SS Claymore

We went to visit the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine where I encountered an old friend.

For 38 years my father was gardener at a big house near Forfar. In the garden stood this figurehead (the white one) from the SS Claymore. It had been bought by Dad's boss and her husband in the 1930s when the Claymore was being broken up. In the following years the property changed hands twice and Dad retired. In 1981, the figurehead, rather the worse for wear, was given to the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. I saw it there once and heard that it was to be transferred to Irvine. It was a delight to see it restored and handsomely displayed.

To be honest I was a bit scared of it when I was wee and in later years rather took it for granted. Nevertheless it was good to see it again.