Orkney Image Library

This must have been taken between 1945 (E. J. Hendry becoming Town Clerk) and 1947 (P. C. Flett ceasing to be Provost). If Mrs Georgina Leitch (Provost 1969-1975) is in this photo, it shows every Provost of Kirkwall from 1940 to the abolition of the Town Council in 1975. The others are Robert Slater (1947-1954, standing between P. C. Flett and Hendry), James Flett (1954-1957, extreme left of back row), and James Scott (1957 - 1969, fourth from left, back row).

Hello Clare,
I rather think you have the dates in opposite order. The outside (Tankerness Garden) picture is most certainly 50's era. The provost's name I do not recall but there are 2 future provost's within. 1st left back row, J Flett (Newsagent)J Scott, Education Office, (perhaps Director, not sure). Next to him is Mrs Leitch of Leitches Gardens, (now Glues Nurseries). next to the right ? Horne (Maybe Cubbie Roo not at all sure).
In the front row with staff is Tom Slater, Town Hall Caretaker and Halberdier for many years. Next to him is Mr Hen(d)ry, Sherriff again not confident but I rather think he had an involvement with the Scouts around that time. I should know the Provost of the day but it escapes me at the moment.

After a quick glance at "The Orcadian Book of the 21st Century" and given the approximate period I would suggest that the Provost in this photo is Robert Slater 1947 - 1954. This would put the earlier photo in the period 1940 - 1947 when the man in charge was Peter (P.C.) Flett, Ironmonger, amongst many other things situated in the region of The Peppermill/Mackays. Any earlier period would be in the term of John M Slater, (draper) who if I recall was a much taller man than PC Flett.

The middle four in the front row are Town Clerk E.J.Hendry, Baillie Robert Slater(Irvine's Shoe Shop which was below the Victoria Street Hall), Provost P.C. Flett (Ironmongers etc. Shop where Smiddies are now) and Baillie Alexander Leask (School Headmaster)

The lady in the middle of the back row is Rosetta Groundwater, later provost of Stromness. She left Kirkwall in 1948, so the date must be before that year.

This has to be in the Provostship of P.C. Flett. Robert Slater and Alexander Leask are in their Bailies' robes. Archie Spence is on extreme right of Back Row and it is David Horne next to him. Albert Maxwell is extreme right front row. I think the gentleman next to him is Mr Archibald who lived in Glaitness Road so I'd put the date as end of the war in 1945

Hello, my name is Rob Wright and I was at school in Birmingham when I wrote to Edward J Hendry, the town clerk of Kirkwall, asking for information about life in the Orkneys as part of a school project. I am now 72, and was 10 when I wrote this letter.
Uncle Eddy, as he became known to me, was the kindest person I had ever met. We wrote to each other regularly, and he sent me gifts on my birthday and at Christmas. When I was 11 he wrote to tell me he was visiting relatives in Derby and would be travelling by train, stopping off at Birmingham New Street station, and we could meet for lunch. I would very much like to get in touch with anyone who knew Eddy, I don't think he had any family.
Regards Rob