100 Years Ago

Cullen harbour takeover - A meeting of the Harbour Board was held on Wednesday. In the absence of Dr Campbell, Provost Gregor occupied the chair. There was submitted a letter from the town clerk enclosing a copy of the order authorising the town council to take over the management of the harbour. The clerk was instructed to arrange a special meeting for the purpose of handing over the management to the council. The clerk, Mr James W. Gordon, was awarded £25 for special work done by him during the last four years.

50 Years Ago

Buckie boat ran aground - The Buckie motor fishing boat, Prospective, was damaged when she ran aground on a crop of rocks about half a mile from the entrance to Buckie harbour on Friday night. Skipper David Falconer, Portknockie, and the other five members of the crew, took to the dinghy when the vessel keeled over at an acute angle after grounding on the rocks on her way into port from Fraserburgh. But when the men paddled towards the harbour, the Prospective suddenly broke clear of the reef and refloated herself even though the tide was beginning to ebb. The Buckie fishing boat, Resolute (skipper Mr James Calder, 22 Seafield Street, Findochty), which had been standing by during the 45-minute drama in the darkness offshore, picked up skipper Falconer and his men from the dinghy and, after putting them back on board, towed the sinking Prospective to the safety of the harbour. Pumps were put aboard and kept working all night to clear the flooded engine-room and cabin until the vessel was hauled on to a local slipway early on Saturday. Inspection revealed extensive damage to the keel. Few people were aware of the rescue as the services of the local lifeboat were not sought and only a handful of people saw the disabled boat brought into port.

25 Years Ago

Harbour facelift holds vital key - The redevelopment of the Banff Harbour basin and properties holds the key to a major boost in tourism for the town. This is claimed today by Mr David du Boulay, tourism manager, who says he regards Banff Harbour as the major asset in the area. The tourism boss was speaking shortly after backing for the revitalisation of Banff Harbour was given by the North East of Scotland Co-ordinating Committee for Tourism. The body is to support Banff and Buchan District Council in their bid to have the Banff Harbour project named as the major tourist related scheme for the district in a submission to be made to the Scottish Tourist Board and other agencies. This move by the district, coupled with their own investment programme of £60,000 this year and the involvement of the private sector, is seen as the way to achieve the long standing bid to revitalise the harbour and quayside properties. Mr du Boulay said: "A full development plan has been drawn up for the major revitalisation of the whole harbour area including the restoration of derelict buildings, the provision of car parking, and interpretative centre, small workshops and improved sailing facilities. The whole key to the development is to ensure that Banff Harbour itself is fully utilised for recreational purposes. I am hopeful that the studies to be carried out will point the way forward to achieve this aim. Banff Harbour should be playing a leading role in the tourist related field. It should be our main attraction in the area."