The Masonic Hall in Campbeltown was chosen as the venue for the evening’s revelries.

Lachie Paterson of Carradale put together the event, which was compered by Cecil Finn.

It consisted of a short one man play, largely based on the life of a Dunure man who had introduced the brailer, an innovative piece of equipment, to ring net fishing. It was written and acted by Eddie Stiven of Glenelg.

He also gave an "amazing recitation" of George Campbell Hay’s epic poem, ‘Seeker, Reaper’. This was followed by a recital of poetry from Angus Martin, the whole interspersed with music from the group, ‘The Wild Sarachs’. Pipe Major John Brown, himself the son of a well-known herring fisherman, Joe Brown, gave a stirring recital of pipe music that included his own composition, “The last of the ringing”.

On show was a collection of models of ring net boats, kindly loaned by Joe Brown and Derek Goode. These models were the subject of very critical surveys by experts on fishing boat design and were judged as being, “Jeest amazing!”, by guests.

A "superb" compilation from Lachie Paterson of film and photographs of old fishermen and of boats – many long gone - shown with well-chosen background music, were also displayed.

Grateful thanks were expressed by Tommy Ralston for his financial support, given through the offices of Robert McNab of the Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation, Patrick Stewart of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association and Kenny Hastie, of Scotprime Seafoods.

The event was organised in memory of the "glory days", where a dinner dance called the ‘Spawny Ball’ was held in the Victoria Hall in Campbeltown, to mark the end of the year’s fishing efforts.

It got its name from the fishing that took place at Ballantrae Banks and at the Brown Head, on Arran, for spawning herring, which were the last of the year, before the boats were taken ashore to get their spring clean.

These days are long gone and this month’s fixture, held at approximately the same time of year, was an opportunity for the exponents of the art of ring-netting - a forerunner of the purse seine net - to get together, a rare event now as age takes its toll on their numbers and their mobility. Ex-fishermen attended from as far away as Peterhead and Mallaig.

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