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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.

Lifeboats, helicopters and fire engines….!

It all happened so very quickly starting at 11.40am on 30th May.

Dunbar Coastguard, two Inshores (ILB) and an Offshore (ALB) plus a helicopter were tasked this morning to a small pleasure-craft near to Dunbar harbour. The vessel, with a three-man crew aboard, had suffered engine failure 200 metres northeast of the entrance to Dunbar Harbour and had begun to drift towards the rocks. What had started as a routine call-out to help a small craft quickly became a multi-agency emergency.

First, the Dunbar ILB suffered a mechanical issue soon after launching was no longer able to assist, and dropped the anchor, however a fantastic effort was made by two nearby sea-kayakers who rushed to the pleasure-craft, gave assistance and managed to pull it away from the rocks. This was a remarkable effort by them, not easy in kayaks, and undoubtedly prevented any escalation of the incident.

Dunbar’s ALB was quickly activated from Torness and North Berwick’s ILB was also called. A land ambulance attended the incident as a precaution along with 4 fire engines as the ILB had suffered a suspected engine fire.

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 151 from Inverness, which was already airborne for a different call-out, attended the scene and circled many times just off the Battery, much to the unexpected entertainment of watching adults and children.

All parties were brought safely into Dunbar Harbour without further incident.

Quote from the RNLI: “All the agencies worked together to ensure things didn’t get out of hand.” Note: If you see someone in difficulty, or something you are concerned about on the shoreline, beaches, cliffs, mud or water, then call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard.

Photo1: the kayakers (Gavin Ross and his pal)

Click <<READ MORE>> for photo 2: the ALB. Both photos by Kenny Maule

Lifeguard, 5-star hotelier, and barefoot kayaker

Nol receiving his RNLI Bravery award

Interview with the intrepid Nol

Nol, you’re a Dunbar man, born and bred? Aye, I was born in Room #3, The Lothian Hotel.
Was your family originally Italian? Yes, from Tuscany, Italy; came in the early-1900s.
And school? Left school at fifteen but I’d already been working for my dad in the hotel since the age of ten. Worked all my life and never a dull day, well, maybe one or two
And teenage years? Always in the old outdoor swimming pool, whistle round my neck, in charge of the wee boats then later as a lifeguard.
Note: "Nol Togneri received the RNLI Bravery award in the 1960s after saving a girl at sea, keeping her afloat until the lifeboat attended to rescue them as they were drifting out to sea. These awards are usually reserved only for RNLI crew, risking their lives at sea."
This video shows how Noll developed the skills needed for confidence in the water:-
https://www.facebook.com/paul.togneri.1/videos/10206005929422715/UzpfSTE2OTUyMTEyMDc6MTAyMDY5NDQ2NDczMzAwNzY/
So the old pool at Bayswell, was really ‘Baywatch’? We all remember those beauty competitions. The pool was packed in summertime.
Did you ever go off the high diving-board? Aye, an’ once I broke the springboard on the way doon.
You’re always barefoot, why’s that? Do not like wearing shoes!
Where did you work after the Lothian Hotel? Oh, every smart hotel, The Marine in Troon, Old Course Hotel, St. Andrews, Caledonian Hotel….
So, the start of a 5-star career? Aye, but sometimes catering’s a demanding life.
Have you worked overseas? Did an apprenticeship in Paris, in Fouquet's Brasserie, an historic restaurant on the Champs-Élysées. “Une table pour deux, monsieur?”
Did you work in catering all your life? No, I worked as a steel erector on the 300ft tower at Blackcastle, Innerwick, logging crew in the Borders, salmon fishing at Goswick, then Eves Taxis and buses.
Everyone’s seen you kayaking off and away, or disappearing in your powerboat. Where do you go? Across the bay to the Tyninghame estuary for a few camping nights, or to the Bass Rock. Tyninghame estuary has changed a lot with the sand channel shifting, very tricky now.
Where was your furthest kayak trip? May Isle with Doc Ballantyne.
She’s a nice motorboat, your “Wildfire”. When and where did you start with boats? Age of 10, first kayak. Father had a speedboat; he started a Waterski Club. Then a 20ft Cabin Cruiser for 30 years, many expeditions with the family. 20 years on the Lifeboat Crew. Is that enough?
Your son Paul also uses ‘Wildfire’. Does he listen to his dad’s safety advice? Aye, or he’ll get a clip roon his lugs if he disnae.
What’s your best advice to youngsters starting in boats? **Safety First** radio, lifejackets, flares, anchor. Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

Photo 1, Nol receiving his RNLI Bravery award from Princess Margaret.

Photo 2, Nol dives off the Gripes; not recommended nowadays, even for fit, young men.

Click <<READ MORE>> below for photo 2

Broadhaven not broad enough ....

Fresh from her recent rescue the unpowered, star-crossed Sally Belle was towing from Victoria Harbour into Broadhaven for some work on her undersides whilst awaiting spare parts. Work completed her owner decided on June 24th. to return to Sally Belle's temporary berth under the castle.

To save blushes various, we won't give all the details but she ended up on Broadhaven's rocks on an ebbing(!) tide. As she 'lay down', fortunately her tall and substantial mast avoided the nearby houses. There she lay until the next high tide at 6am the following morning. A quick hoik and tow and she was 'home' at her berth; a short but exciting, unpowered voyage.

Now when are those spare parts arriving?

Photos by Kenny Maule. Click <<READ MORE>> for photo 2: half-afloat.