​Largo's third Arts Week took place 16-24 July 2022 and, like the first event in 2019 and the second in 2021, the weather was (mostly) kind.  With 66 artists exhibiting in 36 open studios, a varied programme of live events and a painting challenge open to all, this was a fantastic community effort and a real treat to visit. The Friday night was a particularly memorable highlight - with an open-air concert for the community at the harbour. Live retro 80s music rocked the pier, echoing far and wide and inspiring spontaneous singing and dancing. And that was only one of three live events taking place that evening, with entertainment on simultaneously at the Upper Largo Hotel and the Aurrie. Many thanks to all involved in making the week happen. It's now part of Largo's history.

It was brilliant to see both the Aurrie and the revamped Crusoe thriving one year on from their respective openings in July 2021. The Largo Bay Art Society also put on a super exhibition in the Montrave Hall. 

​The 2023 Largo Arts Week will take place 15-22 July 2023.

​www.largoartsweek.com/
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Pictured above (circa 1890) is the fishing boat Chance - registration KY 21, which was owned by Andrew Bisset. Andrew was born in 1854 to weaver John Bisset and his wife Paterson Reedie (a former flax spinner). In 1871, a teenage Andrew was working as a linen weaver, like his father and so many other people of all ages in the parish at the time. However, handloom weaving was on the wane, and, by the 1881 census, both Andrew and his younger brother John had become fishermen. [In later years, Andrew's brother, John Bisset, went on to own Downfield and manage the colliery at Teasses.]

One of the regular trips for Largo fishermen in the 1870s and 1880s was Stonehaven (see 30 July 1879 Courier example below). And this was where Andrew met his wife Eleanor (Helen) Taylor. The pair married on 30 December 1882 at St James Episcopal Church in Stonehaven. Andrew was aged 27 and Helen was 24. On the marriage registration form, Andrew was described as a 'white fisher' and Eleanor as a "fish cleaner". Both the bride and groom's fathers were also described as white fishers.

The Chance is mentioned in the above 6 December 1889 East of Fife Record, having returned from Yarmouth with fellow Largo vessels Ocean Bride and Jane and Minnie. In December 1894, Chance was sold to Charles Criggie of Gourdon and registered at Montrose as ME127. She was broken up six years later in 1900. At the time of the 1901 census, Andrew Bisset was still a fisherman but these were the last days for many of the Largo deep-sea fishing vessels. By the 1911 census, Andrew's occupation had changed to labourer and the family were living at the Temple (in one of the now-demolished Burnside cottages). The two sons living at home were a labourer and a house painter. By 1915, the Bissets had moved to Burnbrae Terrace, pictured below, where Andrew and Helen would remain for rest of their lives.
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Andrew and Helen's son Andrew, who had been an apprentice house painter with John Adam of Lundin Links, had emigrated down under in 1912. During the First World War, he had joined the Australian Infantry. As part of the 56th Infantry Battalion, he was sent to Europe. In August 1917, he visited his parents in Largo for a few days. However, just weeks later, he was killed in action. He died on 17 October aged 27 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate war memorial in Ypres as well as on the Largo War Memorial.

Eleanor (Helen) Bisset died nine days after her son, on 26 October 1917, aged 59, at Burnside Terrace. It seems that she would not have been aware of her son's death, as news of this did not appear in local press until 15 November (see Leven Advertiser below).  Andrew Bisset senior survived his wife by over 15 years. He died at Burnbrae Terrace on 26 January 1933, aged 79. On the registration of his death, he was described as a 'retired roadman' but in fact he had a range of occupations in his lifetime. Arguably, it was his time as a fishermen that had the biggest impact on his life and of course that of his wife. 
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The image above shows four boats entering the harbour at Aberdeen. Second from the left is the Osprey of Largo, registration KY 977. Two other boats with a KY (Kirkcaldy) registration are on either side of the Osprey. This image features in the book 'Scotland's East Coast Fishing Industry' by Mark I'Anson. Constructed in 1872, at John Watt's boatyard in Dysart, the Osprey belonged to twin brothers William and Robert Gillies, who were still in their 20s at the time. The two newspaper reports below from 25 May that year (Fife Free Press and Fifeshire Advertiser) tell of her launch. The Osprey was a carvel built decked fishing boat of around 45 feet long. Many spectators were present to witness her head-first launch from Sailor's Walk.
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​Below are some images of Dysart Harbour and the Sailor's Walk. Sailor's Walk (also known as High Brae Head) was an elevated walkway above the harbour. Steps were built up to it in 1907. The spot certainly offered a great vantage point for boat launches and other harbour activity.
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The Gillies brothers later also owned the Ocean Bride, which was built for them in 1882, a decade after the Osprey. Both boats are mentioned in the brief newspaper clip below from the 11 July 1889 Fifeshire Journal. On this occasion, the two vessels had to return home after losing many nets to dog fish (an abundant species of shark found in Scottish waters). 

In the clip below from the 13 July 1893 Fifeshire Journal, the Osprey, along with many other local boats were up at Peterhead for the summer fishing. It seems likely that William and Robert would have skippered one each of their boats the Osprey and the Ocean Bride. Other vessels making the same trip included the Annie Johnston, the Forget-Me-Not and Fortunatus.
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The 30 August 1895 East of Fife Record above tells of a "highly satisfactory" trip to Aberdeen, when Skipper William Gillies fared "the best of the local men". It notes that two of his boats were on the trip - one that he was skippering and another which was "out on deal". These would like have been the Osprey and the Ocean Bride. Another Largo fisherman, Thomas Lawrie, owner of the Sultan, also gets a mention in the article. An update in the next week's paper reports on most of the Largo vessels returning home. This piece clarifies that it was the Osprey (the older vessel) which had been "lent out on a deal to a St Monans crew" and explains how individuals with multiple boats might ensure all their vessels are kept busy when they can't secure local crews. In turn a couple of Largo men helped crew a St Monans boat as 'halfdealsmen' (providing the extra hands but no equipment or share in the boat). 

The fishing yawl to the left of the above image is the Annie Johnson. Her registration - KY 478 - can just be made out on the left side. This vessel was launched on 30 March 1880 in Anstruther from the yard of John Alexander Millar. Described by the Fife News on 3 April as "one of the largest and finest fishing craft ever built on the Fife coast". However, this fifty feet long, thirty ton boat was destined to begin life outside of Fife. It has been built for John Pert of Ferryden, Montrose and was given the registration ME 535. The newspaper continued:

"Designed for the cod and ling fishing of the North Sea, she is fitted up with all the latest improvements, so much so that a finer craft of her class does not swim today on the briny wave."
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In 1882, Annie Johnston ran into difficultly when a storm hit Yarmouth. The two-part update in the 28 October Weekly Scotsman (below) reported initially that, of the numerous Scottish boats damaged while fishing there, Annie Johnston was one of two to fail to find shelter. This early report (from the Wednesday afternoon) stated that she was "now lying totally wrecked on Yarmouth beach" and had been laden with herring. But updated news from the following afternoon informs readers that the Annie Johnston had been ashore on the beach and was now "being got off", with the cargo saved.  Subsequently, she must have been repaired and was able to return to service.

On 22 February 1884 there was a change of owner for the Annie Johnston, when James Coull took her over. Five years later on 4 April 1889, James West became her owner but only for a couple of months. On 5 June that same year the Annie Johnston was sold to Largo's David Gillies. Presumably this was 'Fisher Davie' (1836-1923), owner of various vessels over the years, including a smaller boat named Violet. Perhaps the vessel was purchased in time for the Shetland trip mentioned below in the 20 June 1889 Fifeshire Journal. Note that a 'cran' was a measure of fresh herrings, equivalent to 37 and a half imperial gallons (or 170.5 litres). This could vary from around 700 to 2500 fish but on average was about 1200 herring. A cran was roughly four baskets (known as quarter crans) or one barrel.

For several years, Annie Johnston would have been one of the large deep-sea fishing boats operating out of Largo. The piece below from the 10 August 1900 East of Fife Record is one of the last references to her Largo days. It describes how a fishing trip was but short by a severe gale. The next year the vessel would be sold to a buyer in Shetland.
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Above is an unusual novelty postcard sent from Largo during the First World War. The image of warfare seems an odd choice for a holiday postcard, as does the pun 'things are booming at Largo'. However, it was topical and someone saw fit to send it to their nephew.  Here is what was written on the reverse...

Dear Tom, 
We are spending our holiday at Lundin Links this time instead of Largo. Robert does not spend so much of his time at the shore. He is so taken up with the soldiers. There are a lot of them here. I should have written your mother before this but will do so soon. Glad father keeps busy and trust you are all well. Grandma took a bad turn two days ago and gave us a fright but she is feeling better now.
Trust you are all well. With best love from all to all.
I am your loving Aunt Kate.

This message suggests that Robert is a child who is fascinated by the presence of many soldiers around Lundin Links at the time. We know that the Highland Cyclist Battalion had men in Lundin Links and that soldiers were billeted in houses such as Fir Park and St Catherine's. Many of those soldiers would not have survived the conflict. Of the 284 men of Largo Parish that served in World War One, 51 lost their lives and have their names inscribed on Largo War Memorial. 

The postcard has a flap on the front, which conceals a pull-out strip featuring twelve small black and white photographs from around Largo. These include the usual suspects of the Standing Stones, Crusoe Statue, Upper Largo Kirk, Largo Harbour, Kiel's Den and Lundin Tower. Below are two of the less widely-used images, showing Lower Largo from the sands (west and east views).
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The above image clearly shows the bellcote of Largo St David's Church to the right and the old 'Butter's Buildings' to the left of White House. Below is the stretch between the (almost) the Orry to the left and (almost) Cardy House to the right.