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The Brinian

Tommy Gibson

October 10th 2023

The island’s legendary history man has just passed away in his sleep. ‘Rousay Remembered’ would be nothing without the inclusion of his photographs and memories.

Rest in Peace dear friend.

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In Print

GMB ~ Heather Bleather

George Mackay Brown was born in Stromness on October 17th 1921. Readers of Rousay Remembered’s coverage of newspaper snippets from The Orcadian and Orkney Herald will be familiar with George’s contributions to the latter publication, and to mark the centenary of his birth I include two more of his weekly articles written under the pen-name ‘Islandman.’

1949 September 20 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY

THE ROUSAY GIRL IN HEATHER BLEATHER

This week I am utterly squeezed dry of inspiration. There seems nothing in the wide world to write about. Heaven and earth are empty of subject matter. So the best I can do is to tell a story.

“ONCE UPON A TIME”….. – It was a long while ago, before your eyes or mine beheld the light of day. A young Rousay girl was wandering about the beach, in the ebb tide, looking for whelks and dulce. People were poor in these days; there were no Government subsidies nor London night-clubs clamorous for lobsters; humble folk were glad of anything to eat, and often enough they went to bed with empty stomachs.

She wandered, barefoot and pensive, among the boulders. Occasionally her foot slipped in the shiny tangle, but she was young and supple and took little harm from a fall. From this shallow pool and that she gathered her meagre harvest of whelks, and dropped them in the cubbie she carried by her side.

It was a summer day, in late June. A bank of mist lay over the Mainland and Eynhallow, thick and opaque. The waves were a tarnished silver as they splintered on the rocks beneath her….. But presently, as the sun strengthened towards noon, it would break the bondage of the mist. The veil would be withdrawn from the brown hills and the green fields. The sea would run blue and gold, except towards Eynhallow where, even on a fine day, it was nearly always white with menace.

Kirkwall photographer Bruce Flett’s recent image of mist pouring over Eynhallow
and Scabra Head on Rousay

INNOCENCE – As she walked about the rocks, sometimes she sang. A low tuneless chant it was, which we moderns would think peculiar. Sometimes she paused in her work and stood for long seconds, with a pleased smile on her face. We will never know what she was thinking then, but the expression on her, face looked like the awakening dawn of love…..

She saw a boat gliding out of the mist with two men in her. Little heed she paid; but she stopped her song, for she was young, and it embarrassed her that anyone should hear her singing. She turned her back on the phantom boat, and bent her serious face over the rock pools. Her deft slim fingers picked the fat whelks from their hiding place among the tang.

She heard the boat scraping on the shingle as it was hauled a little way up the beach. She heard approaching the cautious footsteps of the fishermen. She crooned low to herself, and her eyes laughed as they watched her face’s wavering reflection in a glassy pool. It was good to be young and strong on a summer morning such as this…..

THE ABDUCTION – It occurred to her suddenly that she could no longer hear the footsteps of the fishermen. Before she had time to wonder, a pair of scaly hands seized her arms and swung her about. Two strangers stood before her, tall and grave men. She opened her mouth to shriek, but one of them stepped behind her and put his hands over her mouth. Her eyes shone with terror. They forced her, step by step, down the beach to the waiting boat…..

When she never returned home her brothers went to look for her. It was as if she had been snatched clean off the earth. None of the herd boys had seen her, nor the crazy old begging woman who wandered round the island and knew everyone’s doings. Perhaps, they reasoned hopefully, she had got lost in the fog and would be waiting for the sun to come through. But, on the beach, they found the upturned cubbie, its treasure of whelks scattered over the rocks. They looked at each other and drooped their eyes, unwilling to admit the tragedy that was so apparent. Without doubt their sister had been drowned; she had climbed out on a sea-fringed rock, slippery with tang, and the inevitable had happened. Even now her young body would be floating out on the tide towards the great western ocean, with only the sea birds to sing a forlorn requiem over it.

THE LOST ISLAND APPEARS – As they lingered sorrowfully on the beach, the sun burst dazzling through the mist. The world was splashed with colour. Land and sea lost their treacherous vagueness, and became solid and well-defined.

They were about to turn, dazed and distracted homewards, when one of the brothers seized the other by the arm and pointed towards the horizon. The last streamers of mist were dissolving from the sea. There, beyond Eynhallow, an island lay. They saw, far away, the blue hills, the modest cliffs, the clusters of trees and houses, which were never recorded on any map.

“It is Heather Bleather,” said one to the other. They were well versed in the old traditions, and there could be no doubt about it. It could well be that the sea had taken their sister, but it was equally possible that the men of Heather Bleather – the selkie men – had fallen in love with her. What wonder, indeed, seeing that many a Rousay man would have given much to possess those laughing eyes, those sweet lips, that miracle of life awakening in her. But even as they looked and speculated Heather Bleather dissolved and faded from their eyes, and they knew that they had lost her forever, not to death, but to an enchantment more potent.

TEN YEARS AFTER – But they were wrong. They saw their sister again, they spoke to her, a long time afterwards.

The young girl at length became only a memory to the Rousay people. Be one ever so sweet or beautiful, one’s image at length fades from mortal memory. In the Orkney of old there was no leisure for the cultivation of memory. A dead girl was dead, and living men had to struggle grimly for a livelihood. Whatever the weather, the boats must be launched in summer, the plough taken down and driven through the wet mould in spring.

On the particular summer day of which we speak, ten years after the disappearance of the Rousay girl, her brothers and their father were out fishing. Suddenly the mist unrolled in silent, menacing billows, and they were lost. Without doubt all three were reminded of a similar misty day long ago, when tragedy had suddenly come upon them. Life, they said to each other, is full of coincidences; perhaps it is our turn to die to-day.

A STRANGE STRAND – The thought was scarcely a spoken when they saw, looming through the white opacity, a sandy beach. No men were ever so glad to see land. They couldn’t tell whether it was Rousay, or Evie, or Eynhallow, but it was land and meantime nothing else mattered. They leaped ashore, pulled up their boat over the shingle, and, chilled to the bone, made for the first house on the links.

It was when they heard the people speaking that the first doubt entered their hearts. The dialect was fantastically strange – not even Frenchmen spoke so drolly. But they were given seats, and bowls of hot ale, and the people of the house smiled kindly at them. The Rousay men ate and essayed conversation, like people in a dream.

A woman came in from the but-end, with a board of smoking new-baked bannocks. Something familiar in her gait struck the old grey father. Memory, a ferment, worked in his confused mind. He spoke, audibly, the name of one very dear to him who had disappeared out of his life long ago….. The song left the woman’s lips, her eyes leapt from face to face of the three Rousay men with incredulous delight. It was then they knew that they were in Heather Bleather, and that the woman of the strange household was their sister, their daughter.

NO RETURNING – But she never returned with them to Rousay. The selkie men loved her too much for that. They had seen her one day, gathering whelks among the Rousay rocks with the seed-pearls of mist in her hair, and now, having made her their own, they would never let her go. Some say she longed to get back to Rousay, and gave her father instructions how to return for her when they pushed off in their boat later the same day. No mortal ever saw her again. She was swallowed up once more in an enchantment as wonderful and mysterious as death. Out of that enchantment her story still comes occasionally to our incredulous ears. – ISLANDMAN.

~

1949 December 6 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY

THE MOZART FROM EYNHALLOW

One of the most delightful winter pastimes is the writing of short stories. Having written one the other night, when it was too cold and wet to go out, I intend to inflict it on you this week.
It is an escape into the realms of pure fantasy. Here it is.









[A mallimack soars above Eynhallow and the shimmering, sparkling surface of the sea.
My photo was taken from the end of Hullion Pier.]

BIRTH OF THE GENIUS – Storm Kolson was the name of the first Orkney composer of note. He was born in the island of Eynhallow in the year 1956, the sixth son of a prolific crofter. Music was in his blood. His father played the fiddle with joyous gusto on Saturday evenings when he was slightly tipsy with home-brewn ale. At other times he was a melancholy man, and the tunes that his fiddle gave out then were sad and plaintive. Storm’s mother came off a long line of accordion players, every one of them stalwarts in the Strathspey and Reel Society. The lady herself, who gave birth to a child every year with great punctuality, had played the kirk organ before her marriage.

Storm, then, was born into music. He was also born into mystery, and this was even more important for his future development. The island on which they lived, Eynhallow, was haunted with the ghosts of vanished ages. Not only had it a great history behind it; that history shaded off by imperceptible degrees into shadowy legend and enchantment.

Storm’s father had frequently caught sight of the mythical island of Heather Bleather, which appeared sometimes to men. He never tired of telling his children about it. It was noticed that he most often saw it on Saturday nights, when he was in the habit of taking home-brewn ale.

HE IS DISCOVERED – The discovery of little Storm’s particular talent was highly dramatic, and, in its beginning, not unlike young Mozart’s. One summer afternoon his father, Tam, came in tired and melancholy from the hayfield. He was already far gone in the illness that finally killed him. As he crossed the threshold he heard music of astonishing vigour and tunefulness. “Nobody in the family,” he thought to himself, “can play like that.’ In the kitchen young Storm sat on the low stool before the peat-fire, his father’s fiddle tucked under his chin. The bow flew like lightning over the strings, the small supple fingers moved with miraculous ease and fluency. Marget, Tom’s wife, stood smiling fondly at the sink. Lost in amazement, Tam stood drinking in the sweet flow of sound for fully five minutes.

Soon afterwards he died, happy in the knowledge that he had begotten another Mozart.

Storm’s fame grew apace. By the age of ten he was the best fiddler in Orkney. By the age of twelve he was the best accordionist. In addition, he could play the piano, the cello, the saxophone, the trumpet, the zither and the flute, with superb ease and accomplishment.

HE MATURES – This genius for music – for it a was nothing else – was almost the death of the boy. There wasn’t a wedding, from Rousay to South Ronaldsay, but Storm was there with violin or accordion, making the clumsy feet of the dancers move swiftly and joyously. Not a funeral, either, but the pale-faced lad, not yet twelve, was summoned to the organ, where the purity and melancholy of his performance brought tears to the eyes of the most flippant and hard-hearted.

Young Storm was overworked. He fell ill of nervous exhaustion, and for a while hovered between life and death. But the devoted nursing of old Marget saved him for humanity.

He grew and matured, and now musical compositions began to come from his pen. He made settings of a cycle of Orkney poems, and these were widely popular in all the islands. Some old-fashioned people sneered at their novel technique, but even they were won over in time.

It seemed that the boy took after his father in temperament. He was usually dreamy and melancholy, and he disliked farm work. Early, too, he showed his father’s remarkable relish for home-brewn ale. Nor did he confine the drinking of it to Saturday nights.

His concerto for accordion and orchestra, written at the age of nineteen, delighted all Orkney. It was entirely made up of old Orkney tunes, expanded here and intricately developed there. The serenity of the first movement, the joyous abandon of the third, were recognised by all. But most remarkable was the pure melancholy of the andante. The paternal strain persisted.

THE NOTORIOUS RECITAL – Storm took to giving organ recitals in St Magnus Cathedral every Wednesday evening. A wave of musical fervour broke over Orkney. The old minster was crammed to the doors on every occasion, and the people went home flushed with ecstasy, babbling with enthusiasm.

One Wednesday evening a strange thing happened. The pealing organ gave off the weirdest melodies imaginable, without form or cohesion – a jagged litter of jarring sound. People looked at each other in alarm and confusion. The more knowing “high-brows” intimated to their neighbours in the crowded church that Storm was giving that night a recital of the most modern music. . . .

At length the cacophony ceased. When the “highbrows” streamed round the massy concealing pillar to congratulate the musician on his fine technique, they found him slumped dead drunk over the keys. Storm never played the Cathedral organ again.

THE PEAK – His genius grew more radiant and more accomplished. His Hoy Symphony was played at the Edinburgh Festival. His opera, “The Lathy Odivere,” made the works of Gilbert and Sullivan look meagre and silly. The charm and mystery of his “Heather Bleather Suite” for strings converted the last of his carping critics into an idolater. Yehudi Menuhin celebrated his 50th birthday by giving the first performance of Storm Kolson’s Violin Concerto in the Albert Hall. The Eynhallow farmer’s son, it seemed, was on the high road to immortality.

HE VANISHES – And then disaster fell. Storm got married. Everyone was amazed at his choice. She was a cheap, slatternly woman, pretty in a flashy way but otherwise unbecoming. He picked her up in some London district, married her, and took her home to Orkney. He was aged 32 at the time.

Perhaps he saw some fleeting enchantment, hidden from other men, deep in her soul. If so, he learned to regret his vision. His life, hitherto serenely and quietly melancholy, became a lurid hell. He was nagged and harried, whatever he did, by her bitter tongue. At the end of the first year he was more often drunk than sober. And the steady stream of immortal compositions petered out to nothing.

He vanished completely and irrevocably. He was last seen by the country folk, walking slow and dejected among the hills, in the direction of the cliffs. No body was ever found, but everyone believed that Storm Kolson had committed suicide.

Not quite everyone. Storm’s mother, prematurely aged and withered with child-bearing, survived him. The toothless old woman sat in her chimney corner chanting old snatches, mumbling old stories. Among other tales was one of a country fiddler, going home from a riotous wedding. The peedie folk fell in love with his sweet music, and carried him off to live in their enchanted hollows. He was never seen on earth again. But there he bides playing immortal music on the greenswards that no human foot has ever trod. . . . . ISLANDMAN.


Categories
In Print

Newsprint – 1949

1949 March 1 Orkney Herald

100 M.P.H. GALE LEAVES TRAIL OF DAMAGE. – The 100 m.p.h. gale which burst upon Orkney on Tuesday evening left a trail of overturned hen-houses, razed stacks, missing slates and innumerable instances of minor damage, but, fortunately, Orkney weathered well this biggest blow of the winter, and no major incident is reported.

Kirkwall’s new Cruden houses suffered. Stripped tiles left gaps in the roofs, and in one the ceiling was slightly damaged. Roofing at the Balfour Hospital was blown off.

In the country, straw in the telegraph wires, drunken electricity poles, and overturned hen-houses bear witness to the fury of the gale.

Waves swept Kirkwall pier, and the Earl of Zetland on her crossing from Scrabster to Stromness encountered huge seas. She was stormbound at Stromness on the following day. Seas sweeping over Ayre Road, caused traffic to make a detour round the Peedie Sea.

PERSONAL INJURIES: The high wind was responsible too for several personal injuries though none was of a serious nature. The gale blew up comparatively suddenly late on Tuesday afternoon, from the west. At 5.30 p.m. gusts of 90 m.p.h. were recorded at Hatston aerodrome, and about the same time the Admiralty anemometer at Holm logged 100 m.p.h. News of minor damage comes from all districts. Typical is this report from Evie.

Fortunately the highest velocity did not continue long, and only minor damage was done – such as roof slates flying and old walls crumbling. Through this long orgy of gales, seas responded in great fury and have been spectacular at Scabra Head, Rousay, where mountainous Atlantic rollers thundered in the caves and against the cliffs. Eynhallow Sound has been seldom at rest, and often all surf, preventing the transport of the mails to and from Rousay.

A fall of snow yesterday delayed the arrival of newspapers and malls by air.


1949 March 8 Orkney Herald

EVIE – SPOOT EBB. – The first spoot ebb of the year occurred on Wednesday afternoon, fourth day after the new moon. There were a few fishers on the sand but not so many as usual owing to the bitterly cold wind.

SEASON. – The green grass fields of our open winter have been quickly disappearing of late under the action of the tractor plough, and now a large acreage of brown furrow is signalling the approach of seed-time.

Though winter still holds sway spring is not far behind, as many vernal signs indicate. Flowers are again appearing on the earth. In the gardens snowdrops have made a fine show and have been followed in quick succession by crocuses, while bulbs of every kind are very much in evidence. In the fields a number of early lambs are skipping round their mothers. In the air the bird orchestra is tuning up.


1949 March 22 Orkney Herald

SPRING UP NORTH. – “The wildest Spring in memory” – that is the verdict of nearly every Orcadian questioned on the subject .

For the past few weeks, to go over the door mat has been to be whipped by sleet, to tramp ankle-deep through soft slushy snow, or to be blown off your feet by the gales.

The stormy weather plunged Stromness into darkness for two hours the other Sunday night, and buried the place under a foot of snow two days later. Monday and Wednesday last saw the “Ola” confined to her pier.

With a kind of pleased bewilderment people are noting that the spring flowers, punctual in spite of everything, are raising their heads in the gardens.


1949 May 17 Orkney Herald

EVIE – PROTRACTED SEED-TIME. – All spring work on the land has been greatly hampered by the prevalence of unfavourable weather, and sowing has occupied a long period from start to finish. All the cereals have at last been committed to the soil, and the earlier sown fields are showing a healthy braird. Potato-planting has been late but is now almost completed. On several farms the laborious preparation for the turnip crop is in progress.

FISHING. – Owing to the continued severity of the winter and spring weather no fishing was possible in the past months, and the lobster fishermen allege that the violence of the ever turbulent seas will have expelled their quarry from its strongholds, thereby shattering their prospects of a good summer fishing.

Cuithes are now here, and having got “three drinks of the May flood” are now in fit condition for consumption. Doubtless they will be in great demand this season and will be ardently fished in these times of greater austerity and highly appreciated for the table.


1949 June 7 Orkney Herald

NORTH ISLES COUNCILLORS CO-OPTED. – Orkney County Council co-opted last week at their first meeting since last month’s County Council election, members for the island divisions of Rousay and Sanday, which failed to submit nominations within the prescribed time. The co-opted members are Mr Robert Stevenson Mainland, Nears, retiring member for Rousay, and Mr George Cutt, Kettletoft, for Sanday.

The council decided to co-opt members for the two divisions in preference to ordering new elections there.

It was stated that nominations for Mr Cutt had in fact been received from Sanday, but too late for last month’s election. He was the sole nominee for Sanday.

Mr Mainland had expressed his willingness to continue as Rousay’s representative.

EVIE – FARM. – During last week the farmers were busy in the turnip fields, and have now sown a good part of the crop. The welcome rain has copiously watered the earth, refreshing all vegetation. Warmth and sunshine are now badly needed to speed the growth of the cereals which have been so long retarded by constant dry cold winds. Pastures have improved except where exposed to the spindrift driven in by the persistent gales of the winter and spring.


1949 July 5 Orkney Herald

EVIE – TURNIPS. – Occasional light showers of rain in the past week have saved the life of the turnip seedlings which were likely to perish from the drought, and they are now ready for singling. Hoes will be in good demand this week, and a regiment of hoers will appear on a field of Aikerness on Wednesday evening.

PEATS. – The turves are now dry and being transported from the moors to the homesteads to stack for winter fuel. Though cut much later than usual they have been perfectly cured through the agency of exceptionally suitable weather conditions.

HIGH SUMMER. – Nature has daily become more lavish with her gifts during the last fortnight and summer has now reached its full pride. The earth is clad in great beauty with colours of every hue and the countryside is a striking picture.

STROMNESS – TRIPPERS GALORE. – This past fortnight the town has been invaded from several different points in Orkney…..The trippers who stayed longest came from Rousay. They were mainly composed of golfers and that evening a friendly match with the Stromness Club – four foursomes – took place at Ness. It was two years since the Rousay golfers had been in Stromness. Supper was provided in the Golf House after the match by Mrs Flett. The Rousay contingent left for home, after an enjoyable evening spent by both sides, late in the evening.


1949 August 16 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY’S TWO HORSE SHOW

A last minute arrival in the horse section just saved Rousay agricultural show on Tuesday from being dubbed a “one-horse show”; for in Rousay the general trend of falling horse entries reached its lowest level, only two horses being forward.

Entries in other sections were slightly down on previous years, but quality was as good as ever. In fact, a feature of the show was the high standard of the stock and the evenness of the quality. On two occasions the judges – Mr Wm. Learmonth of Pow, Sandwick, and Mr P. Davidson, Skaill – had to call in a third opinion to help them decide.

Supreme award in the cattle section went to Mr R. Johnston’s cow from Trumland, and to Trumland too went the highest award in the sheep classes.

Much credit for the smooth running arrangements must go to the energetic secretary, Mr Ronald Shearer, Curquoy.

SPECIAL PRIZES – Horse Section. – Silver Vase, presented by Messrs Wm. Shearer, seed merchants, Kirkwall, for best gelding – 1 Inkster Brothers; reserve, James Marwick.

Cattle Section. – Silver Cake Basket, presented by Messrs J. & W. Tait, Kirkwall, for best animal in cattle sections – 1 R. Johnston, Trumland; reserve, Mrs Cormack. Cup, presented by P. C. Flett, Kirkwall, for best cow in yard – 1 R. Johnston; reserve, W. Alexander. Silver Coffee Pot, presented by Mr R. Johnston, Trumland, for best four cattle drawn from any sections – Inkster Bros.; reserve, W. Alexander. Cake Basket, presented by Mr A. Harcus, Knapper Cottage, for best pair of yearlings showing calf teeth – Inkster Bros.; reserve, R. Johnston. Fruit Stand, presented by Mr D. Moar, Saviskaill, for best cog-fed calf – Mrs Cormack; reserve, Inkster Bros. Cake Basket, presented by Mr Jas. Lyon, Ervadale, for best calf excluding pure-breeds – Mrs Cormack; reserve, Inkster Bros. Cup, presented by Messrs T. Smith Peace, for shorthorns under 21 years old – T. Donaldson; reserve, W. Alexander. Cup, presented by Messrs Cumming & Spence, Kirkwall, for best cow with two offspring – R. Johnston; reserve, James Seator. Fruit Stand, presented by Mr W. Inkster, Woo, for best pair in cattle sections confined to farms of £30 rental and under – A. Harcus; reserve, James Seator. Trophy, presented by Mr J. Foulis, Kirkwall, for best butcher’s animal – T. Donaldson; reserve, James Seator. Cup, presented by Mr John Sclater, draper, Kirkwall, for best animal in cattle sections, confined to farms of £20 rental and under – Mrs Cormack; reserve, Mrs Grieve, Falldown. Cup, presented by Mr J. Linklater, North Tofts, Egilshay, for best animal in cattle sections, confined to farms of £12 rental and under – Mrs Cormack; reserve, Mrs Grieve. Department of Agriculture special prize for two-year-old heifer in calf – 1 R. Johnston, 2 and 3 Inkster Bros.

Sheep Section – Special Prize, presented by Messrs Cooper, McDougall and Robertson for best sheep in yard – R. Johnston; reserve, R. Seatter, Banks. Department of Agriculture special prizes for best ewe, any breed, which has raised a lamb this season, 1 and 3 R Seatter, Banks; 2 R. Johnston.

Poultry Section – Bowl, presented by Mr W. B. Firth, Finstown, for best fowl – Mrs Inkster, Woo; reserve, D. Moar, Saviskaill.

SHEEP – Leicester Ewes – 1 R. Seatter, Banks. Cheviot Ewes – 1, 2, 3 and 4 R. Johnston, Trumland. Half-bred Ewes – 1 and 2 R. Seatter. Half-bred Iambs – 1 and 3 R. Seatter, 2 and 4 R. Johnston. Cross Ewes – 1 and 2 R. Seatter, 3 and 4 James Seator, Brendale. Leicester Rams – 1 and 2 R. Johnston. Cross Lambs – 1, 2, 3 and 4 R. Seatter.

CATTLE-POLLED – Calf (calved after 1st October) – 1 and 2 Inkster Bros., 3 Wm. Grieve, Digro; 4 A. Harcus, Knapper, 5 and 6 R. Seatter. Calf (calved after 1st March) – 1 Mrs Cormack. Polled Bulls – 1 T. Donaldson. Cows in milk or in calf – 1 R. Johnston, 2 and 6 W. Alexander, 3 and 4 W. Corsie, 5 R. Grieve. Three-year-old Cows – 1 and 4 W. Alexander, 2 R. Johnston, 3 W. Corsie, 5 R. Seatter. Three-year-old Steers – 1 T. Donaldson, 2 Jas. Seatter. Heifers in calf – 1 R. Johnston, 2 W. Corsie, 3 W. Alexander, 4 R. Seatter. Two-year-old Heifers – 1 R. Seatter, 2 W. Corsie, 3 R. Johnston, 4 and 5 Jas. Seator. Two-year-old Steers – 1 and 3 Inkster Bros., 2 R. Seatter, 4 R. Johnston, 5 and 6 T. Donaldson. One-year-old Heifers – 1 W. Corsie, 2 R. Johnston, 3 R. Seatter, 4 Inkster Bros. One-year-old Heifers (1st March) – 1 A. Harcus, 2 R. Johnston, 3 James Seator, 4 R. Seatter. One-year-old Steers – 1 Mrs Grieve, 2 J. Seator, 3 R. Seatter, 4 R. Johnston, 5 W. Alexander. One-year-old Steers (1st March) – 1 A. Harcus, 2, 4 and 6 Inkster Bros., 3 R. Johnston, 5 W. Alexander.

SHORTHORNS – Cows in milk or in calf – 1 W. Corsie, 2 W. Alexander. Three-year-old Cows – 1 T. Donaldson, 2 A. Harcus. One-year-old Steers – 1 T. Donaldson, 2 W. Alexander.

PURE-BREDS – Heifers in calf – 1 and 2 Inkster Bros.

HORSES – Draught Geldings – 1 Inkster Bros., 2 James Marwick, Innister.

POULTRY – Wyandotte Cock – 1 Mrs Inkster, Woo. Wyandotte Hen – 1 and 3 D. Moar, Saviskaill, 2 Mrs Inkster. R.I.R. Hen – 1 Mrs Inkster. Cross Hen – 1 and 2 Mrs Inkster, 3 and 4 D. Moar.

————————-

ROUSAY PRESIDENT SETS THE PACE

Rousay Industrial Show prize list on Tuesday fairly bristled with the name “Mrs Gibson,” for in Rousay there are two Mrs Gibsons – sisters married to brothers – who fairly swept the board in practically every section of the show.

One of the sisters, Mrs H. I. Gibson, is president of the Society.

[The brothers were Hugh Inkster Gibson, Bigland, and John Stanley Gibson, Lopness. Their wives were the sisters Jessie Alexina (Cissie) Craigie and Alice Craigie, Furse.]

Teas for spectators at the industrial show and at the nearby agricultural show were served throughout the day by ladies of the S.W.R.I.

VEGETABLES – Judge – Mr Charles Leslie, Kirkwall. – Cabbages – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Cauliflower – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson, Bigland. Beet (globe) – 1 and 2 Mrs T. Sinclair, 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Parsnips – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Carrots (long) – 1 Mrs Gibson. Lopness, 2 and 3 Mrs Harcus, Knapper. Leeks – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Shallots – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Onions – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Parsley – 1 Mrs Harcus, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson. Cabbage Lettuce – 1 and 2 Mrs Gibson, 3 Mrs T. Sinclair. Potatoes (long white) – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Harcus.

FLOWERS – Catmint – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Virginian Stock-1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson. Honeysuckle – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson. Larkspur – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson. Poppies – 1 and 2 Miss Eva Wylie, 3 Mrs Gibson. Hollyhocks – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson. Chrysanthemums – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson. Gypsophila – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Marguerites – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Cornflowers – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Sweet Peas – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson.

HANDICRAFTS – Judge – Mrs Margaret Reid, Kirkwall. – Plain Knitting – Lady’s Jumper – 1 Mrs Grieve, Furse; 2 Mrs Gibson, Lopness; 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Ladles’ Gloves – 1 Mrs Gibson, 2 and 3 Miss Eva Wylie. Gent’s Socks – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 3 Mrs Gibson. Gent’s Sleeveless Pullover – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Fair Isle Knitting – Gloves – 1 Mrs Gibson, 2 and 3 Miss Mabel Grieve. Fancy Knitting – Scarf – 1 Mrs Gibson, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Embroidered Teacloth – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Luncheon Set. (crochet) –  1 and 2 Mrs Gibson. Craft Exhibit – 1 and 2 Mrs Gibson, 3 Miss Eva Wylie. Girls’ Knitting (jumper) – 1 Freda Grieve.

DAIRY SECTION – Judges – Mrs Corse and Miss Findlay. 1lb. Salt Butter – 1 Mrs Cormack, Daisy Cottage; 2 Mrs Russell, 3 Mrs Cormack. 1lb. Fresh Butter – 1 Mrs Cormack. Table Butter – 1 and 2 Mrs Shearer, 3 Mrs Seatter, Brendale. Six Eggs (hen) – 1 and 2 Mrs Shearer, 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Sweet Milk Cheese – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson.

PRESERVES – Marmalade – 1 Mrs Gibson, Lopness; 2 Miss Corsie, Glebe; 3 Mrs Craigie, Briar Lea. Rhubarb Jam – 1 Mrs Sinclair, Banks; 2 and 3 Mrs Craigie, Corse. Strawberry Jam – 1 Mrs Russell, Old School, 2 Miss Corsie. Gooseberry Jam – 1 Mrs Sinclair, 2 and 3 Miss Corsie. Any Mixed Jam – 1 and 3 Mrs Sinclair, 2 Mrs Craigie. Plum Jam – 1 Mrs Sinclair, Banks.

BAKING – Judge – Mr Argo, Kirkwall. Bere Bannocks – 1 and 2 Mrs T. Sinclair, 2 Mrs Harcus. Oat Bannocks (thick) – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 3 Mrs Shearer. Oat Bannocks (thin) – 1 Mrs Harcus, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Flour Bannocks – 1 Mrs Shearer, 2 Mrs Craigie, 3 Mrs Grieve, Cruannie. Oven Scones (flour) – 1 and 3 Mrs R. Marwick, Tou; 2 Miss Edna Clouston, Tou. Oven Scones (treacle) – 1 Mrs Shearer. Drop Scones – 1 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness; 2 Mrs Craigie, Corse. Pancakes – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson. Fruit Cake – 1 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs Craigie. Sultana Cake – 1 Mrs T. Sinclair, 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 3 Miss P. Corsie. Madeira Cake – 1 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs Shearer. Gingerbread – 1 and 3 Mrs Shearer, 2 Miss Corsie. Sponge Sandwich – 1 Miss E. Donaldson. Victoria Sandwich – 1 Mrs Shearer, 2 Mrs Grieve, 3 Miss Edna Clouston. Scotch Bun – 1 Mrs T. Sinclair, 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 3 Mrs Shearer. Fruit Tart – 1 and 2 Mrs Shearer. Cheese Cakes – 1 and 2 Mrs Shearer, 3 Miss Gibson, Faraclett. Queen Cakes – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Cormack. Rock Cakes – 1 and 3 Miss Hourie, Post Office, 2 Miss Gibson. Melting Moments – 1, 2 and 3 Miss Corsie. Doughnuts – 1 and 3 Mrs Hourie, 2 Miss C. Donaldson. Short-bread (thick) – 1 Mrs Cormack, 2 Mrs Craigie, 3 Miss Mabel Grieve. Short bread (thin) – 1 Miss Edna Clouston, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson.


1949 August 23 Orkney Herald

NEW BOOK REVIEW

“EYNHALLOW: THE HOLY ISLAND OF THE ORKNEYS,”
by John Mooney. (Mackintosh, Kirkwall, 10/6).

Eynhallow, the tiny island lying between Evie and Rousay “with a roaring roost on every side,” might claim to be the most delightful spot in Orkney. Certainly the name itself is the most beautiful of all Orkney place-names. Anyone coming on it for the first time is bound to feel its enchantment, even as the monks of an older day felt it, and perhaps too long for information about a place where sweetness and ferocity are so memorably blended.

As a matter of fact, his wants will be quickly satisfied, for Mr John Mooney’s exhaustive book on the island, of which this is the second edition, first appeared in 1923. Here legend and history are woven into a most satisfying texture, and the book is rendered more exciting by one or two of the bold speculations which make Mr Mooney outstanding among Orkney historians. His brilliant research into the historical ownership of St Magnus Cathedral is known to everyone, and his conclusions are more or less accepted as proven.

In the case of the Eynhallow monastery, which Mr Mooney accepts as being Cistercian, his conclusions are still open to doubt, especially since the Report of the Ancient Monuments Commission (1946) took the side of Mr Mooney’s critics in the matter. Time, however, may well uphold the conclusions of the local historian. Whatever emerges Mr Mooney’s work in his chosen sphere make him, without doubt, the Sherlock Holmes of Orkney history.

In this new edition of the work, Mr Mooney defends his conclusions of 1923 in two additional chapters of considerable force and eloquence.

St Magnus, the Cathedral, Eynhallow – the very names breathe of place and sanctity. It was a noble life’s work to seek to elucidate the mystery abiding in the heart of each, and only Mr Mooney of modern writers could have done it. His success lies in the fact that though the mystery remains (and who would have it scattered?) our holy men and our holy places are better known to Orcadians than ever they were before. – G.M.B.


1949 September 6 Orkney Herald

EVIE – DRY CONDITIONS. – There is still a shortage of water in this district. Burns have dried up again and springs are not yielding, many households having to carry their water supplies from a distance.

FISHING. – Lobster fishers are still busy. They have had to contend with heavy seas this season which has baulked their efforts to make a profitable fishing. There have been some catches of haddocks. Sillocks are now on the shore grounds and have ousted the cuithes.

HARVEST OPENING. – The countryside has been gradually changing colour with the approach of maturity, and various signs of autumn are in evidence all round. The recent dry, warm weather spell has hastened the ripening of the grain fields and most of the earlier sown patches have fallen to the reaper. While there are several good heavy crops, there are many light and short, and fodder is not likely to be abundant.


1949 October 18 Orkney Herald

EVIE – PAGEANTRY OF THE SKY. – Many here witnessed the spectacular display of the Aurora last Saturday night over the southern and eastern sky. Near midnight the starry dome was brilliantly lit up by long streamers darting and shooting from the horizon to the Zenith. The play was fascinating to watch. A fragment of moon ascenting from behind the Rousay hills shone with great effect, enhancing the splendour of the show.

HARVEST ENDING. – The toils of a protracted harvest are about ended at last, all the grain crops having now been in-gathered. Huge stacks studded round the farm steadings is a fine sight. In a few cases, from long standing on the fields, the grain and straw have been damaged and given cause for some complaint, but on the whole the harvest has been fairly good. Potato-lifting is now going on apace.  


1949 October 27 The Scotsman

MORE CASES OF FOWL PEST IN ORKNEY. – Two more cases of fowl pest involving the destruction of 400 hens have been confirmed in Orkney on the islands of Rousay and Eday. This brings the total number of cases confirmed in Orkney to 21 and the total number of birds destroyed to 7000.


1952 May 26 Aberdeen Evening Express

TRAWLER STILL FIRM ON ROCKS. – The Aberdeen trawler Unitia is still firmly wedged on a shelf of rock in Rousay Sound, Orkney. The vessel went aground at 10 p.m. on Saturday. Despite attempts by Stromness lifeboat to tow her off and fresh attempts made to-day by the island steamers, Earl Sigurd and Earl Thorfinn, the Unitia has not moved. The lifeboat returned to base this morning after a thirty-hour vigil. It is feared that as attempts to tow the vessel by two steamers have failed, the Unitia may be stranded until the next spring tides around June 10. The alternative is to lighten the vessel if she is to be freed now. The crew members are still aboard their ship. They are in no danger and as the vessel is close inshore they can be taken off whenever necessary by motor boat.


1954 May 11 Aberdeen Evening Express

4-MIN. MILE? IN LESS IF I HAD TAKEN OFF JACKET – Minister

“The four-minute mile? I did it fifty-two years ago in the Orkneys wearing my ordinary suit and shoes – and thought nothing of it!”

The speaker, was the Rev. Alexander Spark (71), 13 Dundonald Road, Glasgow. Are you sure about the distance? he was asked.

“Certain of it. Accompanied by my younger brother I ran between one mile post and another on the island of Rousay. I timed myself with my old iron-clad watch that never lost a moment in twenty years.”

“And I am quite sure,” he added, “that I could have done it in less than four minutes if I had taken my jacket off and really tried.”

Was he a trained athlete? – No.

“I never consciously trained in my life,” replied Mr Spark. “The life we young lads led in those days made us supple and fit – we didn’t need any scientific training.”

Mr Spark, who has been a Church of Scotland minister in Glasgow and Edinburgh for forty years, entered the feat in his diary at the time and only looked up the entry after he had read accounts last week of Roger Bannister’s record-breaking mile.

“I was nineteen at the time and a student at Edinburgh University,” he said. “I had gone back to the Orkneys for a holiday – to the place where my father was parish minister for thirty years.

I don’t know why I started the race, I suppose it must have been high spirits, but I felt none the worse afterwards.

“When I was a boy at school I used to race the schoolmaster along the mile between the schoolhouse and my father’s manse. He had his cycle, one of the early models, and I ran. He never passed me until we reached a slope running to the manse.”


1958 April 7 Northern Daily Mail

GROUNDED LIFEBOAT REFLOATED. – Stromness lifeboat was refloated today after being aground all night off the Evie Pier. The lifeboat was launched last night when flares were reported to have been seen between Costa Head and the north coast of Rousay. While searching in the area of Eynhallow Sound one of the crew, a man named Simpson, was taken seriously ill and the lifeboat had to turn back. Mr. Simpson was taken off by a small boat and taken to the East Bank Hospital, Kirkwall. The lifeboat, which was grounded on a sandbank on the falling tide, returned to Stromness after being refloated. Search parties at Rousay searched along the coast but found nothing.


1966 December 15 Aberdeen Press & Journal

ANOTHER ORKNEY ISLE SWITCHED ON. – Electricity reached the island of Rousay yesterday, making power and light available to 82 more Orkney premises. The switch-on ceremony was performed by Dr Helen Firth, the island’s county councillor, who expressed the hope that other outer isles in Orkney would soon be in the same position. This development required the construction of 33 miles of overhead lines, including nine miles of 33.000-volt transmission line on Orkney mainland, and a one and half mile submarine cable from the mainland to Rousay. The cable was laid in 1965 at the same time as the cable for Shapinsay, the first of Orkney’s outer isles to get power.


1969 June 30 Aberdeen Press & Journal

FAMILY LINK WITH ISLES P.O. ENDS. – In a further step towards a completely automatic telephone network for Orkney, four manual exchanges – at Rousay, Egilsay, Wasbister and Wyre – have been replaced by one automatic exchange on Rousay.

With the closure of Wasbister Exchange, a life-long association with Wasbister Post Office has come to an end for the Clouston family. Mr J. Clouston, sub-post-master for nearly 24 years, succeeded his father who was appointed to the post in 1898.

The old exchange on Rousay was opened in 1928 with two subscribers. Mr James Gibson, sub-postmaster for nearly eight years – he also operated the exchange – is leaving the island to take up a post as a postal and telegraph officer at the Head Post Office, Aberdeen.

Egilsay exchange was opened in 1948 and Wyre in 1953. Operator at Egilsay was Mrs J. Craigie and at Wyre Mr C. Craigie (no relation).

Operator service for the three islands is being provided by Kirkwall Exchange. It is hoped to provide automatic service and subscriber trunk dialling for Kirkwall subscribers late next year.

About the same time, STD will be provided at 14 of the 15 small automatic exchanges in the Orkney network. The remaining seven manual exchanges in the islands are programmed for conversion to automatic working by 1973.


1969 July 8 Aberdeen Press & Journal

BACK FOR DIG ON ROUSAY. – A party of 10 Norwegians from Oslo and Bergen universities have arrived in Orkney to continue their excavation of sites on the island of Rousay. The party, headed by Mrs Sigrid H. Kaland, last year uncovered on Rousay the grave of a Viking chieftain and found evidence of human sacrifice.


1969 September 13 Aberdeen Press & Journal

ISLANDERS’ AIR TRIP – TO SHOP IN CITY. – It was a day to remember for five Orcadians as they mingled with crowds in the busy Aberdeen streets…..and a moving experience for three who had never left the islands. For yesterday they made a special trip from their home in Rousay to the city. Taking a taxi for a shopping spree in Aberdeen does not mean much to those who live in the North-east – but the islanders took an air taxi to do just that!

They are the family group of Mrs Kathleen Harcus, widow, Burrian; her brother Mr David Gibson (45) and wife Edith, Hullion; Mrs Gibson’s nephew Sinclair Taylor (21) and her brother Mr Alfred Gibson (50), both farmers from Avelshay.

And there won’t be much shopping done in the little shop at Hullion, Rousay, this morning, for the customers will be too busy asking Mr and Mrs David Gibson all about the trip.

With depopulation, Rousay is inclined to have just one of everything these days – school, post office (in a grocer’s shop) and pub, The population is about 170 – and the party saw more than that the first time they crossed a busy city junction.

From the moment they flew into Aberdeen Airport in a twin-engine Piper Aztec of Loganair they were determined to see as much as possible of city life.

The plane was piloted from Kirkwall by Mr Andy Alsop, and the return trip cost the five £12 each. But they thought the charter well worthwhile.

Mr and Mrs Gibson and Mr Alfred Gibson have never been in a train, never flown, and it was their first time on the mainland.

Traffic lights proved a novelty to the party. But Mrs Gibson’s first impression of Aberdeen was not the granite buildings or the size of the place, but the apparent lack of policemen! “We don’t have any in Rousay – we don’t need them – but there seems to be one at every corner in Kirkwall,” she said.

It was an early start for the five to get a boat to the main island and a quick car trip to Kirkwall to catch their plane. They were met at Aberdeen Airport by Mr R. D. Anderson, manager of an Aberdeen firm of printers and stationers, who has known Mr and Mrs Gibson through business for many years, but met them for the first time only two days before the trip.

A highlight of the trip to Aberdeen for Mrs Harcus and Mrs Gibson was, of course, “a look round the shops.” “It’s mainly clothing we want,” said Mrs Harcus, “but neighbours have asked us to get them buttons, ribbons and wool we cannot get at home. The shops are good, but Kirkwall has a good shopping centre too.”

While the women were shopping, Mr David Gibson and Mr Alfred Gibson decided to look up an old friend – Mr Jim Gibson, who was postmaster at Rousay and is now a postal and telegraph officer at the George Street branch of Aberdeen Post Office.

Mr Gibson, a distant relative of the men, moved with his family to Aberdeen earlier this year when the telephones at Rousay became automatic.

After their exciting day in the city the party, tired but happy, left by plane for the journey home…..with plenty to tell their friends in Rousay.


[That ends my research for any and every mention of Rousay in newsprint.
In the latter years the island was hardly mentioned at all,
hence including stories and glimpses into the Orcadian
way of life from slightly further afield.
]


Categories
In Print

Newsprint – 1948

1948 January 13 Orkney Herald

“FERGUSON” FIGURES. – One hundred and fifty-three Ferguson tractors were landed in Orkney during 1947, including ten which were shipped north to Shetland. To meet world-wide demand on this scale production is being stepped up at Ferguson’s huge Coventry factory. Last month the 20,000th tractor came off the production lines there. Output was then 230 tractors per day. Ferguson’s have told their Orkney distributors, Messrs John Scarth, Kirkwall, that they aim at turning out 500 tractors per day.  


1948 January 20 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY

There is no surer way to make two Orkneymen fall a-fighting than to open, quite innocently, a discussion about Orkney’s supreme beauty spot – the place in all the islands where one would never tire of living.

There are so many places which have a claim to the title, that strife is inevitable. This Tuesday I intend to set a hornet’s nest buzzing about my ears by opening up this vexed question. In my own mind I have no doubt at all about the one place in Orkney that, for beauty, is head and shoulders above all the rest.

But first let us dispose, gently and with infinite caution, of a few claimants.

I will drive Kirkwall people into a raging fury at the very outset by stating categorically that the City and Royal Burgh does not stand a ghost of a chance.

I grant you that, apart from beauty, there is a compelling attraction about Kirkwall. The stones exhale the atmosphere of history. The grey houses have seen pageantry, grandeur, and tragedy. To take one step from Broad Street into the courtyard of Tankerness House is to enter a different world of quiet and enchantment. Kirkwall has, too, the Cathedral, the fairest diadem in Orkney’s crown. But take it away, and Kirkwall is nothing much – a cluster of houses that remember many things, a grey shrinking lagoon whose shores are lined with filthy machine shops and garages.

Forward now, Kirkwallians, in defence of your city!

Turning next to the North Isles, we discover that one island, Westray, makes no bones about it – she is the nonpareil, the “Queen of the Isles.” Never having been in Westray, I cannot judge. But I am amazed that the Rousay folk have nothing to say in retaliation – they who live on one of Britain’s loveliest Islands. In Rousay they have everything – history, pre-history, hills, plains, lochs, fertility (both human and earthy) and character. The most dramatic episode in the whole “Saga” – the kidnapping of the gentle Earl Paul by the scoundrally Viking Sweyn Asleifsson – happened on a Rousay beach. I do not know a more beautiful thing in all Orkney than the white road that climbs from Wasbister to Sourin along the side of Kierfea Hill. Below, the rabbit-riddled fields slope steeply into Westray Firth; above, the heather-clad hill, alive with birds’ wings on a summer afternoon, towers steeply upwards. The pensive sound of the sea is everywhere. One of my most precious memories is jolting along this road, one August day five years ago, in a farm cart. It was sunny and warm. Rabbits scuttled away in all directions at our approach, with a flash of white tail. Once the horse stumbled on the uneven road, and I went backwards with a clatter into the empty cart…. A trivial memory, you think: yet to me a very precious one so much so, that I think he who puts forward Rousay’s claim to be the Garden of Orkney is certainly not over-bold.

How space runs out. Turning to the South Isles, the very name of Hoy fills the entire perspective. From the scenic point of view no other island, except Rousay, can touch it. Yet I would say that Hoy excels, not so much in beauty as in a starkness and grandeur which haunt the memory primitively and powerfully. Do you like cliffs that rear half-way up the vault of heaven, whose enormous bases defy the Atlantic’s December fury? Do you really care for profound dark valleys and black hillsides of frightful solitude? If so, what other place is Hoy’s equal?

I suspect, however, that most of us are impressed by the natural savagery of this island rather than by its beauty. It has its loveliness, too. I once got into trouble for writing, in this “Diary,” that Rackwick was a place of utter enchantment. I refuse to recant. On a June morning, arriving here in this fertile valley girded with mountains, ringing with the songs of half-a-dozen larks, the air fragrant with the scent of wild flowers, it is a strong heart that can resist the allure of this strange wild place.

And now I note with regret that my space has almost run out. I had intended to mention so many places – Eynhallow, Birsay, Binscarth, Skaill. They all must bide till another time.

The best place, then? I suppose no-one will go past the place of his birth. I certainly won’t. There is a little town in the south-west corner of Hrossey, with a green hill behind it and in front, a placid harbour with two islands. The crazy street twists along for a mile up and down like a switchback. It isn’t old at all, only a matter of 250 years. The small boys born in it can sail boats almost before they can walk. They can catch fish through their bedroom windows. The harbour was once full of the red sails of the fishing fleets. Now it is empty, and the streets are almost empty. The storms of winter blind the window-panes with scalding spray. In summer the sun splashes the piers and steeples with colour. Every man is independent and proud. If your neighbour knows all your business, which he does, he will also never spare himself to help you in times of adversity. This is the place I was born in, and it is for me the most beautiful place in the whole of Orkney. – ISLANDMAN. [Islandman was, of course, George Mackay Brown]


1948 February 3 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FAIRY? – In a small place like Orkney there doesn’t seem much chance of achieving anything spectacular which will make the headlines ring in the ” Daily Express.”

I mean, our islands are so compact that you can’t help achieving anything that is worth while achieving – like getting to know every island and the characteristics of its folk, climbing the highest hills and finding the nests of every wild bird, and reading everything that is to be known about our ancient home, all in the span of a lifetime.

It sounds simple. But if you come to consider, you’ll find (like me) that there are enormous yawning gaps in your Orkney education. Have you (for example) watched a hen harrier coming down on her nest? Have you seen the fairies or the trowes, and the rings where they dance? Have you seen Alexander Graham’s signature? Have you heard a blackbird in Binscarth Plantation on a July evening?

These are all vital parts of Orkney experience and Orkney life. I was, the other evening, making a brief census of my own Orkney experiences, and those which, so far, have passed me by – and I got a shock, I can tell you!

I have always had a burning desire to see the Ba’ in Kirkwall on New Year’s Day, but for several reasons have never managed to make it. But if I’m spared, surely, some year, I’ll manage. But take part in the play? No thank you, even if you pressed a £5 note into my hand!

I confess with shame that I have never crawled to the top of the Hoy Ward Hill, nor the Orphir Ward Hill, nor even to the top of Wideford to see the living map of Orkney spread out beneath. If anyone in a helicopter would transport me to the summits of any of these places, I should be obliged: but I won’t climb. The nearest to Heaven I’ve been was the top of Brinkie’s Brae – but I’ve done that several times, and always thought the climb worth while. I must go back again some day next summer.

Seeing the midsummer sun rise over the Brodgar Ring sounds a delightful experience; not that the spectacle would convey much to me in the archaeological sense, for, looked at in that way, old stones leave me cold. It’s not so many years ago that some Stromness gentlemen made, two or three years running, pilgrimages to Brodgar to measure the angle of the sun’s uprising, etc. But all they saw, behind dense thick-piled clouds, was dawn’s murky glimmer. Never once had a cloudless East rewarded them: they had left their cosy beds in vain.

As for having visited every island in our group, here again I must return a negative answer. All the North Isles, but Rousay (the Queen of them all, I believe) have been guiltless of harbouring me, even for a few careless hours….. This ignorance of the North Isles is a frightful gap. I shall, if I am spared, remedy the mistake next summer.

I have walked dryshod from Holm to South Ronaldshay, via Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, and Burray; and I have seen that other modern Orkney marvel, the Italian prisoners’ Chapel, which, in the long run, is even more perdurable and significant than the Churchill Causeway itself. How glad I was to read, the other day, that those blockships are going to be broken up for scrap. I think they were the most hideous things in all Orkney. The Holm people will feel a weight lifted off their souls when the wrecks finally vanish.

There is one experience which I resolutely intend to gain before I get the Old Age Pension, and that is to see the lost island of Heather Bleather, which one or two people claim to have seen lately. But not only do I want to see it: I want to walk up its beach and talk with the shy seal-folk; and perhaps, if I like conditions well enough, stay there for ever….. Heather Bleather is perhaps a vain ambition. I would give a lot to walk round Eynhallow, though.

I should like to see fairies dancing in moonlight. An uncle of mine who was “fey” and saw ghosts and trolls with the utmost facility, told me it is a mistake to imagine that fairies are tiny wisps of things the size of your finger. Not at all: they are at least half the size of a grown man. One day a fairy came in through his bedroom window, where he was lying wide awake. It was a summer morning, and early. The fairy, who was a male, showed no fright at all. He lifted my uncle’s watch and held it to his ear, entranced with the ticking of it….. After a time he gravely vaulted over the window sill and disappeared. W. B. Yeats and Hugh Miller both believe in fairies. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I saw one myself some day. I hope I do.

I should also like to drink a glass of the Heather ale, which filled people with such divine happiness that coming back to earth again was like being dragged back through the portals of Hell. Alas! the secret of this delightful brew vanished with the Picts.

Or did it? Sometimes, tasting ale brewed in Birsay, and feeling the blood singing in my veins, I very much doubt whether that precious recipe was lost at all. – ISLANDMAN.


1948 February 10 Orkney Herald

DEATH OF ORCADIAN IN WINNIPEG. – Rev. W. R. Wood, 254 Winchester Street, St James, Winnipeg, died on Thursday morning, December 11, 1947, in a hospital at Portage in Prairie, from injuries received on Sunday, December 7, when he fell down the basement stairs of a house in which he was visiting at Poplar Point.

Mr Wood was born [at Rusness] in the island of Wyre in 1874. He was the only son of the late John and Margaret (Robertson) Wood. He came to Canada in 1887 and was educated for the ministry in Knox College, Toronto, Ontario.

He was inducted in 1903 and preached in Ontario the first few years before going West to Manitoba.

He was keenly interested in provincial affairs and served two years in the Manitoba legislature. He was also at one time chairman and director of the Manitoba Prohibition Alliance.

Mr Wood was married in 1904 to Margaret Workman of Ontario, who has been a faithful helpmeet in all his various assignments, and is now left alone to mourn his sudden passing. Their only daughter Rhoda died in October 1947, and their only son Keith was killed over Belgium when serving with the R.C.A.F. in 1943.

Mr Wood was a nephew of the late Mr Hugh Robertson of [South Tofts] Egilshay.     


1948 April 16 The Scotsman

ORKNEY – The Island Estate of TRUMLAND & WESTNESS, ROUSAY, ORKNEY (within daily reach of London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, by air service.) – Over 7000 acres including several excellent farms and other holdings; principal residence with 4 reception, 7 family bedrooms, 5 bathrooms; electricity, central heating; charming secondary residence, also modernised; good dogging moor yielding a varied bag of grouse, woodcock, numerous snipe, wild duck, golden plover, &c., 3 capital trout lochs with exceptional records of catches; several good cottages; perimeter county road. Further details and sporting records from the Solicitors, W. & F. HALDANE, W.S., 4 North Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, and the agents, JOHN D. WOOD & CO., 23 Berkeley Square, London, W.1.


1948 March 23 Orkney Herald

WILD WEATHER. – A week-end of gales culminated in a protracted thunder storm on Sunday night. Some West Mainland telephone circuits were affected for a short time. A trawler in the Pentland Firth radioed that seas had swept away her life-raft and fish pounds. A Danish ship six miles off Start Point, Sanday, signalled that her engines had broken down, but she was making her own repairs.


1948 April 6 Orkney Herald

THE WEATHER. – March, which came in “like a lamb” with fine mild weather, went out “like a lion” with the worst easterly storm of wind and rain of the winter. Some of our local weather experts were saying that the barometer last Thursday was as low as it has been for 53 years.

TO INSPECT ORKNEY PIERS. – Members of the Transport Group of the Highlands and Islands Advisory Panel (of which Mr Alex. Calder, Orkney County Convener, is a member) are to inspect various Orkney piers this week.

They are arriving in Orkney on Friday and will visit Shapinsay, Egilsay, Rousay, Eday, Papa Westray, South Ronaldshay and Graemsay. County Councillors of each area will meet and accompany them.

The Panel has already strongly urged high percentage grants for piers at Papa Westray and North Ronaldshay. At a short meeting of members of the panel and County Council representatives in Kirkwall the questions of a jetty at Wyre and of agricultural roads will be raised.


1948 May 11 Orkney Herald

SUMMER. – The first “Picky-ternos” of the year were seen over Kirkwall on Thursday – a few days ahead of schedule, a local observer avers. An Eday correspondent reports hearing Orkney’s cuckoo, the corncrake, on 29th April, and suggests that the advanced stage of the new pastures, its natural camouflage, is at least partly responsible for its early arrival.


1948 May 18 Orkney Herald

EVIE – FROM FOOD TO FUEL. – Finished with sowing – except the turnips – and the food crops assured, the farmers have moved from the fields to the moors to prepare for winter fuel, and peat-cutting is now in full swing. Weather conditions are very suitable at present for curing the turves, but the hill isn’t as dry as at this time last year. The urge for peats is greater than ever, and despite the difficulties in obtaining labour and transport everybody is making an effort to have a peat stack.

[Here we are – into the sixth month of the year, and in the eyes of the now ten-page “Orkney Herald” Rousay does not exist! Not a single mention, while every other island and mainland parish are given weekly columns galore to tell their tales. Thank goodness for our neighbouring Evie correspondent, on whom I frequently fall back on to tell us what life was like – just across Eynhallow Sound…..]


1948 June 1 Orkney Herald

EVIE – “WINTER LINGERS IN THE LAP OF MAY.” – The summer spell gave place to winter conditions during the past week – the last of May – and this district got a big share of the heavy showers of hail, sleet and cold rain which swept the country-side. The parched fields were copiously watered but night frosts have checked growth.

FARM. – Pastures look fresh and green, and the braird, though in some cases showing signs of the ravages of grub, appears on the whole satisfactory, and should stock up rapidly now if bright warm weather ensue. The turnip fields have been sown under favourable conditions, and the main potato crops have broken ground.

ISLAND DIARY – WHAT’S IN A NAME. – “What’s in a Name?” said William Shakespeare with a superb gesture. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet!” Yet it would take and even greater genius than William Shakespeare to give a more lovely, a more appropriate name to that particular flower.

Think Well Proud Parents. – The truth, of course, is that names are very important indeed. With young children, especially, the name they bear must have a subtle, yet none the less definite, effect on their entire lives. Think how dreadful it would be if your parents had called you Hercules or Clarence. Nature usually has its revenge, and will delight in moulding a pansy in the first instance, and a heavyweight boxer in the second. So the horror is intensified.

It behoves every responsible citizen who intends to become a parent, to take a short course in the naming of children. There has been a marked tendency lately to bestow on innocent children flowery and ridiculous names, like Yvonne, Claribella, Montgomery.

In the choosing of names nowadays, it is the custom to consult the Film Stars’ Annual; just as our grand-fathers consulted the Old Testament. There are still plenty of old Orkney-men going around with venerable names culled from the pages of the sacred books of the Jews. It’s not so long since every parish had its Zechariah, Abner, Josiah, Benjamin; which was almost as odd as the present day custom of film star nomenclature. The Old Testament, however, has some noble and lovely names – Adam, Ruth, David, Joseph – which will surely never become odd or old-fashioned.

Avoid Frills! – Taken all in all, however, I must say how the plain perennial names appeal to me, and give a certain pace and nobility to the wearer, while the new-fangled ones merely succeed in making young children feel humiliated and odd. There is nothing to be ashamed of, but much to be proud of, in such strong and time-honoured names as John, William, James, Peter, Robert, Thomas. Girls’ names, at their plainest and best, have a delicate graciousness in the mere sound of them, like those Elizabethan madrigals we don’t hear often enough on the wireless. Margaret, Anne, Elizabeth – what lovely textures of sound! And Mary, because of its universality and because of the age-old associations that cluster thickly about it, is the most beautiful of all.

Sweet Symphonies. – Poets can always be trusted in those matters. Dante Gabriel Rosetti, in a stanza from his great poem “The Blessed Damozel,” describes the five hand maidens of Our Lady in Heaven, and says their names – Cecily, Gertrude, Magdalen, Margaret and Rosalys are “five sweet symphonies.”

Up to now Orcadians have been peculiarly insensitive to the splendidly virile names that have come down to us in the Norse Sagas. Here and there in the islands one comes upon a boy called Rognvald (though it is as likely to be spelled Ronald as not). It is, too, a curious and disappointing fact that not one church throughout the length and breadth of Orkney is called St Rognvald’s.

Occasionally too one hears of a Magnus – but there are scores of Orkney boys being born every year who would live to be proud of such a name, rather than the Clarks, Montagues and Adolphuses that will inevitably be inflicted on them. Sigurd, Sweyn, Erlend, Olaf, Einar, seem to me to be fine names for any Orkney boy. For girls’ names the northern lands are no worse off. Names like Ingibiorg, Ingi, Thora, Freya, Ragnhilda are also symphonies – Sibelian symphonies in contrast to the Mozartian samples quoted by Rossetti.

The Art of Naming. – There are encouraging signs that Orcadians are yearly becoming more conscious and appreciative of the rich heritage of names that has come down to us in our history. Place-names are coming in for a good deal of attention. Professor Jacobsen’s monumental work appealed more to the intelligentsia of the day; but a book like Dr Hugh Marwick’s recent “Place Names of Rousay” aroused widespread curiosity among lay readers, and cannot but have a good effect.

Language has become so impoverished in these latter days that when we build our houses, we are as liable as not to give them pallid flabby names like “Seaview,” “Sunnybrae,” “Hillside.” (I am not trying to insult anyone, but am merely giving a few general examples of this most lamentable deterioration in the art of place-naming). Thanks to scholars like Dr Marwick, the tide is now beginning to flow in the opposite direction.

I begin to have visions of a not-too-distant tomorrow in Orkney, when men and women with proud beautiful names like Rognvald and Sigurd and Ingi and Thora refer to Waas (instead of Walls), Kirkwa (instead of Kirkwall), Rininsey (instead of North Ronaldsay), Hrossey (instead of Pomona or Mainland).

For, in spite of Shakespeare, we take our characters in great part from the names we wear. – ISLANDMAN


1948 June 8 Orkney Herald

THE ORKNEY DRY-STONE DYKE. – Improvement schemes under the Hill Farming Act show as a constantly recurring item – the repair of fences. It is a great pity that so many miles of dry-stone dykes are now becoming derelict and that the skilled labour is not there for the rebuilding.

A good stone dyke can never be fully replaced by a stob and wire fence, though the latter is cheaper in primary cost and much more quickly erected if stobs and wire can be got. The one thing that they have in common is that they are stockproof, but the dyke can also be made rabbit proof, and its chief virtue is that it provides shelter at all seasons.

A dry-stone dyke requires no imported material – it cannot be burned – and, except on moss, it drains itself. It is the only possible fence on rocky ground.

Unfortunately fences and dykes suffer from careless treatment by some unthinking townsfolk, who, when they go into the country, make a practice of defacing them.

In the House of Lords debate on National Parks one speaker proposed that there should be a Country Code to encourage decent conduct in the countryside, just as the Highway Code does on the roads. Most Orkney farmers will say “amen” to this.


1948 June 22 Orkney Herald

OLD MAN OF HOY: A REASSURANCE. – An anxious report circulated all over Orkney last week that the Old Man of Hoy had toppled into the sea. “Orkney Herald” correspondents, and the Kirkwall office, were bombarded with anxious enquiries. One man said he had definitely read of the mishap in the “Press and Journal.”

The most worried Orcadians of all were the schoolboys. We were able to reassure them, for the most part. But several persons, anxious to make absolutely certain, sailed round the Kame of Hoy to see the Old Man still on his feet, and seemingly good for many more thousands of years. As if to scotch the appalling rumour finally, the “Picture Post” next day carried on its middle page a beautiful coloured photograph of Orkney’s most famous landmark.

We are unable to say how this astounding rumour took shape, except through carelessness in reading. A further rumour, that a certain local person won £10,000 in a football pool, seems to have had its origin in a like source. It is perhaps needless to say that football pools finished for the season last April.

[The truth of the matter was the fact that George Mackay Brown, in his role as ‘Islandman’ the previous week, was ‘indulging in wishful fantasies, and writing up a story, with flaming headlines, that any hack in the wide world would be glad to cover. How, on opening your “Herald” some Tuesday morning, would the following strike you? – Old Man of Hoy In the Sea…..” He then went on to relate how the Old Man of Hoy had collapsed into the sea in a ‘titanic smother of foam’, and that ‘the giant that had warred with heaven for thousands of years of storm and tempest, had finally given in…..’ ‘Fake news’, as we would call it today!]


1948 July 27 Orkney Herald

EVENING TRIP. – The evening trip – held by 2nd Orkney Wolf Cub Pack – to Rousay on Wednesday (first of the summer) proved a great success, a full complement of 200 enjoying every minute aboard s.s. Earl Sigurd, even though the weather was foggy and a heavy drizzle fell much of the time.

Mrs Hibbert and Mrs Harrold had travelled to Rousay previously by post-boat from Evie and had the tea arrangements all ready.

The pier store had been cleared and served as a restaurant while a jolly dance was held in Trumland barn to music by the Rousay band and Jim Linklater (guitar) and Bruce Dunnet (accordion).

During the trip Kirkwall Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band enlivened proceedings with stirring pipe music.

The ice-cream aboard found many eager patrons – young and old.

Cub parents who helped Cubmaster E. J. Hendry make the do a success (proceeds will go towards financing the Cubs’ Camp next month) were: – Mrs D. Chalmers, Mrs T. Heddle, Mrs J. Linklater, Mrs D. Horne, Mrs J. Herdman, Mrs T. Sclater, Mrs Barr,  Mrs Logie, Mrs J. Mowat, Messrs T. Sclater, J. Linklater, D. Chalmers and J. Herdman.

Miss Logie, Rousay, also helped, and the cubmaster and parents take this opportunity of thanking all those kind Rousay folk who went out of their way to do everything possible for the success of the function.


1948 August 17 Orkney Herald

MORE CATTLE AT ROUSAY. – A section for poultry was an innovation at Rousay Agricultural Society’s Show last Tuesday, and a unique item at this island show is the sheep dog race.

In the main sections of the show, cattle entries were higher, and in common with most other places, horse entries were fewer. Quality of stock in all sections was good.

OFFICIALS: President – David Moar, Saviskaill; Vice-President – R. Johnston, Trumland; Secretary and Treasurer – Ronald Shearer, Curquoy; Committee – John Mainland, Westness; R. Mainland, Nearhouse; Wm. Corsie, Glebe; R. Seatter, Banks; James Lyon, Ervadale: W. Inkster, Woo; W. Alexander, Scockness; James Seator, Brendale; James Marwick, Innister; Fred Kirkness, Quoyostray. Judges – Mr Wood, Sunnybrae, St Ola and Mr Smith, Hall of Tankerness. Poultry – Mrs Corse, Poultry Instructress.

SECTION I – SHEEP: Pair H.B. Ewes – 1 Jas Seator, 2 and 3 R. Seatter. Pair H.B. Gimmers – R. Seatter. Pair H.B. Lambs – 1, 2, 3 and 5 R. Seatter, 4 Jas Seator.

SECTION II – CATTLE: Calved on or after 1st October – 1 D. Moar, 2 Mrs Inkster, 3 R. Seatter, 4 W. Grieve, 5 and 6 James Marwick. Calf calved on or after 1st March – 1 and 6 Mrs Inkster, 2 D. Moar, 3 and 5 R. Seatter, 4 Jas. Marwick. Cow in milk or in calf – 1 R. Johnston, 2 W. Alexander, 3 R. Grieve, 4 W Corsie, 5 Jas. Lyon, 6 Inkster Bros. Cow three-years-old – 1 and 2 W. Alexander, 3 R. Seatter, 4 Inkster Bros. Heifer in calf – 1 R. Johnston, 2 W. Alexander, 3 and 4 Hugh Mainland. Heifer, 2 years old – 1 W. Alexander, 2 and 4 Inkster Bros., 3 R. Johnston, 5 and 6 Jas. Seator. Heifer, one year old – 1 and 3 Thos. Donaldson, 2 Inkster Bros., 4 Jas. Lyon. Heifer, one year old, 1st March – 1 Inkster Bros., 2 W. Alexander, 3 R Seatter, 4 and 5 Thomas Donaldson. Steer, two years old – 1 Jas. Seator, 2, 3 and 5 Inkster Bros., 4 R. Seatter, 6 Jas. Lyon. Steer, one year old, 1st October – 1 and 4 Thomas Donaldson, 2 R. Seatter, 3 Jas. Lyon, 5 and 6 W. Alexander. Steer, one year old, 1st March – 1 and 3 Hugh Mainland, 2 Inkster Bros., 4 and 6 Thos Donaldson, 5 W. Alexander.

Cow in milk or in calf – 1 Mrs Mainland, Hurtiso, 2 W. Corsie, 3 R Johnston. Cow, three years old – 1 W. Alexander, 2 Jas. Lyon, 3 R. Seatter. Heifer in calf – 1 Thos. Donaldson, 2 R Johnston. Heifer, one year old, 1st October – Thomas Donaldson. Steer, three years old – 1 and 2 R. Seatter. Steer, two years old – 1 Jas. Lyon, 2 Jas. Seator.

Department of Agriculture special prize for best cow or heifer in calf or in milk – 1 and 2 R Johnston, 3 W. Alexander.

Dept, of Agriculture special prize for best ewe, any breed, which has raised a lamb this season – 1 R Seatter, 2 and 3 Jas. Seator.

Royal Highland Agricultural Society’s special prizes: Cattle – best one-year-old – 1 and 2 Thos. Donaldson, 3 Hugh Mainland; best calf – 1 D. Moar, 2 and 3 Mrs Inkster.

SECTION III – HORSES: Draught Mare, yeld – 1 R. Johnston. Filly, three years old – 1 R. Johnston. Draught Gelding – 1 R. Seatter, 2 Jas. Marwick, 3 James Lyon. Carron (any age) – 1 Thomas Donaldson, 2 R Grieve.

Dog Race – 1 W. Alexander, 2 R. Seatter, 3 W. Inkster. Silver cake basket presented by Messrs J. & W. Tait for best animal in Cattle Section – 1 R. Johnston; reserve, James Seator. Cup presented by Messrs P. C. Flett for best cow in yard – 1 R. Johnston; reserve, W. Alexander. Cup presented by Mr George Johnson, M.R.C.V.S. for best shorthorn cow – 1 Mrs Mainland; reserve, W. Alexander. Silver coffee pot, presented by Mr R. Johnston, Trumland for best four cattle drawn from any section – 1 W. Alexander; reserve, Inkster Bros. Cup, presented by Dr Patterson for best cog-fed calf – 1 and reserve, Mrs Inkster. Cake basket, presented by Mr A. Harcus, Knapper Cottage, for best pair yearlings showing their calves teeth – 1 Hugh Mainland; reserve, Inkster Bros. Cake basket, presented by Mr J. Lyon, Ervadale, for best calf. excluding pure-bred – 1 D. Moar; reserve, Mrs Inkster. Fruit stand, presented by Mr W. Inkster, Woo, for best pair in cattle sections, £30 rental and under – 1 Jas. Seator; reserve, Thomas Donaldson. Medal, presented by Mr A. Baikie for best butcher’s animal – 1 Inkster Bros.; reserve, R. Seatter. Medal, presented by Mr W. D. Reid for beat animal in cattle sections, £20 rental and under – 1 R. Grieve; reserve, Thomas Donaldson. Medal, presented by Mr Linklater for best animal in cattle sections, £12 rental and under – 1 R. Grieve; reserve, Charles Flett. Silver Cup, presented by the late Mr Grant, Trumland, for best animal in horse section – 1 and reserve, R. Johnston. E.P.N.S. vase, presented by Messrs Wm. Shearer, seed merchants, for best gelding – 1 R. Seatter; reserve, James Marwick. Bowl, presented by W. B. Firth. Finstown, for best fowl (to be won twice) – 1 and reserve. David Moar, Saviskaill.

POULTRY: Cocks – White Wyandotte – 1 Mrs Inkster, Woo. Hens – White Wyandotte – 1 and 3 D. Moar, 2 Mrs Inkster. Leghorn – 1 and 2 Mrs Harcus, Knapper Cottage. Cross – 1 and 2 D. Moar. Light Sussex – 1 and 2 D. Moar.

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QUALITY NOT QUANTITY AT SOURIN

There have been more entries at Rousay Horticultural and Industrial Show than there were at Sourin on Tuesday, but there have not been better.

Prize-winners were: –

INDUSTRIAL SECTION: Gent’s socks – 1 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs Hourie. Fair Isle knitting – gloves – 1 Mrs Grieve, Cruannie; jumper – 1 Mrs J. Grieve, Burnside, 2 Mrs Grieve, Cruannie; scarf – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Fancy knitting (not Fair Isle) – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs Inkster, Woo, 3 Mrs J. Grieve, Burnside. Luncheon set (crochet) – Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Handicrafts – 1 Mr Mickie, 2 Mrs J. Grieve, Burnside. School writing – 1 Ruth Miller, 2 Edna Clouston, 3 Anita Craigie.

VEGETABLES: Cabbage – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Cauliflower – 1 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Peas – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Beet (globe) – 1 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Carrots (long) – 1 Mrs Gibson, Lopness, 2 Mrs R. Shearer, 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Carrots (short) – 1 Mrs Gibson, Lopness, 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Turnips – Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Leeks – Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Rhubarb – Mrs W. Craigie, Corse. Shallots – I, 2 and 3 John Petrie. Onions – 1 and 2 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Parsley – 1 and Mrs Gibson, Lopness, 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Lettuce (cos) – 1 Mrs R. Shearer. Potatoes (round white) – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs R. Shearer. Potatoes (long white) – 1 and 2 Mrs Harcus, Knapper, 3 Ivor Donaldson. Potatoes (round coloured) – 1 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs R. Shearer.

FLOWERS: Gladiola – 1 Ivor Donaldson. Canterbury bells – 1 and 2 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Wild flowers – 1 Ronald Shearer, 2 Gladys Gibson. Tom Thumb – 1 Miss Eva Wylie. Marguerites – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Double Iceland poppies – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Sweet peas – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Stocks – 1 Mrs Hourie, 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Dahlias – Mrs H. I. Gibson. Marigolds – 1 Miss Eva Wylie, 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Corn-flowers – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Candytuft – 1 Mrs Hourie. Phlox – 1 and 2 Mrs Hourie. Tricolor Chrysanthemums – 1 and 2 Mrs Hourie; do., (double) – 1 Mrs Hourie. Shirley poppies – 1 and 3 Mrs Hourie, 2 Mrs R. Shearer. S.A. Daisy – 1 and 2 Mrs Hourie. Escholtzia – 1 Mrs Hourie. Sweet William – 1 Ivor Donaldson. Garden flowers – 1 Mrs Hourie. Roses – Ivor Donaldson.

BAKING: Bere bannocks – 1 Miss A. Gibson, Faraclett; 2 Mrs Gibson Faraclett; 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Oat bannocks (thick) – 1 and 2 Mrs R. Shearer, 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Oat bannocks (thin) – 1 and 2 Mrs Gibson, Lopness, 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Flour bannocks – 1 Miss E. Wylie, 2 Linda Grieve, 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Oven scones (flour) – 1 Mrs Harcus, Knapper, 2 Mrs R. Shearer. Oven scones (treacle) – 1 Mrs Gibson, Faraclett, 2 Miss A. Gibson. Drop scones – 1 Mrs Gibson, Lopness, 2 Mrs Harcus, Knapper, 3 Mrs Seator, Brendale. Fruit cake – 1 Mrs R. Shearer, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Sultana cake – 1 and 2 Linda Grieve, 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Madeira cake – 1 Mrs R. Shearer, 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 3 Mrs Seator, Brendale. Gingerbread – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs Harcus, 3 Mrs R. Shearer. Victoria sandwich – 1 Mrs R. Shearer, 2 Mrs Gibson, Faraclett. 3 Mabel Grieve. Scotch bun – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Fruit tart – 1 Mrs R. Shearer. Cheese cakes – 1 Mrs Gibson, Faraclett; 2 Miss A. Gibson; 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Queen cakes – 1 Mrs R. Shearer, 2 Mrs Gibson, Faraclett; 3 Mrs A. Gibson. Rock cakes – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Melting moments – 1 and 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson. Shortbread (thick) – 1 Mrs Hourie, 2 and 3 Mrs R. Shearer. Shortbread (thin) – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Miss Eva Wylie, 3 Miss A. Gibson.

DAIRY PRODUCE: 1 lb. salt butter – 1 Mrs R Shearer, 2 Mrs Cormack, 3 Mrs Alexander. 1 lb. fresh butter – 1 Mrs Alexander, 2 and 3 Mrs Cormack. Table butter – 1 and 3 Mrs R. Shearer, 2 Mrs Seator. 6 eggs (hen) – 1 Mrs H. I. Gibson, 2 Mrs R. Shearer, 3 Mrs Gibson, Broland. Sweet milk cheese – 1 and 3 Mrs Alexander, 2 Mrs H. I. Gibson.

PRESERVES: Rhubarb jam – 1 Mrs W. Craigie, 2 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Strawberry jam – 1 and 2 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Blackcurrant jam – 1 and 2 Mrs R. Shearer. Gooseberry jam – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs W. Craigie. Any mixed jam – 1 Mrs Gibson, Lopness. Plum jam – Mrs Inkster.

Judges were: Flowers and vegetables – Mr John Sclater; dairy produce – Mrs Corse; baking – Mr MacGillivray; industry – Miss Bain. Show secretary was Miss Peggy Corsie.


1948 September 7 Orkney Herald

56 YEARS POST OFFICE SERVICE. – On Wednesday last, the 1st Sept., Mrs Robina Cooper retired from her post as Sub-Postmistress of Egilshay, a position she had held with faithful diligence for the long period of over 46 years. Prior to her appointment as Sub-Postmistress she acted for 10 years as assistant to her father – Mr Thomas Craigie, who was Sub-Postmaster from 1881 to 1902. Mrs Cooper has thus given 56 years service to the Post Office, during which time there is no record of her absence from duty owing to illness.

She is succeeded as Sub-Post-mistress by her daughter – Miss Maggie Ann Cooper, who has acted as Postwoman on the island for over 19 years. It may also be mentioned that Mrs Cooper’s husband acted as Post-Boatman between Egilshay and Rousay for 17 years.

It is the earnest wish of all that Mrs Cooper may be long spared to enjoy her well earned retirement.

[Robina Grieve Craigie was the 5th oldest of eight children born to Thomas Craigie and Isabella Borwick, Mugly, Egilsay. Born on December 4th 1868, she was 23 years of age when she married James Craigie Cooper in 1891. He was the son of James Cooper, Pretty, Rousay, and Harriet Smeaton Craigie, Faro. Born on September 10th 1863, James Craigie Cooper was in his 65th year when he died in 1929. He and Robina had three daughters, Isabella, Maggie Ann, and Alexina.]


1948 September 21 Orkney Herald

EVIE – QUINOCTIAL GALES. – The worst gale of years, blowing a with gusts reaching a velocity of from 80 to 90 miles per hour, was experienced here last Friday. There was a good deal of damage done generally. Standing crops were badly shaken, causing a serious loss of grain. Gardens were completely wrecked and blackened. Henhouses were overturned and some carried away to the sea, where they were seen floating on the waves. A motor boat anchored off the Woodwick shore, belonging to Mr Hutchison, Laga, was sunk and still lies at the bottom. The wind continued to blow with violence over the Equinox – accompanied by cold showers of sleet.

FARM. – Harvesting has made good progress and now the greater part of the crop is in stook. Last Sunday would have been “Stooky Sunday” had the stooks not been overthrown by the gale. Whole fields were flattened. The cereal crops, in general, are heavier this year than last. Turnips and potatoes also give good promise.


1948 October 5 Orkney Herald

EGILSHAY IS ON THE PHONE – On Thursday, 23rd September, a telephone exchange was opened at Egilshay. The exchange, which is situated at Warsett Farm, is operated by Mrs Mary Craigie, who acts as exchange attendant. Eight private subscribers’ lines are connected to the exchange, together with the Public Call Office at Egilshay Sub Post Office. Provision of telephone facilities should prove a great boon to the farming community in this isolated area.


1948 October 12 Orkney Herald

EVIE – FISHING. – Lobster fishing is still prosecuted, but not with the summer ardour and regularity, less opportunity being granted by the shortening day and the frequency of gales. September was not a profitable month for the fisherman, prevalent high winds hindering them to get out to fish and turbulent seas destroying some of their gear. Sillocks are now on the inshore grounds and good catches have been landed.

HARVEST ENDS. – Last week improved weather conditions enabled the farmers to forge ahead with harvesting operations, and the most of the grain crop was gathered in and secured before the rain-storm of last Saturday. Despite the hostile nature of the elements during the ripening, comparatively little damage was done to the crops and few complaints have been heard. Potato-lifting is now in progress, and the main crop seems to be generally good.


1948 October 19 Orkney Herald

EVIE – FARM. – Owing to extremely wet weather conditions all through last week no work was possible on the land – so harvest lingers! Mostly all the potato crop is still in the earth and is now suffering badly in the water-logged soil except on high dry ground. The fields are covered with a beautiful fresh verdure which maintains good herbage for the cattle.

SEASON. – The summer has ended (what little there was), the day draws in, the night descends rapidly, the drought is past, it rains abundantly, the wind roars, the mud squelches on the pathway. Lamps to cheer are here – all heralds of the approach of winter.


1948 October 26 Orkney Herald

90 M.P.H. – A 90 miles-an-hour gust, recorded at Hatston Aerodrome just after 5 o’clock yesterday morning, climaxed a week of gales, which had held up sea and air transport and caused widespread minor damage.

No serious storm damage is reported, but from all quarters comes news of overturned stacks and hen-houses, flying slates and chimney-cans.

In the Willows, Kirkwall, a tree was uprooted, and in Holm Road a window was broken by an airborne sheet of corrugated iron. Worst traffic hold-up was on Friday, when wind blew strongly all day and topped 80 m.p.h. in the early afternoon.

There was no connection – sea or air – between Orkney and the mainland that day. All B.E.A. services were cancelled, and the mail steamer St Ola did not cross to Scrabster. The Earl Sigurd was unable to make her “round the North Isles” trip.

SHIPPING HOLD-UP. – The St Magnus arrived in Kirkwall bay on Friday morning, but had to anchor off the pier all day until the weather moderated.

The St Rognvald, which arrived from Aberdeen on Saturday morning, had to anchor in Kirkwall bay until 3 o’clock in the afternoon owing to lack of berthing space at the pier. Among the passengers held up was an army football team, 32nd Medium Regt., R.A. Their Army Cup game versus Orkney and Shetland Garrison had to be postponed from Saturday till yesterday, and then further postponed owing to bad weather until tomorrow afternoon.

Held up at Caithness on Friday was a party at variety artists due to give a series of concerts in Orkney. Friday night’s concert in Stromness had to be cancelled.

AIR SERVICES SUSPENDED. – Friday was the first day for many years at which all air transport to and from Orkney has had to be suspended. B.E.A. were able on the following day, however, to overtake all arrears of passenger, mail and newspaper traffic in addition to the normal traffic. Extra flights were made by Rapide aircraft, and a Dakota called at Kirkwall on Saturday.

High wind earlier in the week had twice caused the St Ola to land passengers and mails at Wick instead of Scrabster.

SHELTERING. – Battered by heavy seas, her lifeboat smashed, and running short of fuel, the 400-ton motor collier Resedene, on voyage from Seaham Harbour to Lerwick, had to turn back when off Fair Isle on Tuesday and run for shelter in Kirkwall harbour, where she remained throughout the week.

Also stormbound at Kirkwall was the Faroese ex-whaler Mary Margareth en route for Iceland with a cargo of coal. Several trawlers and fishing boats have sought shelter in Orkney waters.

WINTER. – As we went to press last night Orkney’s hills wore a thin mantle of snow – the first of the winter.


1948 November 9 Orkney Herald

A MAGNIFICENT AURORA. – Stromnessians witnessed a  magnificent display of the Aurora Borealis last Monday night, 1st November, between 10 p.m. and midnight. It must have been one of the best displays of recent years. The lower part of the northern sky was blotted out with immense dark clouds; but above them, and almost reaching the zenith, there were great undulating curtains of light.

It is commonly thought that bad weather follows a display of this kind. But the weather has been so atrocious lately that nobody discovered any difference. Indeed, the three days following this Aurora display almost persuaded us that the Peedie Summer had made a belated appearance.


Categories
Memories

Doll and Archer’s Waddeen

The following poem was posted by Morag Russell on ‘Orkney Reevlers,’
a Facebook forum for all interested in the Orcadian dialect,
and is reproduced here with her permission.

Morag says the poem was…..”Written by Minnie Russell for her sister Doll’s golden waddeen. There’s no many fokk left that wis there. I wis a babe in airms and Isobel o Testaquoy wid hiv been a young lass. Ian, the peedie boy that’s mentioned, wis Ian Flaws that ran The Shalder fae Tingwall tae Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre for many a year. The waddeen wis in November 1945 at Hawn in Wyre and the golden waddeen in Rousay, in 1995, at the Pier Restaurant, I think.”

Archer and Doll, photographed in the early 1940s before they were married.
[Courtesy of Orkney Library & Archive]

DOLL AND ARCHER’S WADDEEN

Hid’s fifty year ago the day that Doll and Archer wed!
Ah’m sure they think, as they look back, ‘My hoo the years hiv sped.
Hid seems like hid wis yesterday, wir waddeen day at Hawn,
When the music and the danceen both geed on until the dawn’.

The weemin baked for days afore, bannocks, scones and buns,
You couldna go tae Presto’s then and buy id aal at wance.
They meed the menfolk get tae wark and they sweepid oot the barn
And tidied up the yard and cleaned the flaggiestones o sharn.

Everybody ate their fill, the cog was gaun aroond.
Jock o’ Testaquoy began tae play, my whit a lovely soond!
He wis sittan in the the loft tae laeve more room for eightsome reels,
The three-step first and soon they were aal keekan ap their heels.

But oh disaster struck right in the middle o The Lancers.
Jock fell doon and banged his croon and pulverised the dancers!
They pickid him ap and brushed him doon and shoved him ap again,
The music stert, the dancers birled and aal wis right as rain.

But oh dear me, in a peedie while, disaster struck once more
And this time the bleem can be laid right at peedie Ian’s door.
Weel he wis cheust a peedie chap that should hiv been in bed.
Bit he wis fair enjoyan himsel, my whit a time he hid!

He gaed tae the steeble whaur some men wis lukkan at the mare.
‘That mare’s in foal’, he heard een say and, beuy, that meed him stare!
He ran roond tae the hoose at wance and rushed in through the door.
A lock o fokk wis sittan there, mibbee their feet wis sore.

‘The mare’s gaun tae foal’, he shouted, ‘you’ll better come queek, I doot,’
And right awey Bob o’ Trumland banged for his feet and oot.
He ran across the yard makkan straight for the steeble door
But the midden dyke wis in his road and he fell ower id wi a roar!

My whit a hummlan sight he wis when they got him oot o there.
They teuk him tae the kitchen and set him on a chair.
They scrubbed him doon as best they could withoot pittan him in a bath.
The weemin flyted on him but aal he could deu wis laugh!

Hid wis an eventful waddeen day and noo we’re githered here
Tae wish them both the very best for anither many a year
And we’re sure wir gaan tae hiv a really splendid night.
But Ah’ll warran there’s no steeble here and no a mare in sight!

Doll and Archer at their golden wedding celebration in 1995.
[Photo courtesy of Phyllis Muir]

Below are comments made by folk below the poem on Orkney Reevlers:-

Barbara Johnston: Winderful, Morag.

Billy Skea: That’s brilliant.

Isobel Dolak: Great, Morag. It reminds me of my folks celebrating their silver wedding in the barn at Langskaill. I wis just a peedie lass that should have been in bed. Some of my uncles and aunts from sooth had come up for it, and I had to sleep in an armchair!

Jake Spence: Live and learn! I never kent Doll and Minnie were sisters but if i mind right Marylyn used tae come tae Nisthouse sometimes like for the Harvest Home? Had many a visit tae Doll and Archer when we gaed tae see Willie o’ Oo, Duncan played wae peedie cars on the carpet as the squares made grand roads and i always mind Archer had a great show of vegetables.

Edna Margaret Sinclair: Just lovely Morag x

Inga Williamson: Whit an evocative poym, Morag, pents a vivid pictur o owld Orkney life wae that typical isles mirth thrown in. Gaes a right good sense o yer mam too – clearly a wife of gret intelligence and substance!!

Karin Flaws: What a lovely poem. I mind I used to love going across to visit Doll and Archer when I was peedie. Ian flaws was my granddad.

Jake Spence: Used to enjoy a blether wae Ian. I would hop on at Tingwall have a pint or two at the cafe then back and i mind wan night doing a couple of trips tae Gairsay wae sand lorries.

Ruth Gibson: Magic Morag, I’ll bet there are no many folk left noo that can mind barn weddings. I have a snap o Jim’s mam and dad and all the young eens fae their wedding wakan round the loch in Wester. They did this til all the owld folk ate, then they ate afore the dancing. They were wed in the barn at Furse in 1932. The only barn wedding I mind clearly wis Evelyn and Roderick Marwick’s, and I wis only peedie.

Morag Russell: Ruth I wid love tae see that photo. Me fither spokk aboot that waddeen many a time and said hid wis a grand affair. He telt aboot wakkan roond the the Wester loch wi the bride and groom and a fiddler playan – he did say whar the fiddler wis bit I canna mind on the neem. He wid hiv been a boy o 12 or 13 and he had spied the waddeen teebles wi this grand bright reed fruit on them, ca’ed tomatoes. He wis desperate tae get back for a taste as he’d nivver seen such a thing afore. He said he wis never so disappointed in his life and spat them oot. A’ his life long he nivver developed a taste for tomatoes!

Phyllis Muir: I’m sure my folks would have been chuffed that Minnie’s poem about their wedding is being shared this way. Their golden wedding was a big do in the Rousay school hall, they also managed to celebrate their diamond wedding and that was in the Pier Restaurant.

Morag Russell: I’m using this wi’ Isobel Irvine‘s permission. I did wonder hoo they decorated the barns tae makk them lukk festive. I mind mither sayan hoo fokk eused girnels, etc, as teebles and a the isle’s weemin contributed cloths and sheets tae cover them.

‘I doot “Isobel o’ Testaquoy” wis more than a young lass! I’m 88 noo! But that’s reminded me o something that happened when I wis a peedie lass! and it wis also at a wedding in a barn. Every hoose contributed curtains, bedspreads etc to cover the stone walls and me Mum had given them the loan of the bedspread off my bed. It had a frayed corner that I used to hold in me hand while I sucked my thumb! At some point I spotted it! I shouted “Me toosly corner!! and luckily it was low enough for me so sit with the toosly corner in me hand, thumb in mooth…Happy!’

Archer and Doll, with children Marlene, Jimmy and Phyllis,
and Marion Flaws, Wyre.
[Orkney Library & Archive]

Categories
In Print

Newsprint – 1947

1947 January 7 Orkney Herald

ORKNEY STORM-SWEPT. – Furious southerly gales have swept Orkney during the past week. Kirkwall’s New Year’s Day ba’ was fought out in fierce biting winds. Sea and air services have been affected, but no damage due to the storms has been reported. The St Magnus, southward bound, was unable to leave Kirkwall on Friday, and waited till the sea moderated somewhat on Saturday morning. The lull was short-lived, however, and yesterday the St Magnus was still storm-bound at Aberdeen. The St Clement, due to sail from Kirkwall to Aberdeen last night was unlikely to leave when we went to press. R.M.S. St Ola did not make her daily trans-Pentland crossing yesterday. Orkney Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Earl Thorfinn was unable to make her scheduled trip from Westray to Kirkwall yesterday, and the Earl Sigurd did not make her usual Monday trip to Rousay, Egilshay and Wyre. Gale conditions forced both Scottish and Allied Airways to operate curtailed services, but on no day did either company cancel all services.


1947 January 14 Orkney Herald

STROMNESS – THE STORM. – The great storm of south-east wind which blew across Orkney last week did its quota of damage in Stromness. Wireless aerials were blown down in great quantities, at least one motorboat was sunk, great stones were torn off piers, and the town clock on Peter’s Church steeple stopped at the hour of twelve, the hands having got twisted and jammed. People who ventured out on any of the three last days of the storm got blown about like autumn leaves. The east wind is always by far the cruellest wind in Stromness. There is an old Orkney proverb which says: “The east wind’s good neither for man nor beasts”; the truth of which is amply proven by the great numbers of local people at present nursing cold and rheumatic afflictions in various parts the body. The present winter is the severest in these parts for a good few years now, and it is far from cheering to realise that snow is the next weather phenomenon which will put in its appearance.


1947 January 28 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY CHILDREN AND SEAFORTH FUND

A children’s concert, followed by a dance, was held in Frotoft School on 10th January, in order to raise funds for the Seaforth Highlanders Memorial Fund. In spite of the stormy weather a large company assembled at 8 p.m. in the school.

Mr D. Turner, Avils, was chairman. In his opening remarks he paid tribute to local men who had served in the forces during the war, and thanked the Frotoft Committee for helping such a worthy cause.

At the close of a long and varied programme votes of thanks were given to the chairman, the teacher, Mrs [Kathleen Mary] Harcus, to her pupils and committee, and to all who had sent in baking. The committee take this opportunity of thanking all who baked, sent gifts of tea, sugar, butter, jam, milk, and donations of money. They also thank Mr R. Johnston, Trumland, for supplying music for the children’s dancing, and the band who gave their services free of charge for the dance.

The total sum raised, £17 1s, has been sent to Major Bruce, Bank of Scotland, Kirkwall. In acknowledging the money Mr Bruce writes of Mrs Harcus :—”This is a very substantial addition to the Orkney effort for the Seaforth Highlanders Memorial Fund, and I can assure you that our local Committee are most grateful to you, your brother Sergt. Gibson, and to the people of Rousay who have so handsomely helped the fund in Orkney. Kindly convey our thanks to all concerned in Rousay.”

The following is the programme: – Welcome song; song, “Some Folks Do”; recitation, “The Enchanted Shirt,” Gilbert Pirie; song, “Let Him Go,” Eileen Mainland; recitation, “Sister Susan,” Ian Craigie; dance, “Minuet,” Rhoda Mainland and George Wm. Craigie, Heleanor Mainland and Gilbert Pirie; song, “The Grandfather Clock,” Fred Craigie; recitation, “Why the Blackbird is Black,” Tom Sinclair; play, “The Coming of Father Christmas,” Infants and Juniors; song, “Riding Down from Bangor,” Heleanor Mainland; recitation, “Jock Macoull,” Rhoda Mainland; song, “The Auld Home,” Senior boys; dance, “Gay Gordons,” Infants; song, “Poor Cock Robin”; recitation, “Fine Feathers,” Mattie Craigie; song, “Rock-a-Bye,” Mary Gibson; recitation, “Careful Benny,” Fred Craigie; dance, “The Nut,” Seniors; song, “Pum-Cat-a-Pum,” Alice Logie; dialogue, “Postie’s Dilemma,” Seniors; recitation, “The New Duckling,” Kenneth Angus; song, “The Old Couple,” Alice Logie, Tom Sinclair and chorus; dance, “Hornpipe,” Eileen Mainland, Mary Gibson and Rhoda Mainland; song, “After Tea.”

DONATIONS. – In addition to the [above donation]…Rousay folk contributed last year £9 18s 3d to the Donaldson Trust and £10 7s for the Earl Haig Fund.


1947 February 4 Orkney Herald

POST OFFICE STAFF CHANGES. – Mr John A Wood, sub-postmaster of Finstown for forty-three years, will retire on March 31. He has forty-eight years’ postal service. Mr Wood will be succeeded by Mr G. Stewart, sub-post-master, Stenness. Mr W. C. Gibson is appointed sub-postmaster of Rousay in succession to Mr J. K. Yorston, who is retiring after having held the appointment for fifteen years. These changes have been announced by Mr David Scrimgeour, Orkney head postmaster.


1947 February 11 Orkney Herald

ORKNEY HIT BY ARCTIC WEATHER. – For a week all Orkney has been white under the heaviest fall of snow for years. Compared with severe conditions in the South and the widespread dislocation of traffic there, however, Orkney has got off very lightly. Fortunately, when the bulk of the snow fell there was little wind, and, consequently, no drifting. Higher winds towards the end of last week did cause the temporary blocking of some roads, and snow ploughs were out, but there was no general hold-up of traffic. Some ploughing matches had to be postponed, and one farmer was seen delivering milk in Kirkwall by tractor and trailer in place of his van.

Until yesterday mail and passenger air services from Inverness and Aberdeen had been unaffected, but heavy snowfalls in the South delayed schedules.

Kirkwall street surfaces became treacherous, and there were several cases of broken bones through falls. Sledging was in full swing on East Road, Bignold Park Road, School Place, Palace Road, and Clay Loan, and in a sledging crash at East Road one lad broke an ankle.

Orkney has suffered no electricity cuts, and Kirkwall gas pressure has been no worse than usual!


1947 February 18 Orkney Herald

NO ELECTRICITY CUTS HERE. – Kirkwall is one of the few towns exempted from the electricity cuts now imposed over practically the whole country.

Kirkwall’s exemption was announced by Sir Guy Nott-Bower, Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel, on Friday. He said that it had been decided to issue an amending Order to cover the cases of towns where the generating stations are not powered by coal, and are independent of the grid.

At the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board’s Kirkwall station the power is derived from diesel engines. Mr Robert Wells, the Hydro-Electric Board’s Orkney manager, states that, during the short period before Kirkwall’s exemption was announced, local domestic consumers conscientiously observed the prohibited hours.

Other towns thus “freed” are Lerwick, Stornoway, Rothesay, Tobermory, Campbeltown, Thurso, Fort William and Lochaber. Also exempted are consumers who use private generating stations that are not powered by coal (including, presumably Orkney’s multitude of wind-driven generators). Previously, Ministry spokesmen had ridiculously insisted that for a consumer to use current from his private wind-driven generator during the prohibited hours was illegal.


1947 February 25 Orkney Herald

TO THE PEAT STACK

(Which stands undisturbed by cuts, crisis, and controls)

Oh! thou, my stack o’ guid blue peat,
That macks the tea, an’ cooks the meat,
That boils the spuds, an’ warms the taes,
To thee, I gie a word o’ praise.

The fuel’s cut – the news is bad –
An’ auld King Coal’s a sorry lad.
My sooth freen’s, lackin’ light an’ heat,
Wad value noo a guid blue peat!

There hae been times they’d by-pass thee,
An’ never cast a kindly e’e,
Or sling a stiff, superior nod
At thee, my stack o’ mossy clod.

But noo – Emmanuel’s cracklin’ stanes,
Ower puir tae thaw the stivven’d banes –
They’d swear it was a glorious treat
Tae get a fire o’ lowin’ peat!

So, here’s tae thee, my ain peat stack!
Tae get thee sairly tried the back,
But noo, I look – a bonnie sight –
My source o’ comfort day and night.

Officialdom’s departments queer,
An’ chitterin’ cauld, I dinna fear.
Wi’ thee, that deil, Jack Frost, I’ll beat,
Oh! thou, my stack o’ guid blue peat!

O. R. CADIAN.


1947 March 4 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY. – Orkney in 1877 – what a land flowing with milk and honey it was! It seems now like a remote legendary place, half lost in the mists of golden antiquity. Yet it is only 70 years ago – the span of one’s natural life.

I got the loan of a copy of Peace’s Orkney Almanac for 1877 from the Editor for reference purposes, and quickly lost myself in it. It is a remarkable document, only 70 years old, yet revealing to us an Orkney bathed in the calm serenity of late Victorian prosperity – very different, seen from across the impassable chasms of two frightful wars, from the austere and gloomy world of the present…..

….This part of the Almanac concludes with a description of Trumland House, Rousay, which had just been completed by that insignificant but self-important little man, Colonel Burroughs, in 1875.

While on the subject of Colonel Burroughs, who proved to be one of the hardest and meanest lairds in the North Isles, it is interesting to discover, from another section of the Almanac, one of the least attractive traits of the Orcadian – viz., the constant fawning before strangers, however mean and insignificant in themselves, who happen to come to the islands. So we discover that Colonel Burroughs (whose grossly excessive rents drove Edwin Muir’s father out of Wyre) is simply peppered with appointments by the Orcadians of 1877. He was a Deputy Lieutenant for the County, a Commissioner of Supply, a Justice of the Peace, a vice-President of the Orkney Agricultural Society, an Hon. Lt.-Col. in the 1st Ad. Brigade Orkney Artillery Volunteers, and several other things too tedious to mention. But the whole matter reveals an Orkney characteristic which is not pleasant by any means, and which is far too common, even, to-day….. ISLANDMAN [aka George Mackay Brown – see April 1]


1947 March 11 Orkney Herald

AUSTERITY. – During the unfortunate period that all papers have to reduce the number of their pages, we would respectfully ask all contributors and correspondents to cut away everything inessential from their ‘copy.’ Let “Short and to the point” be the motto. Austerity must be the rule of journalists as of everyone else, until the crisis is really over. We ourselves have cut down our leaders to the bare minimum.

ISLAND DIARY. – I never remember a gruelling winter like this before. For not only has the snow lasted, off and on, for six weeks, and is still as deep as ever as I write. But ever since Autumn the prevailing wind has been the East, which, as the old Orkney folk said, was “neither good for man nor beast.” In the part of Orkney where I live the East wind is a dreaded thing. It blows sheer off an iron-grey sea, and every blast of it bites into you like a scorpion lash. It freezes the lungs and curdles the marrow in your bones, and unless you are well wrapped up against it, it can shorten your life by several years. This past winter we have learned to hate the East wind worse than poison.

SHAPINSAY – WEATHER. – Hardly ever was farm work brought to a standstill for so long, and it has been a big effort at times to get food to the animals owing to the heavy covering of snow. Roads in the island have been cleared a second time by a gang of workmen to enable supplies to be got to outlying districts.


1947 March 18 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY ACTION: DECISION. – Sheriff D. B. Keith gave his decision in Orkney Sheriff Court yesterday in the action at the instance of Alexander Allardyce Marwick, 1624 Great Western Road, Glasgow, against Robert Inkster, farmer, Cogar, Rousay, executor of the late David James Inkster, who resided at the Queen’s Hotel, Kirkwall.

The pursuer, AIexander Marwick, asked the court to grant a decree against the defender, Robert Inkster, for the payment of a sum of money for furniture, furnishings, etc., stored at Midgarth, Rousay, together with the cost of a sailing yacht.

The Sheriff has granted a decree against the defender for the sum of £60, being the value of the sailing yacht together with a moiety of damages added for its wrongful seizure. He has allowed the defender half the expenses of the case.

The agents in the action were: – For the pursuer, Mr Fred Buchanan, solicitor, Kirkwall; for the defender, Mr Jas. Flett, solicitor, Kirkwall.

[This newspaper carried no coverage of the previous proceedings of this case.]

ROUSAY EXCAVATIONS. – At a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, presided over by Dr William Angus, a paper by Professor V. G. Childe and Mr Walter G. Grant of Trumland, describing the results of further excavations in a Stone Age settlement at the Braes of Rinyo, Rousay, was read by Mr David Wilson, and illustrated by lantern slides. It gave rise to an interesting discussion, particularly with regard to the roofing of the structure and the reason for drain channels leading to the hearth. With regard to the latter the best explanation seemed to be that they were air channels to create a draught. Professor Piggott suggested that there was need of research in connection with the kinds of timber that must formerly have covered what are now treeless areas.


1947 April 1 Orkney Herald

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PERSONALITIES OF THE EIGHTIES

SIR, – I read in Island Diary in the “Orkney Herald” of February 11th, that that honourable gentleman, Sheriff Thoms, was in his dotage when he bequeathed £60,000 to St Magnus Cathedral for its upkeep. That is not true; he was never “dottie.” I was at the Orkney and Shetland gathering in 1896, when Sheriff Thoms was in the chair, and he told us that the Shetland girls, who were at the Exhibition of that year, wanted to know whether he liked Orkney or Shetland best. He smiled and said: “I did not tell them, but the time will come when you will all know whom I liked best.” The Sheriff lived about twenty years after that. He left a hundred pounds a year to Mr Melrose, his faithful valet-servant. The Sheriff’s nephew had expected to be heir, but was disappointed. The Sheriff’s money has given work to many a man, both in Orkney and in the south country. Men have been blessed, both body and soul.

In your March 4th issue Islandman is down on General Burroughs, for being mean and little. Why, most of the greatest of men in the eighties of last century were little. The late Mr Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh was an active legislator in the House of Commons. He was an able champion of the cause of the Irish landlords. He was born without arms or legs. He is remembered as a famed yachtsman, who had the right to moor his yacht on the Thames in front of the House of Commons; also as a good horseman, who travelled on horse-back across Russia and Persia to the Persian Gulf. And with the pen, held between his teeth, he wrote a good hand. He was a lineal descendant of the last King of Leinster.

So true is that verse in the Old Book, “The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.”

I am a year younger than the “Herald,” being born in 1861. – Yours, etc., ANN SINCLAIR.


1947 April 15 Orkney Herald

ORKNEY HOMES “SHOCKING.” – Shocking conditions of Orkney houses and amazing contentment of the people who live in them were referred to by Mrs Edith Maclean, headmistress of Sourin School, Rousay, at the annual conference of youth leaders from all parts of Orkney in Kirkwall on Friday. Rural depopulation, she said, was primarily due to bad housing.

She was speaking in support of Mr R. G. Scott, Rendall, who had declared that young people were finding farm work unattractive, which was not a good thing in Orkney, the most progressive agricultural county of its size in Scotland.

It was initially more serious, he said, that young people were finding their homes unattractive. Mr Scott suggested the institution in Orkney of a competition to make rural dwellings more comfortable.

The conference was attended by representatives of twenty-four youth clubs, including Rousay, Stronsay, Eday, Westray, Hoy and Flotta. It was presided over by Mr John Shearer, M.A., MSc., Director of Education for Orkney, who extended a welcome to Miss Claire E. Spence, Edinburgh, newly-appointed music organiser for Orkney, and congratulated Miss Alison Sutherland Graeme, County Guide Commissioner, on receiving the Guide Medal of Merit…..

HEATHER BURNING. – From today (15th April) onwards it is illegal (apart from certain exceptional circumstances) to burn tracts of heather. With regard to heather burning, two points not always observed, are worth emphasising. Firstly, even in the permitted period, it is an offence to set fire to heather on another person’s land, and, secondly, before setting light to heather on your own land, you are required to inform your neighbour of your intention.


1947 April 29 Orkney Herald

EXECUTORY NOTICE

All Parties having CLAIMS against the late Mr WALTER G. GRANT of Hillhead, Kirkwall, and Trumland, Rousay, are requested to lodge the same with the Subscribers within 14 days from this date; and all Parties INDEBTED to the Deceased are requested to make payment to the Subscribers within the like period. T. P. & J. L. LOW, Solicitors. Kirkwall, 28th April 1947.


1947 May 27 Orkney Herald

DOCTOR AND PATIENT IN THE SEA. – A doctor and patient crossing from Rousay to Evie had an alarming experience on Thursday, when the small boat, into which they were being transferred from the mail launch, upset, throwing them into ten or twelve feet of water.

The patient, Mrs Magnus Flaws, who was suffering from a broken arm, was immediately in difficulties, and the doctor, Dr J. Gordon, Kirkwall, though hampered by a heavy overcoat, managed to catch her by the hair as she went under, and supported her until she was pulled aboard the mail launch.

Mrs Flaws, wife of the former manager of Rousay Co-operative Society, was being accompanied to hospital by Dr Gordon when the accident occurred. The transfer to the small boat was made necessary by the low tide, which prevented the motor boat approaching Aikerness jetty.

EVIE – FARM. – The sowing of the cereals having been completed, the laying down of the turnip crop is now receiving the attention of the farmer. Preparing the soil for the turnip seed is a toilsome job occupying much time, and at present the land is so dry and dusty that operations will not be easy.

SUMMER BEAUTY. – Brilliant sunshine and blue skies have graced the countryside during the past week, and everything is rejoicing in the advent of summer. In response to the touch of the sun the earth is daily putting on more colour, all dead vegetation being swamped by the onrush of a vigorous green growth. The cultivated fields, all sown and neatened – some showing fine braird, are encircled by tracts of rich verdure, studded with daisies, primroses and numerous other wild flowers, making a picture very pleasing to the eye.

PEAT CUTTING DAYS. – Peat time is here again, and during the past week there has been some stir in the moors, with the raids on the peat banks. Never has the attack of the tusker met with so little resistance, the condition of the turf being perfect for cutting operations. Peat fuel has always been preferable to coal in the country, and in these days of limited coal supply everyone is making a special effort to invade the moss-lands and obtain some turves, despite the hard work and difficulties entailed in curing and in transport. Meantime there is the promise of this being a good peat year.

LOBSTER FISHING. – Lobster fishers are now pursuing their calling in good weather and calm seas, but haven’t so far had a great measure of success. There seem to be spells of bad luck. The luxury price of lobsters at present may be needed to compensate for the loss and price of gear – the cost and maintenance of boats being now more than doubled. A veteran fisherman said, “Lobsters are queer things, very fastidious. Everything’s got to be just right for them. Baits have got to be neither too fresh nor too stale. There mustn’t be any crabs inside first, or anything to frighten them like a bit of loose ballast or a frayed rope-end flapping in the tide. A lobster won’t go into a pot if there’s white paint on the bottom boards; a bit of iron drainpipe for ballast in a pot will prevent a lobster entering.”

[How I wish the Evie correspondent lived in Rousay! By this time the Orkney Herald had doubled in size – eight pages….none of which contained any mention of goings-on in Rousay!]


1947 June 3 Orkney Herald

“PIERS IN DEPLORABLE STATE.” – All our island piers are in a deplorable state. This was asserted by Mr John G. Shearer, Kirkwall (County Council member for Eday) at a meeting of Orkney County Council on Tuesday.

Mr Shearer was moving that, in the interests of the ratepayers, representations be made to the proprietor of Eday pier for the removal of a sandbank just off the pier. The bank makes it difficult and dangerous for the mail steamer from Kirkwall to approach the pier. The motion was carried.

Mr Isaac Moar, Hoy, asked about the proposed repairs to Moaness pier, and Mr Donald Bertram (member for North Ronaldshay) referred to repairs necessary at Trumland, Rousay, and Egilshay. Other piers referred to explicitly were North Ronaldshay, Graemsay and North Faray slip-way.


1947 June 24 Orkney Herald

NEW ASSISTANT POSTMASTER. – Mr Sinclair Ross, Head Postmaster of Orkney, announced last week that Mr W. L. Marwick, the Overseer at Kirkwall Head Post Office, has been promoted Assistant Head Postmaster, Kirkwall, as from May 27 last.

Mr Marwick succeeds Mr Ross, who became Head Postmaster on the departure of Mr David Scrimgeour, now Head Postmaster of Motherwell and Wishaw.

A native of Rousay, Mr Marwick entered the Post Office service as a learner in 1913, being promoted Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist in 1914.

In 1909, when a schoolboy, W. L. Marwick was commended by Professor H. J. C. Grierson, then of Aberdeen University, for his exceptionally fine work in the Orkney and Zetland Association Examination.

His war service was mostly in France, his regiment being the Royal Engineers Signal Section. He returned from the war in 1920 and resumed work in the Kirkwall Head Post Office. Mr Marwick was promoted Overseer in 1940.

A wide circle of friends in Orkney and beyond will learn with pleasure of his elevation to Assistant Head Postmaster of his native county.

[William Leslie Marwick was born on May 25th 1895, the son of David Marwick, Quoys, Wasbister, and Ann Leonard, Treblo. In 1925 he married Lily Milne of Burray.]

EVIE – FISHING. – The sea has been favourable to fishing during the past week with plenty of fish on the grounds and suitable tides for baiting. Several good hauls of cuithes have been brought ashore. Among one lot were found a few herrings which must have wandered from their usual path. Costa boats landed some good sized haddocks in prime condition. Lobster fishers are now on the waters late and early toiling with their pots, but little news of their operations is disclosed.


1947 July 8 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY – FROTOFT PICNIC. – The annual Frotoft picnic was held at Frotoft School on Friday, 27th June. The weather was ideal and a large company had gathered at the school, when the sports began at 4 o’clock. Before this the committee had served milk, cookies and cakes, and the children had bought many “sliders” from the ice-cream stand. At the close of the adult sports tea was served in the playground. Then the company assembled in the school to hear the prize-list. Sports prizes and merit prizes were gracefully presented by Mrs R. Mainland, Nearhouse. She was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks on the call of the teacher, Mrs [Kathleen Mary] Harcus, who intimated that the children were to give a short programme before the dance.

Heleanor Mainland, the eldest pupil, acted as announcer. She said. “Before we begin our concert I would like, in the name of the pupils of Frotoft School, to present our teacher with this small present – with best wishes for her future happiness.”

Mrs Harcus, accepting a beautiful silver cake basket, replied that it was a complete surprise, and thanked the children for their kindness. She was very proud of the lovely gift. They had had some happy times together, and she hoped they would be as nice to their new teacher as they had been to her. She said she was not going far away and would always welcome them to her new home, Damaschool, Evie, especially when they were stormstayed. (Laughter and applause). She then asked Heleanor Mainland to proceed with the programme.

At the end of the concert Mr Robert Mainland, Nearhouse, chairman to the S.M.C., thanked the pupils for their fine performance. He also thanked the committee and Mrs Harcus for all their work. Referring to Mrs Harcus’s impending departure, he said they all wished her well, but were sorry to lose her. Probably she would see more of the Rousay people than she wanted when they were stormstayed in Evie, but he was sure they would all get a warm welcome. She would be remembered for her parties, her picnics and concerts, and for her many kindnesses and good deeds throughout the district.

Replying, Mrs Harcus said she had heard many folks say they were glad the new teacher was somebody they “kent,” but that a “kent” teacher had sometimes a hard time. She named some of the many duties a teacher in the country was expected to undertake, and asked them all to consider this when, at times, they were a bit hard on the poor teachers. In conclusion she thanked them all for their kindness to herself.

Mrs [Edith] Maclean, Sourin School, spoke of the close co-operation between the three teachers in Rousay. She had been very grateful for the assistance she had received from Mrs Harcus when she took up teaching in Sourin. In wishing her happiness in her new home, she hoped Mrs Harcus would enjoy her well-earned rest.

The school was then cleared for dancing. Many visitors had crossed from the mainland to attend the dance, which was kept up with great zest till 2.30 a.m. The committee wish to thank all who gave gifts of food and milk for the picnic……


1947 July 22 Orkney Herald

ALL-NIGHT SEARCH FOR MOTOR BOAT. – Stromness lifeboat carried out a night-long search for the Kirkwall motor boat Curlew, reported overdue on Tuesday night with nine passengers on board. Life-saving companies were alerted in Shapinsay, Eday and Rousay. The Curlew was discovered in dense fog at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, and was towed to Kirkwall.

She was reported to coastguards as being overdue after having left Rousay for Kirkwall. At 1 a.m. Stromness lifeboat (coxswain W. Sinclair, Jr.) was launched and made a four-hour voyage in poor visibility and freshening wind to the distress area. The lifeboat found the Curlew at 6 a.m. anchored off the island of Gairsay.

When the lifeboat arrived it was found that two of the men and the five women were ashore on the island being sheltered by Mr Girling, a naval pensioner. He and his wife are the island’s only inhabitants. The passengers were taken ashore in a small boat by Mr George T. Arthur, Kirkwall, who is on holiday at the island in his motor cabin cruiser.

Two of the passengers were Miss Olive Allan, the Kirkwall amateur actress„ and her mother, who owns the Curlew. The seven people who had been given shelter for the night on Gairsay returned to Kirkwall on board the lifeboat.

—————

BOOKSHELF: – THE PLACE NAMES OF ROUSAY

A bit dull, you think? How wrong you are. This is a book which will be of perennial interest not only to the inhabitants of the beautiful island of Rousay, but to all Orcadians everywhere who are interested – and who is not? – in local place names.

The languages of the Picts and the even earlier inhabitants of Orkney are quite lost, but they have left other enduring monuments of their civilization – Skarabrae, Maeshowe, Brodgar, and the Broughs.

With the Norse, from whom we proudly and perhaps a little erroneously claim descent, it has been quite otherwise. Most of their buildings, their implements and ornaments, vanished: but their way of life is imperishably recorded in the Orkneyinga Saga, and though the old Norn has died out, we find, as it were, the fossils of it in the Orkney place names with which we have all been familiar from childhood. The names we know, but their meaning has been for the most part shrouded in mystery. In the present book we are likely to learn as much about them as we will ever know.

Dr Marwick has wisely decided not to cover all the Orkney place names; since such a survey, which would certainly prove a Herculean task, could not possibly be undertaken by one scholar alone. The author, however, by concentrating on one district which he knows well – his native island – has left the door open for a similar treatment of all the other place names of Orkney. This work is really a piece of pioneering. If it has succeeded – and I think there can be little doubt on that point – “The Place Names of Rousay” will certainly become the model for similar studies of this kind, both in Orkney and far beyond.

Speaking as a layman, I may say at once that this is not a dry book for scholars only. While the very exhaustive list of place names will prove of lasting interest to every intelligent Orcadian, even if he has never clapped eyes on Knitchen Hill or the Muckle Water, the long introduction is most informative and illuminating. Written in the sober, cautious, restrained style of the scholar (and an Orkney scholar at that), its discussion ranges far beyond the names and places of Rousay. It gives us a glimpse – fascinating, if only shadowy – of the unfolding of history in Rousay from pre Christian times, and expounds some of the knotty historical problems that still await solution. Occasionally Dr Marwick essays an explanation – invariably a clever and illuminating one – but he is careful to make no rash claims for his theories, quite willing to be content with the verdict of the future, which may well endorse several of his speculations.

It is, in brief, a work of fascinating and enduring scholarship. As for the volume itself, it is well produced and bound, with an attractive jacket, and most pleasant to handle. There are two maps. I don’t think you would ever be likely to regret blowing seven-and-six on it. – G. M. B. [George Mackay Brown]

“The Place-Names of Rousay,” by Dr Hugh Marwick.
Published by W. R. Mackintosh, Kirkwall, price 7s 6d.

—————

EVIE – FARM. – Turnip-singling has been mostly completed in this district. Owing to the exceptionally fine weather throughout the early part of this month this job has proved less irksome and more speedy than usual. Cereals, are making good progress, some oat fields “shooting.” Grass and clover are now very abundant and cattle are wallowing in the rich herbage. The hay-fields are ready to cut, and farmers are busy making hay while the sun shines. Peat-carting is in progress, and the ramparts of peats arranged on the banks are gradually disappearing as the tractor-drawn lorries strip and dismantle them for transport to their destination. Moorlands were never more dry than at present, presenting little difficulty of access, and the turves are crisp and ready to burn. A good peat year in-deed!

FISHING. – There has been some good fishing lately. Sea conditions in recent weeks have been ideal for operations, and the various boats have been active pursuing their calling with splendid results. Haddock, cuithe, lythe, flounders, lobsters and partan – of prime quality – have been landed, all of which have been in great demand. Cooked direct from the sea in full savour they have been greatly relished.


1947 July 29 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY – WASBISTER SCHOOL SPORTS. – The Wasbister School annual sports was held in the school grounds on Friday, 4th July. Dull weather conditions did not mar the enthusiasm of the competitors and a large number of parents and friends turned out to witness the races. Winners were as follows: – Seniors – 1 Edna Clouston, 2 Jim Marwick, 3 Irvine Donaldson; Juniors – 1 Freda Grieve, 2 Nita Craigie, 3 Margaret Craigie. The school sports was followed by a selection of races for adults and visiting children. Thereafter tea was served by the members of the committee, who had prepared many delightful home-bakes. That was followed by the prize-giving ceremony, awards being graciously presented by Mrs S. F. Spence. The children then entertained the visitors with a varied programme of songs, dances and recitations. On the call of Rev. R. R. Davidson, Mrs Miller and the members of the committee were thanked for the afternoon’s entertainment. Mrs Harcus then proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Miller and scholars for the delightful programme and to Mr Stanley Spence, who accompanied at the piano. The evening was spent in dancing to the music of Mr Edwin Moar, Mr Clouston, Miss Laughton, Mr Balfour and Mr Leslie.


1947 August 5 Orkney Herald

EVIE – VISITORS. – There are now a good many visitors in this district all enjoying the glories of the fine summer. Nature now in her full garb extends a rare loveliness which moists the earth with countless attractions and gives fresh hope and joy to life.

ON THE FARM. – Hay making and peat carting have kept the farmers busily engaged lately. Both jobs have been carried through with the minimum of trouble and in the shortest time owing to the continued fine weather. The hay crop is average in bulk and as the curing process has never been checked by damp conditions the hay is of first-class quality. Peats have all been removed from the moors and almost every home can boast of a peat-stack this year. A slack time follows now, which gives the farmer opportunity to prepare for the shows.


1947 August 12 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY’S FINE BLOOMS

Orkney’s glorious summer of 1947 was reflected in the splendid display of flowers and vegetables at Rousay Horticultural Society’s Show at Sourin Hall last Tuesday. Entries in these sections were up very considerably over last year. In other sections – industrial work, baking and dairy produce – totals were about normal.

The judges were: – Flowers and vegetables – Mr John Slater, Kirkwall. Baking – Mr John MacGillivray, head baker with James Flett and Sons (Orkney) Ltd., Kirkwall. Handicrafts – Mrs W. Hourston, Quoyberstane, St Ola, and Mrs Frank Mackay, Wick (sister of Mrs Hourston.) Dairy Produce – Miss Tulloch, poultry instructress at Kirkwall for the North of Scotland College of Agriculture, Aberdeen. Mrs Hugh Craigie, Aberdeenshire, formerly district nurse in Rousay, handed over the trophies and other principal awards. The prize list of the show was as follows: –

VEGETABLES. Cauliflower – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson; lettuce (cabbage) – 1 and 2 Mrs Cormack, 3 Mrs Craigie; cabbage – 2 and 3 Mrs Cormack; parsnips – Mrs Cormack; parsley – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson; leeks – 1 and 2 Mrs Cormack; rhubarb – 1 Mrs Alexander, 2 and 3 Mrs R. Shearer; beet (globe) – 1 Mrs T. Sinclair, 2 Mrs Cormack, 3 Mrs A. Clouston; beet (Iong) – Mrs Cormack; shallots – 1 Mr J. Petrie, 2 Mrs H. Russell, 3 Mrs W. Alexander; potatoes – 1 and 2 Mrs Cormack, Mrs H. I. Gibson; turnips – 1 Mrs Tom Sinclair, 2 G. W. Marwick, 3 Mrs H. Russell; carrots – Mrs T. Sinclair, 2 and 3 Mrs Gibson, Lopness; peas – G. W. Marwick; beans – Mrs Gibson, Lopness; strawberries – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Craigie, Furse; blackcurrants – 1 and 2 Mrs Craigie, Furse, 3 G. W. Marwick; gooseberries – G. W. Marwick.

FLOWERS. Alyssum – Mrs Cormack; sweet peas – Mrs Cormack; viccaria – Mrs Cormack; tansies – 1 and 2 Mrs Cormack, 3 Mrs Craigie; sweet williams – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Craigie; stocks – 1 Mrs Hourie, 2 Mrs Craigie, 3 Mrs Hourie; Canterbury bells – Mrs Craigie; Australian honeysuckle – Mrs Craigie; candytuft – 1 and 2 Mrs Hourie, 3 Mrs Alexander; escholtzie – 1 no name, 2 Mrs H. Russell, 3 Miss Wylie; sinaria – Mrs Gibson; delphinium – Mrs Craigie: clarkia – Mrs H. Russell; Peruvian lily – Mrs Craigie; chrysanthemum – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Hourie; blue thistle – Mrs Craigie; mignonette – Mrs Russell; bridal rose – 1, 2 and 3 Mrs Hourie; marguerite – Mrs A. Clouston; antirrhinums – G. W. Marwick; gladioli – Mrs Clouston; phlox – Mrs Hourie; wallflower – Mrs Hourie; everlasting love – Mrs Gibson; bouquet of garden flowers – Mrs H Russell; marigolds – 1 Ruth Miller, 2 Mrs Gibson, 3 Mrs H. Russell: nasturtiums – 1 G. W. Marwick, 2 Mrs Hourie; cornflower – 1 G. W. Marwick, 2 Mr Alexander, 3 Mr Russell; honeysuckle – Mrs Cormack, 2 Mrs Clouston, 3 Mrs Gibson; roses – 1 Peggy Corsie: larkspur – Peggy Corsie; campanuli – Mrs Craigie; single chrysanthemum – Mrs Gibson; rambler roses – Mrs Cormack; shirley poppies – 1 and 2 Mrs Gibson, 3 Mrs Russell; bouquet of wild flowers – 1 Ruth Miller, 2 and 3 Ronald Shearer. Mr John Sclater’s rose-bowl for most points in flower section – Mrs Hourie.

BAKING. Bere bannocks – 1 Mrs Gibson, 2 and 3 Mrs Shearer; oat bannocks (thick) – 1 Mrs J. S. Gibson, 2 and 3 Mrs R. Shearer; oat bannocks (thin) – 1 Mrs A. Harcus, 2 Mrs W. A. Grieve, 3 Mrs E. M. Hourie; flour bannocks – Mrs J. S. Gibson, 2 Mrs H. Gibson, 3 Mrs Flaws; oven scones – 1 Mrs L. Miller, 2 Mrs A. Harcus, 3 Mrs W. Mainland; drop scones – 1 Mrs R. Shearer, 2 Mrs A. Harcus, 3 Mrs W. Mainland; fruit cake – 1 Mrs Flaws, 2 Miss M. Grieve, 3 Mrs L Miller; sultana cake – 1 Mrs Wilson, 2 Mrs Shearer, 3 Mrs E. M. Hourie; Madeira cake – 1 Mrs R. Shearer, 2 Mrs E. M. Hourie, 3 Mrs L. Miller; gingerbread – 1 Mrs A. Harcus, 2 A. Inkster, 3 Mrs Cormack; sponge sandwich – 1 Mrs E. Marwick, 2 Mrs E. M. Hourie, 3 Mrs Flaws; Victoria sandwich – 1 Miss Edna Clouston, 3 Mrs Evelyn Marwick, 3 Mrs E. M. Hourie; Scotch bun – 1 Mrs Flaws, 2 A. Inkster, 3 Mrs Cormack; fruit tart – 1 Peggy Corsie, 2 Mrs E. Shearer, 3 Mrs Flaws; cheese cakes – 1 and 2 Mrs R. Shearer, 3 Peggy Corsie: queen cakes – 1 Mabel Grieve, 2 Mrs R. Grieve, 3 no name; rock cakes – 1 Mrs Seatter, 2 Mrs H. Gibson, 3 Mrs Cormack; melting moments – 1 and 2 Miss D. Mainland, 3 A. Inkster; shortbread (thick) – 1 and 3 Miss D. Mainland, 2 Mrs W. A. Grieve; shortbread (thin) – 1 Mabel Grieve, 2 Miss D. Mainland, 3 Mrs W. A. Grieve.

DAIRY PRODUCE. Rhubarb jam – Mabel Grieve, 2 and 3 Dorothy Mainland; strawberry jam – 1 P. Corsie, 2 and 3 Mrs H. I. Gibson; gooseberry jam – 1 Mrs T. Sinclair, 2 Mrs Cormack, 3 Mrs Sinclair; black-currant jam – 1 P. Corsie, 2 Mrs W. A. Grieve; apricot jam – 1 and 2 Dorothy Mainland; marmalade –  Mrs T. Sinclair; any mixed jam – 1 and 2 Mrs T. Sinclair, 3 Mrs J. S. Gibson; duck eggs – 1 and 2 P. Corsie; hen eggs – 1 and 2 Mrs R. Shearer, 3 Dorothy Mainland; sweet milk cheese – 1 Mrs W. Alexander, 2 and 3 Mrs R. Shearer; fresh butter – 1 Mrs Cormack, 2 Mrs Shearer, 3 Mrs G. Reid; salt butter – 1 Mrs G. Reid, 2 and 3 Mrs Cormack; table butter – 1 Mrs Seatter, 2 and 3 Dorothy Mainland. Cumming and Spence’s Cup for best butter – Mrs Cormack.

ISLAND CATTLE – COMPETITION AT SOURIN.

Uniformly high quality in many classes set the judges some problems at Rousay Agricultural Society’s show on Tuesday. The show was held in glorious weather in the usual field at Banks Farm. The Judges were Messrs J. Learmonth, Saither, Dounby, and Thomas Flett, Millhouse, Harray. At the close of the show trophies were presented by Mrs Hugh Craigie, Rousay’s former district nurse, on holiday from Aberdeenshire.

PRIZE-LIST. Section II – Cattle. – Calf, calved on or after October 1, 1946 – 1 Mrs Inkster, Woo; 2 and 3 D. Moar, Saviskaill. Calf, calved on or after 1st March 1947 – 1 Mrs Inkster, 2 R. Seatter. Cow in milk or in calf – 1, 2 and 4 R. Johnston, 3 W. Corsie, 5 James Lyon. Cow, three years old – 1 R. Johnston, 2 W. Alexander, 3 Inkster Bros., 4 J. Seatter. Heifer in calf – 1 and 2 R. Johnston, 3 and 4 W. Alexander, 5 and 6 R. Seatter. Heifers two years old – 1, 4 and 5 Inkster Bros, 2 and c R. Johnston, 3 R. Seatter. Heifer, one year old October 1 – 1 D. Moar. Heifer, one year old 1st March – 1 W. Alexander, 2 James Seatter, 3 R. Seatter, 4 Charles Flett, 5 W. & T. Inkster, 6 James Russell. Steer, two years old – 1, 2 and 3 R. Johnston, 4 W. Alexander, 5 James Russell. Steer, one year old 1st October – 1 W. & T. Inkster, 2 and 3 R. Johnston, 4 W. Alexander, 5 James Lyon. Steer, one year old 1st March – 1 and 2 R. Johnston, 3 R. Seatter, 4 W. Alexander, 5 and 6 D. Moar. Cow in milk or in calf – 1 Mrs Mainland, Hurtiso. Cow, three years old – 1 R. Johnston, 2 W. Corsie. Heifer in calf – 1 W. Alexander, 2 R. Seatter, 3 J. R. Lyon. Heifer, one year old 1st October – 1 James Russell, 2 W. Alexander. Steer, two years old – 1 W. Alexander, 2 R. Seatter, 3 James Lyon, 4 James Marwick, 5 W. & T. Inkster. Steer, one year old 1st March – 1 James Seatter.

Section III – Horses. Draught mare – 1 R. Johnston. Filly, three years old – 1 J. Russell. Filly, two years old – 1 R. Johnston. Draught gelding – 1 James Marwick, 2 W. & T. Inkster. Gelding three years old – 1 J. Seatter. Garron (any age) – 1 W. & T. Inkster, 2 T. Donaldson, Wasdale, 3 J. Russell. Dog Race – 1 Wm. Corsie, Glebe; 2 R. Seatter, Banks; 2 W, Alexander, Scockness; 4 A. Harcus, Knapper.

Section IV – Special Prizes. Department of Agriculture’s prizes for best cow or heifer over two years old in milk or in calf, confined to smallholders – 1, 2 and 3 R. Johnston. Cup presented by Rev. R. R. Davidson, for best animal in cattle sections – 1 R. Johnston; reserve – W. & T. Inkster. Cup, presented by Messrs P. C. Flett, for best cow in yard – 1 and reserve, R. Johnston. Cup, presented by Mr Geo. Johnson, M.R.C.V.S., for best shorthorn cow – 1 R. Johnston; reserve, Mrs Mainland. Cup, presented by Messrs T. Smith Peace, for shorthorn under 2½ years – W. Alexander; reserve, James Russell. Cup, presented by the Northern Co-operative Society for best pair yearlings – 1 and reserve, R. Johnston. Silver rose bowl, presented by O.A.D.S., for best four cattle drawn from any section – R. Johnston; reserve, W. & T. Inkster. Cup, presented by Dr Paterson, for best cog-fed calf – 1 and reserve, Mrs Inkster. Medal, presented by Alex. Heddle, for best calf in yard – 1 and reserve, Mrs Inkster. Medal, presented by A. W. K. Baikie, for best butcher’s animal – W. &. T. Inkster; reserve, R. Johnston. Medal, presented by Mr Wm. D. Reid, for best animal in cattle section, £20 rental and under – R. Grieve, Cruannie; reserve, A. Clouston, Upper Knarston. Medal, presented by Mr Linklater, for best animal in cattle sections £12 rental and under – R. Grieve; reserve, A. Clouston. Silver cup, presented by the late Mr Grant, Trumland, for best animal in horse sections – 1 and reserve, R. Johnston. E.P.N.S. vase, presented by Mr Wm. Shearer, seed merchant, for best gelding – James Marwick; reserve, W. & T. Inkster.


1947 August 26 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY. – In the half hour at their disposal, the Orcadians in “Country Magazine,” the other Sunday afternoon, performed miracles.

I suppose much of the credit is due to the producer of the programme. The picture of our islands which he elicited from those contributing to the programme was marvellously rounded and complete. Without the shadow of a doubt what emerged was a true and balanced reflection of Orkney. It could hardly have been done better.

Many of us were delighted to hear original Orkney poetry like the “Seal Man of Suleskerry,” preserved in the memory of Mr Peter Leith of Stenness, and the Rousay Rhymes that have an even remoter origin, spoken by Dr. Hugh Marwick.

Is it not high time that strenuous efforts were being made to preserve this native folk literature of ours? Another generation, and the vast bulk of it will be lost. It is certain that quantities of it have vanished from mortal ken already.

I must say it was news to me also that Colonel Balfour, in the last century, succeeded in preserving a lot of Orkney folk songs and tunes. Was this collection ever published, and where may one expect to see a copy?

Of all those who contributed to the making of such an excellent programme, I think perhaps Mr John Mackay, of Sanday, was the star.

Not only did he speak in the soft balanced accents of the educated Orkneyman (than which there is no tongue more pleasant), but the story he had to tell of his almost legendary struggle to obtain education as so typical of the situation of so many young Orkneymen, that it was probably the most valuable contribution to the programme. In addition to which, it was related with a characteristic quiet wit – wholly delightful.

It was, altogether, one of the most enjoyable pieces of listening that we have got this summer from the B.B.C. – ISLANDMAN


1947 September 2 Orkney Herald

MOTOR BOAT “OTTER” FOR SALE

32 feet overall, 7 feet 6 inches beam. Carvel built and partly decked and fitted
with mast. Brooke engine. Can be seen at Trumland Pier, Rousay.
Offers should be sent to T. P. & J. L. Low, Solicitors, Kirkwall,
on or before 30th September 1947.


1947 September 30 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY. – There is a lost island in Orkney. Famous for evermore shall be the man who wins it back for humanity. It goes by the rather strange name of Heather-Bleather.

It is the sister island of Eynhallow, that beautiful, bird-haunted skerry between Evie and Rousay. Once Eynhallow was a lost island too, like Heather-Bleather (which lies not far from it, but further out towards the Atlantic) it rose out of the water at certain periods, and then vanished as suddenly, like a mist.

There was in the Orkney of that time a legend that if any man was bold enough to take steel in his hand, and, looking neither left nor right, sail his boat straight for Eynhallow and jump ashore, it would never disappear again.

A score of brave fishermen tried the adventure at different times, and were either drowned in the ferocious roost or swallowed up forever in the thick fog-banks that used to descend and blot out the island. At last the hour and the man came. His name is forgotten; but he fulfilled all the conditions, so that to-day Eynhallow is safely in the Orkney group.

There remains Heather-Bleather. Unfortunately this island has not been appearing quite so often lately as it used to. Or else (as you may perhaps discover later on in this Diary) it has changed its position.

But make no mistake about it – Heather-Bleather exists as surely as Hoy or Westray. The only difference is that it is inhabited by the sea-folk, who naturally want to retain sovereignty over it for as long as possible. The sea folk don’t want their precious island (about the last territory now in their possession) to be invaded by hordes of human settlers.

Yet the sea-folk who live on Heather-Bleather are a gentle, kindly race. One fine summer morning, long ago, a Rousay girl was down at the beach looking for whelks. The sea-folk saw her and fell in love with her. They carried her across the sound to Heather-Bleather.

When she never came home her family mourned for her as dead. It was thought she must have been drowned in the rising tide.

Years afterwards the girl’s father and brothers were out fishing, when a dense fog descended and blotted out everything. They sailed their boat blindly for a space, and at last grounded her safely on an island which they took to be Eynhallow.

But the shape of the island and the houses were strange to them. They knocked for admittance on the door of a small white house. The gentle-faced woman who opened to them was the long-lost girl, their daughter and sister. She welcomed them gravely. Soon her husband and his brother returned to the house, swimming ashore in the guise of seals. But when they came to land they laid aside their seal-skins, and the Rousay men saw that they were the simple and kindly sea-folk.

The fishermen received bountiful hospitality from the sea-folk. At last they rose and said they would have to be getting back to Rousay, as the fog was rising. The woman wept to see her father and brothers going away. She refused to go with them, saying how happy she was living among the sea-folk of Heather-Bleather. As they were going through the door she went on a moment’s impulse to a drawer, and brought out a knife. She put it in her father’s hand, and whispered to him that as long as he kept it he could always return to Heather-Bleather and see her. As the old man was pushing off his boat from the beach the knife slipped through his fingers into the water. Nobody has ever set foot on Heather-Bleather since that day.

For decades it remained hidden. People who ought to know better began to sneer at the very notion of a vanishing island, though Eynhallow is there to confound them.

Quite suddenly and dramatically, within the last five years, Heather-Bleather (or another vanishing island of the same kind) has made its re-appearance. It is now no longer in Rousay Sound: it lies to the west of Hoy.

The first person of our sceptical generation to see it is a young lady from the South. Coming to Orkney by air, she saw distinctly beneath her, to the west of Hoy, a small green island with one white house on it. She swears it was not Graemsay. She looked at her map and saw no island marked where this one was. It was rather puzzling. She mentioned her experience to a few of her friends on landing at Kirkwall. This happened only a few years ago.

Not long afterwards her story was dramatically confirmed. A sober Kirkwall business man on an air trip either to or from Orkney (I forget which) saw a small green island with a white house on it lying far beneath him, to the west of the dark island of Hoy. It was not a case of wishful thinking, for It seems he had never heard of the girl’s exactly similar experience of a few weeks before.

So, after having been lost for centuries, Heather-Blether (or some kindred island of the sea folk) has been sighted by two mortals in the past few years.

Keep a good look-out for it, you air travellers. If Heather-Bleather materialises it will be the biggest news sensation of this century.

As for me, I’m glad that the gentle sea-folk still have somewhere to lay their weary heads.   ISLANDMAN.


1947 October 7 Orkney Herald

PREMATURE. – We tender apologies to any reader who may have been deluded into spending an illicit extra hour in bed on Sunday morning by the premature announcement in “The Orkney Herald” and other newspapers last week of the end of summer time. B.S.T., in fact, continues in force for four weeks yet, until Saturday night, 1st November. The mistaken belief that Winter Time was due to commence last weekend was widespread throughout the country, and to correct it special announcements were broadcast on Friday and Saturday.

NOVEL ROUSAY CONCERT. – Never has Rousay Recreational Hall been packed so full as it was last Friday week, when James Smith – recent Kirkwall broadcasting soloist – brought his talented party of Kirkwall artistes (including the full and original cast of the “Minister’s Keg”) to the “Island of the Mares.”

The audience thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the varied programme while the artistes, on their part, avowed their stay was all too short, leaving Rousay with evident regret in the early hours of the Saturday morning. As a matter of fact they were lucky to get across to Evie when they did, as the weather was worsening.

The Kirkwall party had been invited to the island by the Rousay Amateur Dramatic Society. Proceeds of the concert and following dance amounted to the most gratifying sum of £35 gross, and will go towards the Rousay Amateur Dramatic Society’s funds.

The artistes crossed over from Evie in Sinclair’s trustworthy post-boat. When they arrived at Rousay, six motor cars, including a Humber Snipe, met them at the pier and they were at once whisked away to the school, where a really sumptuous tea was waiting. The tables literally groaned under the weight of good Orkney fare. The tea was provided and served by the ladies of the R.A.D.S.

The concert began at 8.30 p.m., and lasted until well after 11. Mr Bob Johnston of Trumland Farm, on behalf of R.A.D.S., introduced the concert party.

Several folk present had even made the trip by boat from the neighbouring islands of Egilshay and Wyre.

At the close Mrs E. McLean warmly thanked Mr Smith and his talented party for the excellent concert they had given that evening. Compere David Dunnet, on behalf of the concert party, then thanked the Rousay folk for their great hospitality.

After the concert, the floor was cleared for the dancing, which was carried on, with vim and vigour, until the “wee sma’ ‘oors” of Saturday morning.

The concert and dance then but a pleasant memory, the members of the company were dispersed, two at a time, to several farms and homes all over the island. Tired, but happy, sleep came to all without any wooing.


1947 November 4 Orkney Herald

REMEMBRANCE DAY. – Under the auspices of the British Legion, a brief ceremony will be held at Kirkwall War Memorial at 10.30 on Sunday morning (Nov. 9th), when a wreath of poppies will be laid in remembrance of those who gave their lives in both world wars. Although there will be no parade, it is felt that many local ex-servicemen will wish to join in paying tribute to their fallen comrades, and all who would like to attend are asked to assemble at the Masonic Hall at 10.20. There will be ample time available after this ceremony to allow those taking part to attend services of remembrance in their respective churches if they wish to do so.


1947 November 11 Orkney Herald

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY. – Churches throughout Orkney honoured on Sunday the memory of those who fell in the two great wars. In St Magnus Cathedral the morning Remembrance Day service coincided with the “kirkin” of Kirkwall Town Council. The congregation was a large one, greater, probably, than at any time since the Octo-Centenary celebrations ten years ago. The service was conducted by the Rev. G. Arthur Fryer, M.A., B.Sc., H.C.F., who delivered a powerful address on the theme “Freedom and Citizenship.” The two minutes’ silence was observed at 11 o’clock, the congregation upstanding. Young Piper James Robertson played the “Flowers of the Forest,” and the Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Bandmaster Buchan. S.A.


1947 November 18 Orkney Herald

WEATHER FREAKS. – Unless it has still to come (which is doubtful) there will have been no “Peedie Summer” in 1947. Or rather, the “Peedie Summer ” and the “Muckle Summer” ran into each other, which goes far towards explaining the long weeks of golden weather in July and August.

As if in revenge for the nonpareil of summer which we have not Iong left behind us, winter has descended swiftly and cruelly. Stromessians woke shivering last Friday morning to discover the Hoy hills wearing a mantle of snow, and showers of flakes feIl during the day. The local weather prophets say that a wintry winter is likely to follow a summery summer.

At a measure of recompense for the’ chilly weather, we have been having spectacular displays of the Aurora Borealis last week.

————————-

BOOKSHELF – AN ORKNEY SONNET ANALYSED

‘SONS OF THE ISLES’

There is a spell woven by restless seas,
A secret charm that haunts our Island air,
Holding our hearts and following everywhere
The wandering children of the Orcades;
But still, when sleep the prisoned spirit frees,
What dim, void wastes, what strange dark seas we dare,
Till where the dear green isles shine low and fair
We moor in dreams beside familiar quays.


Sons of the Isles! though ye may roam afar.
Still on your lips the salt sea spray is stinging,
Still in your hearts the winds of youth are singing;
Though in heavens grown familiar to your eyes
The Southern Cross is gleaming, for old skies
Your hearts are fain and for the Northern Star.

Duncan J. Robertson

This beautiful sonnet, which every Orkney school child ought to know by heart, is only one of many fine poems by this writer. If Duncan J. Robertson had had more time to devote to literature, he had it in him to become a great writer. Writing seems to have been only a hobby with him, consequently his reputation is purely local.

The structure of the poem is as perfect as can be, as all readers of sonnets will know. The theme is a common one – that the love of Orkney follows Orcadians wherever they go over the face of the earth. That is all the poem says, and there is surely nothing very extraordinary in that. What is extraordinary is the power and serenity with which the poet expresses this feeling which is common to all Orkneymen who have left the islands.

The octet (the first eight lines) moves in a kind of trance or dream, and soft dream-like language is used. Note the abundance of words and syllables containing the letters l, m, q – all ministering to the mood of rest and quietude. And notice, too, what is even more insistent, the soft surge of the letter s sounding over all, like the distant wash of the sea which we hear in Orkney on summer evenings, when we are inland.

There is nothing violent or disturbing about the imagery. All is serene as a child’s innocent sleep. Notice how calmly and surely the phrases come out, each perfectly in its place, dovetailing into the next, till the heart of repose is reached in the octet’s last two lines:

Till where the dear green isles shine low and fair
We moor in dreams beside familiar quays.

Strand after strand of wistful memory has been woven, until the ultimate contentment has been realized. Surely nothing is possible after this?

The poet blows a stirring clarion call, and the poem, which has hitherto been like a drowsy anodyne of memory and forgetfulness, is shaken into life. Splendid ringing phrases sound from the poet’s lips. Notice, in the first three lines of the sestet, the wide open vowels with the great winds of far horizons blowing through them. The absolute confidence and sureness of touch of a craftsman on top of his job are still apparent.

The poem ends on a quieter note. We have seen the splendid galaxies of the Southern Hemisphere, but still our hearts are fain for the old skies and for the Northern Star of home. The last line, with its lovely intimate cluster of sounds, brings us home again to where “the isles shine low and fair.” So the cycle of the poem is completed: we rise from contemplation of it rewarded and satisfied.

Notice, too, how the poem gains by taking as its subject one of the timeless aspects of Orkney life: the wanderlust that has always been there, generation by generation, since the days of the eighth century Norsemen.

The striking poise and balance which the poem achieves is due to the perfect contrast between repose and action, dream and reality, age and youth. – G. M. B.


1947 November 25 Orkney Herald

WEATHER CONTRASTS. – Snowbound roads, frozen lochs, the earliest considerable snowfall since 1903. That was how last week opened.

Two days later Orkney folk were sweltering almost in the breath of an unseasonably warm, humid breeze. Heavy condensation caused by this sudden reversal of conditions made walls and furniture damp and clammy.

Our Orphir correspondent’s account of the snow of the beginning of the week is typical of those received from all parts of Orkney: –

“On Monday Arctic conditions prevailed and the blizzard of the previous day had caused numerous wreaths of snow which threatened to block public highways. Snowploughs were in action on several days averting stoppage of traffic.

“The weather was bitterly cold for four days and outside work on the farm was at a standstill.

“For weather of comparable severity so early in the season, we must go back to 1903, when the closing weeks of November saw a snowstorm which blocked the roads for about a fortnight.”


1947 December 2 Orkney Herald

MARRIAGES. – GIBSON – GIBSON. – At St Magnus Cathedral, on 19th November, 1947, by Rev. G. Arthur Fryer, M.A., B.Sc., H.C.F., David Norman Slater, youngest son of James S. Gibson and the late Mrs Gibson, Hullion, Rousay, to Edith Harrold, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs John Gibson, Avelshay, Rousay.

ROBIN REDBREAST. – Are we to have a winter more severe this year than ever? Old folks well versed in weather lore and reading the signs of the last few weeks say we are. One of those signs is the early appearance of that friendly little bird, the Robin Redbreast. I saw one on Sunday, says our correspondent. His coat of brown and ruddy breast were un-mistakable. Have you seen one? If you do, remember he is a friend in need, and throw him a crumb or two. He is the bird “who has so great an affection for our kind that in woods and desert places he will strew leaves over friendless bodies of unburied men.” Pinching times are here! Remember Robin!


1947 December 23 Orkney Herald

OLD MAN OF HOY. – The world-famed Old Man of Hoy, a 430-foot-high pillar of rock on the Atlantic coast of Orkney, has changed hands. The northern portion of Hoy, the Island on which it stands, after being in possession of Mr and Mrs Thomas Middlemore of Melsetter [and earlier Westness House, Rousay], for just over fifty years, has been bought by Mr Malcolm Stewart, of Hawridge Court, near Chesham, Bucks. Mr Stewart during the war served in the Royal Navy, and was stationed for a period at Hatston Naval Air Station, Kirkwall.

DWARFIE STONE, TOO. His love for Orkney has decided him to settle in the islands and to acquire this portion of Hoy, which includes another famous landmark, the Dwarfie Stone, a pre-historic and legendary habitation cut from a huge sandstone boulder. The price paid has not been disclosed.


1947 December 30 Orkney Herald

ORKNEY VERSE QUERY

To the Editor of the “Orkney Herald

SIR, – I am trying to trace the author and source of the following verse:

Eynhallow frank,
Eynhallow free,
Eynhallow stands in the middle of the sea.
With a roarin’ roost on every side
Eynhallow stands in the middle of the tide.

Could any readers of “The Orkney Herald” help me, through the medium of your columns? – Yours, etc., (Miss) L. B. Russ, 6 Westbourne Terrace, Glasgow, W.2.


Categories
In Print

Newsprint – 1946

[Despite virtually no mention of Rousay in the Orkney Herald I will continue to scan the newspaper’s pages – just in case something crops up! In the meantime I will include items of interest – such as the return of the Ba’ after its lapse during the war years.]


1946 January 1 Orkney Herald

VICTORY CHRISTMAS SEES BA’ GAMES RESUMED

WOMEN’S CONTEST ROUSES CONTROVERSY

After having been in eclipse during the six war years, Kirkwall’s age-old street ba’ games, contested between Up-the-Gates and Down-the-Gates, were revived on Christmas Day, to the intense interest of the younger generation who remembered the games only vaguely if they remembered them at all, and of the Servicemen and Servicewomen still in the Kirkwall area. Expectations voiced by some that the pre-war keenness of the games would be lacking, proved to be unfounded, and, last Tuesday, Uppie and Doonie feeling ran as high as ever.

An innovation this Christmas, and in the view of many citizens, not entirely a welcome one, was the provision of a ba’ contest for women, which was played between the boys’ and men’s games. There was considerable opposition to the holding of this game, on the grounds that it world prove to be an undignified exhibition, but notwithstanding a strong rumour which circulated on Christmas Eve to the effect that the women’s ba’ had been cancelled, the game duly took place, although there were a good many ladies who apparently were misled by the rumours and consequently did not turn up to support their side.

Boy’s Ba’ Over Quickly.

The boy’s ba’, thrown up from the Market Cross at 10 a.m. by Mr James D. Nicholson, was over in what must have been almost record time. Very few players had assembled and late-comers on this occasion were certainly caught on the hop, for less than five minutes after the ball had been thrown up the game was over.

A speedy Down-the-Gates youngster, securing the leather from the throw up, dashed down towards Albert Street, where he handed it on to a colleague. Evan MacGillivray, Laing Street, who raced off down into Bridge Street, and covering the remaining distance to the harbour basin in the manner of a rugby three-quarter, set the seal on the Down-the-Gates victory by dropping the ball in the water as required by tradition. He was himself declared the personal winner of the ba’.

The Women’s Ba’.

The women’s contest began at 11.30 a.m., and a good number of the town’s “Amazons” had gathered when the ba’ was thrown up by Mr David Flett, town librarian. Soon after play had commenced, however, there was an extraordinary development, the ball being smuggled out of the ruck of players and “mislaid” by, it is said, some individuals hostile to the women’s game. While the New Year’s Day ball was being procured, to use as a substitute, the missing article was found in the Cathedral churchyard by Mr Eoin Mackay and thrown up anew. From this point the ladies tore into it in a style more reminiscent of the Red Devils at Arnhem than of Kirkwall’s fair sex. No quarter was asked and none given, but there were complaints of too-partisan males taking an active part in the game, and while all of them could not be dealt with, at least one interfering “gentleman” took an aching “lug” home with him to his Christmas dinner.

The Uppies for a while exerted the strongest pressure, and the ball was gradually carried up into Victoria Street, but there the Doonies rallied, and, digging their toes in, damped their opponents’ over-confidence by regaining their lost ground and pushing the ball down past the Market Cross to Castle Street, where the scrum swirled down to Junction Road and an Uppie break-away there took the ball as far as the Police Station before the Down-the-Gates scrambled back into defence.

Play reached a stalemate at the Police Station and the ball had to be thrown up again by Mr Price, jr. Thereafter, with the Doonies resisting grimly, the Up-the-Gates, inspired by the nearness of the Scapa corner, forced their opponents along the road, and another breakaway brought the game to a victorious conclusion just before one o’clock. The ball was awarded to Miss Barbara Yule, of High Street, who had been an outstanding player for the winners.

There was nothing gentle about this contest of the members of the gentle sex, but fortunately none of the participants suffered any hurt beyond scratches and bruises. A couple of players were said to have fainted during the excitement of the scrimmages, but the casualties, for the most part, were confined to permanent waves, hats, scarves, shoes and stockings. Any lady rash enough to venture into the proceedings wearing her best Christmas finery had good cause to regret it.

The Men’s Ba’.

Chief interest, of course, centred on the men’s ba’, which was thrown up at 1 p.m. by Mr W. H. B. Sutherland, chemist, in the presence of a large and enthusiastic crowd. Augmented by Service people and other strangers who had never previously witnessed the unique Kirkwall game, it was one of the biggest “galleries” the ba’ has ever had. There was some surprise, however, that so few representatives of the Services took part in the game itself, and the players were actually fewer than might have been expected, though their numbers increased as the game progressed. There was a considerable number of recruits from the pre-war boys’ games, and Orkney ex-Servicemen were well represented, but one looked in vain for some of the old familiar faces.

Though it was a very keenly-fought struggle there were no unusual incidents such as have marked out some famous ba’ games of the past. Play hung for well over an hour in Broad Street, the players sweating and straining in the drizzling rain till the steam rose from them. The Up-the-Gates made one early effort which carried the ba’ about 20 yards to the “Up” side of the Market Cross, but the Down-the Gates retrieved their position, and from then on they slowly but inexorably consolidated their position. When, shortly after two o’clock the scrum entered Albert Street it was clear that, barring “smugglings” it was destined to be a Down-the-Gates victory. Nevertheless, the Uppies put up a dour resistance, and, first at the Royal Bank, and again at Hourston’s Close, made unsuccessful attempts to break away.

Followed by an ever-growing crowd the Doonies pressed relentlessly on down Albert Street and Bridge Street, and at 3 o’clock the ball was flung into the basin, where, whether by intention or by accident, several players followed it. It was quickly retrieved (likewise the players) and awarded by unanimous agreement to Mr Hector Aitken, engineer, a Down-the-Gates stalwart.

All three of the day’s games were played in miserable weather, and the attendances were, this being considered, surprisingly good.


[The powers that be at the Orkney Herald saw fit not to give any of the New Year’s Day ba’ games any coverage at all. So, Uppie Violet Couper never saw her name in print in that particular newspaper as the winner of the second, and last ever, Women’s Ba’ game! – Doonie Jack Donaldson won the Boy’s ba’, and Uppie John Hourston the Men’s.]


1946 February 26 Orkney Herald

TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS INTERRUPTED. – The recent gale, accompanied by a heavy snowfall, which swept Orkney during the weekend, caused breakages in the telephone system in the county, through fallen poles and wires. For a considerable period on Saturday, Kirkwall Exchange were unable to make any contact with Birsay, Evie, Orphir, Sandwick and Hoy.

STROMNESS – WEATHER. – The weather last week was the worst of the winter. Up to the present, the weather has been, on the whole, extremely fine. Orcadians woke to a white world on Thursday morning, with snow two inches deep everywhere. The rain came on Thursday night and washed all the snow away. Friday was a fearsome day – bitterly cold and rainy. On the night of Friday-Saturday damp snow fell and made a grey, dirty mess of the whole landscape. On Saturday morning the Kirkwall-Stromness road was blocked in parts. The s.s. St Ola set out from Stromness Pier on Saturday morning but made a hasty return. While this is being written (Saturday afternoon) there is no sign of an improvement. If there is no improvement, there will be no Stromness News this week. Clear-blue cold skies and blinding blizzards alternate rapidly.


1946 March 5. Orkney Herald

INTERRUPTED SERVICES. – The heavy snowfall which covered the North of Scotland with a blanket of white, with drifts of several feet, caused widespread dislocation of traffic. County buses were unable to travel, while several out-lying farms were isolated for a short period. The County Council had some snow ploughs on the roads to clear a passage for traffic. Large numbers of army transport were ditched on the ice-bound roads, but fortunately there were no incidents of a more serious nature. Sledges became the main mode of transport in some districts, while, in the town, the youngsters made full use of the facilities provided for tobogganing, mostly at East Road, School Place and the Clay Loan. In Caithness snow ploughs could make little impression on the main roads which remained blocked to traffic for several days.


1946 March 12 Orkney Herald

THE THAW. – The thaw was neither dirty nor protracted; it came and disposed of the snow overnight. While it lay the snow was deep enough. Several funerals – there are always a lot of them at this time of the year – had to proceed to the Churchyard by sledge. The streets of Stromness were in fearful mess on the few days preceding the thaw. No attempt was made to clear the streets, although in Kirkwall a squad of men were engaged in making a clearance. People got a shock on waking up last Friday morning to discover that the snow had come back again – fortunately only a light coating of it, that melted in the sun during the day. The “real thaw” came on Saturday, with an afternoon of drenching rain that cleared off the last vestiges of the snowfall. One result of the very severe weather is that many people are suffering from a mild type of influenza, which necessitates going to bed for a few days in most cases.    


1946 April 16 Orkney Herald

EVIE – FARM. – The recent spell of wet and cold weather has greatly hampered farm work in the fields and suspended sowing operations, but it has helped vegetation and a flush of green has spread over the earth. Now the weather gives promise of a fine period, and all farmers should be sowing this week. The open winter apparently had a bad effect on sheep, and there has been much complaint of mortality in the lambing season as a result. But many lambs are gambolling over the fields.


1946 April 23 Orkney Herald

EGILSHAY – ST MAGNUS MONUMENT. – On April 16th a wreath was placed on the St Magnus Monument, Egilshay. The wreath was given by Miss [Margaret Traill] Baikie, Tankerness. The monument was erected in the year 1937 by the Rector and congregation of the Church of St Magnus the Martyr, by London Bridge, and the minister and congregation of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.

“ISLAND DIARY” by Islandman. – I think I mentioned last week that the accordion is the favourite musical instrument of Orcadians. In recent years it has completely ousted the fiddle from country weddings, barn dances, and family gatherings.

It is a change in the wrong direction, I can’t help thinking. There must be some reason, however, for the popularity of the “squeeze-box” in Orkney.

The first point to note is that it is a comparatively new instrument, and novelty always attracts. The second point is that it is infinitely easier to master than the violin, which requires a life-time of study.

The third and final point is probably, from our island point of view, the most interesting. The accordion makes more noise than the fiddle. Notice, you readers of old Norse literature, that the Scandinavians and Orcadians of old rarely praised their gods upon stringed instruments. The reason? Why, because the music that came from these old guitars and harps, though very soft and melodious, was in many ways incomprehensible to the Northmen. You cannot spend all your life among howling winds and mournful sea-surges, and hope to develop a taste for soft, dreamy melody.

The Norsemen liked the harsh, stirring music that their horns gave out – the music of their native seas and winds, strident tempestuous music like the Overture to the Flying Dutchman.

The intervening centuries have not changed our tastes. When the accordion reached Orkney – I do not know when, but it cannot be very long ago – our island music-makers received it, with open arms.

Here at last was an instrument they could understand and appreciate. Nowadays, whenever at a country wedding or a barn dance you see the accordionist nursing these “heaving bellows” in his tireless arms (with a glass of foaming home-brew at his elbow), you will understand that this is the translation into twentieth-century art of the winds and waves that rave round our coasts, the cry of the seagulls and the lilting accents of the island people.

And meantime the poor fiddler takes a back seat, and as he scrapes away at his exotic instrument he knows that he is fighting a losing battle.


[In the first six months of 1946 the island of Rousay was not mentioned once in the columns of the Orkney Herald. In the past fortnight every island and mainland parish celebrated Victory Week and took part in Welcome Home functions for their returning servicemen and women. Not a word from Rousay. As we already know, Rousay lost four men in WW2 – but the fate of not a single one of them was recorded by the ‘newspaper’, unlike many of those from other parts of the county.]


1946 May 7 Orkney Herald

STROMNESS – MAY DEW. – Only very few Stromnessians observed the traditional custom this year of going to the slopes of Brinkie’s Brae and washing their faces with May dew in the early morning of May Day. The custom appears to be dying out, which is a pity. Among other things, May dew has valuable cosmetic properties, and is said to give the features of whatever maiden makes use of it, irresistible charm. The dew of Brinkies Brae, say the local old people, is ten times as powerful and beauty-giving as the dew in your back garden. A lot of valuable stuff went to waste this year.


1946 May 14 Orkney Herald

EVIE – ON THE FARM. – The fields which have been under the action of the plough and the harrows during the past weeks have now been nicely neatened off, and the seed is “springing fresh and green.” The soil is in fine condition for the preparation of the turnip crop which now claims attention, but some warm showers would do much good in promoting growth. The weather this month makes the hay crop.

PEATS. – Peat time is here again, and the trek to the hills has begun. The dry bright sunny weather of the past week has been ideal for cutting the turves, and the moors were never in better condition for employing the tusker. With more limited supplies of coal in view, a greater effort than ever will be made to obtain peat fuel this year, and we hope to see at the homesteads bulky stacks as in former days when peat was the sole fuel in the county.


1946 July 1 The Scotsman

SEAWEED SURVEY. – Captain E. E. Fresson of Scottish Airways Ltd., has carried out an aerial survey of banks of seaweed off the Orkney islands with Dr Woodward, Technical Adviser to the Scottish Seaweed Research Association, Edinburgh. Good banks of seaweed were observed off North Ronaldsay, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray and Rousay. The Association are paying the islanders £3 a ton for dried tangles, plus 5s a ton for bundling.


1946 August 6 Orkney Herald

“ISLAND DIARY”

[This column was written by ‘Islandman,’ aka George Mackay Brown, and this particular week’s tale was a brief account of a Sunday afternoon bus trip around the West Mainland. Having explored Birsay the party arrived at the landing stage at Evie. GMB continues…..]

All the party set out in the evening sunlight to inspect the Broch at Aikerness, except me. Though I am interested in a mild way in the lives lived by our pre-historic ancestors, as manifested by the ruins they have left behind them, I admit to a congenital laziness which makes any great walking feat out of the question as far as I am concerned. The broch, they said, was two miles away and more, over the ribbed sea sand.

When they had all gone, and were no more than tiny moving specks against the yellow sand, I climbed on to the top of the bus, and studied with fond recognition the brown hilly outline of Rousay, two miles distant across Eynhallow Sound.

Rousay is another favourite place of mine. I lived there for a month in the summer of 1942; four sunlit peaceful weeks, while Russia was undergoing the great agony of Stalingrad, the first immense birth pains of victory. In gratitude for the happiness Rousay gave me in the days of my extreme youth, I took out my note-book and made a careful sketch of the island, as seen from the Evie landing stage.

The Almighty, however, has not in His infinite wisdom, seen fit to endow me with sketching talent. Had the result been good, I should have asked the Editor to reproduce it for your delectation somewhere in this column. However, it was an abortion that came from my pencil, quite unworthy of a lovely island; and though it remains in my notebook, no other eye but my own fond one will ever look at it…..


1946 August 13 Orkney Herald

FROTOFT GALA DAY – Successful Picnic and Sports. – The annual Frotoft picnic was held at Frotoft School, Rousay, on Friday, 12th July. Although the day was dull, rain did not fall until the sports had ended. After milk and “cookies” had been served at 3 p.m., the sports began. Tea was served in the school about 6 o’clock. After tea Mrs Maclean, Sourin Schoolhouse, presented the prizes to the winners. She was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Votes of thanks were also given to Mrs Harcus and the picnic committee. Then followed a short programme of songs, dances and recitations by the school children. By 8 p.m. a large company had assembled and dancing was carried on with great zest till 2 a.m., when the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” brought to a close a very enjoyable evening…..


1946 August 20 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Cattle entries were well maintained, though horses and sheep were fewer than pre-war, at the annual show of Rousay Agricultural Society, held on 6th August in a field granted by Mr Robert Seatter, Banks.

At the Society’s dinner in the evening Sir Basil Neven-Spence, M.P. for Orkney and Shetland, introduced by Mr Moar, president, was accorded musical honours. The singing was led by Mr Stanley Firth. Sir Basil Neven-Spence replied to the toast of his health, proposed by Mr Moar.

The show judges were Messrs P. Davidson, Skaill, Sandwick, and J. N. Flett, Howan, Dounby.

The show arrangements were carried out by Mr Moar, president, and a Committee, with Mr Ronald Shearer as secretary.

Mrs M. Flaws, Store Cottage, formally presented the prizes, and the ladies of the Horticultural Society supplied the judges and committee with teas during the day and the dinner in the evening.

Prize List.

Sheep: – Pair H.B. Ewes – 1 and 2 R. Seatter. Pair H.B. Lambs – 1, 2, 3 and 4 R. Seatter. Best five Lambs – 1 and 2 R. Seatter. – Special Prizes. – Five Lambs – 1 and reserve, R. Seatter. Pair Ewes – 1 and reserve, R. Seatter. Best Sheep – 1 and reserve, R. Seatter.

Cattle: – Calf (1st October) – 1 Mrs T. Inkster, 2 J. Russell, 3 and 4 R. Seatter. Calf (1st March) – 1, 2 and 3 R. Johnston, 4 J. Russell, 5 W. Alexander, 6 R. Seatter.

Polled. – Bull – 1 R. Johnston. Cow – 1 and 2 R. Johnston, 3 C. Flett, 4 W. Corsie, 5 J. Russell, 6 R. Seatter. Three-year-old Cow – 1 W. Corsie, 2 J. Russell. Heifer in Calf – 1 R. Johnston, 2 J. Russell, 3 Inkster Bros. Two-year-old Heifer – 1, 2, 3 and 4 R. Johnston. One-year-old Heifer (1st Oct.) – 1 Inkster Bros., 2 J. Russell, 3 R. Johnston; ditto. (1st Mar.) – 1 Inkster Bros. Two-year-old Steer – 1 and 2 R. Johnston, 3 W. Alexander, 4 W. Corsie. One-year-old Steer (1st Oct.) – 1 R. Johnston, 2 Inkster Bros.; do. (1st Mar.) – 1, 2 and 3 R. Johnston, 4 W. Alexander, 5 and 6 Inkster Bros.

Shorthorn. – Cow – 1 Mrs Mainland, 2 R. Seatter, 3 W. Corsie, 4 J. Munro, 5 J. RusseII. Heifer in Calf – 1 R. Johnston, 2 W. Corsie. One-year-old Heifer (1st Mar.) – 1 J. Munro. Two-year-old Steer – 1 and 2 R. Seatter. One-year-old Steer (1st Oct.) – 1 W. Alexander. One-year-old Steer (1st Mar.) – 1 J. Russell, 2 and 3 Inkster Bros.

Special Prizes. – Best animal in Cattle Section – 1 and reserve R. Johnston. Shorthorn Cow – Mrs Mainland; reserve R. Seatter. Best Cow in Yard – Mrs Mainland; reserve R. Johnston. Best Shorthorn under 2½ years – R. Seatter; reserve R. Johnston. Pair Yearlings – R. Johnston; reserve Inkster Bros. Four Cattle drawn from any section – 1 and reserve R. Johnston. Butcher’s Animal – 1 and reserve R. Johnston. Best Animal in Cattle Section, under £20 rental – C. Flett; reserve J. Munro. Best Animal in Cattle Section, under £12 rental – C. Flett; reserve J. Munro. Cog-fed Calf – Mrs T. Inkster; reserve J. Russell. Best Calf in Yard – Mrs T. Inkster; reserve R. Johnston. Best two-year-old Heifer calved between 1st Jan., 1944 and 1st Jan., 1945 – 1 and 2 R. Johnston, 3 W. Corsie.

Horses: – Mare with Foal at foot – 1 J. Russell, 2 W. Alexander. Draught Mare – 1 and 3 R. Johnston, 2 J. Craigie. Two-year-old Filly – 1 J. Russell, 2 & 3 J. Craigie. One-year-old Filly – 1 R. Johnston. Draught Gelding – 1 Inkster Bros. Two-year-old Gelding – 1 R. Johnston. Foal – 1 W. Alexander, 2 J. Russell. Garron – 1 Inkster Bros., 2 and 3 J. Munro.

Special Prizes. –  Best Animal in Horse Section – 1 and reserve R. Johnston. Best Mare with Foal at foot – J. Russell; reserve W. Alexander. Gelding – R. Johnston; reserve Inkster Bros. Best Foal in Yard – W. Alexander; reserve J. Russell. Best Garron – Inkster Bros.; reserve J. Munro.


1946 August 27 Orkney Herald

ISLAND DIARY (By Islandman). – In the South, especially in England, if you want to take up golf you have to be one of the idle rich. It is almost unthinkable for a working man to contemplate it, unless he decides to starve his wife and children. In most good golf clubs in the South the subscription fees, are, for the poor man, impossibly high.

In Orkney we are fortunate in having three excellent golf courses – Kirkwall, Stromness, and Rousay – which are not beyond the pocket of the poorest message boy. Grainbank (Kirkwall), as a straightforward classic course, is superior to the other two. Stromness and Rousay are more thickly sown with maddening magnificent bunkers, and both command views which for sheer beauty are equal to anything in the country.

Pardon this preamble. What I wanted to say is that I was present as a spectator at the Hamilton Cup competition the other day at Stromness Golf Course, and I did enjoy watching the 25 golfing stalwarts struggling for the Orkney championship.

Ten of the 25 came from Kirkwall, the other fifteen were all Stromnessians. Rousay sent no competitors, as most of her players are too busy these August days in the harvest field. But I’ve seen the Rousay golfers playing, and know that their best players are as good as anything that comes out of Kirkwall or Stromness. Certainly it is true that golf in Orkney is not popular with manual workers – most of the town golfers are clerks and shop-men…..


1946 September 3 Orkney Herald

[Editorial leader article]

“LETTERS TO THE EDITOR”

Every newspaper, the ”Orkney Herald” included, is essentially a co-operation between those who combine to produce the newspaper, and those who read it.

If any newspaper allows its contents to fall below a certain standard of merit and entertainment, its readers will desert it. If, on the other hand, a newspaper knows what the people want and how to give it to them, that newspaper will prosper.

A newspaper which loses touch with the people is asking for trouble, for it is really the people who mould the shape and editorial policy of every journal.

We want the “Orkney Herald” to be a real co-operative effort between the people of Orkney and ourselves.

Usually the regular readers of a newspaper are content to take what they get and say little. This applies particularly to Orkney readers. The Orkney people are noted for their extreme reticence. They dislike intensely to retail their opinions on any subject whatever. The political persuasions of the average Orkney farmer is usually a shrouded mystery, even to his nearest neighbour.

Occasionally, however, your true Orcadian launches out, and when he does speak he takes good care that nothing is left, in doubt. When an Orcadian pens a Letter to the Editor, he means every word he says.

Not all Letters to the Editor are fit for publication, and we of the “Orkney Herald” could, had we a mind to it, print a best-seller out of letters of the past eighty-five years which we have trembled to reproduce in our columns. But the vast majority of the Letters to the Editor which reach us are printed. We believe that it is right to do so.

The people of Orkney have a right to let their opinions be heard. The “Orkney Herald” is open to anyone who has something to say, unless it is libellous or seditious.

Readers will have noticed that we have no obligation to printing droll and eccentric letters. These are usually of first-rate entertainment value, and the repercussions and echoes usually go on for a few weeks. It has often happened, too, that in the past the overtly eccentric letter has proved with time to contain not a few seeds of genuine wisdom. All this is not to say that we identify ourselves with a certain few very eccentric letters which have appeared in our columns recently.

We invite you, then, to let us know if you think strongly about any matter which affects Orkney and Orkney life. The columns of a newspaper have always been a great winnowing-floor of the truth. For every opinion, no matter how thickly the chaff of irrelevance surrounds it, usually contains a sound kernel of living truth.


[You would think, I’m sure, the above editorial would have provoked some very interesting letters in reply. I’m sure folk did put pen to paper and send their letters off. Unfortunately not one of them found their way into the columns of the weekly newspaper.

I will persevere, and continue to scan each issue from the past, and leap at the chance of extracting any and every mention of…..Rousay – and all the time there isn’t, I will include reports of every-day life in the county I think will interest folk who appreciate Rousay Remembered.]


1946 September 10 Orkney Herald

FARM IN ROUSAY TO LET

To Let, with entry at Martinmas 1946, the Farm of LANGSKAILL, ROUSAY, as at present occupied by Mr C. A. M. Sinclair. The farm extends to over 300 acres, with right of grazing on 500 acres of hill. Good housing and suitable to the holding. For further particulars, apply to the Subscribers, who will receive offers up to the 30th September 1946. – T. P. & J. Low, Solicitors, Kirkwall.

[Charles Armit Sinclair was the son of Robert Craigie Sinclair, Sketquoy, and Ann Elizabeth Leonard, Cruannie. He was married to Annie May Robertson, daughter of Hugh Corsie Robertson, South Tofts, Egilsay, later Langskaill, and Mary Ann Marwick, Scockness.]


1946 November 19 Orkney Herald

TEACHERS’ TRIBUTE TO DR. MARWICK. – Teachers from all parts of Orkney attended a presentation in Kirkwall Grammar School on Saturday morning to Dr Hugh Marwick, O.B.E., on the occasion of his retirement at the end of this month from the post of Director of Education and Executive Officer of Orkney Education Committee.

The presentation of a gift of a set of the volumes, ” An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Orkney and Shetland,” and a cheque was made in the name of the teaching profession in Orkney by Mr John Shearer, M.A., B.Sc., successor (and former pupil) of Dr Marwick.

Joining Mr Shearer in paying tribute to Dr Marwick were Mr J. R. Learmonth, headmaster of Stromness Academy; Miss Robertson, Kirbister, Stromness; Mr Alex Leask, headmaster of Kirkwall Grammar School; Mr A. M. Fotheringhame, Orphir; Mrs McLean, Sourin, Rousay, and Mr Frank Kent, Sandwick.

They spoke of Dr Marwick’s brilliance as pupil, student, teacher, headmaster and school administrator, and referred especially to his researches into the ancient Orkney language and antiquities.


1946 December 17 Orkney Herald

A BOUQUET

Dear Mr Editor. – May I congratulate you most heartily on the excellence of “The Orkney Herald,” particularly in the last few weeks. Now that war-time restrictions are being removed it is evident that you pursue a very progressive policy, and seek to provide the maximum possible in news and views.

Your paper deserves to be read far and wide! – I wish you a Happy Christmas – and a still wider circulation! – Yours, etc., SATISFIED READER.

[I’m guessing the letter above was written by the Editor himself, or at least a relation of his! It was not inserted in the usual ‘Letters to the Editor’ column. I have scanned every page of every weekly issue of the Orkney Herald for newsworthy events and not one has caught my eye for many months now! No mention of Rousay, little or nothing from Evie, and the rest of the ‘local’ news from other islands and mainland parishes does not warrant reproduction I’m afraid.]


1946 December 21 The Scotsman

MINISTER’S DEATH IN CANADA – Native of Orkney. – The Rev. John Gibson Inkster, a retired Presbyterian Church minister, died at Toronto, Canada, on Thursday from injuries sustained when struck by a car (an Exchange Telegraph message states.)

Mr Inkster was born at [Cogar] Rousay, Orkney, and went to Canada as a young man. He began to educate himself while working on the land. Later he attended M’Gill University.

Returning to Scotland, he studied theology at Edinburgh, and also attended New College, Oxford. His first church was in Bristol. He returned to Canada between thirty and forty years ago and became minister of churches in London, Ontario, and on Vancouver Island. For many years afterwards he was minister of the Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto. When he retired, in 1940, he went to New Zealand and Australia, with his wife [Alice Rowsome], on Presbyterian business.

While on passage from New Zealand to Australia, in 1941, their ship was torpedoed, but they were rescued and taken back to New Zealand. Mr Inkster was 79.


Categories
In Print

Newsprint – 1945

1945 January 2 Orkney Herald

A NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO OUR READERS

The Editor and Staff of the “Orkney Herald” extend to all readers their heartiest good wishes for heath and prosperity in 1945.

To those splendid men and women who serve in H.M. Forces in all parts of the world with such steadfastness and devotion we say “Good health, good luck and may God bless you and keep you to return, as soon as possible, to all whom you have left behind and whom you hold so dear.

For those who are left at home to carry on their magnificent work for final victory our wish is for continued good health to enable them to supply our fighting men with all they need, so that once and for all the world may be rid of the foul and tyrannical doctrines of Nazism and Fascism.

And lastly, to those who must wait and watch for the return of their dear ones, we say “Be of good cheer and pray for the moment when the sun will shine again to drive away the last dark cloud of war so that Peace may be restored to a battle scarred and agonised world.”

May God be with you in your vigil, and may His blessing be with you in 1945 and always.


1945 January 9 Orkney Herald

STROMNESS NEWS – HOGMANAY. – Hogmanay Sunday was clear and cold. Towards midnight it became overcast and a slight drizzle set in. Quiet reigned during the last hours of the dying year; respect for the Sabbath bred in every British bone restrained any wild outbreaks of feeling. The pious section of the population took in the New Year in church; all other sections, the vast majority, welcomed it wherever they were standing – in dance-hall, canteen, home, or open street. The whisky famine had been mourned far and wide between Christmas and the New Year. Soon after midnight, however, a surprising number of bottles made an appearance – the result, as someone suggested, of hoarding all through the spring and summer. We observed nobody, however, who could be described as hopelessly drunk, and anyone who was inebriated reached that state in a sober dignified fashion, which was quite commendable. Stromness and Kirkwall have recently been described as the modern “Sodom and Gomorrah,” and certainly to anyone unacquainted with the rites of Hogmanay in Orkney, the streets and bye-laws of Stromness during the early hours of 1945 must have seemed inhabited by the depraved and the double-damned denizens of the lowest circles of the underworld. Intoxicated voices and the unsteady tramp of intoxicated feet kept honest citizens awake long after the usual hour. By seven in the morning most of the revellers had returned home, and the early morning light caught the last of them as they staggered, crawled, or were carried home to early breakfast. New Year’s Day, of course, was spent in disgusting in-action by the sober citizens of Stromness, and in sad attempts to regain sobriety by the swilling ones. Several of the latter category (by far the larger, we fear) repented on January the first, and swore never to touch drink again. But I quite agree with you, dear readers – we’ve heard that story before! We wish our readers a very happy New Year, and join with them in the fervent hope that 1946 will dawn on a world at peace.


1945 January 16 Orkney Herald

STROMNESS – HARBOUR FROZEN. – On Wednesday morning last a large part of the inner harbour was frozen over. An old Graemsay man of seventy years, who visited Stromness that day in his motor-boat, said he never remembered Stromness harbour frozen to such an extent before. When we passed on this opinion to a middle-aged Stromness man, he ridiculed the idea. He said he remembered two or three occasions of far thicker frost. But whatever it was like in the past, it was certainly very frosty last Wednesday morning. The wireless announcer spoke of a terrific snowstorm over the Straits of Dover. ln Orkney it was beautifully sunny and crisp – which is only one more proof of the superiority of Orkney’s climate to that of any other region in Britain.


1945 January 30 Orkney Herald

THE BIG SNOW-UP

WORST ARCTIC CONDTIONS FOR MANY YEARS

Orkney, like the rest of Britain, was last week in the grip of the most severe prolonged spell of Arctic weather for many years. All over the county roads were blocked and traffic held up. Few of the blocks were of long duration, but most roads were closed intermittently throughout the period. Even after more than a week only one traffic lane was available on most routes and great care was necessary.

Owing to interruptions to railway services in the North of Scotland, communication with the South by surface route was at times cut off, but on no day was Scottish Airways service between Inverness, Orkney and Shetland unable to get through, though some services were delayed. At Aberdeen, on the other hand, snowfall was such that Allied Airways were unable to operate. An aircraft which left there on Thursday, 18th January, was still in Orkney at this week-end.

There were few accidents due to the wintry conditions, and all bar one were of a minor nature. The exception was a sledging mishap on Clay Loan, Kirkwall, on Wednesday evening, as a result of which a member of the W.R.N.S., a Glasgow girl, sustained severe head and body injuries. At the time of going to press she was progressing as well as could be expected.

Writing on Friday a West Mainland correspondent reported: – We are completely snowed up here, with the worst snow block for many years. The frost, too, has been most severe. Most of the ordinary farm roads are full of snow, and moving is difficult except on foot, and even then not very easy. The public roads are not good either. Some attempt at clearing has been made here and there, but these roads are in poor shape for the reasonable safety of the public.

[The Stromness correspondent writes] ….. THE SNOW. – After ten days of looking at flawless snow-scapes, we are all beginning to long once more for the sight of good black earth; all of us, that is, except the children, who are “snow-borne” most of the day and night. There are not so many snowmen this year as formerly. Children nowadays are not satisfied with this mild form of amusement. They prefer to throw freezing ammunition at elderly gentlemen going home from work. And, of course, we daren’t blame the dear little things, as they are merely copying (in their own innocent fashion) their elders on the battlefields of Europe. Setting out to Kirkwall by bus in this weather is an adventure, and should only be attempted by men of steel. By this time probably the worst is over; and everyone you meet says we’ve had enough snow to last us till next year.


1945 February 6 Orkney Herald

EVIE – FARM. – The farmers have had a harassing time in the severe wintry weather of the past weeks, and are concerned about the delay in field operations. Ploughing already in arrears has been further delayed by the recent snow, and some hard work will have to be done to make up for lost time.

WINTRY CONDITIONS, – January 1945 has passed, leaving a memory of exceptionally severe wintry weather, which persisted throughout its course. Not for many years have we experienced such a long spell of snow and Arctic conditions. The rigours have been felt more keenly in the open spaces than in the town, and country folk have been greatly inconvenienced. But a snowfall is not without interest, and in the white world there were days of beautiful snowscapes with frosty decorations that claimed admiration. The discomforts, however, brought forth many maledictions. With roads blocked traffic ceased for a time and for some days there were no mails. All outside work came to a standstill, and with life stagnant a loneliness brooded over the place. Shopping presented a problem when stores dropped low. At the farms difficulties had to be faced in attending to the cattle and other livestock when water and turnips became frozen. All social functions had to be postponed, including Burns celebrations. With the advent of February we look forward to signs of spring, and as Candlemas was not bright and fair we hope that “maist of the winter has been and mair.”


1945 February 13 Orkney Herald

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS – HELD OVER. – Owing to late arrival and non-arrival of copy, several items of news, mainly from the districts, have had to be held over.

[It is obvious there has been no ‘Rousay correspondent’ for a very long time. Articles do appear on a very irregular basis, and I am guessing they were written by the minister, for his name appears in every one at least twice! So, with such a dearth of island news I will continue to extract items of interest from Orkney in general, especially the ever-present scribe from Evie. His eloquent description of weather and farming would have been very similar for folks living either side of Eynhallow Sound…..]

EVIE – FARM. – The farmers, after strenuous days round the steading contending with the recent hard conditions, have lost no time in diverting their energies to the soil since the black earth appeared, and the plough teams have been busy turning up the sod. Looking round the fields one can see a considerable expansion of furrows. Housewives are engaged with their incubators preparing for chick-hatching.

THE THAW. – The snow is over and gone, and the earth restored to its normal appearance. Everybody welcomed the thaw, which was termed a moderate one, and the ill effects were negligible. The frost broke up slowly and the water was gradually released preventing a sudden torrent descending from the hills, which would have resulted in damage to roads and property. In the milder atmosphere which ensued there was the breath of Spring, but winter still holds sway over the land. From its covering of snow the grass emerged wilted and bleached, and the wet bleak fields, yet unrelieved by a spot of green, present a dreary aspect indicative of the season.


1945 February 20 Orkney Herald

ECCLESIASTICAL EPISODES No. 17. – After the Disruption of 1843, when the “Free Kirk” broke away from the Established Church of Scotland, many ministers in Orkney, as elsewhere, who had identified themselves with the schism, found themselves without any churches to preach in. Accordingly, on Sundays, when the weather permitted, they preached to their congregations in the open air. Sermons in those days took several hours to deliver. One Orkney minister whose name has not come down to us, was in the midst of a prolonged discourse on Hell and its horrors to a sleepy Sunday afternoon congregation, when a Whitemaa swooped out of the blue and dropped its usual load on the minister’s bald head. Many members of the congregation were so bold as to laugh – the ladies tittered, the children squeaked, and the men guffawed with merriment at the minister’s misfortune. The minister, however, was not a man to lose his head in such ludicrous circumstances. “My friends!” he thundered out, ” laugh to your heart’s content; but at the same time don’t forget to render thanks to God that he didn’t make cows fly!”


1945 March 6 Orkney Herald

EVIE – HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY SEAS. – Last week was characterised by high winds and heavy seas, and much blew in with the lion showing his teeth. The worst seas of the winter were witnessed in Eynhallow Sound. At Scabra Head the surge rose high in huge columns of spray which spread over the cliffs scattering the spindrift far over the land, and the narrow channel between Eynhallow and Rousay was a seething cauldron. The Rousay mail service was greatly interrupted, and on several occasions when an attempt was made to cross the Sound the boat landed at Aikerness, not being able to touch the Evie Pier, which was lashed by heavy land seas. Eager expectations of a spoot ebb were dashed by the tumult of the waters.


1945 May 15 Orkney Herald

IN THIS HOUR OF VICTORY

VICTORY ! Shout it out from the house-tops and across the fields and over the seas. Let it resound from end to end of the earth. Let it echo down the arches of the years. Cry it jubilantly in your hearts and whisper it humbly in your prayers.

This is a victory greater than all the victories of history, greater than all the triumphs of Alexander and Julius Caesar, of Saladin and Genghis Khan, of Napoleon and Wellington. No battle honours inscribed on our centuries-old colours can compare with this.

We have fought the enemy wherever he was to be found. We fought him in the Middle East and North Africa. We fought him in Italy and Greece. We fought him through France and across the Low Countries until we ran him to earth in his own land, on the soil in which Germany’s dream of worId domination lies buried for ever.

France and Poland were at our side when we first took up the challenge. We battled on when we were alone, when our aircraft were few, when our Army was small, and when our commitments were great. We fought beside Russia and America when those nations were drawn into the struggle. Our victory is a victory of all the United Nations, but it is one which could never have been won without the stout hearts and strong arms of our own people.

It is in the hour of our supreme triumph that we shall be tested. This is no time for inflated pride, for “frantic boast and foolish word,” no time to rest on our laurels, to imagine that all that remains for us is to harvest the fruits of our labours.

There will be no fruits for our labours in the material sense. Our reward will lie in the satisfaction of knowing that we have helped to save civilisation and of seeing the free and happy faces of nations that, through our efforts, have been born again.

In difficulty and disaster we acquitted ourselves well. Let us show that in victory we can act with the same steadfastness, the same restraint, and the same dignity as we displayed to the world in the hard days that are past.

First, therefore, let us give thanks that we have been the instruments of justice and humanity. Then let us dedicate ourselves, in all humility, to the task which we took up in 1939: the task of ensuring that the Rule of Law shall prevail in every corner of the globe.

For we must not forget the enemy in the East. Before the Rule of Law again prevails throughout the world the Japanese have to be beaten as thoroughly and as completely as the Germans. With our Allies we shall work towards this – the final victory.

BEFORE WE TAKE OUR REST

The European war is over. Two of the Axis Powers are broken and crushed in ignominy. It is only a matter of time before Japan shares their inglorious fate. After five and a half years of the bitterest struggle in history, there is a natural reaction against the tempo of war. We all need rest. We all want to forget the evils and horror brought about by the vile Nazi dictatorship.

Yet the time has not come for us to relax. The freedom for which we have been fighting will be held firmly within one grasp only if we tackle the problems of peace with the same vigour that we tackled the war.


1945 May 22 Orkney Herald

ORDINARY PEOPLE THE PRIDE OF BRITAIN

NAMELESS MILLIONS WHO HELPED TO WIN THE WAR

While we rejoice soberly at our victory in Europe – remembering still that the Japanese war is still to be won and that the tale of our dead is yet incomplete – we can remember the ordinary people of this country with a great and humble pride.

If they accepted compulsion, they did it, not in the German fashion, like slaves, but cheerfully, knowing what sacrifice they were making, understanding that the temporary loss of their liberty was a trifling matter compared with what their fate would be if they fell. And there was one liberty that they never surrendered: the freedom to grumble, to criticise, to speak their minds on whatever subject they chose.

When the women were mobilised in 1941, they heard the order with a kind of grim satisfaction. To-day, they can look back in a record unparalleled by any other nation – for in what other country have women been conscripted on equal terms with men? Out of 16 million women between the ages of 14 and 60, nearly eight million were engaged, by 1944, in some form of National Service. In addition, some 900,000 were in part-time work. Then, a million women, most of them housewives, banded themselves together into the Women’s Voluntary Services, and quietly went about their honoured task as the nation’s maids-of-all-work. There is an epic touch about the story of this great endeavour, which, like all those other great voluntary efforts which seemed to spring up overnight as the need arose, played a never-to-be-forgotten part in the saga of the last five years.

The Observer Corps were in being when the war broke out, and the Luftwaffe learned to its cost how great was their efficiency. The demand came for a Home Guard – “that band of murderers,” as Hitter called it in a helpless fury. Men responded in their hundreds of thousands, and, before the war was over, the Home Guard had become a highly-trained citizen army, a million and three-quarters strong. When officers were needed for the youth training corps, more than enough came forward.

Wherever we turn, there is a tribute to pay. To the magnificent men and women of the National Fire Service and the Civil Defence the nation owes a special word of praise. And not to be forgotten are the anonymous men, women and children who transformed the prosaic jobs of collecting salvage and savings into a triumphant progress.

More than 22 million civilian removals were recorded in Britain during the war. Many of these came about because the work of a man or woman could be utilised to better advantage in another part of the country. Yet this hardship, like so many others brought about by the war, was accepted as a matter of course.

The people of this country who performed such prodigies have well deserved their days of rejoicing.


1945 July 3 Orkney Herald

HELD OVER. – Owing to pressure on our space and time, numerous articles, letters to the Editor, and items of local and district news have been held over. Some of these will be out of date by the time our next issue appears, but we heartily thank all correspondents for their interest and help. – Ed.

[This particular eight-page edition of the Orkney Herald contained three pages of advertisements, three-quarters of a page of ‘local and national’ news – and five pages of political comment in support of Liberal candidate Major Joseph Grimond in the forth-coming General Election ! ]


1945 June 12 Orkney Herald

LEARNING THE WAYS OF PEACE. – When the lights go on at night we remember the imperative duties that only a short time since encircled us – the blackout, the fire-watch, the first-aid post, and safeguarding the children as far as possible from the danger that might come in the darkness.

All that is behind us. Ways of peace lie ahead. The evenings are our own once more to be spent as we choose. Children, too, who follow the spirit of the times will soon forget their warlike games and play, in every sense, at peace.

The paths of war have led us to the lanes of peace. Some we pray never to retrace. One road, however, that opened in September, 1939, and broadened into a highway we can continue to follow. That is the road of good comradeship, wide enough to let us all pass through together and Iong enough, we hope, to take up to a happier state.


1945 July 17 Orkney Herald

STROMNESS – THE ECLIPSE. – The eclipse of the sun which occurred last Monday afternoon, and which was to have been slightly more spectacular in Orkney than in other parts of Britain, was a disappointment after all, on account of the heavily overcast sky. Air passengers to Orkney had the good fortune to see the partial eclipse perfectly from above the clouds. We on terra firma merely saw that it became slightly darker towards the peak period of eclipse. Some people swear that it also became colder for an hour or two, but we’re inclined to be sceptical on that point. Some extreme parties go so far as to say that all the bad weather we’ve been experiencing since is solely due to these unnatural heavenly manifestations; whereas it would be just as reasonable to blame the “Caretaker” Government for it. However, there’s no doubt that the amateur astronomers of Stromness were, last Monday, extremely disappointed men.


1945 July 24 Orkney Herald

OPINION. – In two days’ time we will know the name of our new M.P. We have done our best to ensure that it will not be Basil Neven-Spence, but we are forced to recognise that his re-election is by no means an impossibility. We are of opinion that Major Neven-Spence is an excellent and honourable gentleman – but he is tied to a party for which we hold no brief, and it is therefore necessary to eject him.

His Liberal opponent, Major Joseph Grimond, is a man who will go far in the world of politics. He is a fine orator, a brilliant thinker, and, most important of all, he has the tremendous energy of youth. If Orkney and Shetland elects him (and many people say that it will) we will have acted wisely and well. But whether Major Grimond is to be our next M.P. or not, a brilliant Parliamentary career is certain for him.

Mr Prophet Smith, the Labour candidate, is also young and energetic, without possessing the wide culture of his Liberal opponent. We are of opinion that Labour made a great mistake in contesting the constituency on this occasion. Their chances of success are somewhat remote, and by forcing a three-corner election they have gravely endangered the Liberal prospect of victory – a prospect which would have amounted to an overwhelming certainty in the event of a straight Liberal-Tory fight.

Meantime we have good reason to suppose that Major Grimond will top the poll on Thursday.

“The Orcadian,” our Tory contemporary, persistently underestimates the intelligence of Orcadians. This is a Liberal paper. We support a Liberal policy. We also take a liberal and high view of the intelligence of our readers. We do not think (like the “Orcadian”) that all Socialists are lazy and greedy. Some of them – a small minority – are. But the greater part of the Labour Party is sincere and honest. We could, if we thought poorly of our readers’ intelligence, describe the Tories, en masse, as parasitic and stupid. Some of them are, and some of them are not. It will be the Liberal policy to educate them away from their parasitic propensities and from their obtuseness, whenever and wherever these undesirable factors are in evidence.

People who fondly imagine that the Liberal Party is a dying organism, are in for a rude shock within the next few years. We prophesy that in another half-century from now it will be the Tory Party which will suffer annihilation; and the Liberal Party, which has been in abeyance for two and a-half decades, will once more be great in the councils of the nation. Already we see that this new “birth of freedom” is quickening the Liberal Party. In the forthcoming Parliament there will be many more Liberal M.P.s than in the 1435-45 Parliament. “The Orkney Herald” watches the renascence of the Liberal Party with delight and enthusiasm.

[General Election result, July, 1945: Orkney and Shetland
Basil Neven-Spence, Unionist – 6,304
Jo Grimond, Liberal – 5,975
Prophet Smith, Labour – 5,208]
 


1945 July 31 Orkney Herald

OPINION. – The unexpected and complete success of the Socialists in the General Election proves, if anything at all, that the people of Britain are heartily sick of the Tories. It also proves that the popular press, claiming to be omniscient, really knew very little about the mind of the electorate. The “Orkney Herald” was quite prepared for a Neven-Spence victory in our northern constituency; and, much though we loathed Toryism, we never doubted that his election, especially in view of the split anti-Tory vote, was a real possibility. The narrow margin of the Tory’s success in Orkney and Shetland proves that Liberalism is still a potent force in the north, and that Labour is also a power to be reckoned with. Faced with only one candidate, Major Neven-Spence would have been completely obliterated. His “more-than-last-time” majority, promised by the “Orcadian,” dwindled to a very shaky three hundred. In the next election, make no mistake, we will be saying adieu for good to Major Neven-Spence…..


[I am now under the assumption that the Rousay ‘correspondent’ is a supporter of the Conservative party – and therefore sends his island news for inclusion within the columns of The Orcadian newspaper. Unfortunately the British Newspaper Archive is yet to make digital copies of that newspaper from 1912 available on-line.

With the war over, annual events such as the the Rousay Cattle Show resume,  and a representative from the Orkney Herald visited the island to ‘cover’ the day’s proceedings – as we see below…..]


1945 August 14 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY CATTLE SHOW

A successful revival of Rousay Cattle Show was held on Tuesday, 7th August, in a field kindly lent by Mr R. Seatter, Banks.

The weather was dull, with drizzle during the forenoon, clearing up later in the day. This was the first show held in Rousay since the outbreak of war in 1939. The entries in the cattle sections were higher than in 1939. Fewer horses in the younger classes took down the horse entries. The sheep section was again higher entries than in 1939.

The judges spoke of the high quality beasts put forward, and made special remarks on the exceptionally good show and quality of the draught mares, and also one-year-old colts and fillies.

The judges were Mr Learmonth, Pow, Sandwick, and Mr Wood, Skaill, Sandwick.

The show arrangements were carried out by Messrs David Moar, Saviskaill; John Mainland, Westness; James Lyon, Ervadale; Armit Sinclair, Langskaill; Robert Seatter, Banks; Robert Johnston, Trumland; William Corsie, The Glebe; James Russell, Brendale; Robert Mainland, Nearhouse; George Reid, Tratland; James Craigie, Falquoy; John Craigie, Furse; with Ronald Shearer, Curquoy, as Secretary.

In the afternoon a stock judging competition, open to persons up to 25 years of age, was held, there being 26 competitors.

The following were the prize-winners: – 1 (equal), with 29 out of 36 points, David Gibson, Nearhouse, Rousay; James Mainland, Sound, Egilshay, and Tom Linklater, North Tofts, Egilsay. 2 (equal), with 28 points, Elsie Donaldson, Tratland, Rousay, and Hugh Mainland, Midskaill, Egilshay. 3, with 27 points, Archer Clouston, Trumland, Rousay. 4 (equal), with 26 points, Thelma Shearer, Curquoy, Rousay, and John Mainland, Nearhouse, Rousay. 5 (equal), with 25 points, William Mainland, Hurtiso, Rousay; Ronald Stevenson, Westness, Rousay; and Edward Seatter, Banks.

Arrangements for the stock judging competition were carried through by Mr Watt, County Organiser, and assistants. An interesting demonstration on stock judging was given by Mr Learmonth, Pow, Sandwick.

The catering for the show was efficiently carried out by the ladies of the Horticultural Committee, under its convener, Mrs H. Gibson, Bigland, president of the Horticultural Society.

The show prizewinners were:-

CATTLE SECTION. – Polled Bulls – 1 Robert Johnston. Polled Cows – 1 J. Harcus, 2 Miss M. A. Munro, 3 Wm. Corsie, 4 R. Johnston. Shorthorn Cows – 1 Miss Mainland, 2 W. Corsie, 3 J. Munro, 4 R. Slater. Three-year-old Polled Cows – 1 W. Corsie, 2 R .Johnston, 3 W. Alexander. Two-year-old Polled Queys – 1 J. Harcus, 2 R. Johnston, 3 W. Corsie, 4 R. Johnston. Two-year-old Shorthorn Queys – 1 C. Flett, 2 R. Seatter. Two-year-old Polled Steers – 1 Mrs Mainland, 2 W. Corsie, 3 Mrs Mainland, 4 W. Alexander. One-year-old Polled Queys (1st Oct.) – 1 J. Harcus, 2 J. Munro. One-year-old Shorthorn Queys (1st Oct.) – 1 R. Johnston. One-year-old Polled Steers (1st Oct.) – 1 W. Alexander, 2 R. Johnston, 3 R. Seatter. One-year-old Shorthorn Steers (1st Oct.) – 1 R. Seatter. One-year-old Polled Queys (1st Mar.) – 1 R. Johnston. One-year-old Polled Steers 1st Mar.) – 1. J. Harcus, 2 R. Johnston, 3 Mrs Grieve, 4 W. Corsie. One-year-old Shorthorn steers (1st Mar.) – 1 J. Munro, 2 and 3 R. Seatter. Calves (1st Oct.) – 1 and 2 W. Alexander, 3 and 4 R. Seatter. Calves (1st Mar.) – 1 W. Alexander, 2 R. Seatter.

HORSE SECTION. – Draught Geldings – 1 W. Corsie, 2 J. Lyon. Draught Mares – 1 G. Reid, 2 R. Johnston, 3 W. Corsie, 4 J. Craigie. Two-year-old Geldings – 1 E. Craigie. Two-year-old Fillies – 1 G. Reid, 2 J. Lyon, 3 R. Seatter. One-year-old Geldings – 1 R. Johnston. One-year-old Fillies – 1 and 2 J. Craigie. Garrons – 1 J. Munro, 2 S. Inkster.

SHEEP SECTION. – Pen of Two Cross Ewes – 1 R. Seatter. Pen of Two Cheviot Ewes – 1, 2 and 3 R. Johnston. Pen of Two Cross Gimmers – 1 R. Seatter. Pen of Two Cross Lambs – 1, 2 and 3 R. Seatter, 4 R. Johnston. Best Five Lambs – 1 R. Seatter; reserve, R. Johnston.

SPECIAL PRIZES. – Cup presented by Mr John T. Flett, for Best Animal in Horse Sections; to be won three years – George Reid, Tratland; reserve, John Craigie, Furse. Cup, presented by the Rev. R. Davidson, for Best Animal in Cattle Sections; to be won three years – Robert Johnston, Trumland; reserve. W. Alexander, Scockness. Cup, presented by Mr William Bertram, for Best. Clydesdale Mare in Yard; to be won three years – George Reid, Tratland; reserve, John Craigie, Furse. Cup, presented by Messrs. P. C. Flett Co., for Best Cow in Yard; to be won three years – 1 William Corsie, The Glebe; reserve, Mrs Mainland, Hurtiso. Cup, presented by Mr George Johnston, M.R.C.V.S., for Best Shorthorn Cow; to be won three years – Mrs Mainland, Hurtiso; reserve, W. Corsie, The Glebe. Cup, presented by Dr Paterson, for Best Cog-fed Calf; to be won three years – 1 and reserve, William Alexander, Scockness. Cup. presented by T. S. Peace, for Shorthorns under 2½ years old; to be won three years – R. Johnston, Trumland; reserve, Charles Flett, Quoys. Cup, presented by the Northern Farmers Co-operative Society, for Best Pair Yearlings; to be won three years – Robert Johnston, Trumland; reserve, J. Harcus, Gorehouse. Cup, presented by Mr John Kemp, jeweller. for Best One-year-old Colt or Filly; to be won two years – John Craigie, Furse; reserve, Robert Johnston, Trumland. Cup, presented by Messrs Reith & Anderson, for Best Five Lambs; to be won three years – Robert Seatter, Banks; reserve, Robert Johnston, Trumland. Silver Rose Bowl, presented by O.A.D.S., for Best Four Cattle drawn from any section; to be won three years – Robert Johnston, Trumland; reserve, John Harcus, Gorehouse. Vase, presented by Mr Wm. Shearer, seed merchant, for Best Gelding in Yard; to be won three years – Robert Johnston, Trumland; reserve, Wm. Corsie, The Glebe. Medal, presented by Mr A. W. K. Baikie, for Best Butcher Animal; to be won two years – Mrs Mainland, Hurtiso; reserve, William Corsie, The Glebe. Medal, presented Mr Stanley Firth, for Best Pair of Ewes; to be won two years – Robert Seatter, Banks; reserve, Robert, Johnston, Trumland. Medal, presented Mr W. D. Reid, for Best Animal in Cattle Section under £20 rental; to be won two years – 1 and reserve, John Harcus, Gorehouse. Medal, presented by the late Fred. Inkster, for Best Animal in Sheep Section; to be won two years – 1 and reserve, Robert Seatter, Banks. Medal, presented by Mr Alex Heddle, butcher, for Best Calf in Yard; to be won two years – 1 and reserve, William Alexander, Scockness. Medal, presented by Mr John Foulis, butcher, for Best Garron; to be won two years – James Munro, Breval; reserve, Sam. Inkster, Kirkhall. Most Successful Exhibitor – Mr Robert Johnston, Trumland. Most Entries – Mr Robert Johnston, Trumland.

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FISHING NOTES. – During the great dearth of fresh fish in the past few years, the local fishermen have turned more and more to lobster fishing for a living. Lobster fishing, on the whole, is remunerative, and in wartime especially, the local lobster fishers have been well paid for their wares by the wholesale fish merchants of the south. The lobster fisher has his worries, too; for the shellfish must be transported alive to their destination. This calls for speed of a high order, and the Orkney lobsters are usually in Glasgow the day after they are caught. It’s remarkable how long these crustaceans wilI remain alive out of their element. The present month of August, however, is the worst time of year of them. Many of them die on the way south, and are consequently quite useless, because they putrefy very rapidly after death. Indeed, unless the lobsters are boiled while alive (cruel fate !) they will be tainted, and unfit to eat. So August is the most worrying month for the lobster fishers. If any of their fish die en route, all their hard work will have been in vain. When you are enjoying the sunshine and the pleasant warmth of mid-August, spare a thought for the poor lobster fishers, who can only be sure of a profit in the cool weather. For them, August is the only really dangerous month of the year.


1945 August 21 Orkney Herald

OPINION

On August the fifteenth ended the Second World War, which began on September the third, 1939. For almost six years Britain has poured out her strength and her manhood to make this victory certain. Our losses have been grievous; but, had we hesitated to make the necessary sacrifices, our people would have been defeated and sent into a shameful slavery. To-day the evil nations of the earth, with all their satellites, are humbled to the dust. To-day the victorious Allied Nations are supreme on earth. This has come about because they had faith and trust in the innate dignity and goodness of Man, and because they had the courage to fight for their ideals. The future peace of the world depends on good relationships and mutual trust existing between the victorious nations. If they quarrel with each other, another World War of incredible magnitude will result; and of its outcome no man dares to contemplate. Intelligent thinking and discussion among the common people will go a long way towards pressing the world’s peace, which is now more precious than it has ever been.

The powerful Empire of Japan, with a native population of a hundred millions, half civilised, half barbaric, declared war on Britain and America in a typically cynical way. Without one word of warning, their aircraft, on the morning of December 7th, 1941, destroyed the American Naval Base of Pearl Harbour. The Japanese statesmen who planned that treacherous blow at the heart, did not foresee the swift and terrible vengeance that would fall on them almost four years later. The stricken cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are eternal monuments to the futility of treachery in diplomacy and war. The Japanese sowed the wind, and reaped the tempest. May such be the fate of all tyrants!

Symbolic of the new light that has dawned on the world, we in Orkney notice with pleasure that, as the dark time of year draws on, the notorious “black-outs” are no more. The sight of a town in the late Autumn evenings blazing with lights, induces extravagant pleasure. It means for us that the dark sinister things of earth have been overcome; and the simply kindly things reign in the homes of men once more. In our northern islands the “black-out” was a severe imposition, borne cheerfully while it was necessary. May it never, never, be necessary again.

STRANDED ON TRIP TO U-BOAT. – Fog resulted in the stranding of 120 people at Kirkwall last Tuesday night. They had been taken by naval drifters from the islands of Eday, Sanday, and Stronsay to visit the submarine U776. One drifter, after safely retuning its 40 passengers to Rousay, grounded in the fog. Visitors to the submarine during the day totalled 2000, and a formal welcome was extended to the boat by Rear-Admiral Patrick Macnamara, C.B., C.B.E., Flag Officer, Orkney, and the members of Orkney County Council, Kirkwall Town Council, Stromness Town Council, and Orkney Harbour Commissioners. In conjunction with the visit of the U-boat there was held an exhibition of naval photographs showing scenes from the South Pacific to the Arctic, and including a pictorial record of the four-years job of constructing causeways that link the islands of South Ronaldshay and Burray with the Orkney mainland, blocking the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow, and providing highways over which traffic now runs. The submarine left Kirkwall on Thursday night for Lerwick, Shetland, taking with her two members of the Kirkwall Sea Cadet Corps.

[Launched in March 1944, U-776 participated in just one war patrol, during which no ships were sunk or damaged. In May 1945 the vessel surrendered at Portland, Dorset, and was later designated N-65, a British N-class submarine. It toured the East coast of the UK, during which it was visited by 73,960 persons. No charge was made for viewing the vessel, but collecting boxes placed aboard raised a sum of £6,195 for the King George’s Fund for Sailors. During the two-day visit to Kirkwall 3,500 folk donated a total of £247 – an average of just under 1s 5d per head.]


1945 August 28 Orkney Herald

KIRKWALL FISHERMEN’S MISHAP. – Anxiety was felt on Wednesday night for the safety of three occupants of the fishing boat Gwen-Alice, Messrs Alex. Walls, James Deerness and David Linklater. The boat should have returned about 9 p.m. Search was instituted through the Coastguard look-out stations, but no trace of the boat was obtained till after dawn when she was seen making for Kirkwall under sail. The June (Mr Charles Kelday) went out and towed her home. It transpired that the Gwen-Alice had sustained a damaged shaft coupling. She sheltered throughout the night in Saviskaill Bay, Rousay.


1945 September 18 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY – NATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY – Orkney Auxiliary. – The Hon. Treasurer, Mr W. J. Heddle, solicitor, Kirkwall, begs to acknowledge the sum of £1 6s 6d, being the amount collected for the current year in the island of Rousay on behalf of the above Society, and to thank Mrs Lily Miller, Schoolhouse, Wasbister, for her kind services.

STROMNESS. – The Stromness Welcome Home’s Evie-Rousay Trip, fixed for last Thursday, had to be cancelled. Reason: the tickets were not being sold. It seems that the lateness of the season was against the trip, and uncertainty as to what the state of the weather would be. As it happened last Thursday (the Stromness September holiday) was a lovely sunny day, ideal for a large picnic. Another reason why tickets did not sell was undoubtedly the high price asked (12s 6d each). We hope Rousay people will not feel insulted that Stromnessians last week declined to visit their lovely island. We’ll probably be going in the spring-time.


1945 October 9 Orkney Herald

SALE OF STOCK, CROP AND IMPLEMENTS
at
No 1, FROTOFT, ROUSAY
On Friday, 19th October

STOCK. – 2 Cows in calf, Feby and May, calvers; Stot in forward condition; 2 Fostered Quey Calves.
CROP. – 4 coles of Hay, Turnips, by the Drill.
IMPLEMENTS. – Plough, scuffler, set Zig-zag Harrows, Grubber, Turnip Sower and Scarifier, Cart, Sledge, Harness, Lister Cream Separator with Stainless Cups, Churn, Plough Trees, 2 H.P. Universal Petter Petrol Paraffin Engine and Mill, Barn Fanners, Bushel Measure.

Sale to commence at 11.30 o’clock.
Five months’ credit on approved bills for sums of £5 and upwards,
or discount thereon for cash.
T. SMITH PEACE, Auctioneer.


1945 October 16 Orkney Herald

EVIE – WINTER APPROACHES. – With October here and Summer-Time over, there is a sense of winter in the air these days, and fires have become comfortable and friendly. Darkness falls suddenly in the afternoon, and there is already a long night. Country folk are now turning their thoughts to indoor entertainments.

HARVEST NEARS COMPLETION. – The continued spell of suitable weather has enabled the farmers to speed up with harvest operations, and now most fields are cleared of stooks and the grain safely garnered. The barnyards, replete with rows of huge compactly built stacks towering high, are a sight to gladden the hearts of the toilers of the soil. Not for many years has there been such a fine harvest.


1945 October 30 Orkney Herald

THANKSGIVING WEEK. – Saturday opens the Orkney £100,000 Thanksgiving Week of National Saving. In town and country throughout the Islands the Post Offices and Banks will register the pounds, shillings and pence which the Orkney folk aim to invest for the furtherance of national reconstruction. Backed by Orkney’s great record in those national savings schemes, the people of the county will go all out to achieve another success.

EVERY penny available should be invested, between November 3 and November 10, in the Orkney £100,000 Thanksgiving Week.

The week of thanksgiving, set in a winter scene, offers something different from all the previous savings schemes promoted in Orkney.

The tranquil nights afford time for reflection upon the victory for which we now give thanks.

The stormy nights emphasise that a penny or a pound invested may some day prove to be your best friend.

Most of the strangers within the gates during the past six years having now departed, this is Orkney’s first effort, and the success or failure of the Thanksgiving Week scheme therefore lies within the power of the Orkney people alone.

As Orkney in one of the national savings “Weeks” gifted over £10,000 in addition to investing hundreds of thousands, this year’s aim of £5000 in gifts for local purposes, and £100,000 in investments, for the national wealth, and the profit of the investor, should not be beyond our achievement.

The campaign will be set in motion on Broad Street, Kirkwall at 2.30 p.m. on the afternoon of November 3. The National Anthem will begin the proceedings before the main west door of St Magnus Cathedral, the brass band of Kirkwall Salvation Army leading the assembly. Irrespective of weather conditions, the brief and informal religious service will go on…..

Facilities for making investments on Saturday, the opening day, will be confined to the Aberdeen Savings Bank, 1 Castle Street, Kirkwall, and the Post Offices in Kirkwall and throughout the county.

During the succeeding days of the week there will be the full and normal facilities of all the Banks as well as the Savings Bank and the Post Offices.

In the Orkney local districts, in common with Scottish custom this year of thanksgiving, there are no local targets.

Proceeds of entertainments are going to the local welcome home funds.

All are asked to GIVE generously for the welcome home, and to INVEST wisely for national reconstruction…..

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AN APPRECIATION. – On leaving Orkney to be demobilised, I should like to say that I will always treasure the memories of my stay on the Mainland. The country which I have come to like extremely well with its gently rolling hills, its colourful braes and very fertile fields, will ever form a pleasant picture in my mind. Although I have travelled far afield, never have I seen such wonderful sunsets or sunrises as I have in Orkney. The still and placid beauty of Orkney is seen at its best, on a summer’s evening, but when Orkney wears its cloak of moonlight or its winter snow suit, it is also very beautiful. Not to see it in rain however, would create a wrong impression, for rain sets the beauty of the country.

I was stationed at Twatt and for six glorious months had my wife and son with me, residing in Birsay, but not only is it for that reason that the Birsay and Marwick district has an especially warm corner in my heart whenever I think Orkney.

Above all, I should like to pay a tribute to the people of Orkney. The kindness and hospitality of the Orcadians has to be experienced to be believed. One of the very few advantages which war brings, is that many are enabled to meet such Christian folk as the Orcadians. Nowhere could one find more industrious, peaceful and loveable people as these dear folk, and I leave Orkney, but I hope not for the last time, with the knowledge that the close association I have had with so many Orcadians has taught me much in the way to happiness and a contented way of life.

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ECCLESIASTICAL EPISODES. – Fishermen are by far the most superstitious of our Orkney population. Why this should be so is not immediately apparent, but when we remember that the fisherman’s trade is the most dangerous by far in the islands – that he quite literally takes his life in his hands whenever he goes to sea – and that his livelihood depends entirely on the elements of luck – then we realise why the Orkney fisherman is as interested in charms and omens. No fisherman will go to sea in the morning if he meets a minister before embarking. For any fisherman the sight of a minister is the extremest symbol of bad luck. Anthropologists (some of them!) trace this notion back to pagan times. In those days the heathen priest always visited the savage hunter or fisherman, and warned him if the omens were bad. The custom was so deeply ingrained that it persists to this day. The modern fisherman sees in the innocent minister taking his early-morning stroll, the bringer of bad tidings. And without a word he goes home and prays to the Almighty to keep ministers at home in the early morning, when honest fisherfolk go to sea.


1945 November 20 Orkney Herald

THANKSGIVING WEEK

FINAL TOTAL £209,600

All the Orkney Welcome Home Committee areas are gratified by the result achieved by the county, and by their own districts, in the Thanksgiving Week. The final total was £209,600 8s 6d. Major J. W. Dickson, M.B.E., the County Secretary and Treasurer of the scheme, announced the final figure last Tuesday.

The warmest thanks of the county organisation, and of the local welcome home committees, is extended to all who worked for the success of the “Week,” and all who loaned or gifted money.

Below we give details as issued by the Finance Committee of the county organisation (Mr Norman Williamson, convener), based on information supplied by Major Dickson…..[Orkney Herald]

[There followed a long list of mainland parishes and island totals – Rousay’s contribution being £2,959 10s 0d. There has been no information in this newspaper regarding how this money was raised.]


1945 November 27 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY – DONALDSON TRUST AND HAIG FUNDS. – Mrs Harcus, Frotoft School, has received acknowledgment of £9 0s 3d collected in Rousay for the Donaldson Trust. From the sale of Poppies, the sum of £8 15s 6d was realised. All those who helped with both collections are thanked for their kind assistance.

[Established in 1850, the Donaldson Trust has provided supported education and care throughout its history and has now established itself as the leading charity for neurodiversity in Scotland.]


1945 December 4 Orkney Herald

DANGER TO LIFE. – As a result of over five years training for war in Scotland there are still unfound “blind” shells and grenades in various places where troops have been exercising with live ammunition. Every effort has been, and is being, made to find these and destroy them. Everyone is asked to report any unusual looking object which might be a bomb, shell or mine to the nearest police station. Children, especially, should be warned not to touch unusual objects, but to report them to their parents.


1945 December 18 Orkney Herald

A mild epidemic, variously known as “gastric flu” or just plain “sickness,” has in the past few weeks claimed thousands of victims in Orkney. Characteristic symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, and slight fever. After forty-eight hours of misery, more or less intense, the sickness passes away, and the victim is apparently none the worse. Epidemics, after war, exercise a morbid fascination on some mentalities. After every major international conflict in Europe in the past, giant ghastly diseases have swept the continent and thinned considerably the population of every country. The terrible influenza which ravaged and de-populated Europe after the First World War, also made itself felt in Orkney. Many people of all ages died after a brief hectic illness. It is only natural, therefore, that the authorities are anxious about any epidemic which may break out after the Second World War. The starving war-torn countries of Central Europe are ideal breeding grounds for a mortal epidemic. Already attempts are being made to segregate British soldiers from German civilians in the present winter. The only thing to do now is to hope and pray that nothing happens.


Categories
In Print

Newsprint – 1944

1944 January 4 Orkney Herald

FROM HMS NESS. – Two telegrams have reached Orkney from H.M.S. Ness, the county’s adopted frigate. The first came to the Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Zetland, Mr Alfred Baikie of Tankerness, C.B., at his home. Sent by the ship’s commanding officer, Lieut.-Commander Rupert Marchington, R.N.V.R., the telegram states: – “Very happy Christmas to you all in Orkney, and a Great Year of Victory to come.” The second telegram, also despatched by Lt.-Cdr. Marchington, is addressed to the hon. treasurer of the H.M.S. Ness Orkney Link Fund, Mr J. W. Dickson, M.B.E., Union Bank, Kirkwall, and reads: – “Please convey our most grateful thanks to the people of Orkney for magnificent gift, and assure them we are making all our efforts to finish Jerry and come and spend next Christmas with you.” Orkney’s Christmas gift to the ship’s company of H.M.S. Ness was a cheque for £50 despatched by Mr Dickson to the Royal Naval Amenities Fund at the Admiralty.


1944 January 18 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY – DISTRICT NURSING ASSOCIATION. – A very successful function was held in Sourin Hall on Friday evening in aid of the Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre District Nursing Association. The proceedings began with a whist drive. Rev. R. R. Davidson, president of the Association acted as card master. Following the whist, parcels were laid out for a “Bring and Buy” sale. These were quickly disposed of, and great was the amusement as the contents of the parcels were displayed. Tea was then served by members of the committee and helpers. Prizes to the whist winners were presented by Mrs H. Harcus. Votes of thanks were accorded to Rev. R. R. Davidson for taking charge of the whist, to Mrs Harcus for presenting the prizes, to the committee and helpers, and to all those who had given donations and parcels. After tea the hall was cleared for dancing – music being supplied by the Wasbister Band. After all expenses were paid the sum of £20 remained to add to the funds of the Nursing Association. Prizes – Ladies – 1 Miss Elsie Donaldson, 2 Anna Yorston; consolation, Mrs T. Gibson; Gents – 1 Mr Armit Sinclair, 2 Mr Wm. Flaws; consolation, Mr S. Inkster; Children – Girls – Gertrude Moar; Boys – Edward Seatter.


1944 February 1 Orkney Herald

WAS IT SACRILEGE? – A reader has complained to us that he saw a lady powdering her nose in St Magnus Cathedral during the recital of vocal and instrumental music on Thursday. St Magnus Cathedral has seen many strange rites performed within its walls during the past 800 years, including the sentencing of so-called witches and sorceresses. Again, cosmetics, in spite of the fact that this is the fifth year of war, seem to be as plentiful as ever. Therefore, lest our names go down to posterity as perpetrators of such injustices as burning innocent women at the stake, we refrain from comment on the Lady with the Puff.


1944 May 2 Orkney Herald

EVIE – PEATS. – Peat-cutting days are here again, and though there has been a decline in the use of peats in recent years, there is now an urge to get to the moors for the home-produced fuel. There is no deficiency of moss, but peats, not being readymade, entail an enormous amount of labour in preparation, and peat workers are few or none these days. No doubt, however, a hard effort will be exerted to obtain a few turves for the winter fires when only limited supplies of coal are available. The tusker has already been employed.

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THEY COME AND GO

WAR-TIME SERVICE JOURNALS OF ORKNEY

Since the war came to Orkney, and brought with it many talented men and women of the Services to our county, a number of interesting Service publications have followed.

In October 1940 a number of young Fleet Air Arm and R.A.F. lads, under the editorship of Naval Air Photographer “Bob” King, opened the ball with “The Hatston Chronicle.”

For roughly a year the “Chronicle” provided humour and news for Hatstonians and Kirkwallians – quite a few copies were sold in Kirkwall – but, as was bound to be the case with an “unofficial” paper of the kind, it departed! Or rather, the editorial staff departed!

A year or so afterwards “Bob” King, now a full-blown officer in the R.N.V.R., returned to the Orkney Isles, which he had loved, on holiday before sailing for Alexandria.

While the little “Chronicle” was jogging placidly along the Orkney soldier-novelist, Major Eric Linklater of Dounby, came on the scene. “The Blast” was founded on January 17, 1941, and though published at Stromness, was printed at “The Orcadian,” Kirkwall.

Produced on a much more ambitious scale “The Blast” immediately appealed to all classes of Service men and women in the county, and not a few “civvies” as well, and to-day is still going strong as ever it did, its fame having spread to the far corners of the earth, and its agencies established in almost every corner where serving men and women are gathered together in these islands. Recently “The Blast” extended its orbit to include Shetland, and now prints a Shetland edition each week.

Early in 1942 came the “Northern Light,” more in the form of a magazine. In fact, “Northern Light” emulated to a certain extent the world-famous “London Opinion” and “LiIliput,” and was profusely illustrated with humorous cartoons and photos of glamorous film stars. The “Light” was published by the Education Centre, Lyness, and had a considerable sale to men of the Navy afloat and ashore. Its life was brief, however, only three or four monthly issues forthcoming.

Other little unit papers and magazines, with more or less local appeal, have been published in Orkney, the latest of which is the “Northern Ack Ack Record.”

“Northern Ack Ack Record,” an eight-page monthly magazine, was born in March this year. Though designed mainly as a unit magazine, for sale to members of the Naval Anti-Aircraft Service in Orkney, quite a few of these interesting little journals find their way into the hands of civilians…..

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HOUSE IN ROUSAY FOR SALE

FOR SALE, by Public Roup, within the chambers of Messrs Macrae & Robertson, Solicitors, Commercial Bank Buildings, Kirkwall, on 15th May 1944, at 12 o’clock noon, the subjects known as SOURIN MANSE, ROUSAY, with 3¼ acres of ground or thereby. Upset price, £500. Entry and actual occupation, 27th May 1944. No burdens. For further particulars, apply to the Subscribers who have the Title Deeds and Articles of Roup. – MACRAE & ROBERTSON, Solicitors. Kirkwall, 19th April 1944.


1944 May 9 Orkney Herald

EVIE – THE LATE MRS SPENCE. – Much regret been expressed here at the death of Mrs Mary Spence, wife of Major William Spence, which occurred at Hullion, Rousay, on Monday, May 2nd. Major and Mrs Spence had only recently retired to Orkney from Edinburgh, and made their home in Rousay. Eldest daughter of the late Mr David Gibson of Hullion, Mrs Spence was a nurse before her marriage, and spent the greater part of her life out of Orkney. She had been associated with Evie for a long time, having come with the family to Harbour Cottage every summer for many years and spent a long holiday. She was surrounded by many relations and won many friends who will retain happy memories of one who was ever kind and true. The funeral took place last Wednesday to Evie Churchyard, the officiating clergymen being Rev. Mr Davidson, Rousay, and Dr Campbell, Evie. Sincere sympathy is extended to the husband and family of four – Mr Donald Spence, Nigeria; Mrs Rutherford, Edinburgh; Mrs Taylor, Evie, and Mrs Porteous, Edinburgh.


1944 June 6 Orkney Herald

DEATHS – INKSTER. – At Greenfield, Rousay, on May 29th, 1944, Frederick Traill Inkster, J.P., aged 75 years, beloved husband of Isabella Craigie. Very sadly missed.


1944 June 13 Orkney Herald

ORKNEY’S “SALUTE THE SOLDIER” WEEK. – Up to 8 p.m. on Monday evening Orkney had raised almost a third (£45,171 6s 2d) of the £150,000 target aimed at, which is to clothe and equip three parachute battalions.

With such a send-off there is no reason why Orkney should not smash the target aimed at, double it…..In both country districts and town, entertainments and other functions too numerous to mention are getting well under way…..

[Rousay’s target was £3,000; Egilsay’s was £200, and Wyre £100…..The following week’s issue of the Orkney Herald revealed £265,882 12s 3d had been raised in support of the “Salute the Soldier” week. Every Orkney island and mainland parish revealed how much they had raised….except Rousay. There has been no ‘news’ from the island for many, many months now – and I have no way of finding out why!]


1944 June 27 Orkney Herald

EVIE – FISHING. – The cuithe season is here, and in the past week many fishers have handled their wands and set out for the fishing grounds. With favourable winds and tides, catches have been good, and the fish, cooked to a nicety, have been a great treat. Out-sea fishing in quest of cod and haddock has also been tried recently, but without success.

JUNE. – The longest day has slipped past, and June, loveliest of all the months, is tapering out. Usually a dry month in the north, it has this year belied its reputation, there having been ample moisture throughout. Summer having reached its full pride, the country is looking its best. The landscape is a study in green and gold, the sparkling atmosphere of blue sea and skies enhancing the beauty. The arable patches are showing wonderful fertility, all crops, though later than usual, developing satisfactorily, and granted the sunshine and heat now due, may possibly yield an abundant harvest.

PEATS. – This has been a disastrous season for peats, and those who have made use of the tusker have had some cause to worry over the results of their labours. Weather, the all-important factor in curing peats, has done its worst, and though the turves may yet dry sufficiently to be brought to the homestead, quality will be lacking, the substance having been washed out by long exposure to exceptionally wet conditions.


1944 July 18 Orkney Herald

BIBLE SAVES A LEITH SOLDIER [By A Military Correspondent]. – Stories of “near misses” and hair-breadth escapes abound after any battle, but it falls to very few people to have such a lucky escape as Private Angus Corrie experienced recently.

Pte. Corrie, whose home is at 1, South Lorne Place, Leith, Edinburgh, was with his battalion in recent fighting.

“We were under heavy machine gun fire,” he told me, “when I suddenly felt something hit me in the right breast pocket. I thought I must have been wounded, but was surprised that I did not feel any pain, so I just carried on. It was not until after the battle that I realised what a narrow escape I had had.”

To back up his statement, Corrie, who was still wearing the battle dress with the bullet hole in the pocket, pulled out his Pay Book and another small book. The hole went right through the Pay Book and was continued through the second book, which was an abridged copy of the Bible. He opened it up at the last page and showed me the bullet still embedded there in the leaves. Printed on the last page was the hymn “Abide with me.”

ORKNEY’S NEW MODERATOR. – The Rev. R. R. Davidson, M.A., of Rousay Church, was appointed Moderator of the Orkney Presbytery of the Church of Scotland at the Presbytery’s meeting last Tuesday. Mr Davidson will officiate for six months instead of the full year on account of the difficulties confronting travellers between Rousay and the Orkney mainland. The meeting of the Presbytery was held in the hall of King Street Church, Kirkwall, and the chair was occupied at the outset by the retiring Moderator, the Rev. John Anderson, St. John’s, Finstown, who is the first Orkney Moderator to fill the office for a full year in accordance with the growing practice of Presbyteries to elect Moderators for twelve instead of six months.  

POLICE OFFICER DIED FOLLOWING ACCIDENT. – Following an accident in Kirkwall on June 7, in which he sustained injuries to the head and shoulder, and for which he has been treated at Balfour Hospital during the past number of weeks, Mr David Inkster died there on Saturday.

A native of Rousay, Mr Inkster, before retiring to Orkney about 15 years ago, was a Detective-Sergeant in the Govan Division of Glasgow City Police. Since the beginning of the war he has been a War Reserve Constable in the Orkney Police, and has resided at the Queen’s Hotel, Kirkwall.

It will be recalled that Mr Inkster, who is 65 years of age, was cycling westwards along Harbour Street after having been home to the Queen’s Hotel for lunch. On reaching the Kiln Corner he collided with the near side rear end of a motor vehicle which was going in the same direction and which was one of a number of vehicles using the junction at the time. Thrown off the cycle, Mr Inkster received injuries to his forehead and right shoulder and was knocked unconscious. He was conveyed to hospital by Police ambulance and was found by Mr McClure, the Surgeon Superintendent, to be suffering from fractures of the skull and right collarbone.

Mr Inkster’s remains, it is understood, will be interred in his native isle of Rousay. Deepest sympathy is expressed to all relatives and friends.

[David James Inkster, born on December 1st 1878, was the son of Hugh Inkster, Brittany, and Eliza Robson Kirkness, Quoyostray.]


1944 August 5 The Scotsman

NATURE NOTES – WINTERGREEN BEAUTY

One of the loveliest of all British wild flowers is the Pyrola, or Wintergreen……

The other day, rummaging in Mr Magnus Spence’s delightful ‘Flora of Orkney,’ I was delighted to find that he too shared my ecstatic feelings about the Pyrola . He had gone to the Island of Rousay to see Pyrola rotundifolia in her rare habitat, “near the Goukheads where the Sourin Burn flows from the Muckle Water.” There he came upon “a glorious display, the dark-brown heather served as a background for the lovely waxen pink and white blossoms, which grew in slightly waving racemes so far apart as to enhance the beauty of the scene. Eager to touch, yet loth to destroy, I lay down amid the heather and admired the picture. It is, I think, without exaggeration the prettiest flower in Orkney. ” – I.W.H.


1944 August 8 Orkney Herald

EVIE – FARM. – Turnip singling has been finished and the young plants are growing vigorously. The cereals are making rapid progress, and harvest prospects are good. Most of the hay has been built, and what little remains on the fields is now ready for the stack. The crop is fairly bulky over all, and seldom have we seen such favourable conditions for the curing of it. Peats are ready for burning, and carts and lorries are now engaged bringing them to the homesteads. They will be a welcome addition to the fuel supply.

ROUSAY W.R.I. VISITS COSTA. – A meeting of the Costa W.R.I. was held in the School at Costa last Friday evening, when the branch was visited by members of the Rousay Institute. Miss Sutherland, president, introduced and welcomed the party, thereafter vacating the chair in place of Mrs Wm. Flaws [Mabel Sinclair], vice-president of the Rousay W.R.I. Mrs Flaws in a few words thanked Miss Sutherland for her kind welcome, and said the event was particularly interesting as being the first time the Rousay W.R.I. had visited any other branch. A most enjoyable programme was submitted by the visitors. The hostesses were Miss Brass and Miss Baikie, who served a very nice tea accompanied by many good cakes. Mrs Kirkness thanked the Costa members for their kind reception, and hoped they would soon see their way to return to Rousay on a second visit. Miss Sutherland expressed her appreciation of the delightful entertainment that had been given them, and a warm vote of thanks was accorded. The meeting closed with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and “God Save the King.”


1944 September 5 Orkney Herald

FOR THE WOUNDED

ORKNEY HOME GUARDS PLAN TO MAKE
THEIR RED CROSS WEEK
“GREATEST EVER”

With four days still to go before the Orkney Home Guard Red Cross Week opens, the money is already coming in to units all over the county. At H.Q. in Kirkwall, Major Bruce, the honorary treasurer of the scheme, has over £200 in hand.

The Week will run from Saturday, September 9, till Saturday, September 16, and will be opened by Major-General J. N. Slater, C.B.E., M.O., the General Officer Commanding the Orkney and Shetland Defences…..

The general public must forgive any little touches of “whitemail” that become apparent. All is justified for the good of the cause. After all, “whitemail” for the Red Cross, for the wounded, is a small price to pay for protection from the mailed fist of Hitler, which is what the Home Guard have given you.

“For the Wounded” is the slogan for the Week.

A Lyness officer who travelled north from England just over a week ago in an ambulance train, telephones this message to the organisers: –

“I wish your scheme all success. I learned of it in a three days’ old London evening newspaper. In the train I met an officer of a Highland regiment, wounded in France. He told me he was stationed last year and this year in Hoy and in Stenness. We talked a lot about Orkney. That lad is one of the many for whom the Orkney Home Guard Red Cross Week will do untold good. The Red Cross funds for the wounded need every penny.

“In Orkney we are away from the war – no flying bombs, no women and children being blown to pieces. Because of our immunity we may feel slack about doing something. We must not. It is up to us all, not only the Home Guard, to make a big success of the Week.”

District Plans. – The little unit in Wyre are making a door-to-door collection and running a dance. Eday Home Guard are making a house-to-house collection also. Holm’s highlight is a football match, followed by a dance. Rendall are starring in a tug o’ war tussle with Wasswick. Harray are staging a football match with Dounby A.T.C. on September 15, and a dance. Unique is Harray’s exhibition of old coins at Dunsyre, every evening till September 16. Admittance on payment of new coins!

Rousay plans a door-to-door collection and, on 8th September, a whist drive and dance, with various guessing competitions, etc…..


1944 September 12 Orkney Herald

THE BLACKOUT. – With the announcement last week that the blackout regulations would be released from this week-end, when clocks are to be changed from Double to Single British Summer Time, the question in the mind of everyone in Orkney has been “Will it apply here?” As no further announcement had been made up to Monday evening, we regret we are unable to clear up the ambiguity.

EVIE – HARVESTING. – All grainfields are becoming golden, and harvesting operations will be general this week. The tractor is being largely used and large fields speedily fall to the reaper. The crops so far are in good condition for cutting, and being only fairly heavy will not be readily affected through the agency of weather. It is customary for neighbouring farmers to combine in field work at this season, thus saving much time and helping to shorten the harvest.


1944 September 19 Orkney Herald

STRIKING SUCCESS OF HOME GUARD WEEK FOR THE WOUNDED. – Inundated with collecting boxes and bags filled with hard cash, mainly from the country districts and isles, Major James Bruce, treasurer of the Home Guard Red Cross Week, was unable on Monday to give a definite total of the gross takings to date. He is confident, however, that well over £3,000 will go to help the wounded as a result of Orkney Week…..

ROUSAY – FOR THE WOUNDED. – During the past week members of the Rousay Home Guard have made a special effort to raise money for the Red Cross. In each district a door-to-door collection was made, with gratifying results. Then, on 8th September, a whist drive and dance was held in Sourin Hall. After whist scores had been taken the company was asked to take part in many unusual competitions. This caused much amusement, and there was keen rivalry for the handsome prizes. Dancing then began, music being supplied by members of the Wasbister Band. During an interval tea was served by the Home Guard and some lady friends. Then Mrs Pirie, wife of Sgt. Pirie, presented prizes to the winners. She was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks on the call of Corporal Hourie. Dancing was resumed and carried on until the “wee sma’ ‘oors.” Money raised, to date, for the Red Cross amounts to £51 5s 5d. After expenses have been deducted a handsome sum will remain to be handed over to the Red Cross. Members of the Home Guard take this opportunity of thanking all who in any way rendered assistance during their Red Cross Week. The following is the prize list: – Whist – Ladies – 1 Mrs S. Inkster, 2 Mrs Maclean; consolation, Miss P. Corsie; Gents – 1 Mr N. Munro, 2 Mr J. C. Marwick; consolation, Mr M. Flaws. First Cake Competition – Mrs Wm. Marwick and Miss Netta Russell, Second Cake Competition – Mr S. Craigie; Saccharin Competition – Mr A. Gibson; Peas in Bottle Competition – Mr Edwin Moar; Good Meal Competition – Mrs R. Harcus; Work-Box Competition – Mrs D. Miller.

[A short time later the treasurer revealed gross receipts from the Orkney Home Guard Red Cross Week amounted to £4,133 14s 4d. Rousay’s contribution was £54 8s 9d, and Wyre £20.]


1944 September 26 Orkney Herald

HIGHROADS TO VICTORY

THE PRICE

A new epoch is upon us. The lifting of the blackout brings up a foretaste of victory. But there are many who will not get back to see the lights in the windows at home, the ones who have laid down their lives and paid the price of victory.

What kind of a world did they die for?

They saved us from Hitler’s kind, and they wanted something bigger than the 1918-39 kind too. They died for a brand new world.

Who is going to make it happen? We are. Forty-five million of us. Their sacrifice can be a spur to our living.

A young officer who has given his life in the liberation of France foresaw how the new world must be built. He wrote in one of his last letters:

“What example will Britain show to a strife-torn world? There are two sorts of ideas which will determine the answer.

“The first preachers grab get all you can while there’s a chance. You’ve got to look after number one. Demand all you can get. Have a good time, more money, more comfort, more power.

“The other idea says – fight for sound homes for our soldiers to come back to. Fight for teamwork in industry, team-work in office, factory, farm. Industry run on the give and take of democracy will give you and your country more happiness than a divided, squabbling and embittered industry. Fight for a united nation. Unity in the country will bring more lasting peace and security to you and everyone than any selfish or sectional grains you may grab for yourself.

“The way the world will be run will be decided by the way the people of Britain respond to this choice.”


1944 October 3 Orkney Herald

DEATHS. GIBSON – Reported killed in action in North West Europe, on 11th Sept. 1944, L/Sgt. John S. Gibson, Seaforths, aged 25 years, third son of J. S. Gibson, and the late Mrs Gibson, formerly of Hullion, Rousay.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Mr Gibson and family desire to thank all neighbours and friends for kindness and sympathy in their bereavement. – Frotoft Schoolhouse, Rousay.

[Serjeant John Sinclair Gibson, 2nd Seaforths, died at Le Havre, and is buried in Grave 7, Row P, Divn. 67, Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France. John’s parents were James Sinclair Gibson and Mary Gibson (née Cooper). Before he joined up John worked at home, Hullion, Rousay. He went through the whole of the North African campaign, then returned to Britain to take part in the invasion of France.  John survived the Normandy campaign, but was killed during the fighting to clear the Germans out of the port of Le Havre.]


1944 October 24 Orkney Herald

WEATHER REPORTS NOW. – From the early days of the war we have been reluctantly compelled to “cut” all references to the weather from reports sent in by correspondents and from our own reports, much to the detriment of both. For five years the weather in all parts of Britain has been one of the most jealously kept secrets, but a secret no longer necessary to keep. Now the strict censorship hand down that weather reports could not be published till ten days after has been cut to two days, excepting snow or floods, which are still subject to a five-day embargo. One more augury of better times ahead!


1944 November 7 Orkney Herald

ORKNEY HAD 230 BOMBS AND AIR MINES

A.R.P. OFFICER’S REPORT TO COUNTY COUNCIL

In a report to the Emergency Committee of Orkney County Council at its meeting on Nov. 1, 1944, Mr Alex. Doloughan, A.R.P. Officer, stated: –

“Now that the ban on publication of details of air raids occurring in the early part of the war has been lifted it is possible to give the following information to the public on enemy activity in Orkney since the early days of the war.

“The Alert has been sounded in the county 75 times since the war began but, of course, enemy planes have been over the islands on many occasions when Alerts were not sounded and on at least two occasions bombs were dropped when no Alert was sounded at all.

“In all, 228 bombs and 2 parachute mines have fallen on land in the county in 16 attacks. Casualties have been remarkably light – 3 persons killed, 11 seriously injured and 5 slightly injured. These include the first civilian casualty to die due to enemy action in this country – James Isbister, who was killed at the Bridge of Waithe on 16th March 1940. The first bomb fell in the country in Hoy on the 17th October 1939.

“Hoy has suffered the largest number of attacks, having been bombed 5 times. South Ronaldshay, 3 times; Flotta and Sanday, twice, and Shapinsay and Burray once; while two lighthouses, on Auskerry and Suleskerry, were each bombed once without serious damage or casualties.

“Bombs fell on the mainland in the following parishes: – Deerness, Holm, St Ola, Stenness and Tankerness, and in addition Stromness suffered on one occasion from an attack by a raider who machine-gunned the town along its entire length from a low altitude.

“Incendiary bombs fell in several of the early attacks, but they were particularly ineffective. Many fell in the sea, some on moorland, setting fire to heather, but only one caused anything like a serious fire – it fell in a stackyard in Stenness and burned out several stacks of corn.

“Damage to property from high explosive bombs has fortunately been of the same minor scale. In the heaviest raid, namely on March 16th, 1940, 6 cottages were more or less severely damaged at Bridge of Waithe and damage occurred at Craigiefield and Graemeshall – chiefly confined to broken windows.

“The various A.R.P. Services, under the control of the late Chief Constable of Orkney, Mr W. Colin Campbell, Esq., O.B.E., proved entirely adequate to deal with incidents, which, it must be remembered, were unprecedented in the history of this country. Much valuable knowledge accrued to the Central Authorities as a result of Orkney’s early experience of raids, and one of the most commendable features of the picture presented by the accounts of these early raids was the excellent, accurate and speed reporting of movements of enemy planes at a time when no Observer Corps existed to supply the information.”


1944 November 21 Orkney Herald

ROUSAY – POPPY DAY. – Poppies sold by schoolchildren in Rousay realised £10 6s for the Earl Haig Fund. Teachers and pupils are thanked for their kind co-operation.


Categories
In Print

Collection of 19th Century letters

This page is devoted to a collection of 29 letters written in the 1860s, 70s and 80s and sent between family in Rousay, Australia and New Zealand. A regular letter writer was Robert Sinclair (1795-1884) of Swandale, Rousay, to his family in Australia, mainly in Melbourne, and New Zealand. Some of the letters contain just family gossip and complaints about old age ailments, but there are also interesting snippets about 19th century life in Rousay and Down Under.

Robert Sinclair’s great-granddaughter Hughna Yorston of Melbourne was eventually in possession of all the surviving letters until her death in 1994. She gave Robert Craigie Marwick a photocopy of the letters in the 1980s for possible use in Rousay Roots, and in turn he eventually passed them on to his nephew John Marwick who took over the running of the Rousay Roots website. The reference numbers mentioned in the transcriptions are the original references which Robert C Marwick allocated to the very first Rousay Roots manuscripts.  They were used as IDs and for navigation.

John says – “Transcribing the letters was not an easy task. There were lots of words and symbols I had never seen or heard of and deciphering the spelling was something else.  There was also a mixture of proper (or sort of proper) spelling and phonetic spelling in the same breath. I did have a couple of very good transcription helpers – my wife Hilda and our good friend Rhona Mackenzie from Portmahomack, Ross-shire. They are both (ex) schoolteachers, and for some reason or other, teachers have proved to be among the best for this role. The letters contained little in the way of punctuation and no paragraphs, so I took the liberty of adding punctuation and splitting the letters into paragraphs.  I imagine that writing paper would have been expensive and paragraphs a luxury even if they had been considered.”

Letter from Margaret Mowat in Kirkwall, Orkney to her niece Margaret Sinclair (A622) in Australia, wife of Hugh Marwick (A19)

Kirkwall, Orkney
March 12th 1863

Dear Mrs Marwick.

I write you this few lines to let you know we are both well at present, thank God for it. Hoping that this will find you all in the same.

Dear niece, I have thought very long for word from you but could get none. I never thought that you would have forgot me as you have done. If any person had told me it, I would not believed it.

Dear niece, I have not been in Rousay since the year 1861 and I was in your father’s house there and I got my tea in it, and they was all well and in good spirits and is yet as far as I hear.

I have been sending off eggs to Edinburgh for my occupation this time back and was coming well on, but my Agent is broken and I have lost every penny that I had in the world, and worst of all has found myself in debt and before this happened Jemima was in a place.  She was baby’s maid but I took her home thinking that I could keep her respectably with me to be a company to me, for I thought very long myself.  But when this happened I had to put her out again.  She is now the only servant in the house and she has very little work and a good Master and Mistress.  It makes me glad when she is well off, but still I feel very lonely to be in the house myself.

Dear niece, I am very sorry to ask you a favour, but I would be very glad if you would send me a little money to help me on a little if it was ever so little.  I am very sorry to trouble you but it is necessity that is making me do it.

We are living in the door below where we was when you went away.  Jane Mowat is a servant to the Sheriff.  She is baby’s maid and Lady has 5 children.  Sister Betty has no a baby yet.  Brother Thomas is very feeble.  He is never been stout since his son David was lost.  John and his wife is been very unwell this winter but they are better now.

Jemima sends her kind love to you all and kisses out of number to her little cousins.  Please write me as soon as you get this and let me know if any person is written anything against me that is hindered you to write me.

I will write no more at present till I see if you get this or not.  All at present but remains your affectionate aunt till death.

Margaret Mowat
Wellington Street
Kirkwall

To: Mrs Hugh Marwick
Esay Street
Collingwood
Melbourne
Australia

Letter from Hugh Yorston in New Zealand to his Brother in Law, Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia, suggesting that the Marwicks should return to NZ.

Waibola, November 24th 1865

Dear Brother and Sister and Children.

I take the opportunity of writing you this few lines to let you know that we are in good health as this leaves us, thank God for his goodness to us all.

I received your letter yesterday which was wrote the 11 of this month and we were very glad to hear from you as it is a long time since we heard from you.  I am wrote 2 letters for you and not got any answer.

Dear brother, I have no particular news to send at present.  We are breaking up land every day as fast as we can and it is hard work.  We will have 100 acres under crop next year.  I bought a mare about 2 months ago which cost £60 and now we have as good a team of horses as you will see anywhere.

Dear brother, I think you would do better to come over here to us.  The house is standing as you left it.  Isaac is stopping at the Sessions (?) as yet.  Thomas is left there about a week ago for the sheep shearing and your father is in good health as you left him.

Ann is left here, she is in Tokomairiro, a servant to the banker.  William Gibson is stopping with Sinclair Harrold.  He is been with him 3 months.  Hugh Marwick is still on Stewart Island.  There is no much fear of him going home, he has nothing to go home with.

Your brother in law is in the Molonux as yet.  We get letters from him regular.  We got a letter from Peter Reid last week.  He is at the west coast.  He says he is going to make his pile in the summer.

Dear brother, I am to inform you about the cattle.  There is no disease reached us as yet and we are not thinking long for it.

Mr Mollison and Mr Charend is taken a run far south and they wanted me to go in with them, but I would not join them.  They have 12,000 acres and they are bought a good many cattle from Craigie 45, and from Sinclair 18 or 20.  Our run here is getting very bad, it is over stocked.

Dear brother, the times is not so bad in New Zealand as you think.  We will very soon have a railway from Dunedin to the Cluthe ferry.

The provision is been very cheap this year …I am sold oats for 2s 6d and eggs for 1s the dozen.  But it is all taken a start.  The oats is selling now at 5s 9d and everything is rising fast.

Dear Brother, when you write, let us know about all our Rousay folk and especially about Mistress Robert Gibson, widow and children

No more at present, but remains your brother and sister Betsy.

Hugh Yorston

Letter from Elizabeth Marwick (A20) and her husband Hugh Yorston in New Zealand to her brother Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia.

Waibola
February 25th 1866

Dear Brother and Sister and Children.

I take the opportunity of writing you this few lines to let you know that we are in good health at present, hoping and earnestly wishing to find you in the same, thank God for his goodness to us all.

You will be thinking I am got careless about writing, but I am the same as ever.  The reason was your sister was confined of another child, a boy, and are both well.

I have no particular news to send.  We have a very busy time here now cutting our crops.  We have a fine crop this year.  We have had plenty of rain this summer which is made plenty of everything to grow.  It is not been the case with you.  Dear Hugh I was expecting you over here before this.  You know very well you can do better here than in Victoria.  I had a conversation with Isaac and Thomas about the house and they are quite agreeable to you having it.  It is standing as you left it and they are stopping with Richard, and Ann is with the banker in Tokomairiro.

Your father is well as usual.  William Gibson is stopping with Sinclair Harrold.  I saw him the day at the church today and he is in good health.

Dear brother, you need not be afraid to come over here for want of work, plenty of work here now.  I am put up a new barn and I kept it back a month expecting you owr, and then I gave the job to Bill.  It is 40 x 15 and we are got some of our stuff in it as I could wait no longer after you.

Robert Sinclair was here with us over the Christmas week and he is still at the same place.  He thinks you should come over here.  You stopped too long where you are dear brother.

I got a lot of letters from home last night and all our friends is well.  My sister is been over at Egilsay and two nights in Kirbist.  Margaret and family is well.

You wanted to know about the cattle disease.  We are not seen any of that trouble here as yet.  The cattle is cheapest nor I ever saw them.  I bought a cow and calf for £6, butter is 1s 6d per lb, beef 6d per lb, eggs 6s 9d the dozen, flour at £42 a ton or £2 8s the bag.

Dear brother, when you get this you will give me an answer as soon as possible whither you intend to come over here or not, and if you do come I will send my horse and cart to take you out here from Dunedin.

No more at present but remains your affectionate brother and sister.

Betsy & Hugh Yorston

Letter from Elizabeth Marwick (A20) and her husband Hugh Yorston in New Zealand to her brother Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia.

Waibola
July 14th 1866

Dear Brother and Sister and Children.

I once more take the pleasure of writing you this few lines hoping and earnestly wishing this will find you all well as this leaves me.

Dear Brother we received your long expected letter of the 11th which I hope you will not be so long in writing us again.  I think you are afraid to come to New Zealand but I think you need not for you would get plenty of work here now.  And I spoke to Thomas and Isaac about the house and they are quite agreeable for you to have it and there is no more signs of them to go to it than before.  So if you now intend coming over here I think the sooner the better for they may soon change their mind.

James Harrold is been here for about two months and he is building a fine new craft and Richard is going up with him to do the iron work of her, and they are to sail tomorrow.  She is 70 ft of keel and 21 ft wide and Hugh Marwick (A53) is still working at her in Stewart Island.

You were wanting to know the price of cattle.  Good milk cows from 7 to 12 pound and fat bullocks from 10 to 12 pound, and flour 16 shillings per ton and potatoes from £3 to £5.  Oats is taken a rise 4s 9d per bushel, butter 2s 6d, eggs 2s.

Your father is in good health.  Ann is in Tokomairiro, a servant and in good health.  William Gibson is stopping with Sinclair Harrold and in good health.  Your Brother John is bought Finchey (?) with Uncle of Broland and John of Knarston.

We have had a very fine Harvest and likewise a fine Winter so far, yet we have had scarce any rain as yet, but there is plenty of water here all seasons.  The cattle disease is not visited as yet and we are not thinking long for it.  We are expecting the railroad to commence here soon and it will make a stir amongst us again.

Walter and Julia and family is in good health and got another son little Richard, and Thomas never forgets you.  They are going to school every day and reading in the 4 book.

No more at present but remains your dear brother and sister.

Betsy & Hugh Yorston

Letter from Robert Sinclair (A606) of Swandale, Rousay to his daughter Margaret Sinclair (A622) and her husband Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia.

Swandale, Rousay
June 6th 1868

Dearly Beloved Son & Daughter.

I am surprised you never wrote me for a large time back and what the reasons can be.  I have sent two letters and got no answer, and Robert informs me that he has done the same.  We are all keeping as usual except myself confined over a month with the influence and it has made me very weak.  What the result may be we know not, but we know that by the course of Nature our Earthly journey is approaching to an end when we shall not have it in our power to write to one and other.

After giving you this weakness of mine, hope you will write me in haste and let me know all about you and your family and all others belonging to Rousay so far as you know.

A letter from you Margaret would greatly oblige me and your stepmother.

Dearly beloved son, your friends are all well and doing well.  Your Uncle John of Ervadale has lost the most of his memory but still keeps quiet and is in good health.

Dear Margaret, your sister has a boy and a girl, healthy stout bairns.  We have got no letter from James your brother for 20 months.

If you see Louttit tell him his father allowed me to write you concerning him and that he is surprised that he has forgotten him in the time of his greatest need, not so much as write him.

Dear Margaret, I find you promised to send your portrait but never did.

Dear Margaret, your friends in Stenisgorn, Newhouse, Tratland and Cruesday are all well in health and well to do and no changes either by death or marriage.

You may tell the Gibsons that their father, mother and brother is as usual and doing remarkable in that house so please let us know all about them.  And tell Inkster that I have wrote him and never got an answer.  Tell him also to write and let me know how he is doing.

James Grieve is going to cod and herring fishing as usual.

Yours with Esteem.

Robert Sinclair

Letter from Thomas Marwick (A4) in New Zealand to his son Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia.

Otago
October 28, 1869

My Dear Son and Daughter and Children.

I take this opportunity to write you this few lines to let you know that I am as well as can be expected at present, thanks be to God for his mercies.  We received your letter and is glad that you are all well.

Isabella is well and is got another added to their family.  It is a girl and her name is Mary Ann.  Your brother Isaac and wife is well.  Her name is Isabella Miller.  She is a Scots woman and they are stopping in their house you put up. They have about 10 acres under crop this year.  

Your brother Thomas is well and is stopping with your brother in law as grieve.  Your sister Ann is well and is in town as a servant.  Mr Yorston and wife and family is all well.  Their son James is learning for a schoolmaster if he can get the opportunity.

Mr Sinclair Harrold and wife never forgets to speir for you and how you are getting on and why be not coming here.  They say they would be very glad to see you here again.

Hugh Marwick of Guidal is gone home.  We had a letter from home just now and your brother John and wife is well and doing well, and so is your sister Margaret and family.  Your Uncle John of Ervadale is not very well.  I hear that he is very forgetful and can do no business himself.

We are having very fine weather here for these last 2 months and it is like to be a dry season here too.  Cattle is very cheap here at present.  Rootwork is very dole at present too, but we hope things will soon be better.

I am going to send you my portrait to keep in remembrance of me.  You will see your brother in law standing along with me.  He is my best friend.  He is very kind to me.  He is as kind as your sister Bella and you know she is kind enough and I want for nought.

I would like to know of John Harrold, how he is getting on, and of John Gibson, how is he getting on, and of Thomas Inkster, how is he getting on, and Mrs Gibson, how is she getting on?

We had a letter from home and all your friends are well at present.  But your Uncle of Ervadale he is very forgetful and can do nothing himself unless somebody is with him.

Your brother John is well and family and so is your sister Margaret and family.

I have no more news at present.

I remain your father.

Thomas Marwick

Letter from James Harrold in Australia, on a visit from NZ, to a cousin, probably of the Hugh Marwick (A19) family in NSW.

Richmond River, NS Wales
8th September 1873

My ever dear Cousin.

Your kind letter of the 30th June came to me and I need not tell you that I was thankful to hear of you all being well, for I shall always love to hear from your dear kind wife and family.

I would have written before to you, but I was expecting to see you myself in Melbourne, as I sent for my wife to come there for a short time, but she was not able to take the voyage.  So I am to go to her soon now, but shall with God’s help see you and some more of my old friends yet in Melbourne as soon as I am able.

I expect to be in New Zealand in about 4 months time.  I do love this part of the world well, for I am found some kind friends in it and I should much want to stop here if my home was not already established on Stewart Island.

I have been through New South Wales and Queensland and admire its fine rivers and inland country, and once I began to know and trade with them I thought long to leave them.  I was about 90 miles up this said river and the people is so kind and homely in their way.

You will please to remember me to your Brother and tell him that I shall come out to his place and see him if able, when I see you.  Our friends in New Zealand is all well and doing very well I believe.

I hope this will find you well as it leaves me and shall always be glad to hear from you and family.  Remember me to your children and do tell your dear wife from me that I shall still think of her will all love and respects for her kind acceptance of me.

I must say farewell just now, until it is the will of God that we shall meet, and am with all love and respect.

Your very true and affectionate friend

J Harrold

Letter from James Yorston (A59) in New Zealand to his uncle Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia. First part of the letter is missing. Date unknown, but probably late 1870s or early 1880s.

……….James Harrold is in Stewart Island, yet I have heard no word from him this last year.  He was building a craft, but I am afraid it will never be finished as he has no money.

Hugh Marwick is a carpenter.  William Gibson is keeping fine and earning plenty of money.  His sister Janet is pretty badly off.  The man is an idle whelp;  all he is good for is to drink.  They have no money.  They were nearly sold out 8 months ago.

Sinclair Harrold is doing well.  William Harrold does not starve.  Christ knows he plants not his loaf in the…..(??)…..for himself but shares it frugally with his Mrs and family.  All the rest of the Orkney people as far as I know is doing well, except David Trumbton;  he is expected to die very soon and all hopes of his recovery is vain.

Otago is a pretty flourishing condition at present.  Flour is pretty cheap here.  Oats 2s 9d per bushel, wheat 3s to 5s do.  Farming scarcely pays a man here, for to hire labour the oats will scarcely clear expenses.  The road works is going on pretty well here just now.

If you intend to cross come quickly.  Stay not, take up your bed, Mrs and family, make the attempt.

James of Tireola (?) has gone home.  He ruined himself in London with his chest and he will not sneeze so bright in Orkney as he expected when he left here.

We have heard no word from home this last 5 years.  They are forsaken us.

When you come across, you will remember that tools is cheaper there than here, so you will take a good supply of them with you.  I should like very much that you take one or two of them.  Affectments for fencing which bores the ground up like an auger (?).  I don’t know their name but you will.  It would be very handy here for fencing with, as I don’t think there is any of them at this side.

Write and let us know when you get this, when you intend to start and when you think you would be in Dunedin.  We would be with the horse and cart to take you out immediately you land.

Walter and family is in good health.  He is getting on with his farm.

I have no much news in particular to write you or else I would fill pages to you.  I expect to be here and then you will know everything as well as I.

I remain yours affecly

James Yorston

Letter from Robert Sinclair (A606) of Swandale, Rousay to his daughter Margaret Sinclair (A622) and her husband Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia. Probable Date 1879/1880.

Swandale, Rousay

Beloved Brethren.

This tells you how the people of Stenisgorn (Hugh Sinclair A612 & Isabella Gibson A235) are doing.

Their oldest daughter (Mary Sinclair) is married with the Laird of Hullion (John Inkster Craigie A649). 

Their daughter Ann Sinclair with James Alexander (B395) in Faraclett have one boy and a girl.

Their other daughter Janet Sinclair (A282) with James Craigie (A810) of Claybank.

And Isabella Sinclair a very strong young woman unmarried (she m. David Inkster in 1885).

David Sinclair their oldest son goes to the fishing.

Their son Hugh Sinclair goes on the Steamer Packet – married the youngest daughter of Hullion.

Their son James married to Betsy Alexander, went to Edinburgh to an aunt of hers and is stopping with them.

Their son John he is a joiner and works at the house.

Newhouse have only one son (Hugh Sinclair A637) and a daughter (Anne Craigie Sinclair A636).  She is married with David Gibson (A242) of Langskaill in a farm in Walls with six girls and one boy.  Hugh Sinclair (A637) their son married Maggie McKinlay – no child as yet.

Dear Brethren, this will tire you in reading it but I do it for your amusement for I like news myself.  I am obliged to Mr Thomas your son for the wise letter he wrote me – compliments to Thomas your son and family. 

I know it would be too troublesome on your part Margaret to ask for your likeness and your beloved husband and little Margaret and any of the rest that have a desire to put it.

Now I conclude, may the Lord work in you all a work of grace for his own namesake.

Your much esteemed father and faithful friend.

Robert Sinclair
Christian Inkster or Sinclair

Letter from Robert Sinclair (A606) of Swandale, Rousay to his daughter Margaret (A622) and her husband Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia.

Swandale, Rousay
August 15th 1882

Thank God we have one another to write together, dearly beloved son & daughter & the children.

This leaves us much the same as before, but the old are getting weaker and worse.  My wife has been confined for 6 weeks, but she is a little better but very weak and likely will be the same.

We had a letter from our Robert lately but no news on it worth speaking of.  He does not say whether he is to come home and stop.  Neither did you learn if he was to marry with anyone there.  We heard he was to marry with Harriet Begg, a daughter of one that he stopped with.  She came to Orkney some 2 or 3 years ago and stopped with her uncle Mr Calder, Mr Balfour’s factor, until he died.  Whether she went away or is still in Orkney I know not.

Robert is getting on and has passed the age forty four mark (May 8th 1882).  And if he married and had children, when his eldest child is twenty he willl be sixty four.  It is time he had been married twenty years ago.  (Robert Sinclair (A628) went to NZ and m. Jane Mutch in 1885 in Dunedin.)

I went to John of Woo (John Marwick A21) to give him a bit of a scolding why he did not write you.  Dear Thomas I went to Woo to give him your compliments and wishes to your sister.  They seemed to pay no attention to you at all.

Your brother John (A21) had a son whose name is Robert and he has been with Samuel of Bigland since he could do a man’s work.  He is in love with a daughter of William Louttit (B8) and her name is Matilda (B14).  Leonard of Woo and Bigland does not want him to marry her as her mother is a daughter of old Peter Leonard (B300).  I cannot tell you now but if spared I shall tell you afterwards. 

If you see John Marwick Craigie’s brother Jim, could you tell him his mother is a poor widow and if he could write her a note it would do her good.

Tell John Harold his father is working on The Loam every day, getting old Alexander Grieve labouring with him when he is not at the sea. 

I cannot give you much more news at this time; give me all the news you can. 

We ………. all your pictures in safety.

I give a father’s affection for your remembrance of us.

Write soon Dear Margaret.  When I write you it takes a tear from your mother’s eye.

Yours truly

Robert Sinclair

Letter from Richard Craigie (A827) in New Zealand to his Brother in Law, Hugh Marwick (A19), in Australia.

Riverbank Farm
Taieri Ferry
Sept 25th 1882

Mr Hugh Marwick,

My Brother in Law It is now so long since I had a letter from you that I am sorry to say we have almost lost acquaintance.  In the meantime I send a letter from Rousay for your perusal which you will be kind enough to forward to your Brother William also, after you have read its contents of course.  The letter will speak for itself.  You will see my reason for sending it to you.  I do not know William’s address or I would write to him.  But I trust you will do that for me.

My family is all well at present.  All your friends here is in good health.  Your brothers Thomas and Isaac is stopping with us at present.

My three oldest boys is now working our farm.  They are growing tall 6 feet and 13 stone weight.

A few lines from you at your convenience would be gladly received.  My wife wants to be remembered to you and Mrs Marwick.  If William Yorston is near to you, tell him I would be glad to hear from him.

Yours Respectfully

Richard Craigie

Taieri Ferry
Henley P.O.
Otago
NZ

Letter from John Craigie (A819) and his wife Betsy Sinclair (A625) in Rousay to Hugh Marwick (A19) and his wife Margaret Sinclair (A622) in Australia.

Rousay August the 25th 1883

Dear Brother and Sister.

I now write you this few lines to let you know that we are all in our usual state of health thank God for it, hoping this may find you enjoying the same.  There is very little of importance to write you of.  Our harvest work is coming fast on and the herring fishing is about finished and they have made a very grand fishing.

We are happy to hear from your father’s letter that you were all well, but we were surprised that you did not write us and let us know how you were doing and how our son John was getting on.  Please be kind enough to write as soon as you receive this and let us know how John is getting on, for he has given his mother very much uneasiness concerning him, as he never thinks of writing her to let her know whether he is dead or alive.  Please let us know what his employment is, if he is able to do any work, or is he in the hospital.

You mentioned in your letter that he visited you frequently, but you never said what his employment was and (what) he has been doing since he came to Melbourne.  Please do your utmost to get him to write a few lines to his poor mother.  If he is still out of health we think that he would be better to come home as it appears he is not keeping his health in that country.

When you write, let us know how all your family is employed and how all the Rousay people is getting on.  Betsy wishes her sister Margaret to write a few lines herself to her and let her know all the particulars concerning herself.

No more at present, but remain your affectionate Brother and Sister till death.

John and Betsy till death.

Letter from David Craigie (A657) in Rousay to his aunt Margaret Sinclair (A622) and her husband Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia.

Faldown, Sourin, Rousay
26 August 1883

Dear Uncle & Aunt.

I now take the pleasure of writing you this few lines to let you know that we are all in the usual state of health thank God, for it is for all his other mercies from time to time for they are very many.  Hoping that this will find you all the same. 

Well we have had a very fine summer here this year, so for as yet, and it is looking to be a very fine harvest and the crops are looking fair.

My Grandfather received your letter last night and saw that you were all quite well and my mother wished me to write now and see how my brother John Harrold was.  Thomas said in his letter that he came up to your house occasionally and we would like to know where he is making his abode and if he is working, and what he is working at.  Mother thought that he is unwell and that he is stopping in the hospital.  Has he been working at any work since he went to Australia or not, so I hope John will try and get his heart softened and see if he will not write a few lines home to his mother.  Well, I think that will be enough on that subject.

I have been serving a time for a joiner in Rousay and now my apprenticeship is finished and I am working to the same old Master yet, but it will not be long now if I be spared.  I wish I was only in Melbourne beside my old Aunt.  I don’t think I would be so hard up.  If I only could save half as much now as Cousin Hugh did at his apprenticeship I would be very contented.  We are working in Rousay here for 10s a week and if we had no other help that would not keep us.

My father is writing a piece to you too and it is no use to me to give you more news.  The fact is I have no more to write of, but be sure when you write to tell all my cousins to put in a bit since it is the first time that we have ever spoken to one another and I would like very well if your youngest daughter would put home her likeness then I will put off mine.

Since I have gone home, Uncle Samuel’s wife and family is stopping in our house at present.

Now I think since my paper is getting little I will be as good to say goodbye.  With best wishes to Uncle and yourself and all the family and also brother John.

No more but remains

David Craigie

Letter from Robert Sinclair (A606) of Swandale, Rousay to his grandson Thomas Marwick in Australia, son of Hugh Marwick (A19) and daughter Margaret (A622). The date is probably 1883/1884.

Swandale, Rousay

Thomas Marwick, Dear Respectable Sir

We received your wise and welcome letter dated the 24th May and we were sorry to hear of your mother being so very unwell.  You told us all about John Harrold and all about the Begg lass and how she met with two of her brothers and went to see India with them.  But where she is now you could not tell.

But as for Robert my son (A628) you know nothing about him for he is many miles away from you across the sea (in NZ).  Well, well, you write him and tell him to write to his parents that we may know where he is and what he is doing.

From us all together I hope you will excuse my bad writing for my hand shakes.

We have news of some help.  We fall down sometimes and must be carried in to get some refreshment to make us better.  Then it may be a day or two before the old wife and me get out of bed again.

I hope you will tell Robert my son to write by the first Mail and tell us all about himself.

Our daily support is from Hugh [youngest son]. Chiefly we do get what he thinks is good for us God bless him and do him good.

I cannot give you a long letter at this time for I am tired of writing.

Your obedient servant

Robert’s affectionate father and mother until death.

Robert Sinclair
Christian Inkster (Mrs Sinclair)

Letter from David Craigie (A657) in Rousay to his cousin in Australia, probably Hugh Marwick, son of Hugh Marwick (A19).

Faldown, Sourin, Rousay
January 10th 1884

Dear Cousin

I now take the opportunity of writing you this few lines in answer to your letter and we were glad to see from it that you were all right as it leaves us at the present time.  My grandfather has not been well for some time back but he is a little better now again.  We are hoping that he is on the recovery again.

We have had a fair Winter here this year, very little snow fell.  We had a very beautiful New Year’s Day here this year and a very happy one.  In the morning I went to Swandale, then Uncle Hugh and me went across to the island of Egilsay and spent most of the day there.  And in the evening we came back again and I went to Scockness to a dancing which was at night.

Your mother will know about that house when she hears about it.  My sister Christina is stopping in it.  My youngest sister is still going to the school.  She is in the 6th Standard.  She is not going longer or this quarter.

I had a letter from James Tulloch yesterday and he said on it that he had received one from Cousin Hugh just before and he said that John Harrold was got down to you from the sheep shearing.

That was very glad news to my mother to hear from him that he is well.  He says that he is going out again in 5 weeks.  I am also thinking to go out with him if I can get ready.  I was in his house in Shapinsay a night after he came home and he gave me lots of news about Australia and New Zealand.

You can tell your mother that she put my mother in a bad state about that rings which you put home with Tulloch.  She thought that one of them was to her and so did he.  For you said that it was to my sister so she thought that it was to her and she was very proud.  It would only go on her little finger so she had it keeping till Swandale got that letter which told them that the ring was for Mrs Stevenson.  When my mother heard of it she was very vexed so we put it over to her.

My mother has got a coat wrought for your mother of her own sheep.  If I come off I will have it with me and if not we will put it with Tulloch.

I got that cards and papers which you sent.  Mother thought Aunt was very well like still.  You can tell your sister that I was very glad to get her card.

I have nothing of any importance to write you about at present.  I will write you again before I start.  Give my best wishes to all inquiring friends not forgetting yourself.

Yours truly

David Craigie

Letter from Elizabeth Craigie (A658), age 13, in Rousay, to her cousin Margaret Marwick in Australia, daughter of Hugh Marwick (A19) and Margaret Sinclair (A622).

15th Jan 1884

Dear Cousin

I now sit down to write you this few lines to let you know that we are all well at present, thank God for it.  My mother has not been very well for some time but she is a little better now.

I have not a New Year’s card or else you would have got it.  I was telling you before that my mother was not very well, but I forgot to tell you that the doctor was twice at her and they told that it was cold and damp feet that she had got.

Isaac Marwick of Essaquoy has got married with a daughter (Sarah) of John Harrold this year.  David is sitting here and he will not let me alone.  Jane and Thomas Sinclair of Swandale is still going to the school.  Jane is in the fifth std and Thomas is in the second std.  Grandmother is wearing three gold rings on her fingers.

I am going to enclose my letter with some of my hair and you must send me some of yours.  You will tell me how John (Harrold) my brother is and if he has got all right again.  Tell your mother to write to my mother a few lines because she thinks that she is forgot all about her and she wants to know the reason.  Grandfather has been very unwell for about two month and has hardly been out of his bed.

You must write to myself and not to David.  Give my best respects to uncle and aunt.

I am yours truly

Elizabeth Craigie

To Margaret Jane Marwick  

Letter from David Craigie (A657) in Rousay to his cousin Hugh Marwick in Australia, son of Hugh Marwick (A19) and Margaret Sinclair (A622).

Faldown, Sourin, Rousay
Thursday 20th March 1884

Mr Hugh Marwick jun.

Dear Cousin

I now improve the opportunity of writing you this few lines, to let you know we are in our usual state of health thank God, for it is for all his other mercies from time to time for they are very many.  Hoping this will find you the same.

We have had a very awkward Winter here this year of very high winds and rain.  It has kept the work rather behind, but I hope that it will soon be taking a change for the better.

Just the other day there was 2 well known men belonging to the island [William Louttit, Lower Blackhammer, and John Kirkness, Grain] that was going across to Evie for the Doctor.  It came a breeze of wind and the boat upset and both of them were lost.  It has put a great gloom over the whole island.  They left their widows and small families.

Your brother said in his last letter that he was going to get brother John to write home, but we have seen none.

Well Hugh, I intend coming off to your place with the mail steamer (The Orient) along with the Tulloch men.  We will leave London on the 16th April so I would be very much obliged if you would try and meet the Steamer when she comes for I will be no ways aquaint when I come there.  And if you would also tell John Harrold I would like very much to see him also.  We would have left a fortnight sooner but I had a letter from Tulloch yesterday and his sister in law has not been very well and was not very able to take a sea voyage, so they put it back 2 weeks.  James Tulloch is not going at this time but 2 of his brothers is going.  It will be company on the ship for me.

My mother has not been very stout of the winter and she is not well yet.  My old Grandfather died and Grandmother I don’t think that it will be long that she will trouble anyone neither.

I will have to be drawing to a close now as I have nothing more of any importance to tell you of.  Give my best and kindest wishes to all inquiring friends not forgetting yourself.

I remain your affectionate cousin till Death.

David Craigie

Letter from David Craigie (A657) in London, while on his way to Australia, to his sister Elizabeth (A658), (age 13) in Rousay.

During the voyage 21-year-old David died of heatstroke as the ship passed through the Red Sea.

London
April 11th 1884

Miss Elizabeth Craigie

Dear Sister.

I now embrace the opportunity of writing you this few lines to let you know that I am quite well at present, hoping this will find you all the same when you receive it.  I suppose that you have got the few lines which I wrote in Aberdeen.

We did not start the time that I said in the letter which I wrote home, but the ship was delayed for 12 hours in Aberdeen and I can assure you that we were not sorry for that because we had a very fine view of the town.  We went into a music hall that evening.  It was just about as fine a sight as ever I saw.  It was a very fine ornamented room and then there was 2 most beautiful girls came out and danced to the music and they could do it.

We arrived in London this day at 12 o’clock noon.  It was a very fine sight coming up the River Thames.  The wheat was all growing about the river banks and when we came into the pier there was a man all ready for taking up our chests and luggage.  And now we are stopping with him for the time that we will be in London.  We pay 2/6 a night for 5 nights that is bed and board.  It was the cheapest that we could get.

I will have plenty of money to do me.  I bought a waterproof coat in Aberdeen and now I am as well fitted up as any of my companions.  I am enjoying myself very well.  We had a very fine passage from Aberdeen to London.  I felt no sickness.

You can tell Mother that I finished my hen, but that I will have cheese to last me to Melbourne.

Well Dear Sister, I am sure I do not know what more I will write you about, because everything is new to me and I am not acquainted with it.

Tell Mother that I would like an oat bannock and a sap of sweet milk now fine.   But that is not to say that I cared for milk and the white bread well enough.

You will have to excuse me for bad writing, for I am in a hurry for my dinner.

The black cow will not be calved yet.  I should think that her time will now be up.

Give Uncle Tom and Mary my best wishes and all the little ones.  Tommy would not shake hands with me before I left.  He said ………. but he will shake hands with ………. of Swandale.  I am going to write him the next night as I don’t have any time just now.

I will write Father and Mother before I start.  Ask Christina if she got her letter all right.

I am your affectionate brother till Death.

David Craigie

Part of a letter from Hugh Sinclair  of Swandale, Rousay to his half sister Margaret Sinclair (A622) in Australia regarding the recent death of their nephew David Craigie. The date is probably June/July 1884.

…..I am writing this myself without asking them anything, but I write for you the particulars.  Some time after they will be telling you what for to do with his effects.  I heard the mother saying that she would like John Harrold for to get the whole lot, but the sister is anxious that some of the things should come back.  Agan I think they will write and tell you all about it when they recover from their great trial.

David was a very fine lad and I had a great liking for him myself.  He just made as homely on Swandale as I did.  He had a very lightsome turn about him, and as I have heard ever so many say, that he about the best natural lad that ever they saw.  I hope that it will all be for his good and that he will be in a better land than Australia.

Your mother is keeping middling and has thought rather lonely since father died, but still she is wonderful mulling putting a headstone to the remains some time soon.  The ones in the churchyard are of free stone and cost about £3, but I would have an inclination of having one of granite stone.  They are made either in Aberdeen or Peterhead.  Aberdeen’s is of a reddish colour and Peterhead’s of a grayish colour.

Your daughter will find one from your sister.  There are two pairs of fancy socks, one each for your two sons.  I think it is all ticketed.  I think there were two pairs for John Harold wrought and given by his sister.  There were also I think two pairs of common ones, wrought and given by his grandmother.  If the fancy ones are not ticketed I am sure of one pair of them for they were wrought the rock pattern and not another pair in the chest the same…..

Letter from Elizabeth Craigie (A658) in Rousay to her uncle and aunt in Australia, Hugh Marwick (A19) and Margaret Sinclair (A622). The probable date is late 1884 after the death of Elizabeth’s brother David Craigie on 6 May 1884 during the voyage to Australia. – The first part of the letter is missing.

……….Now Dearest friends, do with his things as if it had been your own.  My mother would like well if you could get his clothes to wear make the best of it you can, and send home the money to his sister Christina because she gave him £6 10s.

When the letters came mother was in an awful state.  Uncle Hugh of Swandale and father had to bear her in.  Christina has not much money and she is coming home to stop with us and she wants my brother John Harrold to come home too, and so do we all.  My mother would like very well to see him.  You will try to get him to write.

The people of Swandale is all finally well and Uncle Tom has got a little baby.  Uncle Hugh has been a true friend to us.  He was in a great distress about David and said they were not a brother he loved like him.  He gave him £5 in a present when he went off to buy a watch with and he gave Christina her blacks.   Christina was in an awful state when we got the news.  They had to cart her home and she was beside my mother one week.  We are afraid of her that sets down on to lungs.

I will have to be drawing to a close for I have to go out with the cow.  Tell Margaret Jane to write a letter to her cousin Elizabeth.

No more at present but remaining your affectionate cousin till death.

Elizabeth Craigie

Letter from Robert Sinclair (A628) in NZ to his sister Margaret Marwick (A622) in Australia.

Puerualand
Oct 5th 1885

Dear Sister

I take the pleasure of writing you this few lines to let you know that I am in good health.  Hoping this may find you and your family in the same.

Well Margaret, I have got something new to tell you of this time.  Just fancy, I have got married at last.  I daresay you will be thinking that it is not before time, but better late than never.  At least I think so myself and I may tell you that I have made a very good choice.  The young lady I have married I have known her for this last 20 years.  She is an only daughter.  Her parents are farmers here and they belong to Aberdeen in Scotland.  Her maiden name is Jane Ann Mutch, now I am happy to say has been altered to Mrs Sinclair.  She is very much esteemed by everyone that knows her.

I daresay you will be fancying that I am like to the rest of old fools getting married to some young thing about 18 or 20 years old.  But such is not the case.  She is 32 years old.  So you see that we are not so very badly matched. [Robert was 38 years old when they married].  I think that she is very much about your own size, as far as I can recollect of you.  She sends you one of our photos, also some of the cattle.

I made the final plunge last month.  We were married on the 15th of September in Dunedin by the Rev Doctor Stewart and I can assure you that I am not regretting the step I have taken because I have got a good partner throughout life.

I just fancy I can see little Hugh laughing when he hears of this wonderful event.  I wrote him some months ago but did not mention anything about it to him.  I am surprised that he has never answered my letter.

Now Dear Sister I must conclude.  Jane joins with me in sending her kind love to you all.  No more at present.

Your affectionate Brother and Sister, R & J A Sinclair

Address:
R Sinclair
c/o Mrs Wm Paterson
Puerua
Otago

Letter from Thomas Craigie (B32) in New Zealand to his cousin Thomas Marwick, son of Hugh Marwick (A19), in Australia.

Henley P.O. River Bank
Otago, N.Z. December 7th 1885

My Dear Cousin.

I received your letter some time ago, but I have been so busy lately I could not find time, but it is better late than never as the good proverb says.

When I first heard of my Dear Cousin’s death (Hugh Marwick), I was almost panic struck.  He was such an intimate friend of mine that really it came very hard on me.  I used to have regular correspondence with him and we used to write each other very jolly letters too.  But everything must come to an end.  He was very warmly welcomed over here by everybody who knew him and his Death was deeply regretted by all who knew him.  However, it is all over now and we can only hope to see him at our own Call.

The weather here has been excellent for some time back and the crops are looking well.  The heat here has been very great, more than it has been for some time back.  I see by the papers it has been very warm over with you too.

I received the papers which you sent me all right and I can only thank you for being so kind to send them.  And I am still thankful that I have still somebody to correspond with.  I know the death of your Dear Brother must have been a dreadful stroke to you, but I hope you will get over it all right.

How is Will Yorston getting on now.  I never hear from him at all.  I suppose he is busy sheep-shearing now.  The shearing over here is in full swing now, but wages are very cheap this year.  A lot of the run-holders clubbed together and it was decided to bring it down from 16s 8d a hundred to 12s 6d, but really it was not fair.  Wool has been selling at 6d a pound over here, and as wool was so cheap that’s how wages was reduced.  We are going in for stock now more than cropping.

The Yorstons and Sinclairs are all enjoying good health at present and Thank God we are all doing the same.  I hope that through our correspondence we will get more intimate and I shall be able to write a longer letter next.  Well I must conclude with best respects to all and not forgetting yourself.

I remain your affectionate Cousin

Thomas Craigie

To Thomas Marwick

Letter from Hugh Sinclair of Swandale, Rousay, to his nephew Thomas Marwick in Australia, son of Hugh Marwick (A19) and daughter Margaret (A622). The date is probably 1885/1886.

Swandale, Rousay

Mr T Marwick

Dear Nephew

It was with great sorrow that I read your letter regarding the death of your brother (Hugh Marwick d. 1885).  It was no doubt a great shock to you all his hard parting with those we love although for their own God.  But it was a great comfort for to see him dying in the full hope of meeting his God in peace.

Dear nephew, you may tell your dear mother, father and sisters that we all sympathise with you in your affliction.  I may tell your mother that her sister (Betsy Sinclair A625) got as great a shock when she got the news of the death of her son, and now her dear husband is laid aside and there is no hope of his recovery.  The disease is a very bad one, a cancer on the back bowel, so you see what trouble some is born to.

They have daughters, one (Christina Craigie) is I believe about to get married to a William Grieve, second son of Robert Grieve that was in Furss.  He has been some time out in America.  She is 24 years of age and the other one (Elizabeth Craigie) is 14. She will be a great comfort to her mother.

They built a nice house on Faldown a few years ago.  They very likely will quit the farm and stop in the house.  Farms are not worth having at the present time.  I never saw such poor times in Orkney in all my life.

A few years ago times were good and farms were paying splendidly and they rose in value, some double. Now, cattle is about a third down, horses and sheep nearly half. The proprietors in the good times borrowed lots of money for improving their lands and paid at the rate of 6%.  When the times were good I did well enough with proprietors and tenants, but now when cattle is come so low and produce of all ………. the same. They have got their outwarning. I understand that it is Mainland that they are spiteful at and they are afraid John is not fit for to sit up to it.

We have one of the most tyrannical proprietors in Orkney.  The farm of Woo is £50 of rent.  It is a good farm but there are no houses on it except the stable.  John was at him the other day and he told him that there were lots of offers in for it and he did not think that he could hire it to him, but he may soften yet.

John is beginning for to fail very much.  There are lots of other farms on the stages and most likely they will be looking after some of them.

George Gibson’s brother [David of Knarston] is all right again.  He married Ann Gibson of Broland.  They have had two of a family, a son and a daughter.  The son died when about 3 years of age.  The daughter got a paralytic stroke some time ago and she can barely walk.  You see that troubles are not left to one only.

I am sorry to say that my mother has not got her likeness and I am rather afraid that she will not be able to go to town.  We will see through the year.  I may say that everybody is astonished for to see her.  She will like now have passed 80 years of age.

This has been the poorest fishing year that I think the oldest men remember and I may state that the cod boats have not been out I think except once.  These 4 or 5 weeks you will think that strange in the middle of summer.  The herring fishing is at hand and there is none of them agreed.  Yet last year was a bad year for the curers and I understand they have been offering 10/- per cran.  I remember them at £1/4 so you see what poor times we are having.

We are now in the midst of another election.  It is only about 8 months since we had one before our government divided upon an Irish question.  The Liberals are wanting that country for to get Home Rule.  The Tories wants for to rule them by the British Government.  So they have appealed to the country.

The government has of late passed what they call the Crofters Bill.  It extends to £30 of rent.  I do not come under it.  It will help them a little but their great cry was for more land and I believe there will be something done in that respect yet.

I must now close with kind love to you all meantime.

I remain your affectionate uncle Hugh Sinclair.

Try if you cannot get any information about John Harrold. 

Letter from Hugh Sinclair (A632) in Rousay to his nephew Thomas Marwick, son of Hugh Marwick (A19) in Australia.

Swandale, Rousay
July 24th 1886

Mr Thomas Marwick

Dear Nephew

I received your kind letter and was glad to see by it that you were all in your usual way, as I am happy to say the same of ourselves.

We are now almost through with our turnip singling which is now about the latter end of summer which has been a very cold and wet one.  We had a very severe Winter what we call nowadays one of the old Winters which your mother can tell you about.  After such a one we expected one of the old Summers but we have been disappointed.  The weather is nothing like what it was in your mother’s childhood.  She will can tell you about them being troubled with the cows running in the hot weather.  I have not seen them doing so this 20 years.  It may be another kind of cattle, but no doubt the weather is nothing near so warm.

John Craigie (A819) died on the 4th of May and was buried on the 6th, just 2 years after the death of his son (David Craigie who died of heatstroke in the Red Sea on his way to Australia).  Betsy (A625, widow of John Craigie) is very much broken down.  The oldest daughter (Christina A656) is going for to get married to William Grieve (B253), son of Robert Grieve of Furse.  He has been out in America.  He is precentor in the Free Church.  He will most likely stop in Fall Down (Fa’doon) and work on the land, and Betsy will live about hands.  The other daughter (Elizabeth A658) will likely take service in times, and home in times they are not reduced.

I do not know if ever your mother got the copy of her father’s will.  I can send it if she likes.  I may state that she has the same as the rest.  My mother is life rented.

You were wanting for to know about your Uncle John.  I am sorry to say that he is likely to be evicted from his farm at the term.  There was one Peter Mainland in the farm with him.  Some of the children was suspected to write some threatening letters to the Laird, but everybody was certain that it was none of them.  It makes the farmers not able to pay their rents and plenty of the Lairds is not able for to give them the downcome that they would need so what it will turn to one cannot say.

In our large cities there is thousands going starving.  I saw in a paper the other night 60,000 unemployed going through the streets of London, and in some of these large towns the authorities is giving them a diet for a penny just for to keep them alive.  Trade of all kind appears to be at a standstill.

You said that John Harrold was still in Melbourne, but did not say if you knew what he was doing.  A letter from him to his Mother I am sure would be a great comfort now in her time of trouble.  If you see him, be kind enough for to tell him that I would make a few lines very welcome and I would give him lots of news about the young girls.

Dear Sister (he’s writing to his nephew!) Mother wishes to be remembered to you.  She is now over 80 years of age and is still able for to be out of bed, and move about.  She is still able for to knit my stockings, for you see, I have not got anyone for to do it but her.  I have not been so fortunate as got a wife to myself.  I keep a old young wife for to keep the house in order.

Tom is still stopping at the house.  He goes to the fishing and works to me when not at sea.  He has got four of a family.  The eldest is a girl and she is 11 years of age.  2nd a boy who is 8, the other two are girls 6 and 3 years of age.

Samuel (Sinclair A631) is still in the PO in Edinburgh.  He has got four of a family.  The oldest is a son 17, the next two girls 13 and 6, the youngest a boy 3.

Now I will have to be drawing to a close.  I hope this will find you all in good health. I see that you have shifted from your old place of abode which you were at for a long time.  Please be kind enough for to write me soon again, and with kind love to you all.

I remain yours truly

H Sinclair

Letter from Elizabeth Craigie (B33) in NZ, to her cousin Thomas Marwick, son of Hugh Marwick (A19), in Australia.

River Bank
March 2nd 1887

My Dear Cousin.

I have been a most shameful time in answering your letter, but better late than never.  We are all in our usual state of health at present and so are all our friends so far as I am aware of.

We are having a very hot summer and plentiful crops, though we had a very heavy storm of wind about three weeks ago which destroyed a great deal of property.  The oldest settlers never remember having such a storm before.

Well dear Thomas, we are still fighting the battle of life as best we can, though I can assure you the loss of our dear mother [Isabella] has been a great blow to us all, for she was so kind and gentle to all around her, that one could not help loving her.

I remember so well the day your brother Hugh went away.  She followed him up the road as far as Mrs Mitchell’s and she told me when she kissed him and said goodbye to him, she said she would never see him here again and he said to her that they would meet in heaven.  I have no doubt they have met there now.  Not so very long between their deaths either, but it is the way of the world and our turn will come too, sooner or later.

I am sorry to tell you that Mrs Mitchell, that is George Gibson’s sister, has lost her respect in the district all together.  There was a man, the name of Brooks, came to work at the New Bridge, a very little worth man.  He had been married twice before, one wife still living, and he has taken up with her and she has had a child to him.  The two oldest girls are at service and now none of her old friends take any notice of her.  It is a great pity to think she has so far forgotten herself.

Let me know when you write how cousin Annie and Will Yorston are getting on.  Give our best love to dear Aunt and Uncle and tell Uncle I want his photo.  Also to dear Maggie and your own dear self.

Believe me dear Thomas

Your affect cousin

Lizzie Craigie

Letter from Hugh Sinclair of Swandale, Rousay,  to his nephew Thomas Marwick in Australia, son of Hugh Marwick (A19) and Margaret Sinclair (A622).

Swandale, Rousay
July 20th 1887

Mr Thos Marwick

Dear Nephew

I once more take the opportunity of writing you. I am happy to say this leaves us all in our usual way except mother who I am sorry to say has been confined to bed for these 2 months.  I rather don’t think she will ever be able to be out of bed any more.  She is very weak.  The doctor says there is a little of bronchitis about her but he must say something.  More than likely death is the disease. (She d. 19 Aug 1887 of chronic bronchitis).

She sends her best wishes to you all and although not likely for to meet you in this world, hopes to meet – meet you in a far better place, never for to part.

I will think very long for mother.  She was very lightsome and always telling us something.  She had a wonderful memory and still has.  Yet she has been a long time on this sinful world and all we shall wish for is that she may be preparing herself for the next.

I suppose you will likely know that we are having very poor times for these 3 or 4 years past and still continues.  There is a great lot of the community that has got relief at last, I mean the crofters.  There is of late a Bill passed in Parliament called the Crofters Bill.  It fixes fair rents compensation for improvements and fixture of tenure.

I am sorry to say that I do not come under the Act being over the rent. The commissioners have not been in Orkney yet.

Your Aunt Betsy is keeping middling.  Her daughter Christina has got a son.  Your Uncle John (A21) is stopping at Bigland, yet he will very likely be looking out for a house this year.  His son Robert (A62) has got an appointment in the Post Office in Coatbridge, a small town near by Glasgow.  He is a letter carrier.  The wages are not very great but steady from 16/- to 18/- per week.

There are very poor prices in all kinds of animals and horses are more than 1/2 down.   Cattle are about 1/3 down and sheep are also about 1/3 down.  You can get the best horses now for £30 and the best cattle for £15.  I remember it double.  So you see farmers are having hard times of it.

I hope this will find you in your usual way.  Kind love to you all.  Write Robert!

Yours truly

Hugh Sinclair

Letter from James Sinclair (A611) in Newhouse, Rousay, to a 1st cousin (name unknown), son of Robert Sinclair (A606), in Swandale, Rousay, concerning Robert Sinclair’s will.

Newhouse, Rousay, Orkney
17 Dec 1887

Dear Cousin.

I received your letter of 31st Oct yesterday, asking to act for you in your Father’s Will.  Me and Mr John Craigie was executors in your father’s will.  Mr Craigie was dead before your father.  The reason I did not act was that I could not act conscientiously and carry out your father’s wishes.  I could not please all parties and therefore I could not act.  I have no objection to act for you and my cousin Mrs Marwick if she wishes me to do so but on one condition about your brother Tom.  You say that if I thought that he was left out he should have something.  You must state to me what that something is to be.

Your father’s will was made at the same time as Tom took Hurtiso; as far as I can understand he did not give him forth as much as would set up the farm.  Hugh gave him nearly as much as he did, he was only one year in it and he had not much more than half stock.

Had I been acting as executor, I think I would have found out whether Tom paid back your father or not.  Your father never kept money laying about in the home.  What Tom got had to be taken out the bank.  The year Tom took the farm if it was paid they would find it was put in the bank as he says he has done.  Whatever he got should be deducted.  Tom is the poorest one of you all and surely he should get fair play and nothing more.

It make little matter to me whether Tom gets anything.  I am only speaking my own opinion.  Let you and your Sister say what you are to do with Tom if you are to give him anything; state what it is and I will abide by your advice.  As I did not act I did not see your father’s deposit receipts but I think he has about £900.

I just have two children, Annie and Hugh.  Annie has got 8 children, 4 girls and 4 boys.  Hugh has got 3 boys.

Our good wife is not very strong, but she is up every day.  I have good health myself, but the infirmity of old age is creeping on. Mrs joins me in sending best respects to Mrs Sinclair and yourself.

I am your affectionate cousin

James Sinclair

Letter from Elizabeth Craigie (B33) in NZ, to her cousin Thomas Marwick, son of Hugh Marwick (A19), in Australia.

River Bank
February 1st 1888

My Dear Cousin

I now have time to answer your welcome letter which came to hand in due time.  We are in our usual state of health at present, but Mary Ann is still rather delicate, and to tell the truth, I don’t think she will ever be very strong.  (Mary Ann Craigie (B34) lived until 1940, age 71.)

We have got thoroughly over the holidays now, but they were pretty quiet all through.  We had some friends from town staying with us and that made it a little livelier.

We had Uncle Isaac seeing us too.  He is stopping at Gore working for Perkins, that is cousin Betsy Yorston’s husband, but I don’t think he is getting on very well.  I am afraid he takes more whisky than is good for him..  His little boy is growing such a nice little fellow.  He still stops with his Aunt.

We were all very sorry to hear about poor Uncle Willie but it is to be hoped he is better off.  You asked me to let you know about cousin Maggie Grieve, that is Aunty Maggie’s daughter.  Well I have not had a letter from her for some time, but last word I had they were getting on very well.  Her husband is a sort of manager on a farm in Southland, and Uncle John’s son, his name is Thomas too (A63), is getting on fine.

I think he is glad he came to New Zealand for he would not had much prospect of getting on so well in the old country.  I daresay his people would have been better off had they been out here too.

Little Mary Ann Knarston is fighting her battle in life too and I daresay it is not the easiest, for her father married his third wife and there is now six of a family of them beside Annie and she is such a little thing too.  But a more loving and kind hearted girl you never met.  She has a good bit of her mother about her.

About Mrs Mitchell, old Brooks is still living with her occasionally, but she nearly did for herself a short time ago.  Well Thomas, it is not a nice thing to write about, but she had got in the family way again, and it appears she took drugs to remove it and nearly lost her own life thereby.  But she has got all right again with a hard struggle.  The doctor said it would be a long time before she would get her strength again.  Her oldest daughter is to be married soon, but she does not stop at home.  The three oldest are in service.

I was seeing Mrs Sinclair, that is cousin Julia (A56), today.  She has got another daughter.  Just fancy, this is the thirteenth.  There is seven years between the last one and this.  I was just telling her this one was surely meant to be a comfort to her in her old age if she is spared.

We are having very dry and windy weather here and everything looks parched up and crops in general are very backward.  The Yorston Family (B211) are all in their usual and are getting on nicely, but the old people are beginning to fail a good bit now.  But Aunt works as hard as ever and never seems to give in.

Well dear Thomas I don’t think I have any more to tell you about at present.  Give my kind love to dear Uncle, Aunt, Cousin Maggy and the Yorston family.  Please ask Annie if she has any photos of herself or the family and if so, I would very much like to have one.  And please tell me when your birthday and Maggie’s is, as I want to write your names in my birthday book.

And now I must stop as they are all coming in to tea, so goodbye with fond love.

I remain your loving cousin

Lizzie Craigie

To dear Thomas  xxxxxxxxxxxx

Letter from Elizabeth Craigie (B33) in NZ, to her cousin Thomas Marwick, son of Hugh Marwick (A19), in Australia.

River Bank
March 30th 1888

Dear Cousin Thomas.

Your welcome letter is to hand.  I am so sorry to hear that dear Aunt is so ill, but I trust she will soon be strong again.  We are all in our usual state of health with the exception of Mary Ann.  She does not keep strong at all.  She has been in town for three months now under the doctor’s treatment.  I do hope she will soon get strong again.

Thank you very much for all your birthday dates.  I see cousin Maggie’s is just four days after mine on the twenty second of June and her the twenty fourth.

There is very little excitement here at present.  A lot of the young men about here got up a Harvest Home about a week ago and it passed off very nicely.  The shooting season has just commenced and there is a great number of fellows from town staying in this district.  But there is not so much game now as there used to be.

We are having very bad weather here at present.  We have not had a fine day in a long time and we have a lot of stooks not in yet.  I am afraid there will be a lot of grain spoilt this season and that makes hard times for the poor farmers.

All our friends so far as I know of are well and enjoying good health.  The Yorstons are busy with the threshing and getting on fine.

Dear Thomas, I have no more news this time, everything is so quiet at present.  So with best love to all.

I remain yours, affect cousin

Lizzie Craigie

To Dear Thomas  xxxxxxx