Orkney Image Library

On the left is Morris Shearer, sadly no longer with us. He passed away on County Show Day, 2006.

People in photos should always be named, they are quickly forgotten!

As long as his family lives, Morris will never be forgotten.

I am sure Mr Shearer will never be forgotten by his family. I have a large number of photographs of my grand and great grandparents generations which are not marked so I will never know who the people were. Unfortunately they were not Orcadians so there is no point placing the photos on this web site. Already I see that my daughter does not recognize people from her grandfathers generation, hence the need to identify photographs for when I can no longer say who they were. The people of Orkney have a wonderful opportunity to preserve the memories of those they have lost and it is more interesting for non related people to see a name and read perhaps a brief description which in a way brings that person back to life.

think that could be Jimmo Leask, on the right, painter with T G Muir

Are you the Charles Corbett that worked at Haybrake? if so how the hell are you? last I knew of you you were working in Golspie.

I worked alongside Morris Shearer at Lyness when the pipes for the pipeline to Flotta were being landed in the mid 70s he was the most laid back chap you could meet, a nice guy.

Great guy

Thank you so much for what you said there, Ken and John.I appreciate it a lot.

There's a lot of water gone under the bridge since I was at Haybrake. I was in Golspie for a while and in Sutherland involved in gamekeeping. Then I learned to be a joiner and have been doing it ever since. I taught myself furniture making too and did that for years. Now I look after my house and my daughter who is 15 and look after the garden etc and June my partner goes out to work at Stirling University. We live in West Lothian and still visit the north from time to time. We were on Hoy in 2007. How are you John?

Dear Myra,
I was wondering if Morris may have come from the Shearer family that were related to the Hercus/Harcus family. my ggGrandmother was Jane Shearer married to Stewart Hercus/Harcus who drowned off Kirkwall Bay.
Morris resembles my Father Albert Hercus.
my e/mail Address is [email protected] if you are able to reply.
Regards Jean Imrie (Hercus)

Bill Leslie (Sailor Bill) in middle

Hello, Jean. I don't know of a connection to the name He/arcus in Morris's family. Morris's mother was Linlater before she married---one of fourteen children. His father was the youngest of nine Shearer children. I can go only one generation back and Morris's grandmother on his mother's side was Johnston to name and his Shearer grandmother was Farquhar.I think both were of West Mainland origins. Do you know which part of Orkney the Harcus family came from?

Hi Myra,
Thank you for replying so quick.
The Harcus/Hercus family came from Eday if that is of any help, do you know where the Shearers originate from .
I have a feeling there are no relations left in Orkney, I think they have all left as my G Grandmother did.
Thanks again Jean

Sorry, no I don't know the Shearer origins.
I have a close friend who now lives in Aberdeen but was born in Orkney--as were her parents and grandparents. We were speaking on the phone today about family history. She has been researching it for years. Her maiden name is Harcus or Hercus as it used to be known. Her ancestors came from Eday. They were Eday Harcuses.Do you want me to ask her if she would mind if you phoned her? I'm pretty sure there might be a connection between you.

Hi Myra,
That would be great, this lady is the first Hercus I have found from Eday, if she is happy to speak to me that would be great, if you would like to privately e/mail her phone number my e/mail address is [email protected] thank you so much for all your help, I have started to come to Kirkwall yearly now, I stay at The Royal Oak with Liz Bruice and also know Joey Tait of Tankerness, I love my visits, Jean

OK I'll phone my friend but the Eday connection is a few generations back in her family. She has just discovered it. I'll let you know whether or not she is willing to be contacted by you.
I know Joey Tait too. Myra.

HI Myra,
Yes I think everyone knows Joey.
My connecting to Eday is a few generations back as well so you never know, you can tell her I will give her all the info I have on the family, it would be so nice to talk to her. Thanks again Jean

You're very welcome.

Sailor Bill from Clapshot Hill (Knarston)