Quiz: how many crew and family in this photo? If you answered 4 then "You should've gone to Specsavers!"
News
There is a lot happening in Dunbar Harbour, so we will keep you informed with our news articles and newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter on the right of this article and come back to this news page often to read more. If you have news related to Dunbar Harbour then please send us a message using the form at the bottom and we will publish it here.
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Brian Sinclair, who crews on Arcturus, caught this halibut off Dunbar. "It must weigh about 15kg," Brian reckons.
"Aye, we'll get a few good steaks out of that."
photo by Susan Brown via FB.
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Naturally you've all been avidly following previous installments of our of 'Tales of the Harbour Bridge'. The bridge, over the years, has developed some movement and chatter in the bearings. This has caused the Harbour Trust much concern because the bridge's condition is critical for boat-passage and visitors, and expensive to maintain. The bridge-shafts have eight bearings, four on each shaft, all having white-metal bearings, just like the big-ends on a giant crankshaft. In early-June, mechanics from AG Thomson inspected one of the bearings as recommended in the audit. There was no apparent wear on lining, or axle, and they managed to tighten the loose bearing cap. Then they released the other 'end' bearings, cleaned, re-greased, and re-tightened them; now they have some good news. "The motion is much-improved and the bridge should give many years service. The final two 'middle' bearings will be inspected when tides allow."
Future servicing will involve two-monthly re-greasing, re-tightening and hydraulic inspections. Yippee!
Please click "READ MORE" to see the bearings 'in situ'.
photos by Kenny Maule
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Skiff Black Agnes, following the Pipe Band, carried the Royal Court in the Civic Week parade from the Leisure Pool, along the people-lined streets, to the Bleachingfield Centre. This year the skiff, up on her trailer, raised Dunbar's 'Royalty' much higher and thus more easily seen.
From the DCC: "Good people of Dunbar, thank you for coming out to support Civic Week! A HUGE THANKS to our volunteers and helpers who were the road and parade marshals, plus the fun day and music volunteers.
Also, to all the local groups and clubs which helped make it all happen – THANK YOU!"
photos by Fraser Stewart and Christine Mincher (please click "READ MORE" )
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You wait years for a photographer who uses the wet-plate collodion process to come along and then suddenly there are two in the same place on the same day.
Alastair Cook was running four days of workshops to raise funds for Dunbar Harbour Trust as part of Civic Week. Several of his students learned this 'arcane' art which shows character and timelessness in the faces of the subjects. http://www.blipfolio.com/alastaircook
ALSO Jack Lowe is travelling the U.K. and Ireland to all 238 RNLI stations, during an 8-year journey, creating many stunning images on glass. https://lifeboatstationproject.com/
Wet-collodion process was an early photographic technique invented by Frederick Archer in 1851. The process involves adding a soluble iodide to a solution of collodion (cellulose nitrate) and coating a glass plate with the mixture. The process was valued for the level of detail and clarity it allowed.
Subjects must be in the shade, not sun. Two second exposure: "Fur heavens's sake, NAE FIDGETIN', BOYS!!!
Photos by Kenny Maule
1) Alastair Cook 'poses' with his students
2) Jack Lowe 'captures' the RNLI. (please click "READ MORE" )
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Spitfire is our only boat which was built here in Dunbar; at Wetherhead Boatbuilders in Cromwell Harbour boat-slip in 1974. She is named after the Spitfire, the famous WWII fighter, but a wee bit heavier at 20 tonnes. With a crew of three she fishes for prawns, between St. Abbs Head and the Isle of May, mainly during nighttime.
Several generations of the Davies family were hard at work (mainly drinking tea, eating sandwiches and just gassing). "Dinnae fa' aff yer ladders, boys!"
Please click "READ MORE" to see Spitfire turning round.
photos by Kenny Maule
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On Sunday the 26th May, in the nearby town of North Berwick, an unruly mob of fearsome, shipwrecked pirates staggered the exhausting 12 miles to Dunbar Harbour. Photo shows the survivors swarming over the bridge.
Voodz, the vicious pirate haphazardly lead them along the John Muir Way with her villainous friends. Unusually they did it to help others: to raise funds for our annual Sparkling Dunbar Harbour Festival where peculiar pirates visit every year.
Click "READ MORE" to see the result of 12+ miles.
photos by Fraser Stewart
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Events coming soon: https://dunbarbattery.org.uk/topics/events/
- June 15, 4:00-- 6:00 pm: THE THREE CRAWS RETURN…..
- June 17; 11-- 2:00 pm. Archaeological, History and Genealogy Group tour.
- June 18, 6:30 -- 7:30 pm, The Tesla Coils: Slammin’ together Worst Offcuts of Punk, Metal, Country, Folk and Spoken word
- June 20 -- 23, LITTORAL ART PROJECT
- June 21, 3.30-5.30pm Samba workshop. Dunbar Music School CIC.
- June 22, Bands at the Battery, all day, singer/songwriters perform.
- June 23, 6:30 -- 7:30 pm, Celebrate our community at the Harbour
- June 29 -- 30, Theatre company - "Mary, it began with a lass..."
- July 3rd, 11---3pm, ENVIRONMENTAL OPEN DAY. Free event for all ages.
- July 6 & 7, Theatre company - "Mary, it began with a lass..."
- July 13, 1:00 -- 7:00 pm. RNLI Lifeboat Day
- August 17; 2-- 6:00 pm. Sparkling Dunbar: Live Music and stalls. Family fun.
- August 24, 7:00--9:00 pm CAPTAIN HORNSWOGGLE AND SON, music
- August 25, 7:00 --- 9:00 pm. THE VIBRATING ECSTATIC NOW: PASSIONATE ONES
- September 6 & 7, Hemelvaart Bier Cafe AytonHemelvaart Rocks Festival
- We’re looking for community groups, bands and individuals to use Dunbar Battery. If you are interested, please get in touch via https://dunbarbattery.org.uk/contact-us/
With thanks from the Dunbar Harbour Trust. A Registered Charity; SCO 29305
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Photo: Aspire II, KY1000, looks superb, with fresh anti-fouling and newly-painted topsides. A lot of work means a well-maintained and serviceable boat, ready for the season.
Click “READ MORE” for Dunbar’s cleanest boat: the Volunteer rowing skiff.
(photos by Kenny Maule)
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Celebrated local author has 'Books for Sale and Signing'! (note: cash only). Roy will set up stall, 2--4pm, starting the first Saturday and Sunday in June until end of September at weekends, weather permitting, and except during other significant events.
Bibliography:
- A History Of Dunbar
- Wingate Pasha: The Life Of General Sir F R Wingate
- The Killing Fields Of Scotland
- The Deil’s Ain: The Witch Hunt In Scotland
- The White Rose & The Thorn Tree: A Novel About The 1745 Jacobite Rebellion
Booklets
- Dunbar: A Famous Castle & The Story Of Black Agnes
- Dunbar: An Ancient Royal Burgh
- Dunbar: A Garrison Town & Casualties Of Three Wars
- Dunbar: Three Harbours, Fishing & Sea Trade
- Dunbar: A Kirk Chronicle
- Dunbar: The Battles Of 1296 & 1650
- Dunbar: Famous Visitors
- Dunbar: The High Street Closes
Note: Cash Only Accepted
Roy also conducts foot tours of the High Street and the Harbours and gives talks to local history societies. He has recently been historical adviser for the USA film company ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’. You can see Roy on TV (Sky) and again on steam TV in Britain soon.
(photo courtesy GWS Photograpy)
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A huge heartfelt thank you to all the energetic volunteers from Big Blue Ocean cleanup, including primary school children, who were all at Dunbar Harbour. They picked up so much that the forklift was used to move it into storage. The litter they collected will be used as material for the Littoral Art project taking place during Civic Week. It is a real sad state of affairs that so much litter had to be cleared by volunteers, so we will be taking some measures over the next few months to address the littering behaviour in the first place.
Follow our Dunbar Harbour FB page for updates and in the meantime take a look at www.bigblueoceancleanup.org
A Message from Harbour Master Quentin Dimmer of Dunbar Harbour
“Dear Harbour User, As Harbour Master I write to ask that we no longer discard any waste material into the sea or onto the quaysides. The type of waste includes all single-use plastics, rope and net cuttings and any other waste material we find dumped in the harbour such as car batteries and please take away food and drink containers. It is time our community steps into the modern world and changes our behaviour for the better. On a number of occasions, I have discussed with the Harbour Management Committee about the environmental policy of DHT and the possibility of introducing fines, however before that becomes necessary your cooperation would be greatly appreciated by me and the wider community.”
Click “READ MORE” to see the ‘team’.
(photos courtesy Quentin Dimmer)