For Isabel Harrison whose enthusiasm for the heritage of her home town inspired me to write this novel, with gratitude for the help she gave, especially for correcting me on various points.

My thanks to:

Doreen, who, as usual, read through my manuscript for typing and other errors. Sheila, Debra, Alan and Carol, for letting me bounce ideas off them, and for giving me some suggestions.

Isabel (again), Hugh and Margaret, for the help given me in the Buckie Heritage Cottage, which is run voluntarily.

All concerned in the Buckie Drifter, run by the Fishing Heritage Society.

Bertha and Bill, for taking Jimmy and me up the coast road, for going down into Pennan (home of ‘Local Hero’) and Gardenstown, and for finding the Heritage Cottage once we reached Buckie.

Jimmy himself, for driving me back there more than once.

Lillias and Ted, for telling us about the Heritage Cottage in the first place.

Last but by no means least, the lady (I very much regret not asking her name, but she lives in No. 19 the Yardie) who was hanging out clothes on the sea front when I asked if she could spare me a few minutes. Born and brought up in the Yardie (although not in No. 19), she and her husband spent a full twenty minutes with us, and she gave me a good description of life there in the thirties.

Apologies to the good folk of Buckie for not using their dialect in my novel.