Rescue of the Lesrix

A gem appeared from the Collieston Recalling group this week - George Ross of Cluny Cottages recalled a boyhood adventure when he and a friend helped to rescue four crewmen from a broken coaster that had been smashed in half on a winter's night near Hackley Bay, just on the Buchan coast. I honestly couldn't stop listening the first time because it has to be one of the most exciting stories in the project to date!

The clip from the interview appears on our Podcast page at the main site. Here is the transcript of it:

GR: "Dick’s down at this ledge here wi the rope… …so he signalled t’one of the… and I aye mind, it wis the chief mate that came ashore, big man he wis, big, big man, and he came down the Jacob’s Ladder hangin onto the rope, the seas wis lashin ower the boat aa the time! Came along this ledge, and I could see what wis happenin aa the time, cos I wis lookin richt doon on’t, see? And I saw this big…well the seas wis comin in at the time, but this big ane, come in and wint right ower this rope, and the man, he hung on, and he wis just washed richt intae the sea, down he went! And I says ‘Oh dearie me!’ However, the backwash fae the shore, brocht him back up ontae the ledge!"

You can also read more of the details on Collieston's own site run by the Scottish Cultural Resources & Archives Network (SCRAN) and also see a picture of Dick Ingram's medal.

Along with George, Steve Ritchie, that's Rear Admiral Steve, told Colieston's interviewer, Ellie Ingram about how he brought the charming French game of Boules to the tiny fishing village. Thanks to Ellie for getting the Collieston interviews off to a flying start!