Orkney Image Library

I'm pretty sure it was later than that - it was definitely still leonards in the late 80's because me and my friends used to spend hours in there in 1987!

That's the Leonards I used to know. I remember it particularly for getting noticed by a shop assistant when I tried to lift (= take without paying, for the uninitiated - something P7 boys are prone to try at some point in their lives) a 1.5p Action Transfer (that's what we used to have before there were Gameboys). I ended up terrified to go in to the shop again for about another 6 months after.

I found these pictures extremely interesting as with the surname Leonard I had no idea of the history of that name and the Orkneys. My wife and I recently visited and purchased a few books on the history and by George Mackay Brown from the Book Orcadiana I learnt of the story of the German Balloonists from this lead to this site and to the Book Shop pictured above. We are planning to return to the Islands in the near future to follow up on our discoveries.

I used to spend hours in there every summer when I was a wee loon while I was up seeing my Gran & Grandad Bews at Orphir. Most of my pocket money went into that brilliant shop! The change was spent on sweets at Woolies.

Linda Bain and Tina Meldrum on there way to the Georgian Bar

Still to this day the greatest toy shop in the entire world!!!!!