Story: Joe Philips is a Jamaican born steel worker and filmmaking enthusiast living in Sheffield during the 1960s. In 1971 he built his own boat out of scrap bits of metal because he wanted to travel and visit his home in Jamaica. Like much of the Caribbean diaspora post Windrush he finds life here hard. In the archives we have his voice talking about his boat.
He builds his boat over many years and mishaps and unfortunately never gets there.
The recovery: Cole Morris has reimagined the journey Joe didn’t get to make. Through shadow puppetry Cole takes Joe on the voyage with sea serpents, old soldiers and space rockets that finally takes him home.
From the archive:
Joseph (‘Joe’) Oscar Phillips (1924-1983) was born in Elgin Town, Hanover, Jamaica. He moved to Sheffield and worked as an engineer. He had several interests including amateur filmmaking. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Joe built a 65-ton all-steel schooner (over 60ft long) called ‘Hunter 77’ which he planned to take on a two-year trip to visit relatives in Ceylon, India and his hometown in Jamaica. A launch event was organised at the Canal Wharf in Sheffield on 28 September 1972 attended by the High Commissioner of Jamaica, Sir Laurence Lindo and Deaconess Madge Saunders, President of the West Indian Association. The Sheffield Star reported on the event and there was a broadcast on BBC Radio Sheffield which included a short interview with Joe. Unfortunately, the vessel did not make it out of the wharf and Joe remained in Sheffield.
Photograph from the Sheffield Star, 28 September 1972 (Picture Sheffield - Sheffield Local Studies Library: s34688): Print details Picture Sheffield
