Orkney Image Library

Iain, the memory does plays tricks but I seem to remember walking down to Aith in Sandwick when I was a very young lad to see the Queen on her way to Skaill. I can't nail the date precisly but think it must have been between 1959 and 1964.

This was taken during the summer of 1960. The Queen's outfit was powder blue. I have some colour photos taken during the same visit as well as a large black and white one showing my Mum's uncle, Bob Scarth (then Lord Lieutenant)escorting the Queen and Prince Philip.

Amendment to my earlier comment. I have found the original programme of events - the date was 11th August 1959. The programme ran as follows: the royal party disembarked from Britannia at 10.00am at Stronsay, where they are received by the Lord Lieutenant, Col Robert Scarth of Binscarth (my Mum's uncle); inspection of Stronsay Lifeboat, back onto Britannia, arriving Kirkwall 12.10pm, to be received (again) by Lord Lieutenant, the Sheriff Principal (FC Watt), the Provost of Kirkwall (James Scott), the Convener of Orkney CC (Henry W Scarth) and Queen inspects stall of Orkney produce. Queen proceeds to St Magnus Cathedral Green to be welcomed by (he must be running up the back) the Lord Lieutenant. Queen departs via Kirkwall Hotel to Stromness, and is received by the Provost (Mrs R Groundwater). Queen inspects Stromness lifeboat. At 3.35 she leaves Stromness for Skarabrae, arriving there at 4.00pm. 4.15 leaves Skarabrae for Binscarth and has tea with the Lord Lieutenant. At 5.15 drives down the Churchill Barriers to South Ronaldsay and, at St Margaret's Hope, inspects the Longhope lifeboat. The Lord Lieutenant makes presentaions and Orkney County Council present a painting by Stanley Cursiter. At 6.00pm the Queen and Prince Philip leave St Margaret's Hope by barge and rejoin Britannia, which sails onward to Aberdeen.

Another amendment still! My mother was adamant that the year was 1960 as she was then spending the summer in Orkney with her uncle Bob and aunty Hester. She was offered the opportunity to stay on for the Royal visit but was too shy. Three weeks after her return, her father (Sandy Scarth) died. Sandy died on 19th July 1960 so I did a little further research and found that she was quite correct. The visit had indeed been originally scheduled for 11th Aug 1959 - and the programmes printed of which I have a copy - but the trip was cancelled four days beforehand due to the Queen having been ill in Canada and, subsequently, being declared pregnant with Prince Andrew. The rescheduled visit took place on August 12th 1960.

The Queen also visited Westray during the visit to Orkney in August 1960. She arrived on board the Royal Yacht, and opened the then 'new' Pierowall School' I will add 3 photographs I took that day.

Thanks for the above information. My late Grandfather filmed their visit on his cine-film; I have posted the footage on You Tube titled as "Queen Orkney".

[Here it is...]

I was standing beside my dad when he took this cine film. I think I was about 10 or 11 which would make it about 1961 or 1962 but, as someone else has said, the memory can play tricks on us! Peter Grant (above, who has converted the cine to dvd and placed on youtube, is my son)

Dear Orkney Images - I'm working on 2 x documentaries for ITV about Her Majesty and Prince Philip to celebrate their respective birthdays next year. We're looking for unseen or rare stills or footage of them and I wondered if you had any images in your interesting library or if you knew of any Orcadians who had amateur footage of Royal visits to the islands please.

With fingers crossed and very best wishes

Jenny Borthwick
Archive Producer
Factual Fiction