New novel about Moray: The Summer Crew by John Bennett
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Review by Jeff Dugdale, former depute rector at Elgin High
I cannot recommend highly enough this humorous collection of tales which is about to be published.
John Bennett’s episodic novel is set mainly around the Spey Bay Viaduct in Moray with occasional stories involving other events around the district like The Maggie Fair in Garmouth and The Keith Show.
It relates the comic adventures of half a dozen loveable characters, led by skipper Sandy Geddes as they struggle to net salmon using a shallow drafted boat called a coble.
Bennett’s lightness of touch in recounting their exploits (loosely based on his personal experience three decades earlier) reminds me of the writing of Gabriel Chevalier (Clochmerle) or Alexander McCall Smith (Mme Ramotswe stories), but because of the connection with water and the use of the local dialect perhaps the best favourable comparison is with The Tales of Para Handy by Neil Munro.
Although each of the 19 stories stands on its own right a number of motifs recur across the tales which provide a satisfying unity.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the employment of The Moray Doric (glossary provided) by several of the central characters.
It is also an expose of the fascinating life of the Atlantic salmon – do read the Appendix on this first before you get into stories – and of the commercial salmon fishers’ techniques in catching them for the tables of fancy restaurants in the south.
For those of us lucky enough to live in Moray or know it well there are countless references to the area which bring the tales alive, but even if you have never visited, the stories provide many laughs and titters about the exploits of The Summer Crew.
I hope you’ll buy this – it’s superb!
The Summer Crew by John Bennett costs £9.99 (inc P&P) and is available from speybooks.co.uk
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