Around a 100 people attended to celebrate the opening of Shona's photography exhibition combined with the release of a 21 track compilation album Shona has produced in association with Dr Ian Green of Greentrax Recordings, Cockenzie.

The evening marked the culmination of Shona's three year project on Scotland's fishing heritage.

In May 2006, in celebration of her mother Jean's 80th birthday, Shona began a collection of family stories and photos.

However, after the loss of her mum through cancer, Shona expanded her project to include fisher folk from Edinburgh to Eyemouth, gathering 500 old images, taking 3,000 photos and collecting songs and tunes about fishing.

The exhibition and album reflect this material, the CD containing 30 colour photos and notes from Shona explaining how each song tells Scotland's fishing story. Well known names in Celtic music contributed to the album, including The Corries, Davy Steele, Cathy Ann MacPhee, Archie Fisher and Gerry O'Connor.

In addition, Shona recorded two songs and for the album's final track, was joined by 100 fisher folk who she invited to record 'Will Your Anchor Hold' earlier this year.

It was the job of Convenor of Scottish Borders Council, Alasdair Hutton, to give a speech and declare People and Songs of the Sea open.
Other representatives from Berwickshire who attended the launch included former Eyemouth Harbour Master, Jonny Johnstone, Superintendent of Eyemouth Fishermen's Mission, George Power and Shona's great friends The Podlies.

Shona was presented with a bouquet of flowers and handcrafted gift marked with the words "You followed your dream and it came true."
In 2006, Jean had first suggested that Shona should do a project in celebration of the fishing community's heritage, "something to bring folks together, talking and sharing music".

Three years on it was most fitting that, to the day, Gus Hare of Cockenzie Old Parish Hall drew the evening's entertainment to a close by leading everyone in a birthday toast to Jean.