By Cheryl Wood

A FIFE fishing community struck by two tragedies at sea in less than two months gathered to say farewell to two of its men lost when the trawler Meridian foundered in the North Sea 160 miles east of Aberdeen just over seven weeks ago.

Around 700 mourners attended the East Neuk memorial service for skipper Martin Gardner (49), of Anstruther, and Ian Donald (55), of Pittenweem, on Saturday.

It follows the funeral last month of Edward Gardner (50), of Cellardyke, the only member of the four-strong crew whose body was recovered, and comes after a recent memorial service for Sidney Low (52), of Aberdeen, in his home city.

The crew had been carrying out observation work for an oil firm when the boat went down in stormy weather.

The service came just three days after the Pittenweem prawn trawler Unity sank just off the coast of Dorset.

Although two of the crew—Fraser Middleton (19) and Graeme Middleton (20), both of St Monans—were rescued from a life raft last Wednesday, skipper John Bowman (45), of Cellardyke, was never found.

During the service in Cellardyke Parish Church, tribute was paid to two fun-loving men by a friend of Martin Gardner, John Duthie, of Peterhead, who had trawled with him for 12 years, and Mr Donald’s brother-in-law Sandy Guthrie.

Cellardyke minister the Rev David Laing led the service, accompanied by locum Pittenweem minister the Rev Iain Paton and Anstruther minister the Rev Ian Cathcart, and said that the three East Neuk villages were united in mourning for men who were well-known in the community.

He said, “Martin, Edward, Ian and Sid still had a lot of living to do.

“There were many different aspects of Martin and Ian but one thing they had in common was a love for life.”

Martin had an infectious giggle, he said, especially when watching children’s films.

He added, “Julia (his wife) and the family got as much pleasure watching Martin as Martin did laughing at the antics on the screen.

“Ian was also full of fun and easy going. He was famed for his alcoholic pate that was only given out to the specially chosen.”

Also paying tribute to the Unity skipper, Mr Laing said, “The sea produces a rich harvest and provides a living for many, but we often forget the hazardous conditions fishermen face.

“We have again been reminded of these hazards with the loss of John Bowman, and I know that our thoughts and prayers are with his parents Ian and Dorothy and their family.”