The following "Stromness News" columns by George Mackay Brown, unsigned, were published in the Orkney Herald during 1951. (For a history of the column, see this link.) Beginning with 1950, I am merely transcribing subheads (though I have occasionally expanded abbreviations) rather than furnishing a full-blown summary of the contents of each column. From that date onward, the columns are also indexed more selectively.
2 January 1951, p. 3. Council meeting; Christmas weddings; Focus (work begins at Hoymansquoy); first tenant; fristy days; children's party. ¶ 9 January 1951, p. 3. Promotion; houses sold; New Year dance; Hogmanay and New Year; Mrs Stanley Cursiter; Focus (Orkney books); North Church Guild social. ¶ 16 January 1951, p. 3. Still no burgh fiscal; "the nylon tearers"; Eventide Home; hydro-electric show; housing list; gas agency; Choral Union; August holiday; Chamber of Commerce; lighting; children's nurse; housing; street clearing in snow; Focus (shipping); Billiards Saloon; from Paris Honeymoon; tenants disagree; volunteers at Ness; winter takes its toll. ¶ 23 January 1951, p. 3. Burns supper; promoted to naval scheme; Perth Rep.; darts; Suleskerry; cage birds to-morrow; B.O.C.M. films; drama; Focus (who was he?); the nor'-wast; school news; draughts; lifeboats out; houses for teachers at Stromness; the St Ola. ¶ 30 January 1951, p. 3. Robbie Burns: jealousy?; festival plays; fishing news; Post Office clock; Focus (the new hockey pitch); coals to Newcastle; draughts; North Church renovation; employers entertain.
6 February 1951, p. 3. Sailor Society whist; the gale; cage birds; the pipers; houses for sale; west African meeting; Stromness teacher; drama; films to come; darts; Focus (quiet Wednesdays); badminton. ¶ 13 February 1951, p. 3. Council seats vacant; hotel manager weds; deeper wounds; "Face of Western Europe"; broadcasting to-day; Council beats the clock; first Auskerry relief; for life saving; fishing boat saved; Focus (where are the candidates?); badminton; darts; Boys' Brigade; meeting on shipping services. ¶ 20 February 1951, p. 5. Scalloway F.C. for Gala Week; annual golf meeting; Dramatic Society; North Church Guild; Face of Western Europe; Orkney farming broadcast; Humane Society presentations; cabin cruiser off; week of entertainment; Focus (life-saving); town and country life; British Sailor Society: whist drive. ¶ 27 February 1951, p. 3. New maths teacher; hydro-electric exhibition; "spoot" ebb; long hair; Golf Club: annual general meeting; coal boat strike; Focus (save the golf course); Perth Rep; cold and wet; new "St Ola" launched; "The Messiah"; Festival plays repeated; Orcadian's death in Canada; British Legion annual general meeting.
6 March 1951, p. 3. Going away; Athletic F.C.; to Girdle Ness; Focus (disfigurement); church news; on holiday; golf basket whist; first exhibit; the new St Ola; Hydro-Electric Exhibition; British Legion Club; "Z" Reserve; forward to Shopping Week; the Perth Rep. ¶ 13 March 1951, p. 5. Leavings; Chamber of Commerce; dinner-dance; tenders; housing list; Hoy plays; gym display; wages increase; Town and Country Planning; concert for Athletic F.C.; the wonder pond mystery; Focus (who's for the Council?); coal sellers; shipping service; social; talk on Sean O'Casey. ¶ 20 March 1951, p. 5. First creels out; Suleskerry relief; paintings on show; meter reading; Hoy dramatic show; "torn nylons!"; Focus (the tourist trade); too many holidays?
3 April 1951, p. 3. Colour; bring and buy sale; Sailing Club; Provost off; Dramatic social; Life Boys' concert; Focus (gardens); housing scheme paved; Face of Western Europe; films to come; new library books. ¶ 10 April 1951, p. 5. Tribute to Bailie Hay; Focus (now is the hour). ¶ 17 April 1951, p. 3. Suleskerry relief; football pool winner; Budget; children's concert; April holiday; Boys' Brigade whist and dance; census; Focus (no election); off to Canada; football; "Colour" (lecture by Stanley Cursiter); Legion competitions; Chamber of Commerce. ¶ 24 April 1951, p. 5. Still more library books; lifeboat out; Girl Guides; vandalism; model for Stromness; the relief; children's concert; the lobsters; Chamber of Commerce; a magazine to buy; the late Mr. David Clouston; Youth Club; Focus (the holiday season).
1 May 1951, p. 3. Old Peoples' trip; vehicles in collision; enter May; B.W.T.A.; Shopping Week 1951; furniture by lorry; children's concert; Focus (our "black spots"); Chamber of Commerce. ¶ 8 May 1951, p. 5. See your M.P. about it; a fine film; the whale goes west; golf season opens; Focus (the new Council); Dramatic Society; her last days. ¶ 15 May 1951, p. 6. Practice firing; Danish conference meeting; grate installed; summer air programme; teachers' houses; paintwork tender; housing; presentation to ex-Bailie Hay; gymnasium; B.B.C. and Gala Week; to broadcast to-day; golf: McVitie and Price Club; Flag Day; Girl Guides' jumble sale; new Councillor; burgh workmen's wages; the stone; Dundee bus tour; gas or electricity? ¶ 29 May 1951, p. 3. Points racing; rain at last; late bus service; football coaching; the late Mr Thomas Smith; trout for reservoir; a great day; at the Assembly; Focus (Ness week); lobster fishing.
5 June 1951, p. 3. King's inspection; football trip; golf. ¶ 12 June 1951, p. 3. Points racing; the drought; golf; Focus (old folks club); the survivors; holiday. ¶ 19 June 1951, p. 3. The Museum; the June holiday; Shopping Week takes shape.
3 July 1951, p. 5. Life Boys' picnic; property sales; holidays; Focus (street improvements); the concrete moves north; points racing. ¶ 10 July 1951, p. 3. University graduates; Boys' Brigade cross Pentland; master mariners; football; "The Stromnessian," No. 9; Focus (Shopping Week news); library closed; Academy exhibition. ¶ 17 July 1951, p. 3. The shops on Thursday; no films; the big fight; sailing; a poor summer; trip from Thurso; Focus (the population); round Hoy; Suleskerry relief. ¶ 24 July 1951, p. 3. New doctor; lucky number; the Rousay golfer; Focus (the South End complains); wedding. ¶ 31 July 1951, p. 3. Whale on Hoy; August films; points racing; Focus (generation of land-lubbers); the town lorry; St Ola's Sunday trip; visitors; golf.
7 August 1951, p. 3. Stromness boxer; holiday; lifeboat practice; library re-opens; the cuithes; "St Ola" Sunday trip; points racing; golf. ¶ 14 August 1951, p. 5. Focus on the [Stromness] Museum. ¶ 21 August 1951, p. 3. "Blue Lagoon"; trout fishers; poor summer; bus tours; staff picnic; golf; Focus (the Back Road dump); four men in a car; Ola cruise round Hoy; putting; postmaster goes; Suleskerry relief.
4 September 1951, p. 3. Golfing season ends; Museum presentation; September films; Dramatic Society; "Two Loud Bangs." ¶ 11 September 1951, p. 5. Holiday; prize-giving; accident; visitors; home again; Girl Guides picnic; Lammas Market. ¶ 18 September 1951, p. 3. "Scott of the Antarctic"; northern lights; Suleskerry relief; town holiday; accident; Provost off; W.D. closes down; Putting Cub; Edwin Muir on "Living in Europe." ¶ 25 September 1951, p. 3. Four surnames; harvest; marriage; off for winter; Graemsay sand; Focus (the election); Heather Linties; the late Capt. William G. Flett.
2 October 1951, p. 3. Glasgow wedding; S.W.R.I.
The following note, entitled "Au revoir George," appeared in the "Stromness News" column, Orkney Herald, 9 October 1951, p. 3: "Well, he has gone, scarf and all, but although he will be missed here in his home town, the very best of luck and success in his studies. Mr Brown left Stromness on Monday, 1st October, to go to Newbattle Abbey to study under Dr Edwin Muir. He is to take an advanced course in English literature and European history. ¶ We hope that Mr Brown will not forget us altogether and that he will let us have an article now and then; and that when he returns next summer the pen of 'Islandman' will once more get busy with his weekly refreshing articles."
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