Harbour Memories

Most of the men worked in the shipyards… I mean, it was like a sea of men when they came to the door. 

Aberdeen’s harbour sits at the heart of the city centre and maintains a strong physical and psychological presence to all those who live, work and visit the city. Many people in Aberdeen have a story to tell, or a connection to make, with the city’s harbour whose history stretches across fishing, ship building, the granite trade that depended on access to the sea and the oil and gas industry which currently defines our city and region. 

We undertook a series of Harbour Memories coffee mornings in the harbourside communities of Fittie and Torry as well as Aberdeen’s Maritime Museum. These were informal sessions inviting anyone to share memories and have a blether about Aberdeen harbour and what it means, or meant, to them. We loved hearing your memories and listening to stories from the ship yards, the fishing industry, oil and gas as well as from those who worked in the harbour.


Harbour Memories Podcasts

From the coffee mornings, and all of the blethers we’ve undertaken about the harbour, we’ve created a series of Harbour Memories podcasts. Keep checking back for updates.


Episode One

Margaret Wright

In this first episode of our Harbour Memories podcasts, Margaret Wright shares insights on growing up in the Torry area of Aberdeen and the influence of the fishing industry and maritime life on the community.


Episode Two

Chris Gove

Chris Gove has a long family history linked with Old Torry and many fabulous stories of the Aberdeen’s harbour and fishing industry to tell. This episode of Harbour Memories captures of few of the best. 


Episode Three

Norma Reid

Norma Reid’s family have lived in Fittie for generations. In this episode she shares her memories of growing up in the community, the fishing industry that many residents worked in and the strong women who have influenced her life. 


Episode Four

Dorothy Young and Louise Ouston 

Dorothy and Louise sat together on an armchair by the fire.

We’re reaching across the generations of Fittie in this Harbour Memories podcast episode. Dorothy Young has been a Fittie resident for over 30 years and her granddaughter Louise Ouston has been a regular visitor since she was a child. Between them they recall the Millennium new year at Aberdeen harbour and the social life of the community old and new. 



Episode Five

Joyce Cairns

Scottish painter and printmaker Joyce Cairns lived and worked in Fittie for many years. The Fittie Community Hall on New Pier Road is her former studio and here she created a large body of work all inspired by the community and harbour. Joyce is the first woman president of the Royal Scottish Academy and in this podcast she shares her rich memories of Fittie – its people and cats – and the influence of living close to water on her work. 


ACVO Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
ACVO Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund