“Eight Longhope heroes honoured at Kirkwall”; “Medal and Diploma Awards from French Government”. Three of the headlines and sub-headlines in the Orkney Herald, 14 October 1936. What had they done and why were they being honoured? The events of Friday 21 February 1936 On the evening of 21 February 1936 the French steam trawler Neptunia, | more…
An American ‘Labor Day’ theme this week for #52Ancestors: work. The vast majority of my ancestors were crofters and farmers, combined in varying proportions with fishing or, less frequently, a trade. This time I’m focusing on James Nic(h)olson, my paternal granny’s father, so one of my great grandfathers. (The ‘h’ creeps into the family name | more…
On 3 January 1964 the Longhope Lifeboat went to the rescue of the Aberdeen trawler, Ben Barvas. The trawler had gone ashore on Little Skerry, Pentland Skerries, in heavy seas. It was impossible for the lifeboat to go alongside so nine crewmen were rescued by surf or breeches buoy. The trawler Ben Screel rescued the | more…
