Cullen skipper's Queen Elizabeth coronation medal goes on display
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AN important part of Cullen's Royal history has gone on display thanks to the generosity of a local family.
At a special ceremony in the Cullen, Deskford and Portknockie Heritage Centre Joe Mowat presented heritage group president Brenda Wood with his father's – also Joe – Queen Elizabeth coronation medal.
The medal – which was handed over on June 3, exactly 70 years to the day the late Queen was crowned – was given to Mr Mowat senior for his services to the fishing industry. In addition to skippering the local fishing vessel BF174 Prolific he was a director of the Scottish Fishermen’s Association and the vice-president of the Buckie branch of that association.
Speaking after the presentation, Mr Mowat said: "Buckie was a very busy and important port back in the 1940s and 50s and he was awarded the medal for his work with the white fish industry.
"I've had the medal all these years and I've moved around in my banking days so it's moved around from loft to loft and one day recently I was up in the loft and I saw it. I thought 'This is a shame' so I got it completely reframed and this is the result.
"To make sure this was passed on I decided to give it to the heritage group. The family were offered the medal but they preferred that it would be here in the heritage centre.
"He would actually have only worn the medal on the day of the coronation when there was a coronation ball up at the Cullen Bay Hotel."
The coronation ball attended by the Countess of Seafield, who as part of the proceedings lit a large bonfire at the area which is now Cullen beach car park.
Joe spoke fondly of his father, who was a fishermen all his days apart from his war service in the Royal Navy. Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 38.
Mr Mowat added: "He enjoyed his bowls and the year he died had just joined Cullen Golf Club.
"He wanted to branch out into playing golf but he was away soon after that."
Thanking Mr Mowat for his gifting the medal to the heritage group, she went on to stress the key role it had in keeping alive an important part of the town's history.
She said: "This is part of Cullen's history.
"Nothing should be thrown away that's part of Cullen's history and it's great that Joe decided to hand the medal to us.
"It could go to family but think of the amount of people that's going to be able to see it now. Once history like this is gone, it's gone so we're delighted to have this important piece of Cullen's history."
The medal is now on display at the heritage centre.
