Orkney Image Library

Think that will be the old steam Hoy Head, in the foreground, and the wee mast and derrick probably the Inyoni

I think that will be the "Orcadia" ex " Playfair" Jimmy. There is a cargo ship at the end of the pier. Could be the " Rora Head" or similar.

Fred, I think the Orcadia had wings on her bridge, and a boatdeck, the one in the pic has none, the foremast rigging and the lifeboat davits, are the same as another pic of the Hoyhead on this site shows..

Dont think that can be the Orcadia, shaes too peedie and the wheelhoose isna high enough plus as Jimmy says the Orcadia has rounded bridge wings. If thats the Ola it must be at least 1951 and if thats the case its a fail chance it will be the SS Hoy Head.

Looks like the Hoy Head to me. Used to see her on an almost daily basis and sailed as a passenger on her a few times.
(So the true 'Stig' is unmasked at last: Dennis's uncle!)

I stand corrected gentlemen. Is that old Bill-Come with the barrow in the middle of the pier?

If your missus can't ID her grandad what hope is there for the rest of us Fred?

I really meant the middle Bill-Come Ian. My better half hasn't seen it yet, but she will likely be none the wiser either.

When the Longhope pier was being built around 1900 a lot of men were needed and as there was more than one Bill Sinclair working on the project the father of the above gentelman was asked "When did you start here, Oh he said am jist come, so he became "Bill-Come" the name still carries on four generations later,lovely story isnt it!!. That is how I was told the story and even if hids no true its a grand yarn who cares aboot the truth lies are far more intresting!!.

I understood the name was a shortened form of Billy-come-lately - a local equivalent of Johnny-come-lately - indicating a new arrival, perhaps a bit of an upstart. Whatever the derivation, I like the spelling 'Bilkum' - a nickname to bear with pride (even if its current bearer was uncertain of his role when the bloody Chermans mounted an air-raid in WW2). I agree with John Budge - mustn't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

As long as we're speculating about who's who in this great photo, could that be Aubrey Flett with the first horse and cart?

I was looking for pictures of my grandad (Laurence Flett - Aubrey's brother) or my dad (Sydney Flett) with the horse and cart. The man in this picture looks about the same build as grandad was.

I am pretty certain you're right Linda that's your grandad and your dad my father a brother and the horses were ruby in the cart and betty on the lead and I would say the year is most likely 1953