Schools and schoolmasters

Schoolmasters and teachers

Contributions and corrections welcomed; thanks to those who’ve already supplied information. Other sources include The Orkney Herald and The Orcadian newspapers, 1871-1911 Censuses, Walls & Flotta School Board Minutes as well as posts on the Orkney Image Library. I’ve included parish of birth where easily available as it’s quite interesting to see the spread of places. For the many female teachers, marriage was usually the end of their teaching career, certainly up to the late 1930s if not beyond. There is one example below.

List for Brims.

North Walls

NameDatesNotes
William McIntoshJuly 1867-?
Donald RossBy 2 Apr 1871, still there Apr 1873From Kirkhill, Inverness-shire.
William SeatterBy Mar 1876-?Orcadian?
Alexander M JohnstonBy 3 Apr 1881-at least 5 April 1891From Walls.
Mr Robert S FairbairnAt least 1895-1899Headmaster. Wife taught sewing.
D CorrigallAt least 1896-97Pupil teacher. Possibly Donald Corrigall, Stonequoy
Miss Sinclairc Oct 1903-Dec 1909Headmistress for six years. Came from South End School, Sanday
Teacher “qualified under article 79” appointed as assistant after summer vacation. Less qualified than a certificated teacher.Aug 1905First time this was a 2-teacher school? Average attendance 29.1The Orcadian 23 September 1905. Orkney school reports: North Walls Public School. p. 5 col a. British Newspaper Archive per https://www.findmypast.com : accessed 21 September 2020.
Joseph W ParrattAppt Nov 1909, still there 2 Apr 1911Wife Jessie was assistant. Both from England.
Miss CrichtonLeft Aug 1918Assistant teacher
Peter Joppleft 24 Jan 1921Headmaster
Anna RendallUntil Sept 1929?From Evie
Maggie G Wilson?-Nov/Dec 1935Headmistress. From Bulwark, Crockness, North Walls
Letitia GarsonUntil Sept/Oct 1926From Sandwick?
Bessie M Sinclairlate 1926-Dec 1934From Sanday. Resigned “by reason of approaching marriage”.2The Orkney Herald 19 December 1934. Orkney education affairs: staff changes and appointments in country schools. p. 3 col c. British Newspaper Archive per https://www.findmypast.com : accessed 21 September 2020.
Helen Matches1935-?From South Ronaldsay.
Margaret JS Cooper1936-?Headmistress
?c 1938Retired teacher from Kirkwall, temporary.
Jacob Moar1938-1955From Birsay; first headmaster to live in the new Schoolhouse
Annie Corrigall-1946From Stonequoy, North Walls.
Mary (Laird) Inkster1946-?From Stromness area. Possibly taught before 1946 too?
Tess (Slater) Ross1948-1955From Orphir
Robert ThorburnApr 1955-1958Headmaster
Jimmy Brown1958-?Headmaster
Catherine DreverFrom Westray. Temporary.
John Allanc1963-late 1968Headmaster
Fiona Bichan1968-1969From St Ola.
Charles Rioch1969-1980Headmaster
Barbara Heddle??From South Walls.
John Eccles1980-mid 1980sHeadmaster
James Crockettmid 1980s-1988Headmaster. Known as Barney. Currently Lord Provost of Aberdeen (Oct 2021)
Kenneth Michie1989-1996Headmaster. From Kirkcudbright where his GP was Robert Mack, son of the Macks who taught at South Walls.

No teacher recorded in 1901 census.

Brims

NameDatesNotes
Margaret Urquhart1877-?First teacher
Jane Nicolsonlate 1870s, still there 3 Apr 1881From Bower, Caithness.
Isabella WalkerBy 5 Apr 1891-?From Gamrie, Banffshire.
James SinclairBy 31 Mar 1901-?From Stromness.
Teacher “qualified under article 79” appointed as assistant after summer vacation.Aug 1905First time this was a 2-teacher school. Average attendance 27.3The Orcadian 23 September 1905. Orkney school reports: Brims Public School. p. 5 col a. British Newspaper Archive per https://www.findmypast.com : accessed 21 September 2020.
Mrs Cox?-1946
Annie Corrigall1946-?From Stonequoy, North Walls.
Mrs Malcolmson?-1949
Barbara Dundas, St John’s Manse1949-?
Barbara Heddle?From South Walls.
Gordon Riddell-1968School closed when he left.

No teacher recorded in 1911 census.