The Orkney Image Library
No: 5285 Contributor: Sandy Windwick Year: 1975
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This must have been one of the early ones. Does anyone know when the first one was? Any photos?
Picture added on 14 October 2007
Image wrong way round! [Now sorted- Steven]
Anonymous comment added on 14 October 2007
The vans are pretty grim looking. They looks like the ones they use in the American films that take the prisoners off to the jail. Or should that be penitentiary? :)
Added by Bruce M on 14 October 2007
1972 was the first St Magnus Fair organised to raise money for the Save St Magnus Cathedral appeal.
Added by Kenny Thomson on 15 October 2007
After 1974 going on the number plates on the vans.
Added by Whassigo on 16 October 2007
St Magnus fair is an ancient Charter Fair with market held at Lammas time (early August), so no photos of first one!. Some really interesting old documents in Kirkwall library archives show how formal and regulated it all was. Stalls were charged a fee and Highland men had to surrender their arms to their landlords and landladies for the duration of the market (1730). Town folks had to keep their streets clean of peats and middens! There were always entertainers and ale tents as well as foods. Nowadays the Show people who come at the Fair time have to build up on the outskirts of the town and hardly get a mention, changed days.
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Added by Betty Jordan on 08 March 2011
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