Sparkling Dunbar Strikes Gold Again!
What a stupendous event we had with our highest attendance yet with visitors enjoying superb events to arouse their interest. Relaxing in the sunshine, sparkling on the harbour waters, people came from near and far to enjoy the day. So many participated in our ‘Pirates and the Sea’ fancy-dress theme with enthusiasm and amazing outfits. Even a local yachtsman joined in the fun with a Jolly Roger sail!
'Tis oft heard whispered hereabouts, by Blackheart Wemyss of the Waterfront, that the booty spirited away amounted to nigh close on £1,000+ --- but dead men don't tell no tales, see... or else. (all funds gratefully received by DHT and will be popped into the treasure chest for next years' event)
Big Blu Pizza, The Donut Man, Sno Cream Ices, The Tasty Toastie and Bisset's Fish Van had queues all day long, whilst many plonked themselves onto the upcycled creel benches, painted by children at our Environmental Open Day, to enjoy a liquid refreshment provided by the Linton Hotel & Steakhouse.
Stalls were provided by Hoth Crochet, Sweet Delights, Cats Eyes Crafts, Handpict, Salt Pig Sea Salts, The Soap Farm, Lark and Sea and the RSPB --- a superb selection of quirky crafts and artisan foods, whilst Dominique Oldham painted hundreds of little faces.
The Battery was bustling with a fantastic turnout with the super-appreciative audience tapping toes to mellifluous music and smiling widely at the wonderful children from Dance Discovery. The quality of music at this year’s event, performed by Luke Hunter, Vinyl ’85, The Soul Foundation, Waiting for Pedro and Damson Jam was to be applauded, and was professionally projected by Liam Morrison and his ELJam crew.
One visitor from the West Coast, with family, wrote "We all thoroughly enjoyed it. We spent a fair bit of time exploring the town generally, not just the festival, which I guess is one of the main aims of the event."
Perhaps one of the most astounding things was the lack of litter during and after the event. We would like to thank everyone for being so responsible.
Finally, a huge thank you to the family and friends who worked tirelessly on the lead-up and on the day. Their support was phenomenal, and this event would not have been the success it was without their endless efforts to assist.
Looking forward to 2020 already!
photos by Kenny Maule, click "Read More" for photo 2.
Dayna’s Our Crowning Glory!
Dunbar Lifeboat:: "Dayna Bisset was today crowned Lifeboat Queen for our Virtual Fete 2020. There wasn’t a parade or the usual festivities at the harbour, but it was still a big moment for Dayna, 14, and her family. Performing the honour was Dayna’s gran, Margaret, and her three-year-old cousin Neeva."
Dayna said: “Thank you to the lifeboat crew. It’s been a difficult year for everyone but I would like to say “thank you” for choosing me to be Dunbar’s Lifeboat Queen. It’s a proud day for all our family.”
Dunbar Lifeboat: "Everyone connected to Dunbar Lifeboat Station is very grateful to Dayna for continuing a lifeboat queen tradition that stretches back to 1963. She was joined at a specially-staged ceremony at the Battery by her family, including dad Stuart and uncle James – who previously served on the crew. The crowning of our queen is the culmination of two weeks of competitions we have been running to raise funds for our Lifeboat Station."
Fundraising Chair Veronica Davies said: “We’ve been delighted with the response. We couldn’t have a Lifeboat Fete – virtual or otherwise – without a queen and it was important to maintain the tradition of the crowning ceremony. Although Dayna has not been able to enjoy all the usual fun of the fete we’ll look to involving her in next year’s event.”
Photo credit: RNLI facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rnlidunbarlifeboat)
Bridge Operation
- All users must be authorised or under the instruction of an authorised user.
- New crew members or any other person operating this facility must receive training.
- The bridge MUST always be lowered and level after use.
- Non-authorised users will be held liable for damages and prosecution may apply.
- CCTV in operation.
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Interview with a busy man.......
Interview with a busy man, Robert Davies, “well-kent roon the harbour, like”. Robert speaks true Dunbar when he’s recalling the past but switches into standard English when he chooses. Robert’s nickname with friends is Fuzz, we won’t ask him why.
Robert, your family are fisherfolk, does the fishing go back a long way? “My faither died on exercises with the Airborne during WWII when I was 2 months old, but my grandfaither brought me up. Every one of us Dunbar folk and all in the fishing. I had four uncles, and all in the fishing.”
Who were the main fishing families when you were young? “Easingwoods, Bruntons, Johnstones, they were all here then, and still are.”
How old were you when you got your first boat? “I’m 76 now but got my first boat at 13. She was the Zealous, about 20ft. She was wrecked in Cromwell Harbour when a spring tide lifted her over the quay and dropped her on ane o’ they posts there. Yon wis a tragedy fur a young lad of 13.”
Any other wrecks? “The family lost 7 boats over the years. ‘Endeavour’ ripped her bottom off on the bar, the Johnstones roped the boats together to get her in. I lost ‘Misty Isle’ when we were coming into the harbour and there was a guid sea coming on. The sea pushed her into the castle and stove in her prow, she was filling up with water so I shouted to the ‘Endeavour’, a Johnstones boat, and lashed them together to try and keep us afloat but we were going to pull the ‘Endeavour’ under too; we got half way into the harbour when we had to cut her free or they both would’ve gone under. Nearly lost 'Spitfire' twice. “
At what age did you get your skipper's ticket? “Ye didnae hae tae dae that then, ye jist paid fur it an awa’ ye went. The risk wis aw yours.”
Your boat is Spitfire, easily the most recognisable boat in Dunbar, is she named after the aeroplane? “Aye, an ma brither was supposed tae hae the Hurricane, but he didnae want tae take on the debt.”
Spitfire was built in Dunbar? “Aye, 1974, o’er there behind us at Wetherhead’s boatyard, where Barry Buglass has his lobster business noo. A stern trawler, we used to catch scallops, prawns an' 4 months at the white fish. You need a different net and gear for each. Mainly prawns noo.”
And your crew? “Peter Brunton, 8 year in the Navy, 8 year in the Army, then with me til he retired. Aye, ‘Big Neeps’, was a good crewman.”
Were you ever caught in a serious storm? “Hundreds over the years. Once we took seven and a half hours to cover the eighteen nautical miles from Eyemouth to Dunbar into the teeth of a north-westerly gale. That’s walking speed, it takes some fuel, and if the engine quits then it’s straight oot wi' the anchor an' quick!“ 'Spitfire' is a very stable boat, heavy, with a wooden hull and steel-covered keel.”
Was your expensive gear ever lost? “Aye, ye can lose a mile o' nets in a minute.“
How much did that cost? “Dinnae ask.”
Your son, also Robert, is now skipper of 'Spitfire', do you let him run the boat or do you still 'stick your oar' in? “No, ye cannae dae that. He looks after her fine. I’m shorebound now.”
You still keep an eye on the harbour from your "gannet's nest" above the slipway. Got any advice for new skippers? “Keep plenty of water under the keel coming o'er the bar.”
Do you sometimes miss the fishing? “Aye, it was ma life, but ye’re oot there fur 20 hour sometimes.”
Prawn trawlers fish mainly at night, do you ever go out now? “Just stay tucked up in bed”
Your store at McArthur's Store is an Aladdin’s Cave (see photo 2) with the best access of all 11 stores. How did you manage that? “Luck; it was my partner’s faither’s.”
You're an exceptional net-mender, always outside. Do wind, rain or snow ever stop you? “No. Ye start and carry on til ye’re finished. Ah’m aye daein’ something.”
How long does it take to master the making and repairing of nets? “Difficult to master. Nooadays nylon nets last a long time but they were sisal afore and only lasted 3 month. Tae learn repairin’ nets it’ll tak ye 2 year to learn. To make nets it’ll tak ye 10 year. Tailored for the type of catch. Ah’m still makin’ mistakes after 60 year at it.”
A few years ago you were getting older and unfit, but now you're 'younger' and extremely fit. What do you do differently nowadays? “Walking 15 miles a day gets the weight off and fitness comes fast. Maybe I’ll start swimming again to build up the arm muscles.”
Do you like to eat prawns? “Love ‘em, an’ they’re gey guid fur ye.”
What's your favourite recipe? “Prawn cocktail.”
Finally: What's your favourite feeling and memories of the harbour? “Swimming in the harbour as a lad wi’ Eddy an’ Ian then runnin’ tae Barns Ness fur a race.”
Robert, thank you for your time and stories.
photos by Kenny Maule, photo 1: a busy man, Click <<READ MORE>> below for photo 2: a busy man's store
