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.

 Visit to Lawrence Tulloch - 3^rd February 2015

I was referred to Lawrence Tulloch by an acquaintance made during my first visit to Shetland in 2013. I knew nothing of Lawrence at the time of travelling North this time, but on board the (much delayed) ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick, I bought a book entitled “Shetland Folk Tales” as useful background reading on the trip. It was my wife who later looked at the cover page and spotted that the author was the same Lawrence Tulloch who I had arranged to meet. Good preparation then.

Arriving at Lawrence nd Margaret Tulloch's house in North Roe on the North Mainland, after a welcoming tea and cake, I asked Lawrence what he could tell me about Gloup and sixareen fishing. The interview, which was recorded, lasted in formal terms about an hour. Much interesting background was obtained, including pointers to other avenues and people to follow up or contact.

Many of Lawrence's ancestors were connected with the fishing – the family being originally from Yell. Three short extracts are presented here.

Firstly sailing technique –play extract

It was interesting to hear about how the “man at the sail” worked in a semi-autonomous fashion. In Lawrence's words he was, at times, “more important than the skipper”. Part of my research aims was to learn more about how the sixareens operated. For any uninitiated readers a “sheet” is the rope that helps control the sail.

The second short extract  is when Lawrence discusses the distance from land the the far Haaf (distant ocean) fishermen travelled. That distance is commonly quoted as 40 miles or more. He references a discussion with Duncan Sandison (of whom more in a later blog entry) where Duncan expresses some doubt as to the distance covered. The height quoted forShetland's highest hill is 1500 feet. There is a basic navigation formula which gives the theoretical distance from which an object of a known height can be seen. (The square root of the height in feet, multiplied by 1.17 gives the distance in nautical miles.)

This formula gives a theoretical distance to see the top of an object of 1500 feet as 54.8 statute miles. Well over the 40 miles often quoted. However, that would be in near perfect visibility and conditions.

The third extract contains the first mention on my visit of the “moderdai”. The dictionary definition is

This would be followed up, and in terms of inspiration for a song or tune was filed away for future reference.

February 2^nd, 2015 – Shetland Archives.

Staff at the archives were helpful, and the morning was spent accessing and copying various documents. Whilst a complete list of researched documents will be appended to the final submission, it is thought worthwhile to list the documents obtained below, and some of the potential uses.

1) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\Jilns53.htm – New Shetlander No.53 Jan – Mar 1960 - “Fram On” in the storm of '81 – by J.J. Laurenson. A retrospective account of the storm as passed down through time. Contains the lines below written by a Yell man at the time of the disaster, which could form the basis of a song.

“Their anchor now is cast, within the harbour fair.

They will not row their boats again, nor yet close-reef their sails.”

2) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\1881st.htm – Shetland Times articles from July 23^rd 1881 to late August on the disaster in a 71 page document. Includes lists of men and boats lost, numbers of dependents, and lists of donations. Also contains background from “correspondents”. The lines below (page 10, 11) are particularly striking, and could be used as dialogue.

“But though I do not like to mention names, I may say that one family of a mother and two young children have neither meat nor food of any kind other than salt skate within their house, and no means of getting any. Another widow and two poor children are in the same state, only, in addition to having no food, the mother is in poor health and one of the children is an idiot, the other not much better. Another, a family of seven- two people, widow and children, have no means whatever. I might multiply cases, but those will be sufficient for the present.”

3) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\JohnFraser.htm – Shetland News, April 4^th 1946 – Death of Mr. John Fraser, Lerwick. The last North Yell survivor of the disaster died aged 86. He was 21 in 1881, and was in a boat skippered by Mr Robert Robertson of North-a-Voe, mid-Yell.

4) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\Tt1881.htm – Tocher 30, 1979 – The 1881 disaster. As told by Tom Tulloch, a well known Yell “story teller”. It is written using local words and dialect. He describes an eyewitness account of his Grandfather's seamanship, the omens that (with hindsight) presaged the disaster, and the poor treatment of the widows by the landlords and owners.

The above document contains a reference to the involvement of the Quakers in the aftermath of the disaster. The first indication of that.

5) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\Toch21.htm – Tocher Vol. 21 1976 – The Devil and the Deep Sea. Various accounts of the Haaf fishing, and descriptions passed on of the condotions at sea during the 1881 gale. Nothing particularly “new” in the document.

6) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\ sn301881.htm -Shetland News 25^th September 1930. -Survivor's Account of Terrible Tragedy - and- Visit of Quakers Recalled. This 31 page document contains many insights, but describes the significant involvement of the “Yorkshire Quakers”. It also gives pointers to how the fund was disbursed through time. This document leads to the asking of more questions. Over £12,500 was donated – but it seems only £7000 was used to support the widows and dependents. It will be interesting to track down the disbursements and allocations. A number of folk have indicated that there is a lack of clarity on this issue. Further research to be conducted at the archives.

7) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\Jjlns64.htm – New Shetlander No.64 Voar 1963 Pages 25 -27. The Sixern Days. Some odds and Ends. J.J Laureson.

Description of Sixern boats sea-worthiness. Interesting background but nothing of particular relevance or significance .

8) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\Fiscal.htm _Procurator Fiscal papers AD 22/2/17/82 – Particulars of Havra Boat on 20^th July 1881. Details the 3 deceased from that boat in the storm. But further references AD 22/2/17/83 as a pencil list of persons lost in the disaster and families. Presumably compiled by the Fiscal in Yell.

I will attempt to source the referenced document – it will not add too much to the research, but just fascinating to see.

9) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\John Smith.htm – Shetland News, 14^th August, 1956. - Life of the Shetland Sixareen – by the late John Smith. Various descriptions of the fishing life, but contains a vivid, if low key, survivor's account of the 1881 storm. Told first hand to the author. This also contains an account of the foretelling as they were going to the grounds, to his eyes, of the disaster to befall the boats.

“I was sitting on the mid-room taft, I had been pulling on an oar, thewind being very light, to help the boat along. I had rested my oar to have a light of my pipe, when looking staight off the broadside what caught my gaze was the form of six boats distinctly sailing in end of each other and I saw men sitting on the tafts. At first I thought to ask the other men of our crew to look, then I found I had not the power to do so. I could not get anything said and when I looked again,after taking my eye off that sight for a second or two, there were no boats to be seen anywhere, so I kept silent, for what reason I cannot exactly explain; perhaps it may have been that if I said I had seen such a sight the crew might have thought I was talking nonsense, but the boats I did see as I see your face from where I am sitting.”

Six Gloup boats were lost in the disaster.

10) file://\\archives1\publicAccess\2007\Maritime\Awns136.htm – New Shetlander No. 136 Summer 1881 pages 15- 17. -The Gloup Disaster. Andrew Williamson. A retrospective at the time of the centenary. Interesting analysis by modern meteorologists as to why the storm might have been unusual and unpredicted.

Various articles from the Shetland Times of July, August and September 1881 detailing the progress of the fund. Mainly duplicated by item (2) above.

Much to consider as the research moves on.

The Music.

In the closing months of 2014, besides continuing the research, some musical ideas were explored. Of the 45 minutes assumed to be the approximate length of the performance, most of the music will be original. In that 45 minutes, there will be significant dialogue, to video or images, telling the various aspects of the story. It is estimated that about 25 minutes will have the music “up front”, with other sections containing background music to complement dialogue or visual presentation.

The local Yell primary schools (Burravoe and Cullivoe) were approached and they have provisionally agreed, with the music teacher Alison Martin taking the lead, to work on two songs. One, “The Childrens Song”, has been written in embryonic form and shared with them. Another needs to be produced. Ideas for music written at this stage include a piece entitled “Widows' Waltz”. This has been worked on remotely with two Shetland musicians (Margaret Scollay and Peter Wood). Working at a distance, utilising the exchange of midi files, live recorded WAV files, and notation, has proved tricky, and the version available through the link is the midi version. But it gives the flavour. “Resilience” attempts to portray the re-building of the community, and hope for the future. It would probably be suited to the latter part of the presentation. Another tune has, as yet, no particular purpose, but could perhaps be used as a scene setter.

This, and the previous two posts, give a snapshot of where the project has reached prior to my trip to Shetland for the month of February. The visit has a number of aims:

1. Research in the Shetland Archives.
2. Contacting local people who might have memories, documentation or just opinions.
3. Visiting the heads and the music teacher of the two primary schools to discuss moving forward.
4. Contacting any local musicians who might wish to participate.
5. Researching potential venues, and dates.

The subsequent posts will document the visit.

Early research.

Prior to September 2014, background reading was conducted. Various references, and descriptions of the event, can be found by an internet search and these were accessed. The event is also referenced in a number of publications. But research to date has not unearthed a book dedicated to the subject. Most sources give an account of the event, giving dates (21^st July, 1881), the number of boats (variously described as “sixareens”, “sixtreens” or “sixreens”) lost, and the number of men lost, and widows and children left behind. There are 58 names inscribed on the fishermen's memorial, but the numbers of “widows” left behind appeared to be less clear – as is the number of children. However, all of the men lost would be contributors to family income. Nine sixareens and one other “small boat” were lost.

Shetland Archives.

Difficult as it can be to access archives remotely, contact was made in September and October 2014, through their website and by email, with the Shetland Archives. Several documents were requested, although at that time the Shetland Times from 1881 had not been archived, so could not be accessed. The documents requested, and received, are listed below.

D1/134- various extracts from The Scotsman and Edinburgh Courant – July and August 1881.

D/502/9 – extract from the Evening News – July 26^th 1881

D9/150/1 to 8, and 10 – Correspondence (1940 to 1942, and a single letter in 1954) between a Mr Jamieson (location not known but see D9/114/2 below) and Agnes Moar of Westsandwick (sic) Yell discussing various topics including the Gloup disaster.

D9/112/3 – Undated and unattributed handwritten account of some aspects of “The 1881 Gale”

D23/150/41/5 – Letter of 28^th March 1882 to Sheriff Rampini on behalf of the widow and family of the “late Thomas Scollay”.

D6/130/3 – Contemporaneous handwritten account, authorship unclear, of a talk given by Robert Henderson (a survivor) on August 3^rd 1930.

D9/114/2 – Correspondence in 1954 between a Mr Jamieson of New Zealand and J Johnson of Unst containing some references to the Gloup disaster.

Further research led to the discovery that, on at least two occasions, BBC radio had produced works on the 1881 disaster. In 1981, BBC Shetland had produced a 30 minute programme featuring local people, featuring music, poetry and narrative This was broadcast on Christmas Eve on BBC Scotland). In 2007 a BBC Scotland journalist, Andy Goodlad from Yell, had produced two 30 minute programmes on the subject. The 1981 programme has since been sourced, but the 2007 programmes remain elusive.

Without going into too much detail at this stage, examination of the Shetland archive documents and the realisation that significant and professional programmes had been produced, led to three thoughts for further, more detailed research, and some reflection on the shape and topics of, and for, the final production.

Areas for more in-depth research.

1. The Sheriff Rampini mentioned in various documents was the Chairman of what became the “Shetland Fishermens' Widows Relief Fund”. How much was donated, and how was it administered and disbursed?
2. The Thomas Scollay mentioned in the pleading letter from, or rather on behalf of ,the widow did not die in the disaster – but later. What was the story? And rather intriguingly, a fellow student at UHI was from Yell, and was named Margaret Scollay. Could she be related, and was there a story to tell there?
3. What happened to the “far Haaf” (distant) fishing in sixareens after the disaster? Did it flourish or die off?

But there was also a dawning realisation that the basic facts and story of the event were well known, certainly in Shetland, and any production as a result of this module, and the associated research, should, whilst still anchored by the basic story, perhaps try to bring out some lesser known aspects. The task had become a little more challenging, but no less interesting for that.

Sat next to the window in our rented accommodation in Burravoe, Yell, the February Shetland weather is somewhat stormy.

                                         View from Overby window 15^th February, 2015.

Overlooking the voe, and further to Yell sound, with the sea crashing against the rocks, this is an ideal spot to commence this blog. It is difficult to define when this journey of discovery commenced – many events have influenced the choice of subject matter – but as good a choice as any would be November 2013.

                                                  Overby, Burravoe, Yell, Shetland

A holiday in Shetland in November could perhaps be viewed as a somewhat eccentric enterprise. The accommodation, Overby, was taken for the entire month, and an exploration of much of the islands was undertaken. Reading some local history, the story of the 1881 Gloup Fishing Disaster, and the subsequent erection of the memorial in the centenary year became of interest. The memorial overlooks Gloup Voe, from where many of the lost boats left to fish the far Haaf, and, to an ex-fisherman such as this author, presents a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by those who go to sea, and those left to await their return. 

                                         Gloup Memorial – Wife with Child await the return.

On the last day of that 2013 visit, we looked in at the Mareel. As a result of picking up a leaflet there, I enrolled as a mature student on the MA (Music and the Environment) course with the University of the Highlands and Islands. The final module, which is the subject of this blog, involves the writing and production of a multi media work, obviously with a significant musical content. Students are encouraged to write on a topic concerning the history, culture and/or environment of a locale. Students are also encouraged to involve and utilise local communities. Having continued an interest in the Gloup Disaster, and particularly the aftermath, this became my chosen subject.

Subsequent postings will update on progress to date in the research and evolving thoughts on the production.