Orkney Image Library

The house on the right "Highbury" belonged to my g-great aunt Barbara MacKay Scott and her husband William Melville Cooper. If anyone has any information on any of the Cooper boys, I'd love to find living relatives. William was married to Maryann Peace and had the following boys. He later married Barbara after Maryann passed away. John Cooper, b. 1875, Peter Shearer Cooper b.1879 d. 1952, William b. 1881 d. 1915, Alfred Hay Cooper b. 1884 d. 1918, Robert Peace Cooper b. 1887. Meridith Scott Keyes

When I was a boy in the 50s early 60s we lived at 18 East Road - through the arch on right of the Picture.
It was a Mrs Cooper a widow and Mr & Mrs Jackie Shearer who lived there then. They were very nice people and I think Jackie worked at the Offices at the Pier possibly to do with the "Amelia" which had been owned by Coopers and was taken over by the "North of Scotland Orkney & Shetland Shipping Co." I think Jackie Shearer was a nephew of the Coopers but I'm not certain.

I mind the Sheares too and I had the impression that they were related to the Shearers of Ingavoe, Berstane Road - Tommy and Margaret and sons Davis and Magnus. I knew them well. I also mind a Bob a Job week task, digging out dandelions from the front lawn, and it WAS a task. But we got a drink and biscuit when we finished.