The centrepiece of the community garden being created to celebrate East Haven’s 800th anniversary was delicately lifted into place.
In an early morning operation, Duntrune contractor Norman Jamieson offered the latest helping hand to the project in the form of a lorry-mounted crane which gingerly transported the freshly-painted boat to the garden site on the village side of the railway bridge.
The boat was acquired with the help of a community grant from Angus Council, and after being transported from its one-time resting place on St Andrews’ east sands has undergone a revamp at the hands of local volunteers.
The boat will be used to signify the importance of fishing to the community and the historical connection is to be further strengthened with the decision to rename the vessel once the community garden surrounding it is in place.
Wendy Murray of the East Haven 800 group said: “The boat is going to be renamed The Sisters at the end of June when we formally open the garden.
“The original name of the boat was the Three Sisters and then it was renamed the Golden Rose.
“However, we have recently found that one of East Haven’s infamous old fishermen, Davie Herd, had a boat called The Sisters in 1917 so we feel this would be appropriate,” she added.
With the boat now in place, villagers are awaiting the arrival of the Beechgrove Garden team in early June for a recce mission ahead of two days of filming on work to the garden at the end of the month.
East Haven has been chosen as one of only four communities in Scotland to feature on the series after producers were impressed by the enthusiasm and ambition of the residents in commemorating the octocentenary.
In what will be a hectic week for everyone involved in the East Haven 800 project, the hamlet will also then be visited by the Queen’s Baton Relay as it makes its way through Angus on Saturday June 28.
Exciting plans are already in place to make the event one to remember for all ages, with the fishing boat and community garden set to be at the very heart of the baton celebration.