1925
Queer memorials – Monuments to Animals and Fish
The fact that a site has now been fixed provisionally for the erection, in Hyde Park, London, of a memorial to animals and birds which played their parts on active service during the Great War, draws attention to one of the strangest of memorials. The Hyde Park memorial will consist of a bronze group of a wounded horse and dog, and it is also intended to commemorate the carrier pigeons which di(k invaluable work in the war. This monument, however, will not be by any means unique. Animals have been thus commemorated in many lands and in almost every age.
Very Quaint and Interesting are some of the memorials of this type to be found in different parts of the world. At Cellardyke, in the East of Fife, a great whale’s jawbone, built into a wall and towering high above it, marks the period when whale fishing was one of the staple industries of this old-fashioned town on the shores of the Firth of Forth.
PRAISE FOR ANSTRUTHER GAS WORKS. VISITING DELEGATES’ TOUR. Tributes were paid to Anstruther and Cellardyke Gas Company by members of the Eastern Section of the Scottish Junior Gas Managers’ Association when they met at Anstruther for the first time in their history for their annual summer outing. In all forty delegates were present, representing Dundee, Perth, Kelty, Cowdenbeath, Markinch, Cupar, Leslie, Granton, Leven, Wemyss, and Kennoway, the secretarial arrangements being carried through by Mr E. L. Farquhar, Largo. During the forenoon the party, headed by Bailie Cook, chairman of the Gas Company, were received the gas works by Mr D. Campbell, manager, who conducted them over the works.
They then paid a visit to Cellardyke Oilskin and Knitting Factory at the invitation of Messrs John Martin & Co., and were loud in their praise of the up-to-date arrangements.
At luncheon the party were guests of the Gas Company. Bailie Cook presided, and was accompanied by Dr Wilson and Messrs T. S. Laverock and W. S. Bonthron. directors. Replying to the welcome from the chair, Clark, Perth, president of the Association., congratulated Anstruther and on the efficient and up-to-date condition of their works. Up till that day, he said, the Association had regarded Markinch, Leslie, and Cupar gas works being hard to beat, but they had hesitation now awarding the palm to Anstruther.
1929
NEW FIFE VENTURE – HERRING BAULDIES FITTED OUT AS TRAWLERS
Bailie Carstairs, Cellardyke, Fife is the pioneer of a new fishing venture. His sister bauldies Onaway and Winaway each 53 ft long and driven by the latest crude oil engine have been fitted out for trawling. For working the trawl special steam-driven winches have been installed A wireless receiving set is also on board The venture is being regarded with much interest in fishing circles as trawling by bauldies is a novel enterprise
1931
CELLARDYKE ROAD NAMED Provost Readdie presided at the monthly meeting of the Town Council of Anstruther Easter, Anstruther Wester, and Kilrenny. A motion which Councillor Mitchell had put before the Council at a previous meeting with regard to the desirability of having a single name for the stretch of road between Toll Road, and Fowler’s shop, Cellardyke, was considered. Besides ” Toll Road.” other portions were named ” Tolbooth Road,” and ” Williamson Street” making three names altogether. In support his motion Councillor Mitchell said that so many different names for a piece of road which was not really very long was ridiculous. If they could get one name for the whole stretch would be handier. The Council agreed to make the name for the whole stretch “Toll Road,” and Mr C. C. Henderson, burgh surveyor, was instructed about the renumbering of all the houses.
When the Swedish steamer Estrid arrived Dundee yesterday she had a Fife man aboard who had been transferred from a drifter in the North Sea as he was in need of medical attention The fisherman was Henry Carstairs. of Burnside Terrace, Cellardyke, and while cleaning fish last Friday aboard the steam drifter Menat, of Kirkcaldy, which was fishing in the North Sea, about 200 miles south-east from Aberdeen, he sustained a punctured wound on the palm of the right hand caused by a fish bone.
On Tuesday Carstairs was suffering severe pain and he was transferred to the Estrid which arrived at Dundee Harbour about eleven o’clock last night. He was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary and after attention allowed away to the Sailors Home Dock Street. The Estrid entered Camperdown Dock shortly before midnight. She carried the first timber cargo for the season. She loaded at Kasko (Finland).
Stonehaven Personality. Although a native of Crail, and actively interested in the public life of Fifeshire more than of the Mearns, the late Mr Thomas Swinton, who died at Invercarron Cottage, Stonehaven, this week, was a popular figure in the county town. Mr Swinton retired to Stonehaven after a career in the bakery business which started with an apprenticeship at St Andrews. Later he took a business of his own at Cellardyke, where he became a prominent citizen and a member of the Town Council, Harbour Board, and School Board. It is ten years since he came to Stonehaven. Mr Swinton, who was predeceased by his wife some years ago, is survived by nine of a family out of thirteen.
1932
Mr Alexander Caird Murray, of Murray House, Cellardyke, retired merchant,, who died on 22nd March last, left a personal estate in Great Britain valued at £3902.
HOUSING SCHEME AT CELLARDYKE At the monthly meeting of Anstruther Town Council —Provost Readdie presiding Bailie Cook submitted a report the proposed housing scheme at Cellardyke. approved of two-roomed bungalows, with attics, being built, but in accordance with Board of Health regulations they would only be allowed to build two such houses, the estimated rental being £16 10s. The Council agreed that Bailie Cook and Provost Readdie should consult the Board of Health on the matter. Mr Haxton, architect, reported that tenant in one of the housing schemes had complained of some defective joiner work. The Council agreed to prosecute a claim against the Methil joiners who were responsible.
1933
Alexander Fowler Butters, grocer, 9 John Street, Cellardyke, was charged with having, 21st April, in Crail Road, Anstruther Easter, driven a motor car without due care and attention, and crossed the road with the car front of car driven by Thomas Dunsire, jun., bank apprentice. St Ayles Crescent, Anstruther, without signalling his intention to do whereby the cars collided and were damaged. Mr R. N. Robertson, solicitor. Cupar, tendered a plea guilty and said accused had looked round before he drew out from a petrol station to cross the road and saw nothing coming. had gone only 30 yards when the other car collided with him. The damage to his car was repaired for a shilling and he understood the damage to the other car was even less. He was fined 20s.
SWIMMING NOTES. A new pond is being opened at Cellardyke on Saturday, June 17th, and several members of the Step Rock Club are to be present to give display.
THE LATE REV. JAMES RAY – Work at Cellardyke and Portobello
The Rev. James Ray, M. A. who died suddenly on Saturday from heart-failure whilst on holiday at Harrogate, was a native of Paisley. He was educated at John Neilson’s School and the University of Glasgow, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Paisley in 1880. After serving as assistant at Kilbarchan and North Leith, he was ordained in 1883 first minister of the parish of Cellardyke; whore he built up a large and attached congregation. In 1916 he was translated to St James’s Chapel, Portobello, and during his seven years in ministry there he raised the chapel to the status of a quoad sacra parish and trebled the congregation. He retired in 1924 after a serious illness. Mr Ray was an interesting and attractive preacher ana a diligent pastor He is survived by his widow, a daughter of the late Philip Oliphant, solicitor, Anstruther, and his eldest son. His second son, who was in the R. F. C., fell in the Great War.
1934
CELLARDYKE. SWIMMING POND IMPROVEMENTS – The members of Cardinal’s Steps Amateur Swimming Club, Cellardyke, are looking forward to a successful season this year. Galas have been organised for various dates in June, July, and August, and invitations extended to neighbouring clubs. During the winter about £200 has been spent on improving the pond. An additional diving board and cement platform have been provided, and the diving pit, 29 feet in radius, has been deepened to 8 feet 9 inches. At the outer wall an extra sluice has been constructed, making it possible to empty the pond in less than two hours.
WRECKED EVERY JUNE, SCOTS SEAMAN’S THREE YEARS’ RECORD Cellardyke Drifter Saves Trawler Crew Charles Dick, second engineer on the Granton trawler James Evans, has been shipwrecked every June for the past three years. The James Evans was lost 160 miles off Girdleness on Tuesday, the crew being picked up by the Cellardyke drifter, Pilot Star. They arrived in Aberdeen from Lerwick yesterday. In June 1932. the trawler on which Dick was serving, the Gowan, of Granton. was lost ten miles off the May Island, with no loss of life. In June 1933, he was on the Strathurie, also of Granton, when she was lost off the Fame Islands, again with no loss of life.
Mr Dick is also a survivor of a wreck that was one of the most tragic in Britain’s history. He was on the lolaire when she was wrecked early on New Year’s Day 1919. outside Stornoway Harbour. Over 230 Lewismen were lost, fewer than 60 being saved.
The loss of the James Evans was due to a leak. The crew took to the small boat and stood by the trawler until she sank. When she disappeared there was no other vessel to be seen, and with the small boat leaking, and the sea rising, the crew’s plight was serious. Oil was poured on the water, while the crew baled with buckets and tins. Then the third engineer. James M’Allister, had a ” brain wave.”
Rubbed with Margarine
Several pounds of margarine had been included in the boat’s provisions, so he rubbed the leaking seams with the margarine, and reduced the inrush of water to less alarming dimensions. For eight hours, soaked the skin and numbed with cold, the crew kept their boat afloat until help appeared in the shape of the Pilot Star, which had seen the boat’s distress signal, a blanket fastened to an oar. Despite the fact that the sea was running fairly high, the skipper of the Pilot Star, David Parker, went skilfully alongside and took all the occupants of the boat on board. The crew of the James Evans were loud in their praise of the manoeuvring of the Pilot Star. They were given a hot meal, and sent to the crew’s bunks while their clothes were drying. After the drifter’s lines were hauled they were taken to Lerwick.
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