The Orkney Image Library
No: 25234 Contributor: Colin Cooper Year: 1950
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not a very good photo.unsure of the date but would say around 1950.will be of interest to some of the seniors in stronsay, Doctor Pyle and Willie Ritch having a yarn. Willie was a blacksmith on the isle at one time.
View Large VersionPicture added on 14 June 2011 at 00:05
Would that be the same Wullo Ritch I had a good blether,and dram with at a wedding I attended in Stronsay in the late 60s?
Added by Stewart Taylor on 14 June 2011
Hi Colin - I believe that photo was taken 1959 approx. i have the photo somewhere in the house. Willie was my uncle, brother of my mother Milo nee Ritch
Added by Billy Muir on 14 June 2011
Wullie got a job at Scarths in the late 50's early 60's as their blacksmith.Noo he hidno worked at the forge for a while an he had lost his confidence a bit,whit ment he got very flustered whenever he got a job.
Wan day,fur a laff,the men in Scarths office,Pete Lennie,Edwin Eunson, and Harry, can't mind his last name, wrot a letter fae a made up customer wanting a set of shoes fur his horse. Trouble wis the only sizes given wis the hight o' the horse in hands and I think hids colour.
I can still see the luk o'sheer terror on Wullies face when he tried to mak' sence o' hid.
Bit tae be fair, he saw the funny side o' hid after a couple o' oors,wae hid many a laugh aboot hid efter.
Wan day,fur a laff,the men in Scarths office,Pete Lennie,Edwin Eunson, and Harry, can't mind his last name, wrot a letter fae a made up customer wanting a set of shoes fur his horse. Trouble wis the only sizes given wis the hight o' the horse in hands and I think hids colour.
I can still see the luk o'sheer terror on Wullies face when he tried to mak' sence o' hid.
Bit tae be fair, he saw the funny side o' hid after a couple o' oors,wae hid many a laugh aboot hid efter.
Added by Price Sinclair on 15 June 2011
Interesting to see this picture. Dr Pyle treated P/O Ian Blair for a cut on his nose after he crash-landed his Spitfire on Stronsay on 20th Feb 1944, I`ve just been writing up a story on the Spitfire for a book I`m working on.
Added by Dave Earl on 12 June 2012
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