Orkney Image Library

I remember the playing field- we played almost every day in the summers of the sixties. When was the sports centre put up?

The Sports and Leisure complex was officially opened by Princess Anne on 16th April, 1999.

The Daimler belonged to Davy Spence of the Royal Hotel. It was used for Royal visits, right enough.

Bertha is correct. The Orkney Herald for August 14th, 1956, states that the Daimler car was the property of Mr D.G. Spence, Wideford Mains. The chauffeur was Mr Harry Marwick, Kirkwall Town Council excavator driver, who wore a blue uniform and leather gloves.

Yes, Davy Spence owned The Royal Hotel, Wideford Mains and various other properties as well at that time. His daughter owned the Albert Hotel.

Sandy Heddle had a 'Bentley'

Oh how I wish i had put this photo in the bin. Does anyone know what kind of car the one in the photo is: Bentley or Daimler? Thanks anyway Edwin, and others.
Comments and corrections always welcome.

It is definitely the Daimler. I remember it well.

I have a vague memory of being told that my father had to fit a new exhaust to that Daimler urgently before the royal visit, earning himself a chill in the kidneys by having to work on it on the slatted floor of the byre in which it was stored.

Sandy Heddle did indeed have a Bentley but that was quite a bit later - well into the 60s I'd say. He also had quite a collection of BS number plates on various vans & vauxhall victors relating to Thornbers chickens which his firm Heddle Hatcheries was agent for e.g. BS404, BS606. BS505 - Harry Kerr had some of these numbers on his yellow taxis in the late 70s

Would I be right in saying this car is a Daimler DB-18. Cecil Walls, solicitor, had one

I may be wrong but I think Cecil walls' car was an Armstrong Siddley (cream colour)

A story about Dave Spence when in Aberdeen. Someone recognising his Orkney accent said, "Do you belong to Kirkwall". Davy replied, "You might say Kirkwall belongs to me"

I think this car looks more like a Daimler Conquest, which was a later model than the DB-18. I don't remember seeing Cecil Walls's car, but I've heard it said it was a Daimler. I did wonder if it was the one in picture #8374.

How true... No wonder then that at the time he occupied the then Royal Hotel, people referred to Kirkwall as "Royal David's City"!!

A larger picture of this car can be seen at the Orkney Archives. Photo number whh-p133. Car reg was BS4533

My grand-father George Tait of Ingsay owned this car. It had a pre select gear change on the steering column.

Is it true the only wording on D. G. Spence's grave stone is Exspence?