Orkney Image Library

Only know 3 of them, back row middle Patty Johnston, 2nd row 3rd from left, Ian Mcfadyen and 6th from left Sigurd Simpson

Mr Jimmy Brown was the teacher. I know a lot of faces in this photo.

I think I can do a bit better Keith- tae the left o Macfad is Stewart Taylor, tae the left o him is Annie Barnett, and the big fella in front is I think Johnny Copland.

Wrong Michael, Margaret Barnett is to my left, Annie is in front with Mary Wilson.

Is that Ida groat standing next to the headmaster ?

I think I see Norman Norquoy fourth from the left in the second row, the year must be later than 1957 if you are in the photo Stewart?

Back row, was that jimmy mowat, patty johnston, colin walls. Next row, margaret barnett, stuart taylor, ian mcfadyen, norman norquoy, francis hamilton(me that wis) sigurd simpson, and olive learmonth..next row and now the memory is suffering, ?annie barnett, ?? betty besant, catherine wylie, ?? mabel wylie.???. Front row. ? johnny copeland, Hugh besant... If the brims boys were at the north side school then we must have been 11 or 12 which would make the year 58 or 59. nearly 50 year ago so forgive me if im mistaken about anybody. I vividly remember Mr brown had bad headaches on a Monday morning and we had to be quiet, cant think what caused that!!!!!

Come on stewart can you no mind on the rest?

I think the girl left of Betty was a girl called ?King, lived next door to Nobby Clarke (houses got burned down), Rae Nundy is to Kathleen's left, then Marjory Wilson, Sadly Beryl I was in that age group, we had to go from Brims School to North Walls Primary when Miss Heddle went to St Vincent (West Indies).

My apologies Stewart, I spelt your name wrong. Well done with the other names. You have a better memory than I do. I just can't think who the peedie boy in the front along with Johnny and Hughie would be.

Don't worry about the spelling Francis, after all we didn't go to school to learn that rubbish. Was Albert Clarke not in Hughie & Jonnie's class?

Did Billy Mowat and Chrissie have a son who might be the wee boy un-named yet on the left side of the front row?

No Jimmy, Billy and Chrissie's oldest boy John Hugh is a good bit younger.

Is it Clarky's son from Hoy then? You young ones should ken who it is.

Could it be the teachers bairn or did King the head man at Lyness have a son as well as a daughter?

No that's not Albert.

Stewart, bet you were sad to see ould "Babby" go ! Did she send you all a card?

Isn't it sad that we all can't remember everybody? I am going to have a go at the middle & front rows but can't guarantee I am completely accurate because of the quality but will mark the ones I am not 100% sure of with a *.... Mary Wilson, Annie Barnett, Beatrice Simpson*, Sandra King, Betty Besant, Kathleen (not Catherine) Wylie, Rae Nundy, Marjory Wilson, Me (Mabel Wylie, now Besant)Kay Moncrieff, June Clark*, Clare King*.
Front Row.. Billy Moncrieff*, Johnny Copland, Hughie Besant. That is the best I can do with my memory at the moment!

Ps.. The year is not 1957 as I had not started school still! more like 1963.

I agree Mabel, the date was a guess and not enough research done, but looking at it again Francis was 16 in 1963 so can we settle for 1962.

Hi mabel, yes you have filled in a few blanks there but if its 63 I would have been 16 and I was offski when I was 15, in hindsight I wish we had stayed on, could have been educated by now, lol.this is great fun though, it makes the brain cells hurt at times. Thanks for that anyway . Cheers

Ian McFadyen left school left school in 1962, so it was no later than that.

Yes, early '62 is what I thought - the three is next to the two on the keyboard - it was very late when I came across the photo and it was taxing enough trying to remember everyone! I remember the day the photo was taken! Kathleen went to Kirkwall Grammar School in August '62 and I think that was also the year that Sandra and Clare King came into North Walls School. That should be everyone with their correct name now.