Saturday, 21 April 2012

The Herring Lassies

The Herring Lassies

price £5
(UK post and package £1.50)



Had a hard day at work? Has the boss been on your back? Can you imagine doing back-breaking work exposed to the elements from six in the morning to six in the evening and sometimes to midnight or even into the small hours with very little of a break. The 'Herring Lassies' some as young as thirteen followed the herring, and travelled all along the British coastline, many staying in little more than a wooden hut doing just that. Life was truly hard back then and when your granny says, You don't know how lucky you are these days', she knows what she's talking about. The 'Herring Lassies' or the 'Scotch Fisher Girls' as they were known regardless of their age played a significant part in making Britain the biggest fishery in the world.

With fifty-six pages and more than sixty pictures/illustrations this book tells a wonderful story that captures the spirit of a generation.




About the author. Rosemary Sanderson

Rosemary is the current chair of Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association. She held the post of curator at Banff museum for a number of years and continues to work for the museum on a voluntary basis. In writing the book 'The Herring Lassies' she undertook a considerable amount of research leaving no stone unturned in the quest for a greater knowledge and understanding of the hard working girls that helped to feed nations. Her book is a truly wonderful testimony to the girls that brought wealth to Scotland

About the editor: Stanley Bruce

Stan, past chair and founder of Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association, assisted Rosemary in editing this book. He is a well known local author and has penned a number of publications. His desire to show Banffshires proud heritage to the wider world led to the association publishing numerous other titles under the banner of Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association
Please note all proceeds from the sale of books go to Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association
registered Scottish charity No 40505

Friday, 13 April 2012

Our history

In the beginning...

Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association (BMHA) was formed in 2003 by a group of enthusiasts keen to show the rich maritime heritage of the area to a wider audience. They began collecting items of interest including photographs, artifacts, memorabilia and other items that would have a maritime theme

BMHA amassed quite a collection and decided it needed premises in which to display its collections. A former shop in Duff Street Macduff, close to the harbour, was leased by the Association and the collections were placed on public display. The building opened with free entry to the public in 2006.

The centre was manned on a voluntary basis by members of the committee and aroused considerable local interest. Some months later it became apparent that funding would be an issue. Whilst the centre was free to enter, visitors were given the opportunity to make donations if they wished, and as the Association had no direct income it was in an unsustainable position for donations alone were not sufficient to keep up with rising costs. It needed £5,000 per annum to run the enterprise

The centre did not renew the lease when it expired in 2008 and the team, still enthusiastic, realised it had to generate cash and a regular income to achieve a permanent home. They found an ideal niche in the market, when Chairman , Stan Bruce, hit on the idea of publishing books to sell. The idea worked as Stan, an accomplished and published author in his own right, and others in the group began to publish books. There is now a considerable portfolio and other titles are on the way

From the onset it was decided that books should be printed locally and they should be affordable. This plan has worked and whilst there is considerable outlay involved in publishing/printing each title the sales have to date justified this approach

In 2008 the association altered its name slightly going from Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association to Banffshire Maritime AND Heritage Association. This change better reflected the teams growing interest and collections of items that were of historic value but not all of a maritime nature

At the present time the Association in partnership with Banff  Preservation & Historic Society displays some of its exhibits in Banff museum thanks to the generosity of Aberdeenshire County Council Libraries and Museums department.

The association is actively looking for premises so that it can once again display its collections for all to see and appreciate

Thank you for reading this brief introduction to our Blog