Page 3 - ZettaIntro

The collection of songs on the Kist of Memories CD were composed by my mother,

Zetta (Georzetta) Sinclair, who was born in the North East Scottish harbour town of Buckie, in
1920. Her parents, George and Isabella Sinclair, were part of a close and deeply religious

community of fisherfolk, whose ancestors had lived around the Moray Firth for many

generations, fishing the often treacherous North Sea.
George, a quiet, kindly man, was both fisherman and naval reservist who served during

both world wars of the twentieth century. Isabella, in the early years of her marriage, was

strong enough to carry her husband to his boat in order to protect his leather sea boots from

the salt water. Her other tasks were to mend and bait nets as well as tend to her family and
home.

The family owned their own home in Gordon

Street, Buckie, where Zetta was to spend her

childhood. Unfortunately, she was a sickly child
who suffered the first of two bouts of pneumonia

at the age of three and was not expected to

survive. The toddler rallied, but thereafter was
cosseted at home at the slightest sign of any

chest infection. These times at home ensured a

strong bond between mother and daughter. The

little girl was included in the daily chores which
were always accompanied by much singing. In

fact, all the family were good singers and Zetta’s

brothers also played in the local pipes and drums.
At school, Zetta was a very able student. Her

teachers praised her ability to write stories and

poems, even suggesting she should be allowed

to continue with further education. This idea was
met by her parents with a usual response in those days, “It’s nae for the like’s o’ us”. Zetta,

like most teenagers of her time, left school at fourteen and found work locally.

As the second world war approached, and the country was suffering severe economic
depression, many young men from Buckie decided to join the army. The local regiment was

the famous Gordon Highlanders whose pipe band would perform spectacular displays in the

surrounding towns to encourage recruitment. This was a common sight in those days and Zetta
neatly captures the excitement in her song, The Call Tae Arms.