Big-hearted villagers who helped a team of volunteers get a historic fishing boat back in the water have been honoured for their efforts.
The fifie herring drifter Reaper suffered major damage and flooding after keeling over in Johnshaven harbour as high winds battered the east coast port.
Crewman Neil Bone was also sent flying off the 70ft vessel and landed in mud as the tide was out at the time.
The Fraserburgh-built Reaper – described as a “floating museum” – had to undergo extensive repairs following the incident during the Johnshaven Fish Festival on August 6.
Now residents who helped the Scottish Fisheries Museum Boat Club – which maintains the vessel – during its week in the village have been given a rare accolade.
Ivar and Jackie McBay, Norma Rowlerson, John Maxwell, Kate and Ewan MacKenzie, Richard Shelton, Charlie and Karelia Wright have all been named honorary members of the boat club, and the Anstruther-based museum.
The Johnshaven villagers helped the crew of the Reaper out on a daily basis as they attempted to right her, offering food, drinks and inviting them into their homes for warmth, and providing free labour.
The locals, nicknamed “Team Johnshaven”, were awarded certificates and a framed print showing the Reaper in the Moray Firth.
After sailing from the Mearns port, the Reaper underwent further repairs at Mackay Boatbuilders in Arbroath.
Now it is back home in Anstruther as the boat club looks to bring it back up to scratch.
Boat club member, Bob Willis, said: “These people fed us, accommodated us, gave us physical help, became our friends when we were there.
“They gave us cups of tea, whole meals, they were taking us inside to get warm. They really did us proud.
“We managed to get the Reaper patched-up enough to go to Arbroath. Mackay’s patched her up a bit more. She was taken down to Anstruther, back to the museum.
“We had to clear everything out because when the tide came in at Johnshaven the boat was flooded right up to the deck. Everything inside got absolutely soaked and ruined. The whole lot needs a redoing.”
John Firn, vice-chairman of the Scottish Fisheries Museum, said: “We had a lovely meeting up at Johnshaven. The museum and boat club are amazingly thankful.
“The interesting point to make is after a rather traumatic mid-season we ended up with a positive, enjoyable meeting in Johnshaven. We are going into the new year full of determination.”
The boat had been in the harbour as the main attraction for the Johnshaven Fish Festival.
Last night, the man who was thrown from the Reaper in Johnshaven Harbour revealed he did not remember much about the freak accident.
Neil Bone – honourable secretary of the Scottish Fisheries Museum Boats Club – is still recovering after cracking three vertebrae and remains in a neck brace.
The Reaper keeled on its side after a gust of wind caught one of its masts in the port.
Mr Bone – who travelled to Johnshaven at the weekend to meet the locals – said: “If it had been at sea it might have had more of an effect. It was a very, very odd event. It was a very strong gust.
“There was a definite movement first and then it just rolled over. I don’t remember much more. I am just thankful it was mud underneath and not rocks.
“There has been such a friendship between the club and the town, I really wanted to see it for myself.”
He added: “Now it is just a question of how long the bones will take to heal. Various estimates are for about six weeks to about 14 weeks. I am due back in the hospital a week on Wednesday.”
The Reaper was built in 1902 by J and G Forbes of Sandhaven for the Buchan family of St Combs, and was one of the main attractions at the Johnshaven festival.
In 1974, the boat was purchased by the Scottish Fisheries Museum and painstakingly restored, whereupon the Museum Boats Club took charge of its maintenance and operation in 1985.
If you would like to contribute to the Reaper’s repairs you can donate at: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ReaperRepair
