Event - Seeker Reaper, Sat 22nd March 2008

[Kintyre Forum News]

Certainly a worthwhile event to go to. Received a copy of this correspondence sent to the Courier.

In the days when the “ring-net ruled – OK” in the herring fisheries, the Clyde was without doubt in the vanguard. There were around 40 ring-net boats working from Campbeltown alone, in the 1950s, each one giving employment to 6 men. These were the halcyon days!

This all came to an end in the 1970s when mid-water trawling and purse-seining took over and within the last 2 years the last Campbeltown connection with the ring-net fishery ended totally with the retiral of Lawrence Robertson and the Gillies brothers, Robert and Willie. They were the last men fishing, who had served their apprenticeship at the ring-net.

One of the big events of the year in Campbeltown in the boom bays was the ‘Spawny Ball’. This was a dinner dance that was held in the Victoria Hall in the early Spring. It got its nickname from the fishing that took place at the Brown Head, on Arran, and the Ballantrae Banks, for herring that spawned there. This fishery was in the months of February and March and the conclusion of that fishery marked the end of the years fishing. Boats then were beached and scraped and varnished in preparation for the following year. The Ball was run by the Campbeltown Branch of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, and was attended by guests from the other Clyde ports, Carradale, Tarbert, Dunure, Maidens and Girvan.

This Ball stopped many years ago.

There are men still alive today who took part in this fishery, and one of the sad things about their lives is that they can no longer, in some cases, get around easily and so have little contact with others who were their companions. One of them stated, some years ago, that he never saw another fisherman except when he attended the funeral of another! “They canna get a yarn wi their old pals!”

A night out has been organized with just such men in view. It will consist of a short one-man play based on the herring fishing, poetry readings, songs, photographs and films. It will take place in the Masonic Hall in Campbeltown on Saturday the 22nd March, at 6:30 pm. A meal will be provided and buses will run from Tarbert and from Carradale.

The event has been extremely well supported financially by several organizations, so the price of tickets will be very reasonable indeed.

As well as the entertainment, and perhaps more importantly, the event will allow men to meet others who are of the same background – I would say that more herring will be caught that night than would be required to feed the population of China!

We cannot call it the ‘Spawny Ball’, for most of the men are well past their dancing days so perhaps the name “Seeker, Reaper”, will be borrowed from George Campbell Hay’s epic poem about the ring-net art.

Tickets for this event may be purchased from Robert Gillies, telephone 01586 552547, Lachie Paterson on 01583 431570 and Kenny McNab on 01880 820601.

It is being staged primarily for old exponents of the ring-netting era, and the organizers hope for a full house.

[ionnsaigh]

Brilliant

[general jack o'niell]

good to see the piece reproduced without the glaring typo of the original, according to the courier lawrence, trapper and willie were retried not retired. i certainly hope to be able to attend

[Beachcomber]

according to the courier lawrence, trapper and willie were retried not retired.

Yes, a typo worthy of the Grauniad...

[jdcarra]

For all you ex ringers out there who missed the last episode of Seeker Reaper get yer boots and oilskins on and get along to this event. Great to see the old tradition being kept alive by a selected few. A lot of research and material goes into setting up these shows and a great thanks must go out ot all. I myself did a short spell at the ring net aboard a few boats out of Carradale and got to know just how hard it must have been for that generation of fishermen. A lot of hard graft, no fancy machinery for hauling gear like nowadays, many days unfished with bad weather, not like towing away today.

See last production here http://www.kintyreforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4421

[gillette]

Tickets all sold jd taking names in case people cancel

[general jack o'niell]

take it the one you kept me was snapped up then? hope its a great night for all yous auld fla's

[jdcarra]

Tickets all sold jd taking names in case people cancel

Cheers on that, now for an entertaining night ahead for all .

[jdcarra]

Well, as my last posting said I don't think anyone was dissapointed. From the start to the finish all eyes were glued to the stage.Pics show guests arriving and quickly filled the room to capacity.

From the opening ceremony by Cecil Finn to the performing band Wild Sarachs, poet/writer Angus Martin, singer Ann Leith, Shelaigh Cameron, piper John Brown, Lachie Patersons slide show and Eddie Strivens play (what a character) it was another night again not to be forgotten. Big thanks goes out to all the assisting stage crew, waiters and kitchen staff for an excellent meal, not forgetting the bar staff. Hope I have not missed anyone.

Worth a mention for his craftmanship on making model fishing boats which were on display by Campbeltown fisherman Derek Good, see two photos. Cecil Finn also gave word of credit to Lachie Paterson for his excellent collection of fishing photographs and slides. As the last photo says, we'll never see the likes of them again.

[general jack o'niell]

looks like it was a good night, but i've scoured all your pica nad i can honestly say i only recognise a handful of faces, the majority i've never seen in my life before!!!! where did they all come out of? i'm seeing the odd carradale face, a few townies but not many well kent fissogs.

dgoode's models are braw looking, hope mine looks half as good when its finished, i cut out three times as many frames as i need so i'm open to suggestions of nobles boats to model once i have the jasmine finished. great to see gyllie lookin so well

[Beachcomber]

great to see gyllie lookin so well

I barely recognised him in a whistle and flute!

The models are superb. Are they on display somewhere in the town? If not they should be. Well worthy of space in the Transport Museum in Glasgow.

[jdcarra]

great to see gyllie lookin so well

I barely recognised him in a whistle and flute!

The models are superb. Are they on display somewhere in the town? If not they should be. Well worthy of space in the Transport Museum in Glasgow.

I, gyllie can be quite smart when he need be . Don't think Derek has his boats on display, but will check up on that. Will post some other pics of his collection later.