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 Several documents were requested, although at that time the Shetland Times from 1881 had not been archived, so could not be accessed.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.