The Orkney Image Library
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Stromness Academy staff at a school sports day in the 1950s.
From left (to the best of my recollection): Queenie Campbell, May Towers/Stockan, unknown behind her, unknown seated, Lizzie Stocks, ?Mary Sutherland/McMurtrie, Jimmy ('Young Pia') Anderson, Ian MacInnes, Lilla Merriman, name forgotten, Mrs Seatter, William Groundwater (Headmaster), Miss McGuffie, name forgotten, Anna Smith, ? behind her, Jeannie Wood, name forgotten, DeLille Porter/Diament, name forgotten.
It's common to see classes of pupils on this site, rarer to see teachers, at least in a group. So I hope this is of some interest, and perhaps someone will fill in the blanks.
View Large VersionPicture added on 24 October 2009 at 18:12
Is that no Jim Macdonald the gym teacher..3rd fae the right?
Added by Hazel on 25 October 2009
3rd from right is John MacDonald, PE teacher at KGS later. Did he teach in Stromness at that time?
Added by Margaret Hinckley on 25 October 2009
Third from right (in the kilt) is John "Joe" Macdonald - PE teacher at Kirkwall. The last on the right might be an art teacher Turmeau ?
Added by Ian M Gibson on 25 October 2009
Any pictures of the children from this day? Could have family in this.
Added by G Whiz on 25 October 2009
Behind Lilla Merriman stands Mr Calder (English master), behind Anna Smith is Mr Alex Melvin (Maths), and on the extreme right is Mr Mackie (Assistant English teacher).
I wonder whether the lady half seen in front of Mr Melvin might be Miss Stocks (Commercial Subjects).
I wonder whether the lady half seen in front of Mr Melvin might be Miss Stocks (Commercial Subjects).
Added by Bill G on 12 March 2010
Mr. Calder married Miss McGuffie. I met them one day on a train travelling from Edinburgh to Dunfermline in 1961. They were then living in Aberdour and both teaching in Dunfermline. I was serving in the R.N. on HMS Corunna in Rosyth. They were very kind and hospitable to my wife and I.
Added by Mike Clouston on 23 September 2010
You have misidentified the person, second from the right as DeLille Diament/Porter. I was never as neatly dressed as this! In 1950, I would have been a sixth year pupil and not on the staff. I remember the lady but can't remember her name. She may have been in the Business Studies or Domestic Science department.
I think the lady on Anna Smith's right was Alice Sutherland.
I think the lady on Anna Smith's right was Alice Sutherland.
Added by DeLille Diament on 18 January 2011
Sorry DeLille. (My date of 'in the 1950s' was only a guess.) You've jogged my memory about Alice Sutherland - of course it is she.
Added by Ian Hourston on 20 January 2011
Alice Sutherland was my teacher all the way through my primary education from leaving the Infants until we were ready to go to the Higher Grade. Her nickname was "Soor Alice"! But she wasn't really.
Added by Mike Clouston on 21 January 2011
I've just realised I didn't answer the query from G Whiz on 25 Oct 2009, about pictures of family members. An exhaustive search of my archives has failed to turn up any photos of young Whizes. Sorry.
Added by Ian Hourston on 21 January 2011
My dad has two photos of the Stromness Academy Sports from 1953 which I have submitted to the admin of this site. These photos include lots of the children and spectators.
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Added by A Guthrie on 22 June 2015
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