Orkney Image Library

Charlie Smith wearing a jacket left edge of the picture, hands clasped ready to celebrate a Doonie Win

Looks like Doey Craigie at the front for starters

Vinnie Linklater in second row behind Doey Craigie?

On Doey Craigie's left side is one of the Muir "boys" in what looks like army uniform. He used to live in Thoms Street.
On Doey's right side is very like Tucker Miller who lived in BRIDGE STREET WYND at this time. Could this have been his photo by any chance?
Standing near Charlie is Bobby Sinclair from St Rognvald Street and near to him is one of the Herdman "boys"from Thoms Street. I'm sure I see my uncle Tom Hourston standing behind one of the upraised arms. Could that be Stevie Twatt from Lingro second (Approx) from the right?

Could that be Bill Bews the docker front left 2nd row - face half hidden, wearing a bunnet.

Note the distinct lack of barricades on the Post Office windows, also not too many non- Kirkwall residents to be seen "in the Ba" - if any at all.

David I mind your uncle Maurice and Sandy Budge telling me that the Post Office was open to 1pm. Can't mind if that was both Christmas and New Year's Day. they always said closing the front door was done with almost military precision, heaven help the clerk that attempted to close the door a few seconds early.
As a Ba player Sandy always had to do a quick change into his Ba clothes after the Post Office closed. He said he always had this vision that the Ba would end up in the Post Office as some customers would be delaying their exit from the building.
Cant imagine that nowadays due to the size of the game.

Strange photo! Not how "separate" the players are - not the tight packed, expectant scrum of nowadays. Perhaps more gentlemanly days. Ha! Ha!

Quite sure that's Bill Bews too Raymond.
Comes to my 77 year old mind that the Post Office could have been open at the time for mail was delivered on Christmas Day in those days.
Ba barricades were not necessary on the windows because the windows were a bit above average shoulder height.The space where mail was posted was protected.
I wonder if this photo could have been taken before 1950?

Maybe they were a bit more discriminating in those far off days David.

Arthur Herdman to the left of Bill Bews

When did it change from being a game for those who were born in Kirkwall to what it has become now, a free for all?

I'm pretty sure thats my grandfather Bill Bews at the back.

Could that Tucker Laird looking to the right of the picture, immediately below the right side of the window with "Office" above it?

Could the man peeping over Bill Bews's shoulder be "Chuffy" Muir?

Peter - I can mind "peedie" Jock Craigie delivering mail to our house on a New Years Day and my father giving him a dram.
When I joined the Post Office in 1974 older staff like Jackie Brodie talked about having to go back to work about 6pm to receive the mail off the "Ola". That was at the old parcel office near Dowell's yard which later became the knitwear factory.

Ba people: Answer Billy's question. I am not a Ba player mesel (too much of an athlete) but I think that there wis always "country wans" who (came in fur)/(played in) the ba. Information.......?

There have been folk from outwith Kirkwall playing as far back as records go. Pages 22-24 of JDM Robertson's Uppies and Doonies book gives some interesting information on that and also on how big the game was back in the late 19th century.
It's often said there is nothing new in the Ba' although I think that way back then players would've been happy to exchange a handshake with their opponents before and after the game was played!