CASTING THE NET PROJECT “RING NET BUS”

Casting the Net Project – The Ring Net bus is a fishing boat on wheels. It was designed by Tarbert Primary School pupils to spark memories of ring net fishing for the herring. It is a product of “Casting the Net”, an oral history project developed by Clyde Fisherman’s Association and the Scottish Fisheries Museum, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Over the past year, the project has toured the Firth of Clyde and West Coast of Scotland, collecting memories and experiences of the ring-net fishermen and their families.

The interior of the bus was designed and upholstered by project artist, Deirdre Nelson, with children from Tarbert Academy. The children’s designs were inspired by stories from the fishermen.

Films, slideshows, oral histories and soundscapes form part of the unique digital exhibitions being shown on the bus. Visitors are encouraged to add their own stories, memories and information to the collection.

Project manager Jill de Fresnes said: ‘This really has been a fantastic project and it will be lovely to visit some of the key ring-net areas with the bus. It has been a great privilege to collect memories and stories from some of the last of the ring-net men, around the Clyde area.

‘We don’t just want the project to be looking back – we are also looking forward to a bright future for an industry which has such a rich cultural tradition and to taking a little taste of that heritage out on the road with our project bus.’

The bus has been touring throughout October and November to Campbeltown, Ayrshire and Stirling and ends its tour at the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther on 24 – 25 November where it will be open at the Harbour from 11 – 4 over the weekend.