Fishing heritage landmark unveiled at East Haven bay

Sculpture marks route for walkers and cyclists after funding obtained from Sustrans Art Roots project

The fishing heritage of the Angus village of East Haven has been celebrated in a new three-tonne wooden sculpture.

East Haven is one of the oldest recorded fishing communities in Scotland, dating back to 1214, and the large artwork has been installed on a site overlooking the bay near the old fisherman’s shelter.

The sculpture, depicting two fishermen, was carved out of a redwood tree using a chainsaw by Ross-shire based artist Iain Chalmers and is loosely based on an old photograph of fishermen in the village.

The work was officially unveiled by Donna Lyall, the oldest surviving member of the Lyall family who have fished in East Haven since the early 1800s.

The two fishermen in the statue have been affectionately named George and Bob after Donna’s late husband and his brother. Donna, 87, who was accompanied by her daughter Nicola Keen, said: “Fishing’s been a huge part of my family’s life. My husband was still fishing in his 80s and my son Craig is the last part-time fisherman in East Haven. “I think the statue is excellent.” East Haven Together successfully applied for a grant from the Sustrans Art Roots fund to create a new landmark for walkers and cyclists on the cycle route through the village.

Wendy Murray, from East Haven Together, said: “We are absolutely delighted that we were successful in achieving £2,000 funding from Sustrans to enable us to obtain the sculpture. We thought it would be wonderful for cyclists and walkers approaching East Haven from the north to be able to see this lovely artwork as they arrive in the village so that they appreciate that they’ve arrived in a special place. We obtained this funding and Iain Chalmers carved this based on a photograph we sent him of old fishermen.

“This is the place they would have had their salmon nets and preparing and mending their nets. Women would have been around here picking up fish and taking them away in baskets to sell.”

The statue was too large to fit under the village’s railway bridge so was transported over a field with the help of local farmer James Porter.

Cosmo Blake, artworks projects officer for Sustrans, attended the unveiling. He said: “Our Art Roots fund for community grants expires on July 17 and I would urge groups to apply.”

East Haven resident Donna Lyall who comes from a long line of fishermen who lived and worked in the village.