Man and Boy

A life-size bronze statue stands on King’s Quay in Brixham harbour, Devon. Two figures—a man and a boy—lean on a ship’s wheel, their hands guiding an unseen course. The work was modelled in clay by local artist Elisabeth Hadley and cast in Shropshire. A plaque on the pedestal names the sculptor and credits Arthur Briscoe’s etching ‘The Wheel’ as inspiration. The unveiling took place on 26 November 2016 with retired RNMDSF superintendent Len Scott in attendance. Angela Gilbert, High Sheriff of Devon, was also present for the ceremony. The statue was funded by a town-wide effort organised by the charity FISH. Residents raised £76,000 through donations and events over several years. A committee drawn from local businesses, seafaring families and councillors led the campaign from 2008 onwards. The Fishermen’s Mission in Torbay provided support throughout the project. The result honours Brixham’s maritime heritage and the bond between generations at sea. Visitors find the sculpture beside the waterfront, framed by fishing boats and the harbour wall. The figures’ weathered faces and work-worn hands recall decades of shared labour on deck. The ship’s wheel stands waist-high, inviting passers-by to imagine turning it under a Devon sky. Salt air and the cries of gulls accompany the scene, linking art to everyday life in the port.