1933
On the occasion of his forthcoming retiral from the lifeboat service, with which he has been connected for the past 53 years, Mr John Jack, 15 James Street, Cellardyke received the following letter from Mr J Henderson Stewart, MP for East Fife
‘Dear Mr Jack,- May I offer you congratulations on your retiral after the long period of service of 53 years with the Anstruther Lifeboat. Surely it is a record of which you and your friends must be proud. With best wishes for happiness in your more restful days – Yours very truly, J Henderson Stewart’
One of the oldest inhabitants of Cellardyke has passed away at her residence, ‘Kilrenny’ Toll Road. She was Mrs Dewar, who was 96 years of age.
Until a few days ago she was able to carry out minor household duties, but she was confined to bed with bronchitis, from which she failed to recover.
Mrs Dewar was a native of Kilrenny and came to reside in Cellardyke nine years ago, naming her new residence after the place of her birth. Her husband, Mr William Dewar died in 1923.
90 Entries for Cellardyke Events
The attractions of the East Neuk of Fife will be considerably enhanced this year by model sailing boat races at the cardinal Steps Pond Cellardyke.
The recently formed East Fife Model Sailing Club is now an enthusiastic organisation with 140 members, some of whom come as far as Falkirk, Dunfermline and St Andrews , Their ages range from the youngest schoolboy to veterans of 70. Although the club is open to all strange to say there are no lady members.
Weather permitting, racing for the Mitchell Cup will take place this week. About 90 entries have been received.
The fact that races have already been postponed twice emphasises the importance of the weather. A lot depends on the way the wind blows. The members of the club are keenly interested and the races are expected to be closely contested.
The fishermen members wish to take as much advantage of the present races as possible as they are usually away from home during the summer. Their only opportunity to take part in the races is after the East Anglian Fishing to the month of April.
In the course of time probably a more perfect Fifie model will be evolved and competition will be keener than ever. Mr D Reid, the secretary, is of the opinion that these Fifie models are principally for the autumn and winter. While they are more adapted to heavy winds, a yacht is more or less a summer model.
DR D.C Wilson, Commodore, is also an enthusiastic official, and has gifted a cup which is intended for competition among juveniles, 17 years of age and under. Races for the Shirreff Cup which took place some months ago, are run under certain restrictions. The present Mitchell Cup Competition is open to all. The Wilson Cup competition is expected to take place in April.
1934
Cellardyke Fishermen up in Arms
Against Monday sale of herring
Mass meeting Today ‘To enforce laws of the Port’
They mean to stop the practice.
The matter was brought to a head when two visiting skippers, made known their intention to land catches at Anstruther for sale this morning in defiance of the port byelaws, framed at the opening of the winter herring season.
The local fishermen held a special meeting in Cellardyke town hall at the week end, when they expressed their determination to enforce their former decision disallowing the sale of herring on Monday Morning.
The unanimous decision of the meeting was there should be a meeting of the fishermen at the harbour this morning to take steps they deemed necessary to enforce the byelaws of the port.
In former years similar byelaws have been framed, but later allowed to drop, but it is evident this time that the Dykers mean business.
(Another article)
The big bone of contention – the use of the ring net as against the drift net – has given rise to several side issues, any one of which may serve to bring matters to a head.
Cellardyke and Anstruther were agog over the weekend as the result of a threat on the part of two Newhaven Ring netters to break the byelaws of the port and land their catches this morning.
At a meeting on Saturday morning the local fishermen agreed to be present at Anstruther this morning… Although the meeting was held in private the news soon got abroad that the move contemplated was to throw the fish back into the sea.
Any hint of trouble was dispelled by the weather, which kept the fleet in port overnight.
Groups of men lingered in the vicinity of the harbour discussing the situation, and an Evening Telegraph and Post representative, who made exhaustive inquiries as to the likely trend of events, was informed that actions on the lines agreed would be taken in the event of any future attempt to break the bye law.
The Ring net fishermen hail chiefly from Arbroath, Campbeltown and Newhaven. The entire fife fleet makes use of the drift net, although it is understood that one local ring net boat may be commissioned shortly. A similar byelaw governing Monday morning landings is in force in St Monans, but there is no restriction of any kind at Pittenweem or Crail.
Buyers from Anstruther and Cellardyke can obtain any necessary supplies at Pittenweem only a mile away. Earlier in the season the landing of ring net catches at Anstruther was prohibited altogether, but the byelaw was rescinded following protests by shopkeepers and others, as buyers were showing preference for Newhaven when securing their supplies. The fishermen’s objection to the ring net is based on the allegation that it scoops along the ground and destroys the spawn.
No herring was landed or sold at Anstruther this morning, several boats landed four crans of herring at Pittenweem and six crans at Crail.
1935
Night attack on a Fife man
Unconscious after blow on jaw.
Believed victim of mistaken identity
An unprovoked attack on Cellardyke trawl engineer on the North esplanade East about midnight last night is engaging the attention of the Aberdeen Police/
The man Mr Martin Sutherland, who is 40 years of age, was walking along towards Market street with his left hand in his coat pocket when two men came from the shadow of a building, stopped him and asked him for a match.
Unsuspectingly, Sutherland put his other hand into his right pocket for his box of matches. When both hands were thus confined one of the men without the slightest warning struck him a blow on the jaw and felled him to the ground, where he lost consciousness.
It was nearly two hours before he came to himself. He was found propped against the wall of the building where he had fallen by a night watchman. His mouth was badly cut and bleeding and both seams of his artificial teeth had been broken.
He was also suffering from severe pains in his head, and it is believed that he had been kicked on the head while lying unconscious.
Sutherland was taken to the Royal Infirmary, and although his condition is not serious he is suffering intensely from head pains. The unfortunate man is probably the victim of mistaken identity. Certainly robbery was not the motive for the attack as Sutherland had money in his pockets, notes as well as silver, and it was intact.
So Sudden and unexpected was the attack that Mr, Sutherland has not a clear recollection of the appearance of the two men, but so far as he recollects the man who hit him was about 35-40 years of age and some five feet 8 or 9 inches in height, and was wearing a light raincoat with a muffler round his neck and cap.
The other man he thinks, was not quite so tall and was wearing a dark suit with a light cap.
(additional info in another paper Martin Sutherland was crew of Newhaven owned Starbank , Newspaper quotes reg as LT 154 I’d rather suspect it was… LH 154)