Devastation

This is the shell of the Fresh Catch Factory in Peterhead, which was destroyed in a huge fire that raged for 10 hours on Saturday. The town is reeling at the loss of 300 jobs, and of the old "Crossies" building, which had stood on this spot at the edge of the town for 150 years, and was fondly remembered in its previous role. It was here that Crosse & Blackwell's famous pickle was produced. Every adult in the Blootoun will have memories of the overwhelming smell of Branston. My mother-in-law worked there for many years in earlier days when the product was tinned pork sausages and beans in tomato sauce. The fire was probably the biggest in Peterhead since the woollen mill fire in 1959. My husband remembers being taken to see that by his father.