Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is held each summer in Portsoy and is a popular highlight in the North East calendar. As well as the summer event, organisers have also put a lot of work into the promotion of traditional boat building.
Mr Stevenson said:
“I am delighted to sponsor this exhibition from the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival. The fantastic event that they organise every year in Portsoy draws thousands to the North east and is always exceptionally done, showcasing so much of what the area has to offer.
“The organisation should also be commended for their work in promoting traditional boatbuilding skills and the exhibition will detail their project to raise awareness of the salmon fishing industry by recreating and recording the construction of a traditional wooden salmon coble.
“No wooden cobles have been built on the Moray Firth since the 1970s and since they were built largely by line of eye by skilled boat builders, with details passed by word of mouth, few plans of their construction exist. The STBF is hoping to regain this knowledge and further contribute to the seafaring heritage of the North east.”
“The organisation should also be commended for their work in promoting traditional boatbuilding skills and the exhibition will detail their project to raise awareness of the salmon fishing industry by recreating and recording the construction of a traditional wooden salmon coble.
“No wooden cobles have been built on the Moray Firth since the 1970s and since they were built largely by line of eye by skilled boat builders, with details passed by word of mouth, few plans of their construction exist. The STBF is hoping to regain this knowledge and further contribute to the seafaring heritage of the North east.”
The exhibition in the Scottish Parliament will highlight the heritage aspects of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, their progress in the coble build and the organisation’s plans for the future.
