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Our daughter Helen beside Danny Bruce's peedie hoose called Redburn Cottage.
Dan was an inoffensive peedie man maybe a bitty simple. I think he worked on Watering House most o his adult life. Dan had grown up in Aberdeen so had a Doric accent, when his mother died this peedie hoose was built for him by Sam Ross of the farm and he lived in it until old age forced him into St Peters in Stromness.
The things I mind aboot him was slow movements!! and singing!! He had a very good singing voice and was in his younger days a keen snooker player I believe.
When he died Bill Gillespie of Wateringhouse gave him a proper funeral and attended to his affairs. Sad how someone like Dan was destined to live out his simple life, he never did anyone a bit o harm but did not get a great deal out of this world.
Some day we may rebuild his humble home which is a sad reminder of a life simply lived out in this peedie hoose.
View Large VersionPicture added on 15 April 2011 at 12:24
Did Tommy Barnett stay there? or was it another hoose near it... ? amazing how it's stood all the gales ower the years.. must be near 70 years there.
Added by Jimmy Hamilton on 15 April 2011
Na Na Jimmy no een iver bade there ither than owld Dan .
I mind brither Billy and meesel comman home wae a load o paits and as wae crossed the ayr the Lifeboat was launching and yae ken they were sent oot tae look for a man who had gone overboard from an Aberdeen trawler in the Firth, the man was a nephew o owld Dan,he was never found.
I mind brither Billy and meesel comman home wae a load o paits and as wae crossed the ayr the Lifeboat was launching and yae ken they were sent oot tae look for a man who had gone overboard from an Aberdeen trawler in the Firth, the man was a nephew o owld Dan,he was never found.
Added by John Budge on 15 April 2011
What, no cavity wall insulation ?
Added by Ian Cameron on 16 April 2011
I never heard Danny speak one word so never knew he came from Aberdeen. He did seem to have a poor lonely life of it. Yankee Bill was another that didn't seem to have a great time in later life anyway.
Added by Beryl Simpson on 16 April 2011
Dan died in 1970 aged 79 years he would have been in St Peters several years prior to his death.
I think his mother was Lizzie Bruce. She and Dan lived in Westburn before the war and may have been the Bruces from the Wyng here in the island, I believe it was Bruces who built the Ink Bottle house at the Wyng, maybe they had something tae do wae the Kirbister Estate later owned by Cpt Corrigall.
If anyone knows more on the matter please comment.
I think his mother was Lizzie Bruce. She and Dan lived in Westburn before the war and may have been the Bruces from the Wyng here in the island, I believe it was Bruces who built the Ink Bottle house at the Wyng, maybe they had something tae do wae the Kirbister Estate later owned by Cpt Corrigall.
If anyone knows more on the matter please comment.
Added by John Budge on 18 April 2011
Tommy Barnett stayed in the cottage just east of the YM, Seaview cottage or some similar name.
Added by Stewart Taylor on 18 April 2011
There's a name from the past, Yankee Bill. Mind him fine.
Added by Willie Watters on 18 April 2011
picture #25036 (Owld Dan's ration-book) shows Dan/Danny's first name as Donald, not Daniel.
Added by Ian Hourston on 18 April 2011
Was there a shop at the Wyng, before the big shop across the road was built, I have a feeling there was, and that Bruce family had shops, one o them was at East Moaness, maybe some o' the same family..
Added by Jimmy Hamilton on 18 April 2011
John, I remember a call-out on a lovely summer day in 1968 to search for a crewman lost overboard from an Aberdeen trawler in the Firth.
I was onboard the TGB, as a few of the crew were at the creels, but never knew who the cesualty was. Maybe the nephew of old Dan !!
I was onboard the TGB, as a few of the crew were at the creels, but never knew who the cesualty was. Maybe the nephew of old Dan !!
Anonymous comment added on 19 April 2011
Aye that wid have been the same incident it was a bonny day, I think it was a deliberate act.
Added by John Budge on 24 April 2011
Sorry for forgetting to give my name on comment about the call-out of the TGB (1968)
Added by Stewart Taylor on 24 April 2011
My grandad John Bruce was lost off the trawler Ben Dhui off Dunnet Head in 1948 the year I was born. He was about to retire. John was the son of Hugh & Margaret Bruce née Kirkpatrick and my dad Alexander Forbes Bruce was one of John and his wife Bella’s sons. Danny Bruce was my dad’s cousin. John Budge very generously gave me all the old family photos from the wee cottage when I visited Longhope. I live in Australia now and would love any photos of my family.
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Hoy and Walls
