Memorial to those lost at sea to be built
£75,000 HAS BEEN RAISED FOR A SCULPTURE IN FISH QUAY
Reporter A MEMORIAL to those souls lost to the deep while fishing is to be built.
The North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project needed £75,000 to install the sculpture at the North Shields Fish Quay and launched a major fundraising drive last year.
Now, 10 months later, the campaigners have revealed they have managed to hit their target — thanks to the generosity of residents and businesses.
A number of fundraising activities were held and by the end of April the group had reached £73,000.
The final £2,000 then came from Danny Higney and Cameron Boyd, of the Low Lights Tavern, on Brewhouse Bank.
Henry Howard, a retired fisherman and vice chairman of NSFHP, said: “Danny and Cameron have helped the project so many times since our launch in July 2016 and this is yet another example of their amazing generosity – I suppose I’ll have to go in for a few more pints now.”
Mr Higney said: “The Low Lights Tavern is the oldest pub in North Shields and is the only surviving proper fishermen’s pub left on the Fish Quay, so we felt it was only right that we help NSFHP with the final £2,000 they needed to get the job done.” Work can now start on the memorial, which is being designed by County Durham artist Ray Lonsdale. The sculpture, to be installed on a site east of Clifford’s Fort, will highlight the legend of Fiddler’s Green, which in 19th Century maritime folklore was a kind of afterlife for sailors. According to the song of the same name, Fiddler’s Green is the mythical place fishermen go to when they die, a place where there is perpetual mirth, a fiddle that never stops playing and dancers who never tire. The monument is expected to be ready in September and a special ceremony will be held to unveil it to the public. Before that, two ‘meet the sculptor’ Q&A sessions will take place at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre on Tuesday August 12 at 2.15pm and 4.15pm. Tickets are £4 and are available from the centre at Clifford’s Fort or by contacting nsfhproject@gmail.com Guests will be able to hear Ray talk about the sculpture and see pictures of the work in progress by Alison Spedding.