One hundred years ago deep snow blanketed the ground in the islands, drifting and blocking roads. Despite the difficulties of travel festivities and events continued. Christmas Day was on a Friday and the schools did not break for the holidays until the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
On the days running up to Christmas the Orphir to Kirkwall road was blocked and all transport to Orkney’s main town had to go via Stenness and Finstown. A doctor was called out to Orphir and had to find a driver to take him through from Kirkwall. They set off at 11 pm.
The roads were bad in places. The snow was so deep that the car veered off and into a field becoming stuck near the Post Office. They were still 2 to 3 miles away from the patient and so the driver began digging the car out. Back on the road again they travelled a bit further before getting stuck again. This time there was no option but for the doctor to walk the rest of the way through knee deep snow.
The driver found refuge at the dance taking place in the local hall. Although it was now between 3 and 4 in the morning he found willing helpers in a group of young men who helped to push the car out of the snow drift. He finally reached the doctor at the patient’s house at 5am.
The deep snow meant that on Christmas Day very few people ventured out to visit neighbours as was the custom then.
One person was out and about on Christmas Eve – snow does not stop Santa Claus, in fact he loves it, and he managed to deliver presents to all of Orkney’s children.
In Sandwick the pupils turned up at the North School on Christmas Day which had been decorated by their teachers. The children gave Miss Barbara Tait a ‘handsome clock’ and Miss Mona Tait a ‘brooch.’
In the South Isles the St Margaret’s Hope Football Club held a dance in the East End Club Rooms. The doors opened at 7pm and Christmas Day was enjoyed by all those who attended with games, dancing and refreshments.
An evening dance was held in Eday in the Recreational Hall. “There was a large attendance and liberal refreshments were served during the evening. Excellent music was discoursed by a party of young men.”
Reference : The Orkney Herald Wednesday 30 December 1925.
Fiona Grahame
