Aler Harper - Buckie Heritage Interview

Alex Harper was brought up in Portknockie. Alex left school at 14 spending a year training as a baker before going to sea in a sailing drifter. Alex describes the living conditions and the terrible hardships endured. He describes the nonstop grind of work which continued even when the vessel was in port with net repairing and gear maintenance occupying them fully. Alex speaks of the fishing industry as it is today (1988) and compares the living conditions in a modern fishing boat with those he experienced in the past. The original interview was carried out in July 1988. The interview has been voiced by the ‘Buckie Blethers’ in local dialect.