The Quakers in Shetland.

Perhaps a less well known aspect of the aftermath of the 1881 disaster is the interest and active involvement of the Quakers. The most complete, yet tantalising incomplete account, is contained in the Shetland News of the 25^th September 1930, and in some subsequent editions. A Mr William Whiting, a descendant of Mr John Whiting of Leeds ( a prominent citizen, committed quaker and carpet manufacturer) visited Shetland and had brought with him some of his farther's letters written in the 1880s. The Society of Friends in many areas of England committed funds to the relief, but the Yorkshire quakers appear to have been particularly seized of the need to act. Two quakers from Birmingham are mentioned – one of which was a Joel Cadbury. Further research would be necessary, but Joel is a common name in THE Cadbury family who came from Birmingham – and were quakers.

The letters tell of the poverty and suffering of the people, and they seem to have travelled widely to visit the needy. A couple of extracts -

We (travelled) about 6 miles when we had to take a boat for about 3. It was a very rough shore and the sea (was) such as would have frightened many, but having 4 strong men to row we got on well. In one place we had to cross through a narrow channel(1/2 mile) (Bluemell Sound?), the tide from both oceans met boiling and seething as I never saw before, but we soon after came into smooth water before Cullivoe, where we are now, at the house of Mr Sandison who is postmaster, Clerk to the School Board, Parish Board, and general factotum.

I am unsure as to whether Duncan Sandison, who kindly showed us the Unst Boat Haven (see previous post), would appreciate being descended from a “general factotum”. I suspect it was a more flattering phrase when used in the 1880s.

…..having been engaged from 10until 6 making calls on the 19 families in Gloup. They were widely scattered and involved on the part of John Cass and myself a walk with a guide over rough and broken ground of about 5 miles –7 visits –Annie C. (the wife of John Cass) and John Wilson had 11 of those near our quarters. The calamity was more felt in this neighbourhood (Colvaster, North Yell, near Gloup Voe) Within one mile from one of the families we visited, 19 men had been lost and mostly young men who were the hope of their parents.

Undoubtedly dedicated and sincere in their desire to help. There are follow up stories along the same vein, and accounts of how the quakers funded new decked boats for the men. At the time of the 1881 visit, the quakers made contact with the Relief Committee to which a total of £12,500 was donated by subscription from the general public. The Committee seem to have been quite prescriptive in their allocation f the funds. Indeed, of the £12,500 raised it appears that only £7000 was allocated to the annuities and immediate relief. The quakers appear to have been less constrained. On one visit they gave £6 on the spot to a widow who had lost a husband and eldest son, so that the 3 remaining sons could purchase a replacement boat.

One other extract points to a frustration that the quakers felt with the stance of the Relief Committee -

Our interview with the Committee was not as satisfactory as we should have liked. They were not able to give us anything definite as to the scale or mode of relief to be given …...We were with them about an hour and a half. It ended with our not entering any alliance with them, reserving it for consideration with our friends at home.

It is difficult many years later to understand the various positions taken, but one bone of contention is clear. Fishermen, in the main, rented their boats from landowners, merchants and lairds. The rental was usually paid at the end of the season against receipts for catches. The boat owners pressed for payment from the widows left behind. They were obviously not in a position to raise such funds (estimated at £10 per year) and so were left with an unpayable debt. The Relief Committee refused to allow such debts to be paid from the fund, and this led to evictions, despite the widows allowance of 2/6d (12 ½ pence in new money) a week. Children up to 14 and other dependants usually received 1/6d per week. Not ungenerous, but not enough to repay the inherited debts.

In conversations with today's locals, some of older generation remember their forebears praising the work of the quakers. Most of the music I am attempting to create for the production is of a local flavour. But I was so inspired by reading of the work of the quakers, and the Yorkshire connection (despite my Lancastrian roots) that I have composed a brass band tune. It is in fairly embryonic form, but it might just, with some improvements and re-recording, play as a backdrop to the story of the quakers and the Gloup 1881 disaster.

 Update  - Thursday 26^th February 2015.

A further week had been booked in Lerwick to continue research at the archives, and document progress. Unfortunately, due to a family illness (all well now) the trip had to be curtailed and we sailed back to Aberdeen on the Thursday (19^th Feb) evening ferry. Much of the past week, as can be seen, has been spent creating the previous blog entries, and sifting through the research gathered. The next task will be to index file all the documentation, including audio and visual, for future reference.

There is now a solid base on which to progress to the writing of the piece. The research has been important in that I now have confidence that I can write and speak authentically on the subject of the 1881disaster specifically, and the Haaf fishing generally. During the period up to the end of March, the following tasks are planned.

1. Documenting, indexing and filing all the research undertaken.
2. Producing an overall project plan, including timelines, dependencies and deliverables leading up to the (potential) performances in November 2015.
3. Producing a “storyboard” for the production.
4. When inspired (!) writing music and dialogue to consider for inclusion.

This blog will now be updated weekly, or when significant events take place.

 Visit to Duncan Sandison – Unst Boat Haven - 17^th February 2015.

     I had come across the name of Duncan Sandison a couple of times in my research and conversations. I was also in possession of a book entitled “The Sixareen and her Racing Descendants” originally published in 1954 by a Charles Sandison. It had been re-issued in 2005 by Shetland Times Ltd with a postscript written by Duncan Sandison – his son. The Sandison name (Andrew) had also come up in my researches in at least three capacities – as a boat owner in years gone by, as a member of the Relief Committee set up after the disaster of 1881 under the Chairmanship of Sherriff Rampini, and as the postmaster in 1881 who first sent news of the disaster South in an urgent despatch.

     The Unst Boat Haven, which I now discover is run by Duncan Sandison, is closed through the off season, so, although a visit would have been useful, I had not put one on my agenda. However, an unlikely set of events led to this visit. On the evening before (16^th) we were looking for pictures of sixareens on the internet, and came across an interesting painting of a sixareen fishing. No attribution was given. I wondered if the aforementioned Mike McDonnell, who is, amongst his other talents an artist, might have an idea. I forwarded a screenshot, and, although by no meand certain, thought it might be by an Unst artist by the name of Liam O'Neill. Mike also suggested that I should visit the Unst Boat Haven, and was sure that if I phoned up Duncan (Mike gave me the number) he would be delighted to open up, especially for someone who was doing research. The phone call was made, and the visit kindly arranged.

     And one of the first things we saw, hanging on the wall?

                                         Hailing Their Links  - Liam O'Neill

It was indeed by Liam O'Neill and had been commissioned, and is owned by Duncan.

Duncan was most gracious in taking us around, allowing us to photograph many items. A few are shown below.

                                                   Unst Boat Haven - Main Hall

                          Original Technical drawing of a sixareen built in 1869 by Nicolson

After the visit, we were invited back to Duncan's house in Baltasound where, with typical hospitality, lunch was provided. He and his wife (Jan) then showed us many documents which had been passed down from the aforementioned Andrew Sandison – Duncan's Great-Grandfather. Amongst the items of particular interest were original hand written letters from applicants to the 1881 relief fund, and original “claim forms” to be completed. There was also an original of the letter sent by Sherriff Rampini to editors asking for them to publicise the fund. (He would later send a letter saying they had collected enough, and asking people to stop donating!)

                         A scan of the original letter given to me by Duncan and Jan Sandison.

Front page of an original claim form. Q8 is missing from the bottom of this picture - It asks "Whether any other persons dependent on deceased, and if so their connection and circumstances".

                                          Reverse page of Relief Fund claim form.

A fascinating day in the company of kind people with a wealth of knowledge on the subject.

 Meeting Alison Martin (Music Teacher) Burravoe School, Yell – 1th February 2015.

A very useful and constructive meeting took place after the school day had finished. Without going into all the discussions, the following points were agreed.

1. Both Burravoe and Cullivoe primary schools seem keen to be involved in both the production of some musical material, and also performing the same.
2. Each school will produce one “Childrens Song” under the guidance of the teaching staff. The schools will take an inter-disciplinary approach.
3. The schools preferred option was to include this activity in the next (2015/16) school year. Thus a November 2015 performance would be ideal. (I have since written to ask for any preferred dates.)
4. The schools will provide input into the decision as to whether to do a single performance, in either Burravoe or Cullivoe Hall, or to aim for two – one in each venue.
5. Well before the start of the next school year, I will provide ideas for the songs, and the context within the overall production.

As ever on my visit, I received nothing but help and cooperation from the Yell community. As work progresses more blog entries will be made on the work through the schools.

 Gloup Memorial - 14^th February 2015

By this time we had been in Yell for over a week, and had not been blessed with any clement weather. Wind and rain had dominated. Whilst much useful research had taken place, a visit to the memorial to take some photographs and video was important. The morning of the Saturday the 14^th dawned in a slightly more optimistic fashion – less wind, and although overcast, no rain. I was persuaded by my wife, to a certain extent against my better judgement, that this might be the best day we would have in our brief stay. So, cameras in hand, we set off for the 40 minute trip to the north of Yell – to Gloup.

I am not of a spiritual or religious persuasion- perhaps agnostic would be the closest description. But what happened on arrival at Gloup was, to say the least, uncanny. We had travelled through fairly dull weather, overcast with a threat of rain. But on arrival at the memorial, there was no wind and the sky cleared to a clear blue with fluffy white clouds. As an ex-fisherman I was forced to wonder if the fishermen of old were looking down and asking if the Good Lord might just organise a short break in the weather to assist this strange chap in pursuing his interest in the events of 1881. Romantic nonsense of course? After our stay of about 45 minutes, the weather closed in again.

We took quite a few images, and some video which might well be used. Four examples are posted below.

            Gloup Memorial with the light behind. The widow and child looking out to sea.

                                                Looking out to sea with the blue sky.

Looking down from the memorial. These waves are caused by a shallower bottom causing the waves to break as they move uo the voe. I am told that the boats used to land on the shale beach just inland from those breaking waves.

The view to sea from the memorial. Boats returning from the West would have first been seen in approximately this view.

 Visit to Mike McDonnell - 12^th February 2015.

We arrived at Mike McDonnell's house in North-a-Voe near Mid Yell at one o' clock. He was busy making us a lunch – typical of Yell hospitality. In his study, which held an extensive library, he had gathered some materials which he thought might be of relevance to the research.

Items of interest.

1. A copy of a book compiled by Christine Guy in the 1980's. Christine was the highly respected music teacher in the late 70's and 80's. The book contains songs relevant to the fishing history of Shetland, such as “Da Song o Da Papa Men” - otherwise known as Rowing Foula Doon - “Flanns Frae da Haaf”, and “Gyaain to the Far Haaf”. I have copies of those songs from the book for reference purposes, but am loathe to publish them on this blog for fear of infringing copyright. The book appears to be out of print, but I will persevere in trying to obtain a copy.

2. Three fairly lengthy typed documents taken from the original hand written notes from conversations with “Johnnie Smith o' the Parks” - and I could not discover where the “o' the Parks” description comes from. The “stories” talk of the old days of the Haaf fishing and give a real insight into the work. Below is an extract which gives detail of some of the superstitions held by the fishermen, and some of the terms used.

“The old haaf men called the mast the stong, an old Norse name, the knife for cutting bait and taking off fish heads was known as the skuney against the law to say knife. The yard was known as the ray, the sail as the cloot and no land names was allowed at sea. For instance the minister was the upstander, the cat was the kissick not to be mentioned except by mistake. In the course of the conversation if pig or grice was mentioned a voice from among the crew would say with a spittle ‘twatashle twatashle’ and call out hirkie – being the sea term for pig. To sharpen the knife was to glaun the skuney and to blow the bow for setting on the end of the lines was to stau the pinnock. If the lines got in the ground and broke one could not say here’s the end, it had to be the damp. When hauling the lines one man sat by to take off or to cavel the fish, his place was to look down through the water and sing up the fish. The first fish he saw he said light in the lumb, a voice among the crew would repeat welcome to come. Next he would sing out white next fish, white under white, then wheda white under wheda, then cruda on then crudas<> when he could not count all the fish he sung out all in fire, when all the fish he saw had come in and a break came in the catch he said a hole in the ballad, till fish was in sight again, then repeat light in the lumb and so on. To reef the sail was to swift it, all sea terms used at the haaf. The bland kig or small barrel was the fiddick, the bread box was the scran bag and so on, a sea term for everything on board.”

In later research I came across the name “Johnny Smith”- a boatbuilder of old. I emailed Mike to ask if he knew of any connection – indeed could they be one and the same person? I received the following response.

“Johnny Smith o' the Parks and Johnny Smith the boatbuilder are the same person. Johnny died in the 1950's and had contributed most of the material in the Shetland section Edgar March's two volume books ' inshore Craft of Britain in the days of Sail and Oar' (volume I includes Shetland.)' The original publication was early 70s but has been republished since fairly recently, and should be available : Amazon?

 Johnny built some substantial boats including the 'Dagmar' for the local GP on Yell in the 1950s, Peter Peterson, a Shetlander. The Dagmar is still afloat and was restored by Andrew Leaper of Fetlar. Johnny was born before the Gloup disaster and collected the first hand accounts of the time.He measured the lines of one of the surviving boats - I think the 'Waterwitch' - which ended up as a boatie shed in North-a-.Voe. His stories were refined and appear in Edgar March's book.”

The stories contain a wealth of information from a (near?) contemporaneous source.

3. Mike had obtained a CD copy of a BBC shetland programme broadcast in the centenary year (1981) on BBC Scotland on Christmas Eve. Mike had been told that there were no copyright issues, but again, I am not uploading as I do not have certainty about the copyright position. The programme tells the basic story of the disaster, with words and music provided mainly by Shetlanders. The programme opens with a single fiddle tune played by a schoolgirl - none other than Margaret Robertson (now Scollay) one of the Shetland musicians at UHI who has been kind enough to assist in my endeavours.
   
   
4. There were several other audio tracks of Shetland (Yell) music, recorded at various functions and events. I took copies of these for future reference and logging as necessary.

A very successful and enjoyable visit. I gathered much useful material, which I have no doubt will inspire some of the musical and narrative content of the eventual production.

 The Shanty Yellmen – February 10^th 2015.

The remainder of the previous week, after visiting the Shetland Archives and Lawrence Tulloch, was spent examining documents and following up on leads from Lawrence and other sources – which ranged from the documents obtained, background reading and casual conversations. In researching what, if any, other local resources might wish to contribute to the eventual performance, I came across a website for “The ShantyYellmen”). Having contacted them via the details given on the site, I shortly afterwards received an email from a Peter van Mill inviting me down to their weekly rehearsal in Cullivoe Hall, north Yell, on Tuesday the 10^th February at 7.30pm. This I promptly accepted.

                                                        The Shanty Yellmen.

After the greetings and introductions, I was invited to tell the gathering – about 10 at this time – about the project. All seemed genuinely interested, and we discussed their potential contribution. Provisionally, it was later agreed that if I wrote a “shanty type” song for them , they would happily learn and perform it. Later on in the evening, I played them an embryonic melody I had written, and they thought it to be suitable. After a little more work on the piece, I will send it to them and, at that time, will post it in a future blog entry.

They then offered to sing for me, and agreed that I could film and record them. I recorded 2 songs. One of them was entitled “Rowing Foula Doon”. It can be viewed here. The lyrics tell how the men from Papa Stour, and most likely others heading out to fish, used the hills of Foula, which lies on the Western side of the Shetlands, to navigate. In the previous post the calculation was documented for approximating visibility distances at sea, and, given the highest point in Foula is 1371 feet, then Foula, shrinking to the horizon as the men rowed out, would be theoretically visible from as far out as 45 miles. This takes no account of conditions, but does lend the song veracity. The writer was not romanticising – this is undoubtedly one of the fishermen's navigation aids.

"Oot bewast da Horn o Papa,

Rowin Foula doon!

Owir a hidden piece o water,

Rowin Foula doon!

Roond da boat da tide-lumps makkin,

Sunlicht trowe da cloods is brakkin;

We maan geng whaar fish is takkin,

Rowin Foula doon!"

The song also mentions the Moderdai – or “Mother Wave” discussed with Lawrence Tulloch. The pull of writing a piece for the performance talking of the moderdai grows stronger!

One of the Shanty Yellmen is the, now retired, GP for Yell – Mike McDonnell. He seemed keen to help with my research, and kindly invited me round to his house near Mid Yell to examine documents and books in his possession. This invitation was accepted, and will be discussed in the next entry.