The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Rare films show lure of the sea for fishing communities
Heritage: Tour footage will show pivotal role of industry in Scottish history
“Reveal myriad clips of drama and derring-do on Scottish fishing boats”
A series of rare films, which showcase fishing communities in the north-east, will be screened across Scotland this summer.
The touring programme – Made by the Sea – will reveal myriad clips of drama and derring-do on Scottish fishing boats and highlight how the sea has played a pivotal part in so much of Scotland’s history.
Some of the films, which will be on public show at this year’s Portsoy Boat Festival, date as far back as 1908.
These include accounts of village life in Portsoy, Cullen and Aberchirder in the 1950s and footage of King George VI’s coronation in Laurencekirk.
Curator Shona Thomson said: “I’m excited to be out on the road again showing archive films in coastal communities where the footage was originally shot and is still relevant today.
“From warships sailing into 1950s Ullapool to the important work of the RNLI lifeboats in the treacherous Pentland Firth, portrayals of life on and near the sea have often been dramatic.
“But Made by the Sea audiences can expect the lighter side too, with fabulous seaside holidays on the west coast and television’s legendary wanderer Tom Weir exploring the island of Vatersay near Barra.”
This special trip back to the past will be showcased at the boat festival on Sunday, June 25, before travelling to venues in Ullapool, Tobermory, Johnshaven, Thurso, and the Isle of Barra.
The event in Portsoy is included with the price of admission to the boat festival, which traditionally attracts thousands of visitors to the picturesque community.
Tickets for other screenings across Scotland must be booked online at www.madebythesea.net.
The Made by the Sea initiative has been made possible through the British Film Institute’s laborious efforts to digitise the UK’s archive of regional and national movies.
A spokeswoman confirmed that more than 600 films nationwide have been opened up to local communities through the scheme.
And, with the Scottish coast still playing a significant part in the country’s economic health, these works will have a resonance wherever they are shown.