Orkney Image Library

Big pictures

I'm impressed by the cameras of our contributors, but the unreduced 14 megapixel submissions are leading quickly to an increase in our storage costs. I can get round this to a certain extent by manually deleting them once they have transferred to our cheaper Amazon S3 hosting. However after deleting some pictures that I hadn't approved and transferred last time I did this housekeeping I'm a bit wary, so can I ask for huge pictures to be resampled or resized down to about 4 megapixels for the time being, if possible, please.

Orkneycommunities charity calendar

By popular demand (and I mean demand, Bruce Flett, and others, can be very insistent) the Orkneycommunities Image Library is planned to have a life beyond these hallowed pages. Read on to find out how you can help!

I've looked into the logistics, and think that if we produce a 2011 pictorial calendar by summertime we can raise about £3,000 for charities working locally. This year the charities are planned to be CLAN, Macmillan and CLIC Sargent, and if this one is a success I hope we can make this an annual thing and spread the proceeds over other charities too. All proceeds above production costs will go to charity.

Format is to be determined, but likely to A4 with a space for notes on the calendar. One big picture per month, and I'd like use some or all of the comments to tell a story for the pictures, and introduce others to what we have here.

So how can you help? Well, while I have seen all of the 7669 pictures (and counting) over the last 6 years, I can't remember them all. Some indication of appeal is given by the number of comments and the Favourites (which is based on the number of times a picture is added to a personal gallery), but I'm open to suggestions for pictures that would fit the bill- these are pictures that are maybe unique to here, tell a story, are topical for a certain month, or are just great. Bear in mind that all pictures might not be usable, as they might only be available in low resolution, or have copyright reserved by the contributor- this will be established once we have a shortlist.

Other ways to help: buy a lot of them when they go on sale- this is a guaranteed collectors item!; sponsor a page if you are a business- this will help underwrite the upfront production costs for us, and ultimately go to charity; suggest what we should ask for page sponsorship if you are a business- we are thinking in the £50-100 region- that reasonable? Email me (click my name, below) regarding sponsorship if you are a business (or quango!).

Well, that's the ball rolling now- long way to go though!

Cheers,
Steven

Kirkwall School, 1948

Just found the great picture of the school in 1948! I searched for Anne Bain who later became my best friend at Aberdeen High School for Girls and I think maybe I see her in it. Can anyone confirm this and let me know how to find her now?

Love the photos

Just found this site. Grandmother's family came from Stronsay. Peter Miller-Janet Irvine. They had seven children. Peter, Mary, Jessie, Thomas, James, John and Elizabeth Ann.Would love to find descendants.

contributors

Hi love the site..its a great idea. Any chance of listing the contributors by their last names instead or alphabetical by thier first?...I think it would make looking for persons easier. thanks Richard

Very Very mild complaint !!

I used to get a message telling me if anyone had added a comment on any of my photos. I don't get that anymore. Can you please tell me why ?

A group of interesting pictures from Hoy

I found this today- a lot of pictures taken in what looks to me to be the big building on the side of the hill overlooking Lyness: www.scottyweb.co.uk/?p=1097. Seems to be a couple of skeletons in there!

Adding pictures to

What's happened to the link to add pictures to my album? I can view my album, but can't add to it....unless I just can't see the link! [Laura- that is a good question! I'll see what can be done - Steven]

Google ads

Is it possible to change it so the Google Ads do not apear in the middle of the comments?

Zoom

You used to be able to click on an image to enlarge it and it would open up in a seperate window with a bigger picture. I cant see how to do that now. Am I missing something obvious or does that facility not exsist anymore? Without it, looking at group pictures like the Royal Observer Corps picture that was added today is a waste of time. [That's true, and it is something that we are working on. Keep the faith... - Steven]

Website

Much better with the back option (could be a bit bigger,no so easy to hit now that I am getting a bit older) The comments are easier to see as are the new pics.

Latest Additions...

Is anyone else experiencing a problem with the comments if they click on "Latest Additions"? If I click on it, I get (I think) all the photos that have been added since my last visit, but not ALL the comments. If I go back to Home, I can see comments in the "Latest Comments" bit that didn't show under "Latest Additions". I'm missing reading lots of comments, I'm sure...

The New Site

never mind - found the pictures, didn't scroll forward enough! Still like the year drop down better

The New Site

Seems a few photos are gone too, pictures of people I know or knew. Also, liked just being able to click on the year

The New Site

What have you done to this site it was a lot better before the layout is not so good i think you should go back to the way it was. [Jimmy, if you say what could be better or what you want, it'll be a lot more useful to me. This is a work in progress, and things like the search facility (for instance) will end up a lot better. If you have good ideas for a better layout, that's great, I look forward to them. Give me a shout on contact@orkneycommunities.co.uk. Cheers, Steven]

5 10 20 etc

Is the option to expand comment boxes (5 10 20 etc) still available? [I hope to get this back soon Marlene- Steven.]

New Site

Agree wi the auld man o VLA. Your new site isna much good. When i click on the comment in the latest comments I get page not available. can you fix it. [Fixed noo. Tell me about the things that could be fixed or improved, and they will be. Unless you hurt my feelings. - Steven]

housegarth band - linklaters

Re your picture of the housegarth band by tommy matches, i am researching my grandmothers family the linklater from housegarth and was wondering if anyone had any more pictures of any linklaters. There is also stangers (stensgairs) in our family tree my grandmothers granny was georgina stanger, any info on any of the above would be most appreciated.

What is happening to this site, nothing is being cleared to be shown to the public .

The comments I have sent almost a week ago have not appeared and I am sure there are loads more from other people, is there a lack of people to check the correspondence, can someone explain, as it is losing my attention somewhat. [Patience John... Steven]

Fraser Devine

Hello if anyone is in touch with Fraser Devine give him a great big hug from Miss D from Dundee.

Graham Beasley

Does anyone know the whereabouts of Graham Beasley, who was the original owner of the "Yorkshire Lady"? I built a model of this boat and Graham bought it from me. He became a good friend and I lost touch with him. Any help or link would be appreciated. Brian.

Trying to trace the family of Isabella Shearer

Hi, I'm the editor of the Alford images website and am researching a musician local to Alford who married a lass from Orkney. I'm trying to trace the relatives of Isabella Shearer, born 1872. She married Pipe Major Jimmy McHardy in Aberdeen in 1896. She died in 1943. Her daughter, Edith, was in touch by letter with her Orkney kin and I wonder if these letters have survived. Any help very gratefully received. There is a "group" dedicated to PM Jimmy McHardy on the Alford images website at www.alfordimages.com

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday, Orkneycommunities! Here's to the next 25 years! :D

John Walls

I am trying to get in contact with Peter Burgess who posted a photo of my Grandfather John Walls

Longhope lifeboat disaster 1969

Does anyone have any photos of my uncle Eric McFadyen who died on the Longhope lifeboat . I only met him once when I was a small child. I can't find any photos on here of him. Even an old school photo would do. I don't really know anything else about him which is sad. Thank you . Pat Macsween nee McFadyen.

Use of Images

I would like permission to possibly publish one of Peter Burgess's images in our local newspaper. I have been going round the site trying to find a means to contact him without success. Am I missing something? Is there a way to link to the contributor's email, or how do I get in touch to try to obtain permission?

The Man who bought a Navy.

The book title is above for you. It is so old it has no isbn number. Your local library might be able to order it in for you. I lost my copy I bought in Stromness but I did a google search and Amazon had then new and used copies for sale. New was 19.95 I live in Surrey and if you are "local" you can see mine first, if we are allowed to exchange contact numbers on this site. I believe the John Moore Bunty married was to do with one of the "pools" companies, (football pools). Cox owned a metal breakers yard at Queenborough Kent before venturing to Scapa Floa. All the material is administered by someone in Kent still. A visit to the museum is well worth the effort of getting there, I have been twice and stayed in Stromness on a farm. We went by train to Thurso and then walked 2 miles to Scrabster and caught the ferry (90 minutes) to Stromness. The Aberdeen ferry takes 8 hours, or one can fly from London changing at Wick

Fishing boat Girl Mina Photos wanted please.

I am currently making a model of the fishing vessel Girl Mina, which my Great Grandfather had built in 1932 in Dan Alexander's yard in Wick. I am looking for any photos of her in her fishing days, either in WK 172 or K 919 guises, that will assist me in making an accurate model. It doesn't have to be pics of her by herself. Just a simple harbour pic with her in it will do nicely. Thanks, Barry

Gordon Scott, musician

I would love to see any photographs of Gordon Scott, in The Four of Us, Gerbil, Compass, the Hamnavoe Dance Band, etc.

Fishing Boats

Does anyone out there have a photo of the Fv LochInchard, WK110. She was owned and skippered by the late Harvey Sinclair and based in Stromness. I worked on her for a while and would like a photo of her if anyone has on to share with me. Thank you all.. Colin..

Move

Any chance of you getting the comment section moved to the wasted section on the right of the page. its a horrid cast havin to page up an down to see who's who in the comments.

Alasdair Fiddler

Bertha thanks for adding your comments to picture #40. I am Jane Russell nee Banks. My great grandfather was Alexander Stewart Banks and I am fairly certain was Maggie's brother. Did she live at Daisy Cottage Bignold Park Road and was her mother Janet Mackay Banks? I picked up on Alistair Fiddler because My father was Walter Alistair Banks. I am putting together family tree and therefore looking for relatives etc

Alexander Stewart Banks

I am putting together my family tree. Alexander Stewart Banks was my great grandfather. He was the blacksmith in Stromness around 1900. I would like to hear from anyone who can give me more information. Jane Russell (nee Banks)

Cox & Danks floating dock

Cox is one of those forgotten great British engineers, I read Gerald Bowman's book about Cox's exploits in raising the German High Seas Fleet from Scapa when I was a boy some 40 years ago. The picture of his floating dock gives some idea of the scale of his achievement

Google Ads

The Google Ads are fine, and anything that helps keep this excellent site going is good. At least most of them so far are Orkney related, and if other sites are anything to go by, sometimes they can be (unintentionally) funny - for instance, a site I visit on cult tv programmes offered pest control ads on a page about Dangermouse! And if you're only looking for "tasteful" suggestions, I'll not bother sharing my idea! ;-D [As long as they don't involve making 'boats' using feathers and other floating objects as i n days of yore I'm sure they will be fine :-) -Steven]

A question

Is it possible for James Baikie Mitchell to contact me? Or could I contact him directly? With thanks, Wilma

Family Connections: Bruce-Gowans-Falconer-Baikie

Hello: My mother's great grandfather Alexander A. Falconer married Jemima Mitchell Bruce in 1890. Jemima's mother was Margaret Sutherland Bruce (nee Baikie). Jemima returned to Orkney an died in Newdale in 1936. Her nephew John Gowans of 13 South End, Stromness signed Jemima's birth certificate. Does anyone know anything about the family/families? I'd appreciate any leads. With thanks.

Server Time Out

Great site. Can anyone tell my how to find SERVER TIME OUT. I get this sometimes when uploading photos? [Steven the administrator adds- if that happens again, email the photo to me at contact@orkneycommunities.co.uk and I'll see what's up. It is likely due to the size of the image file.]

Hillcrest in Tankerness

Does anyone have any old photos of Hillcrest, the house built by Jock Hay c. 1930 on the top corner of Upper Bossack's land (near to what is now the Bossack dump)? I would like to see what the house looked like before it was harled c. 1988, and how the garden was laid out, but I cannot trace any old pictures of it. Any help would be much appreciated.

wow

great site! especially the old photos

Site upgrade

Takes a while to adjust to the changes but they're fine. It's a great website and it's amazing how many people use it.

Site Upgrade - Sept 2006

Please leave your comments about the site upgrade here.