Orkney Image Library

Is it the Earl Thorfin with Capt Hamish Flett??

It could be Hamish. There was something about the Sigurd having the white bit around the wheelhouse and the Thorfinn being broon.

No, it is the Earl Sigurd, possibly Georgs Harcus as captain. The Earl Sigurd had four cross bars on her rails, the Earl Thorfinn had five.

Its Hamish Flett as skipper but not the Earl Thorfinn it is the 'Earl Sigurd'. The Thorfinn had an open flying bridge before it had the new wooden wheelhouse fitted immediately after the war. The Thorfinn also had rails both sides of the wheelhouse rather than the half solid half rails.

Thorfinn's wheelhouse was stained must be the siguard and peedie Geordie

I would need my magnifying lenses for the folks in this one, Bill but my guess would be the Thorfinn or the Sigurd since they were the only boats I can remember going to Stronsay at that time. Merry Christmas and a very happy 2011 to you and the family.

Think you should get out more Bill

Am been telt the day by a very reliable informant that this is definately the Sigurd, bekiss you could walk right aroond the front o' the Thorfinn's bridge, but no on the Sigurd. If you luk at the pictures o' both boats on this site, that is confirmed. Noo, whit aboot the skipper ? Captain Flett is still going strong so mibbee a relative could sha him the picture and let him confirm it. Whit aboot the passenger's neems?

Showed photograph to Hamish Flett. He confirms it is him. He joined Orkney Steam in 1947 and sailed on the Thorfinn as Mate under John Hutchison. At the time, the Sigurd was captained by Capt Malcolmson. When Captain Malcolmson left, Hamish Flett moved to the Sigurd as Captain. Later, when John Hutchison left, George Harcus became master of the Sigurd.

No very sure but will try a few. On the extreme left Ena Work and W Stevenson Burrogate,Hamish Flett, No 1 Possibly Tanny, 2 Doy Stout 3 George Maxwell 5 David Caithness 8 James Miller Millbank 9 Jim Work Holland 10 Miss Mary Gorie, 16 Jim Dennison Fingoe,17 D Peace Dishes,19 Sidney Swanney, 18 Rita Fotheringhame ,25 Bob Fotheringhame, 26 Walter Muir, 23 James Chalmers Sound ,27 John Fiddler, 30 Donald Peace, 32 Pat Reid ,34 Ernest Seatter, 35 Jean Archibald ?? 41 W Cooper Cleat and D Chalmers coalmerchant in front of him ,47Mrs Clyne Fernside , 48 Possibly Meg Cooper. not sure o the rest

The John Hutchison in question would seem to have been my father (before i was concieved-(nov 1951). Any info about his ships in them days would be enormously interesting to me and the rest of his family..obviously!