The Orkney Image Library
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Not sure of the date photo was taken, could be about 2002. Morris Eight van in GPO linesmen green at the Vintage Rally at Hatston, day after the County Show. When I was a very young boy living at Cromwell Road I used to pass one of these Vans in St. Catherines Place on the way to School. The Driver was Fred Johnstone who lived across the alleyway from Capt.Herbert Sutherland of tug fame. I believe Fred was one of the first Post Office linesmen in Orkney. He had a telephone on the wall of his front porch, a wooden box with a wap (handle) on the side of it, a mouthpiece on the front and a clip for hanging the earpiece. At this time it was only phone in the neighbourhood. Some of these vans were sold at the Auction Mart after their time with the GPO. Most of the Green Vans were in excellent condition, having had only one driver. The sad fact was that Joe Public could not bid on them at the Mart. The Bidders had a permit to do so, namely Bill(Squeeck) Sinclair,of P.F.Thompson and St.Clairs Emporium. Tthese vans were in much demand as Vans were scarce in the early 50's. My father tried to buy one from Bill but he wanted a Kings' Ransom for it so he passed it by. Added by Phil Brough.
View Large VersionPicture added on 06 June 2011 at 12:35
mind that van being there in 2000, but dont know if its been there any other years.
Added by Chris Shearer on 06 June 2011
Been at vintage rally at John O Groats 2007 & 2009. Your green GPO van has been at both rallies.
Added by Ian Tulloch 08 June 2011 on 08 June 2011
Think it belongs to a chap from Brora or Golspie area who usually comes over with Jock Mackay formerly from the Scrabster Hotel. I recall PO Telephones with plenty of these before the Morris Minors. My uncle Sandy had 2 of them at the Dairy (red & black) for many years BS2535 and BS3600 (the former last seen used as a hen-hoose in a field near Longhope many years ago - don't know what happened to BS3600).
They were hardy little things and probably carried much more than they were designed for especially when Sandy made a rack to put crates of empty bottles on the roof.
I believe they were reasonably economic despite the obsolete side-valve engine as Sandy complained how the 1964 Ford Anglia van (BS7510) which replaced them used much more fuel(Ford of that ilk were notoriously poor for fuel consumption but when it was possibly 25p per 4.5 litres folk didn't worry so much!!) I think part of the back of the roof of the Morris was actually some sort of felt or tarry fabric. The front mudguards were rubber which fairly saved on minor dents and could be wisely adopted by today's van builders! As milk-boys we used to stand hanging on to the back with the wind blowing in our faces, a practice used by the "Ashy-Kert" men coal men etc that would be severely frowned upon in today's H&S obsessed society!!
They were hardy little things and probably carried much more than they were designed for especially when Sandy made a rack to put crates of empty bottles on the roof.
I believe they were reasonably economic despite the obsolete side-valve engine as Sandy complained how the 1964 Ford Anglia van (BS7510) which replaced them used much more fuel(Ford of that ilk were notoriously poor for fuel consumption but when it was possibly 25p per 4.5 litres folk didn't worry so much!!) I think part of the back of the roof of the Morris was actually some sort of felt or tarry fabric. The front mudguards were rubber which fairly saved on minor dents and could be wisely adopted by today's van builders! As milk-boys we used to stand hanging on to the back with the wind blowing in our faces, a practice used by the "Ashy-Kert" men coal men etc that would be severely frowned upon in today's H&S obsessed society!!
Added by Willie Mackay on 14 June 2011
Aye Willie, they made good hen hooses, the one I had ended up in Brims as a hen hoose, but it didnt have an Orkney reg no.
Added by Jimmy Hamilton on 15 June 2011
Fred Johnston was my grandfather so wonderful to hear about the van. The phone ended up inside the house at
23 St Catherine's Place. When I visited Kirkwall a few years back The phone was in the Wireless Museum on display. although on my visit this time May 2015 it is no longer on display there. Does anyone know where it is? I'm sure the P.O. Archives at the Telephone Exchange in Kirkwall would love to add it to their collection! I'm here till the 29th May. Love to hear from anyone who has further memories of Fred who was awarded the BEM in 1946 for his war time services as a telephone engineer.
23 St Catherine's Place. When I visited Kirkwall a few years back The phone was in the Wireless Museum on display. although on my visit this time May 2015 it is no longer on display there. Does anyone know where it is? I'm sure the P.O. Archives at the Telephone Exchange in Kirkwall would love to add it to their collection! I'm here till the 29th May. Love to hear from anyone who has further memories of Fred who was awarded the BEM in 1946 for his war time services as a telephone engineer.
Added by Jean Sims on 23 May 2015
Fred after he retired from GPO worked as a casual docker he was a very good worker.
Anonymous comment added on 27 May 2015
These van could be bought for around £25 in the early 60s and yes owld Squeeck held the monopoly on the sale of these vans but if he was in a good mood he would sale them on at a small profit.
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Added by John Budge on 05 June 2015
Kirkwall
