The FBDMA Autumn Lecture will take place on Friday 1st November 2024 at 7.00pm in the Parish Centre, Berwick. Margaret Fox will speak on “A Death on the Sloop Juno: the story of Captain Robert Bruce and Joseph Ockton”.
On Monday 19th February 1855 a trial commenced at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. In the dock was Robert Bruce, ‘master of the sloop Juno of Berwick-on-Tweed’, awaiting trial for culpable homicide (manslaughter in England). Who do he kill? His ship’s mate, Joseph Ockton from Spittal. Why did he kill him? Because his tea wasn’t ready for him when he returned to his boat in Leith harbour after an afternoon’s drinking in the alehouses of Edinburgh. Intrigued? Come to the Friends’ Autumn Lecture when all will be revealed by Margaret Fox who has spent many hours researching this fascinating case in the archives.
Admission free. A raffle will be held.
