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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Tash Reith-Banks in Eyemouth

Sea change: How the Herring Queen brought promise and joy to a small Scottish town

Eyemouth Fish
A woman and five girls in formal dress standing in a line waving
This year’s Eyemouth Herring Queen, Holly Blackie, centre, with her lady in waiting, Dee MacDonald, and maids Lucy McKirdy, Aila Akhtar, Faye Aitcheson and Cassie Black. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The sun is battling the clouds, but the forecast rain holds off as the flotilla enters the harbour. Lining the quayside, hundreds of local people and tourists cheer each boat as it appears, and the sound of a pipe band skirls on the breeze as families crane their necks. They are looking for WaveDancer, the final, most important vessel. Today it is carrying an honoured passenger: the Eyemouth Herring Queen.

Fourteen-year-old Holly Blackie is the 80th Eyemouth Herring Queen (EHQ) and this year is particularly special as 50 former queens have travelled from all over the world to witness her coronation.

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