Seafarers Memorial in Wick ‘a perfect place’ for national fishing commemoration
The Seafarers Memorial in Wick was described as “a perfect place of remembrance” as the town played its part in a new nationwide commemoration of those who have lost their lives while working in the fishing industry.
Almost one year after it was unveiled at the town’s Braehead, the statue provided a fitting backdrop as Wick joined in the first National Fishing Remembrance Day. Ceremonies took place at fishing memorials all over the UK on Sunday, led by the Fishermen’s Mission.
Sculptor Alan Beattie Herriot created the monument for the Seafarers Memorial Group and it was unveiled on May 20, 2023. It commemorates all seafarers lost at sea from or in the WK registration area.
Willie Watt, chairman of the Seafarers Memorial Group, welcomed invited guests and members of the public to the hour-long ceremony on a bright and dry afternoon at the Braehead, above Wick Bay. The overall turnout was at least 150.
“Some would say this remembrance event has been a long time coming, a bit like our memorial – we should have had one a long time ago,” Mr Watt said. “However, the two will combine to respectfully and poignantly remember our forebears who went to sea to make a living from the most hostile of all environments.
“Our present-day community owes such a great debt of gratitude to the fishermen and lassies who, from their hard-working ethos, made us the strong and resourceful community that we are today. Although their personal losses were greater than we could bear to imagine, they transformed the far north of Scotland on the edge of the British Isles to one where prosperity and opportunities abounded.
“This memorial now provides a perfect place of remembrance and reflection and has created a special, beautiful, peaceful spot overlooking the wild waters from which fortunes and sadness emanated.
“The reverse side of this monument recalls one of the worst tragedies that Wick has ever seen, Black Saturday, over 170 years ago [on August 19, 1848].
“Thirty-seven men lost their lives, leaving 17 widows and 63 children and a town in mourning. The total loss for the Moray Firth and the far north was 94 people.
“Today we will remember them and everyone else that failed to come home from the fishing grounds – we owe them that, and much more. Our heritage was built on
fishing and we thank them for their hard work and bravery that made us the strong community that we are today.”
Seafarers Memorial Group patron Andrew Bremner spoke on behalf of the fishing industry.
“As you are all aware, fishermen have played a huge part in feeding our nation over the past centuries and many communities have suffered dreadful losses as a result,” Mr Bremner said. “Every coastal town and village has stories of the loss of fishermen.
“I can recall as a young boy I spent a great deal of time around the harbour. When the school bell went at four o’clock the first place you went was down to the harbour, listening to the stories of the braveries and the dangers which they all faced.
“I also remember hearing the stories about Black Saturday.”
Mr Bremner recalled tragedies involving Eyemouth, Hull and Grimsby fishing crews as well as loss of life off the Caithness coast on the George Robb (Aberdeen), Celerity (Buckie), Trident (Peterhead) and other boats.
He said: “Fishermen face challenges every day in their search for a successful result to their trip, taking with them a great understanding of what lies ahead. The call of the sea is in their blood and nothing can alter their never-ending optimism of a safe return home.
“We are gathered here today to pay respect to those whose lives were cut short, and the memories of them must never be forgotten. We must also give thanks to the work of the Fishermen’s Mission who provided comfort to so many people in times of terrible sorrow.”
The Fishermen’s Mission was represented by its area officer for Caithness and Orkney, Jackie Dodds, who spoke about the importance of having a day of remembrance. She read a psalm and led prayers.
Members of the Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland and the Caithness branch of the Merchant Navy Association also took part along with local RNLI and HM Coastguard teams. Pipers were Glenn and Morven Miller, of Wick RBLS Pipe Band.
A two-minute silence was followed by the lament Flowers of the Forest.
Retired fisherman Edward Atkins laid a wreath and Jenny Szyfelbain recited a poignant seafaring poem, The Price of Fish is Very Dear, by Toni and Frankie Mulhearn.
Alan Beattie Herriot’s statue is of a male figure standing five metres high with one arm outstretched, holding a representation of a haddock, while the other hand gestures towards a panel with figures representing lives lost at sea. The memorial stands on top of a stainless-steel base plinth surrounded by five lecterns and two bench seats.
Mr Watt said: “It was a great privilege to be part of the team that delivered this and I think it’s the most photographed area in Wick nowadays. Our artist is so pleased with the amount of glorious photographs that have been sent to him showing and highlighting how wonderful his creation is.
“I think you’ll agree that, as somebody put it, the ‘laddie with the haddie’ is very apt and very fitting and in a perfect location.
“The monument reminds us of the dangers that the maritime world endures.”
The ceremony concluded with the pipe tune WK Seafarers Memorial, composed by Ivor Mackay.
