A FORMER editor of the Tele has spoken of his pride at leading a campaign for a permanent memorial to the 42 people who drowned when their ship sank in the Clyde more than 200 years ago.
David Carnduff, who lives in Inverkip, was among those who attended a special service in Gourock on Wednesday to remember the victims of the Mary of Iona tragedy.
The ship sank off the Cloch lighthouse in 1822, just a short distance from its destination, after it was struck by the paddle steamer Hercules.
All but four of those on board died.
The Mary of Iona was carrying Gaelic-speaking men, women and children from Mull and Iona who were migrating south in search of work on the local harvest.
David, who has a keen interest in history, said: "This first started when I was on holiday in Bunessan on Mull.
"I saw a display about the Mary in the local museum by Mull historian Tom Aitchinson, and I didn't know anything about it at all.
"I decided to get in touch with Inverclyde Council about a memorial, and I then started speaking to Tom.
"I spoke to Councillor Sandra Reynolds and she was so supportive in driving this forward."
Councillor Reynolds and her colleagues worked with officials from the local authority to make the memorial a reality.
They were supported by fellow councillor Lynne Quinn, who chairs the Gourock Town Regeneration Forum.
The dedication service was also attended by Inverclyde's Provost, Drew McKenzie, who paid his own tribute, speaking about his own family connections with Mull, which date back to the early 1800s.
He said: “As a coastal community with a long maritime heritage, we are sadly only too familiar with shipping disasters. But this is one that is perhaps forgotten about, particularly due to the absence of a memorial.
“It was an honour for me, on behalf of the people of Inverclyde, to help unveil this new commemorative stone to remember the victims of this tragedy off the coast of Gourock more than 200 years ago.
“Thanks must go to David Carnduff for raising awareness of this tragedy, and for working alongside a variety of partners to ensure a fitting memorial is now in place to honour the people who perished in this disaster.”
The tragedy became known as the 'drowning of the harvesters'.
All the victims were laid to rest in the Chapel Street Cemetery in Gourock, but a lack of funding meant no headstones or memorials were ever put in place.
The names of all those who died were read out at Wednesday's service, with mention made of the 47 children who were orphaned as a result.
The service was led by the Reverend David Burt of Old Gourock and Ashton Parish Church.
Mr Aitchinson reminded the gathering about the circumstances of the accident, and how those who died were denied justice at the time after a decision was taken not to prosecute the captain or crew of the Hercules.
He said: "If it was not for local people who helped with the recovery of bodies, along with the relatives who came from Mull, there would be no resting place.
"There was no justice and no gravestone for those who died on the Mary.
"We would like to pay a special thanks to everyone involved in making this happen."
In a poignant moment the Whinhill Primary Gaelic School sang the song Ant-Eilean Muileach (Isle of Mull), followed by Gourock Primary School pupils singing Morning Has Broken, to the tune 'Bunessan'.
The Gaelic school's origins lie in the large numbers of Highlanders who settled in Inverclyde in the 19th century.
Principal teacher Alasdair MacPhee said; "It is important to our pupils that we sing the songs and remember the heritage of Gaelic speakers and culture in Greenock."
The memorial stone was kindly donated by Fraser Downie of Stokes Memorials.
Councillor Quinn said: “I would like to highlight the generosity and kindness of the Gourock townsfolk at the time of the tragedy: the seafarers who helped with the rescue of the victims, and those who established a fund to help with aid during the rescue mission.
“Also, the town’s high level of attendance at the funeral and ensuring the victims were 'decently interred' at the Chapel Street burial ground.
“It is great that we are continuing this kindness and respect 200 years on.”
Councillor Reynolds told the Tele of he delight that after two years of work, the memorial was finally in place.
"It was really important to me that we made this happen," she said.
"It has taken two years of hard work but finally we have a memorial stone.
"It is such a lovely resting place, and I am so glad we had people here from Mull as well."
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