“Black Friday” Storm Memorial – 189 Eyemouth fishermen drowned in day of tragedy
It was the close-knit Scottish coastal community that lost 189 men at sea in a single day. Now the 78 widows and 182 children left without a father in the wake of the Eyemouth fishing disaster are being honoured with a major work of art overlooking the seafront. Descendants of the fishing families who lost their loved ones 135 years ago this month are expected to attend the unveiling of the five-metre long bronze sculpture. Created by artist Jill Watson, the £250,000 work of art for Eyemouth Bantry, which overlooks the harbour, depicts and names each mother and child who was directly affected. The work of art, entitled Widows And Bairns, will be officially unveiled on its plinth on the 135th anniversary of the disaster on Friday. It has been completed ten years after the publication of a book telling the true story of the disaster through the accounts of fishermen who were caught up in the “Black Friday” storm. On the morning of 14 October, 1881, the vast majority of the fishing boats on Scotland’s North Sea coast were tied up in port. But skippers from Eyemouth, along with fishermen from other nearby ports Cove, St Abbs and Burnmouth, ignored the warnings and set at out dawn. Read the story here 11:08
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