U9’s.)

• Played snooker at St Thomas's church and later at the conservative club.

• And that bugle!
• In those days when telephones in the home were a rarety, mobile phones hadn’t even been invented and when at sea there was no way to let the family know you had either set sail or were just returning, he would  give to an unsuspecting bottom end of town a chorus  blast on his bugle…..and it was loud and it was heard…….night or day…. even at 4 in the morning!!!!? 

• A great darts player, he represented Scarborough and claim to fame was beating John Lowe who was then the world champion.

• Scarborough Yacht club made him an honorary member upon his retirement and he enjoyed his Sundays with a pint and his chat with Eddie and Graham. Even in his 80's he still utilised his skills from fishing fixing marker buoys for the club. 

• He was an amazing, avid historian of both the family history and Scarborough especially the bottom end and anything maritime related. 

• George Westwood through the Maritime Heritage Centre published an amazingly informative, funny interview with Oaksie on things including fishing.

• Please go to their site to find it….you’ll have a laugh whilst learning so much from Oaksie.

• I was intrigued to discover from him also  so many things including  a proud boast he made, that in the life of the Scarborough Lifeboat the family had provided 2 coxswains, 3 Bowmen, 89 crewmen and two tractor drivers! And he knew their names!

•  A phenomenal researcher and collator of history. And that great family tradition of lifeboatmen continues today!

• He really did love the bottom end and the people. He only had to open his front door and there would be someone he would wave to or have a 'yarn' with. 

• In covid times so many rallied around him...he said it was like wartime. In the lockdowns Victoria and sisters Suzanne and Linda kept him supplied with a cooked dinner every day.

•  Jason was getting him shopping in the town with many others checking on him.

•  On his 88^th birthday Quay Street residents and so many others gathered distantly outside his house to surprise him singing Happy Birthday which was a lovely gesture and made his day.

•  He became a lunchtime regular at Sunnys and the Welcome Inne in the last couple of years.

• For a man in his 90’s he was tech savvy,  regularly using his ipad on his  daily telephone calls to Julie and Tich. They would both get the rundown of what nationalities were fishing off headend.

• He loved playing jokes on people.

• The family also loved playing tricks back on him. 

Mam Shirl once placed some false flower heads of different colours into one of his plants… only when he was going to call the man from the garden centre to view this phenomenon which forced  MAM  to confess what she had done.

• He was well known for being able to say how many days it was to Christmas at any time of year.
•  So you know, there’s just 124 days to go to this Christmas!
• His notable dates were 22nd June and 22nd December when he would be telling us the nights were pulling in or the days were drawing out.

• Thankfully he saw all his family in the days before he passed, such was the love he shared.

• He had an amazing sense of fun and a kindness just  as big.

• He will be laughing at some of the family who have had today borrowed clothes to wear for his funeral.

1. So much more to say but not the time to say it, I’d like before closing just to mention the two charities that Oaksie supports;

• The Fishermen Firemen Charity; it needs little introduction in this audience; borne out of a disaster, borne out of compassion to support others who owed their livings to the sea; still it has at its heart is to support those in the bottom end who can appreciate a little extra support at Christmas and more;

And Cystic Fibrosis; This cause  is most personal to Oaksie; There is a family connection to it.  He has been touched and moved by this fact;  he recognised the need for extra funding to both support research and the treatment of this disease. Two wonderful causes!

• Oaksie, we will later on laugh a lot as we reminisce and celebrate your life, your stories; 
• You are one of that rare breed, so to you we say Oaksie; a safe onward voyage, and no more bugle calls as your duty is done;
• Thank  you for the life you led, your service, your humanity, your love. Thank you Oaksie.

God Bless, We love you; Thank you.

Share this article