Remembering the fishermen who never came home

Memorials to the 1881 fishing disaster are positioned along the Berwickshire coast

A national day of remembrance is being held in coastal towns around the UK for those who were lost at sea while working in the fishing industry.

In Scotland, the main service takes place in Eyemouth where one of the worst ever fishing disasters happened more than 140 years ago.

A total of 189 men were killed in a freak storm in sight of their loved ones who watched helplessly from the Berwickshire shore.

Although the memorials to the 1881 disaster, positioned along the coastline, act as a warning, deaths of fishermen are not confined to history.

Peter Gray was the fifth generation of his family to fish from the Berwickshire coast

Peter Gray, who was the fifth generation of his family to fish out of Cove harbour, died in 2021 after becoming caught in a rope and being pulled overboard.

An inquest later determined the 64-year-old likely suffered a heart attack caused by the cold water.

His widow, Betty, said: "I'd never felt so much like the women in the memorial statues.

"The search party went out in the afternoon and we could only watch from the house.

"The family were all arriving for their tea and I had to tell them that the search was for their dad.

"I'm lucky, I got him back and was able to bury him."

Betty Gray watched the search party from her home at Cove harbour

Services to mark the first National Fishing Remembrance Day are being held in 18 coastal communities around the UK - including Eyemouth, Fraserburgh and Wick.

Betty welcomed the opportunity to join others who have also lost someone at sea.

She added: "I recently visited the memorial room at the fisheries museum in Anstruther and I was surprised by how many names on the plaques I recognised.

"I have quite a few friends who have lost brothers, fathers and uncles to the sea over the years.

"On Sunday I will be with people who are going through the same as me, and it will get everyone talking about the dangers of the sea."

Fishermen's Mission

Donna Schwarz from the Fishermen's Mission will lead the service in Eyemouth

The Fishermen's Mission was founded by Ebenezer Mather after he had witnessed the 1881 Eyemouth fishing disaster from the shore.

Donna Schwarz, an area officer with the charity, will lead the service at Eyemouth Parish Church.

She said: "The dangers at sea are phenomenal - that's the reason we wanted to commemorate the loss of life from the great disaster of 1881 right through to the present day.

"Response for the service from the fishing community has been excellent and general interest has grown rapidly."

Andrew Jamieson from the RNLI

As well as families of loved ones lost at sea, many current fishermen and rescue personnel will also be in attendance at the ceremonies.

Andrew Jamieson, coxswain with the RNLI boat in Eyemouth, said: "These fishermen were supporting their families and their communities, and in doing so paid the ultimate price.

"It's very important for us all to remember them."