To Pay Respects

Fourteen years ago the fishing vessel Solway Harvester sank off Ramsey Bay with the loss of all seven hands. Her crew came from the Whithorn area in Dumfries-shire.

Largely because of strong maritime connections with Whithorn, the Isle of Man Government paid for the vessel to be raised and her crew returned home. I well remember the day some twelve years ago when the dilapidated and battered vessel was brought in to Ramsey Harbour. I particularly remember the Town of Ramsey coming to a standstill and hundreds of people standing in silence to observe the awful picture of this vessel being brought in to port.

As I think back to that day now, I am reminded of J.W.M. Turner's picture called The Fighting Temeraire

The vessel was subsequently taken to Douglas Harbour where she has remained to this day in mute defiance and testimony to the inability of authority to sort things out.

This is her last day. She has finally been broken up and the last piece of her lifted, on the high tide today, to the harbour top.