Orkney Image Library

I reckon this is the "Doonie Braes" ashore at St Johns Head, Hoy.

This was the Doonie Braes, ashore near Old Man of Hoy 20th April 1955.
I heard she was still steaming ahead when the crew abandonded ship by her own lifeboat in thick fog. "Loads of halibut aboard".

I can mind Faither, Billy, Jimmy Johnson, and Jock Smith, gaed tae the "Doonie Braes" way the intention o gitan halibut as she wiz a line boat and load wae big fish and a lot o halibut .
As is clearly seen in the photo, gittan anything up the craigs there wiz like like climan, the Owld Man o Hoy .
Some folk set aff wae more than they got tae the top!!.

Remember seeing this well. It was my first trip on the Ola in 1955. Can still visualise it. Some excitement for a 7 year old.

My father was one of the crew, George Leiper of Aberdeen (Torry). I was only seven at the time . I can rember reporters comming to the door asking my Mother questions . I believe there were two other photos, one of them when they were on the life boat that rescued them .