Rob Clements, of Church­fields, Dartmouth, writes:

Wilfried Roberge, the owner of the sunken trawler St Christophe I, arrived in Dartmouth the day after the incident. Normally he would have been the skipper, but he had suffered a badly crushed hand three weeks ago.

It is possible the St Christophe I will be a total loss. In any event it will be a considerable time before he receives any insurance recompense.

He has been staying with my wife and I, but has now returned to France. He employs not only his crew, but eight ­further employees in a fish-­processing business in his home port of Port En Bessin, Normandy. He fears all will have to be made redundant and the immediate future for them – Wilfried, his family, employees and the community in France – is not good.

Wilfried has no English so has asked me to express his deep and heartfelt thanks to those whose first concern was to express sympathy and help in his plight. Especial thanks and gratitude to Rick Mitchelmore, Russell and Alex Passmore, the Brixham fishing community, the staff at Saveurs and Jullienne for her excellent translation skills.

Should you have any ­messages for Wilfried, please pass them on to me and I will ensure he receives them.