Orkney Image Library

I think that's the bike he had when he stayed in Crockness, must have had it a very long time..

Walter Ross was to Orkney what Google is to the Computer today.
There was not anything Walter did not know or have an opinion about or have a wise word on!.
I went into the Emporium one day to enquire about some wear blocks for an old baler no one knew anything about it until I asked Walter "Come way me" he said, we entered an old shed in the yard and climbed over all sorts until he opened the drawer of an old dresser and there they were new and the very thing that was needed, such was Walters vast memory of all around him, I doubt his like will never be again in my time.

So nice to see these photos and read comments from folk about my Grandpa. I well remember those blue dungarees and the cap. And have heard many stories about his memory and mind map of the emporium. Thanks all.

Sometimes the memory for detail was mindnumbing for others!!! But I wish I'd written down more.

I mind meeting Walter in the toon once when I was home on holiday, and during our conversation I asked him if he remembered a boat called the Scapa Rover, well... before the words were right out o' my mouth he says, " shes lying at Balloch"... totally ruined what I thought was a nice bit of information for him.... pity he hadnt made notes of his knowledge... not many about with such a wide variety of [kenan things]..

'The walking encyclopedia' as the late Isaac Wilson used to call him! Lovely to see the phots. He actually never changed that much from then and always stood very straight (from his days in the RAF in the war?) even into his late 80s.