Eyemouth
July 12, 2021
HM 140. Eyemouth has good and sad memories for me...
First the good. I was lucky enough to meet the hard working Deputy HM Brendan Bates. It is not often you see a poster explaining what jobs the HM does (photo 4) and then in action - photo 5. Born in Eyemouth, the local fishermen have known Brendan since he was a boy and he admitted it was sometimes a challenge asserting his authority over them. However it was no surprise to learn that he was promoted to Harbour Master a month after my visit. Congratulations Brendan!
Now the sad part. In 1881, Britain's worst ever fishing disaster took place here when 129 fishermen and 26 boats were lost in a great storm leaving 78 widows and 82 orphans. Many of the families watched the returning boats sink near the harbour entrance and there is an evocative sculpture on the harbour wall (photo 6) portraying those families. Two days later, one boat the Ariel Gazelle, sailed in safely, having ridden out the storm at sea - just imagine the joy!
On a happier note, since 1939, an annual celebration of fishing culminates in the crowning of a Herring Queen and I walked past the highly decorated house (photo 8) of the current Queen - always a teenage girl attending Eyemouth High School.
Photo 9 shows the slightly scary entrance to the harbour known as "The Canyon". Once inside however there is good deep shelter at all stages of the tide and not surprisingly yet another Wind Farm base is being built here.
Eyemouth does have another problem, with seagulls and their poo! Brendan explained they had employed a Golden Eagle to frighten them off but I think it needs to come back!
Finally, football fans may remember England losing a Euros final on 11 July. Video 10 shows the final whistle in The Fleet pub.... I never knew how much the Scots love Italy!!
First the good. I was lucky enough to meet the hard working Deputy HM Brendan Bates. It is not often you see a poster explaining what jobs the HM does (photo 4) and then in action - photo 5. Born in Eyemouth, the local fishermen have known Brendan since he was a boy and he admitted it was sometimes a challenge asserting his authority over them. However it was no surprise to learn that he was promoted to Harbour Master a month after my visit. Congratulations Brendan!
Now the sad part. In 1881, Britain's worst ever fishing disaster took place here when 129 fishermen and 26 boats were lost in a great storm leaving 78 widows and 82 orphans. Many of the families watched the returning boats sink near the harbour entrance and there is an evocative sculpture on the harbour wall (photo 6) portraying those families. Two days later, one boat the Ariel Gazelle, sailed in safely, having ridden out the storm at sea - just imagine the joy!
On a happier note, since 1939, an annual celebration of fishing culminates in the crowning of a Herring Queen and I walked past the highly decorated house (photo 8) of the current Queen - always a teenage girl attending Eyemouth High School.
Photo 9 shows the slightly scary entrance to the harbour known as "The Canyon". Once inside however there is good deep shelter at all stages of the tide and not surprisingly yet another Wind Farm base is being built here.
Eyemouth does have another problem, with seagulls and their poo! Brendan explained they had employed a Golden Eagle to frighten them off but I think it needs to come back!
Finally, football fans may remember England losing a Euros final on 11 July. Video 10 shows the final whistle in The Fleet pub.... I never knew how much the Scots love Italy!!