Seafarers memorial design to be revealed at Wick public meeting
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Plans for a monument in Wick to those lost at sea will take an important step forward next week when the chosen design is revealed at a public meeting in the town.
Sculptor Alan Herriot will be on hand to talk about the statue which is due to be installed just under a year from now at a site overlooking Wick Bay. It will be the first major public memorial in the town for a century.
The selection of the artist comes after more than three years of fundraising by the volunteers of the Seafarers Memorial Group who achieved their £100,000 goal at the end of 2021.
Mr Herriot, one of Scotland’s leading figurative sculptors, was selected from a short list of five artists. His studio is south of Edinburgh, near Leadburn, on the border between Midlothian and Tweeddale.
The Seafarers Memorial Group was set up as an offshoot of Wick Paths Group to raise money for a monument to all seafarers lost at sea from or in the WK registration area.
Members hope there will be a good turnout by the public at the meeting in Mackays Hotel on Wednesday, June 8, starting at 7pm.
The group's secretary, John Bogle, said: "Wick has no memorial for those lost at sea despite its proud seafaring history, unlike many other coastal towns. This will be the first major public memorial in the town for 100 years.
"We've been through a selection process and we've appointed Alan Herriot.
"The design will be made public at the meeting. There will be a model of it there and drawings.
"Our chairman Willie Watt will give a wee talk about the history of the Seafarers Memorial Group, and the artist will say a bit about himself and how it developed and what it means. We will have comment cards there on the night."
Mr Bogle added: "The artist is very well known in sculpting circles. Alan will be going into Wick High School the following day to meet with art pupils, and they are going to design three of the five stainless-steel lecterns that will surround the statue – so they will have a lasting input to this.
"We have had tremendous support from local people and from local and national businesses plus local grant-giving bodies, so it is great to see the project entering its final stages with the signing of contracts with the artist and the foundry."
Mr Watt said: "I think it's such a vital missing part of the jigsaw for the whole community. That is evidenced by the amount of support and funding that we've received.
“It will provide a lasting remembrance for all seafarers lost at sea and will create a place where families can come to reflect alongside a sculpted tribute to those brave souls. This fabulous statue will address a longing by many to have somewhere to go and remember their loved ones.
“In addition, Wick will be home to a monument of significant importance by prominent artist Alan Herriot and will be able to welcome families from all over the WK registration area and farther afield to pay their respects to those who gave all while at sea.
“Please come along to Mackays Hotel to see the design and hear our story on how, with the support of so many, we are on the cusp of delivering the most significant monument for the north of Scotland in the last 100 years.”
The sculpture is due to be unveiled at the Braehead in May 2023.
Wick's war memorial had its official unveiling on October 31, 1923, and that is believed to be the last major public memorial erected in the town.
In December, a grant of £20,710 from the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund took the Seafarers Memorial Group to its six-figure target.
At the time, the group’s treasurer, Allan Tait, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support shown from the community and businesses throughout the WK registration area.
“The memorial will provide a focal point for quiet reflection and remembrance as well as raising awareness of our seafaring heritage."
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