Known to many in Orkney as Mrs Jefford, the Kirkwall Grammar School teacher, Alison Sutherland, sadly passed away earlier this year.
This amazing woman left behind not just the fond memories of those who knew her but stored inside her garage is an outstanding geological collection.
Meticulously documented and cross referenced the collection of stones and fossils travelled to Alison Sutherland’s garage from all over the world , delivered by family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and past pupils.
The collection in its entirety is due to go to the Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre in Burray but The Orkney News was permitted a viewing.
Alison’s daughter , Caroline, has kindly invited anyone who collected stones for her mother’s collection or who has an interest in geology to arrange a visit.
She said:
‘If you are interested in visiting, please send an email to :
sutherland.geologycollection@gmail.com“
The visits will be conducted with physical distancing rules applying and are available till mid October. They are completely free and this wonderful collection is well worth seeing.
For all the individuals too who brought back a stone for Alison from holidays or trips away it is an opportunity to see how their contribution added to this tremendous body of work.
“Glaciers, grinding West, gouged out
these valleys, rasping the brown sandstone,
and left, on the hard rock below –
the ruffled foreland –
this frieze of mountains, filed
on the blue air –” Norman McCaig, ‘A Man In Assynt’
Reporter: Fiona Grahame