This week’s Cellardyke Echo will begin with a story that came to light with another of Susan Cathcarts photos.. This one a fantastic photo of the steam Liner and drifter the Rambler SN 247 which was built in Blyth in 1898.
The Rambler was bought by brothers John and Robert Stewart (grandfather of Ian Stewart who became a founder member of the Rolling Stones) approx. 1904
They had decided to buy a newer boat than the one they were working and came across Rambler. Before a deal could be struck, John Stewart was taken ill with flu and confined to bed. He had misgivings about The Rambler…feeling it didn’t have much protection for its crew in poor weather and intended speaking to his brother to persuade him it wasn’t the boat for them.
However, Robert went ahead and bought the boat without consulting John.
Robert Jnr (nephew to Robert Snr and son co owner, the above John Stewart and Mary Ann Bett, Born 13th Jan 1884 at 24 James Street,) was a deck hand on the boat and one of the first trips to Yarmouth he was washed overboard and drowned, on the 11th of Nov 1905
John blamed his brother for the loss of his son and two brothers never spoke again.
Although Robert’s death was on the 11 Nov it was reported in the newspapers this week. I had not noticed Robert’s loss a Cellardyke one before as the vessel was recorded as Shields owned, she retained her Shields registration until she was lost in 1918 struck by a mine.
1905
SCOTTISH BOATS HOME FROM ENGLISH FISHING. FISHERMAN’S SEASON. THE TOLL OF VICTIMS. The last of the Scottish boats left Yarmouth and Lowestoft during the past week for home, and the English fishing for 1905 has ended so far the North British fleets are concerned. …….Compared with 1904, the crews have come back to Scotland with practically doubled earnings.. ….. The Scottish fleets at Yarmouth and Lowestoft numbered just over a thousand sail, and out of all this large flotilla moving to and fro almost daily it is satisfactory to record that only six boats have been lost. These were the Breadwinner, of Peterhead, which sprang leak and foundered; the Kirkcaldy boat The Prior, which was sunk by collision with the Peterhead boat Johanna Petrie; the Wick boat Fruitful, that was wrecked on the North Sand in a gale while making Yarmouth harbour; the Banff boat Pomegranate sunk by the Aberdeen steamer Hogarth off Lowestoft; the Macduff boat Maggie Ann, wrecked Lowestoft; and the Port Gordon boat Industry, sunk by a steamer in the North Sea while homeward bound. The Scottish death-roll has been sad one, and the sea claimed a full toll of victims from the fishermen who venture on the deep ………….. Among those who are now numbered with the dead have been John Eason, drowned from the Kirkcaldy boat Children’s Friend; James Taylor, drowned from the Jennie Taylor, Fraserburgh; William Milne, drowned from the Buckie boat Lady Seafield; Skipper Hendry, drowned from the Port Gordon boat Industry; George Muir, of the Banff boat Fidelity, who died
in Lowestoft Hospital; Robert Stewart, drowned from the Rambler, belonging to North Shields; and, worst of all, the seven, hands lost from the Banff boat Pomegranate, which was run down Scottish steamer while homeward bound recently off Lowestoft.
1922
The steam drifter Camperdown, which belonged Skipper James Muir. Cellardyke, has been sold to Mr Reid, fisherman Buckie
1924 ( returning to the photo of Black’s oilskin Factory and later Crisp factory it appears in the paper this week too)
OILSKIN FACTORY AND DWELLING HOUSES IN CELLARDYKE FOR SALE.
There will be exposed to SALE by Public Roup, within the Town Hall. Cellardyke, on Wednesday, 31st December, at 2 p m .unless previously disposed of by private bargain,
- Those extensive PREMISES in JAMES STREET. Cellardyke. Long occupied by Alex Black & Co: as a Net and Oilskin Factory. The buildings include -floor areas of 1200 square yards, Drying Floors, Paint Shop, Stores, and Sewing and Cutting Rooms. There is also a good Saleshop, Office, Storerooms and Engine-House. &c. All equipped with the usual fixtures. – There is Steam power and Heating Plant, and 10 sewing and cutting machines. The Premises are well situated and adapted or the trade, or could be-sub-divided for other purposes, immediate occupation. – – – LOW UPSET PRICE, £ 550. Feu-duty nominal.
- That Modern DWELLING-HOUSE. No. 29 James Street, Cellardyke, adjoining: above Factory, containing-6 Apartments with Bathroom (H. & C). Kitchen. Offices and Garden all in Excellent Order. Immediate Occupation
Assessed rental in late Owner’s occupation was £17.
UPSET PRICE. £550. Feu-duty nominal. For further particulars apply to GUTHRIE & MAXWELL. Solicitors; Anstruther Who hold the Title Deeds and Articles of Roup.
The accounts in connection with Cellardyke municipal putting green show a credit balance of £51 16s 7d. This was reported to Kilrenny Town Council, and it was resolved to credit the Common Good account with £40 and place the balance on deposit receipt.
A vote of thanks was accorded to Bailie Bett, convener, for his service in connection with the putting green. Bailie Bett intimated that he wished to be relieved of the work, and Councillor Thomas Gardner agreed to take his place.
Applications were submitted for the post of town officer and hall keeper for Cellardyke. It was agreed to include the duties of scavenger, and to appoint the present scavenger, Mr Christopher Moir, 22 James Street, Cellardyke, at wage of £2 weekly, with house free of rent and taxes.
NEW DIRECTORS OF CELLARDYKE SAVINGS BANK. Mr Robert A. Fowler, chairman, presided at the annual meeting of depositors of Cellardyke Savings Bank. Mr H. Watson, Anstruther, joint manager, submitted an abstract of the transactions for the year, which showed a considerable increase the deposits. Messrs James Buttars, Alex. Myles, and T. S. Laverock were elected directors in room of those falling to retire. The following appointments were made:—Chairman, Mr R. Fowler; joint managers, Messrs A. C. Mackintosh and H. Watson; cashier, Mr Lawrence Smith.
1926
SUCCESSFUL CELLARDYKE CHURCH BAZAAR. £670 was realised at Cellardyke Parish Church bazaar, which was held the Town Hall. Anstruther. The bazaar was opened by the Rev. W. L. Levack, Belmont, Glasgow, formerly Leuchars. The money was required for the building of a church hall. Mr Levack said it was forty-three years ago since Cellardyke Parish Church came into being, and great work had been done since then. It would impossible to carry on the many organisations unless they had adequate accommodation.
1927
Mr and Mrs George Keay Shore Street, Cellardyke, have celebrated their golden wedding. A happy family gathering assembled in Town Hall to congratulate them. Their family includes five daughters, all of whom were present at the celebration. There are 22 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. In addition to a purse of sovereigns, Mr and Mrs Keay were the recipients of numerous gifts.
George Hodge Melville, fish-curer, “Croma,” Cellardyke, was convicted on evidence, in Cupar Sheriff Court on Tuesday, of having, on 29th August, on the Guardbridge -St Andrews public highway, driven a motor car in a negligent manner, failed to keep a proper look-out in front, and caused the car to down Charles Grubb, coal merchant. 2 Albany Place, Andrews, and injure his right arm. Grubb said he was walking close to his own side
1928
A change of diet was the explanation offered at Cupar Sheriff Court to-day in a charge under the Sale of Food and Drugs Art 1875, and the Sale of Milk Act, 1901. The case was one in which James Carstairs farmer, Clephanton Farm, parish of Carnbee, was charged that, on 7th November, in James Street, Cellardyke, he sold by the hand of his son one pint of “sweet milk to Robert Just, 15 Lamond Street, sanitary inspector for the St Andrews District, which milk was not genuine sweet milk, as it contained less than 3 per cent of milk fat.
Mr N. Robertson. Cupar, solicitor for accused, tendered plea of guilty, and said that the milk contained 2.73 per cent of milk fat instead of the requisite 3 per cent
The explanation given was that at the time this contravention was committed the cows had been put a kind of turnip known the mammol turnip, which was a sort of soft watery turnip. The weather was too wet for him to carry good turnips from his land for the cows, and he had to rely on a supply of these turnips. He had also taken the cows off hay. The milk had not been tampered with at all. Dudley Stuart imposed a fine of 40s.
1929
OFFICIAL NOTICE—PROPOSAL TO CHANGE A SHIP’S NAME,
I. A. N. CUNNINGHAM, of Anstruther, hereby give Notice that, in consequence of change of ownership and family reasons, I have applied the Board of Trade, under Section 47 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, in respect of my ship SD ALICES KY 210, of Anstruther, official number 125,259, gross tonnage 84.03 tons, of register tonnage 35.15 tons, heretofore owned by- Henry Bett, Shore St., Cellardyke; Agnes Bett. West Forth St., Cellardyke; Davina Bett, Rodger St., Cellardyke, for permission to change her name to ” DAWNAWAY ‘ to be registered in the said new name at the port Anstruther as owned by James Davidson, 30 Rodger St., Cellardyke; Robert Davidson, Dove St., Cellardyke; Alex. Davidson, West Forth St., Cellardyke; W. W. Carstairs, West Forth St., Cellardyke; A. N. Cunningham, Harbour Head, Anstruther.
( Interesting that Willie W Carstairs’ (later Provost Carstairs) boats that he invested in all had ‘away’ as part of their name.. Winaway, Onaway, Dawnaway and Gleanaway)
Two Cellardyke boys who obtained cigarettes from an automatic machine by means of a piece of copper which they found upon the beach were admonished by Sheriff Dudley Stuart at a Juvenile court yesterday.
Both lads admitted that they inserted a piece of copper into the shilling slot of an automatic cigarette machine at the door of the shop, 12 Rodger ‘Street Anstruther, occupied by William Leslie, tobacconist and thus obtained a packet of cigarettes, which they stole. On their behalf, Mr R Davidson, solicitor, stated that the boys had just left school, but were unemployed. It was only a piece of mischief, as want the cigarettes to smoke