Orkney Image Library

I think the object showing at sea between then might be Metal Industries floating crane.... Is the John Ross your Grandad?.. doesnt look like I minded him , but I was young and might be wrong of how I remembered him, will the John Mowat, be a Rackwick fella?

John Ross is my great grandfather. He died in Orphir in the mid 1940s, so I doubt that you would remember him at all. John Mowat had the shop at North Ness.

Doesn't look like John Mowat as I remember him at the shop and coming round with his van. Although I don't remember his father he lived next door to us in Millbay when I was peedie. He would have left Scews around about the mid 1950's. Dad and Mum moved to Haybrake Cottage in 1949. I remember my folks speaking of the Mowat's next door. Not much help but the dates might give a clue? I would say that this picture was taken just along the beach from where we lived. I now live just along the road from what was the North Ness shop!!

Jane the John Mowat one, doesn't look atall like the John Mowat I remember having the shop, and near sure he didnt smoke either, might this be his Father, or have I lost my real memories of him ..

I like Mabel, dont remember Jock Mowat looking like the one in the pic, and dont ever remember Jock smoking, near sure this must be his Father, or did he have the shop before the Jock that we knew ?

Thanks for comments. Note on back of photo says John Mowat and I'd understood from my father that this was John from the shop. Will get my mother to have a look again next time I'm up with her. She'd remember what he looked like in 1948 when she went to North Walls. Not a Rackwick Mowat (he was Jimmy I think). Would be great to have formal identification, that's one of the many values of this site.

Definitely John Mowat senior (father of John Mowat from the shop) according to my mother. Thanks for all the comments. Have another photo with a mystery Walls man that I hope to upload soon!

Hi,

Did John Mowat live at Skews on Millbay?

Yes he did.

Hi Jane,

Just trying to make sure I have the right John Mowat here, as there are a few!

The John Mowat I'm looking for was John William Mowat (1876 - 1954). He was born in Walls lived at Skews per the 1911 census (so expect he was born there).

I think then that the John Mowat in this photo must be his son, born 1906 in Walls. (This John's Mother being Jacobina Mowat).

Do you think that's right?

Cheers
Brian

Hi Jane,

Sorry, just seen there are different dates for the photo, do you think 1935 or 1955?

Brian

Hi the 1955 date is not right; 1935 could be right. John Ross died in 1945 and left Walls some years earlier. It is definitely John William Mowat (1876-1954). His birth registration would tell you if he was born at Scews probably. His father's death registration (1879) has Millbay as the address though Scews in his marriage registration (1870). Hope that helps.

[Typo now corrected, thanks- Steven]

Thank you Jane, that's really helpful :)
Cheers
Brian