Books by Flottarian Authors
ANON. – The Flottarian
GROAT, Thomas – Thirty Years a Colporteur
HAY, Arthur C – An Introduction to History for Scottish Schools; Nelson’s History Practice (Parts 3a & 4a); Nelson’s History Practice Scotland (parts 1,2 & 3); Ignatius a Lay of Modern Russia.
HAY, James – Poems, Poems (publ. 1928)
HAY, Jamie (aka James Hay) – Poems, Sacred Poems
SINCLAIR, David – Willick O' Pirliebraes; Willick and the Black, Black Oil
SINCLAIR, James – The Satires of Juvenal New
SIMPSON, Sutherland – Elementary Human Physiology
SUTHERLAND, Capt. R.L. – Will Your Anchor Hold? Romiosini
The Flottarian published Sep 1931, 40 pages. Articles by unnamed islanders and visitors to the island. Intended as a regular publication only one issue was ever produced. It features a description of some of the landmarks of Flotta, a conversation in the local dialect, an article by a fisherman about when he worked on the boat "The Scotch Lassies" in 1881, an amusing story about two Flotta men worse for alcohol carrying home a three toed pot, salvaging of German ships at Scapa Flow, stanger head army camp from 1914-1916, the producing of ham and eggs, a story about a soldier on the Western Front, and the unofficial 1839 census.
(Note: If anyone knows who wrote any of the articles, please me)
Thirty Years a Colporteur published 1939, 86 pages. Describes the travels and work of Westray born Thomas Groat in his occupation as Colporteur (seller of religious texts and bibles.) around Orkney . He married a Flotta born woman Elizabeth Flett and settled on Flotta at Blackwall. (Note: His book makes little mention of Flotta itself.)
An Introduction to History for Scottish Schools published in 1925, 1943. Family Rumor goes that this was the first book ever produced that was specifically written for Scottish Schools about Scottish History. Whether this is actually true is unknown. His book covers Early christianity through to the coming of the Railways and the League of Nations. Although written in the 1920s it's still very readable due to its unpretentious style. Arthur grew up on Flotta but left the island in his teens to continue his education in Aberdeen. In his later years he was a teacher at Keith Grammar School then headmaster of Aberlour Secondary School in Banffshire.
Ignatius a Lay of Modern Russia published in 1916. Poem about Russian resistance to the German army. Based on an article titled 'Guerilla Bands in the Poliesie' which appeared in the Scotsman of 18 Dec 1915.
The Zebra Zeppelin a short story published in the 1917 Christmas edition of 'The Sketch' magazine. Tells the fantastical tale of Count Donnerblitz and his trusty bloodhound's daring mission to drop breadtickets from their zeppelin over the city of London.
Nelson's History Practice Parts 1,2 & 3 Three Textbooks with questions for pupils.
Nelson’s History Practice Parts 3a & 4a Two Textbooks with questions for pupils.
Poems published in 1926. Collection of poems relating to James' life on Flotta, such as: The Ram, Annie May, Peggy, In Kirks the Noo and Twa Steamers. Features a picture of Cantick Head lighthouse on the front cover. Born on Flotta James Hay lived his whole life on the island at the 'Old School'. He married Jessie Robertson then Jeannie Falconer and worked as Inspector of Poor and Crofter. Was known to have been a bit of a dreamer.
Poems published in 1928. Includes all the poems from the above, but also features 24 new poems such as The Knot First, The Hindenburg, The Longhope Lifeboat, In Switha's Isle and Sailor Men. Also includes two articles written about his service in the army during WW1 taken from the local newspapers. The first, titled 'A Transport Horse an incident of the great war' describes his defense of a horse from an abusive transport man; the second 'The Conscript' tells of his traveling down from Flotta to a camp at Norwich. Front cover sports a small portrait photograph of the moustached author.
Also published the following under the name Jamie Hay
Poems
Sacred Poems
(If anyone has any copies of James Hay's work I'd love to hear from them. Please get in touch.)
Willick o'Pirliebraes, published 1981. Humorous tales of a ficticious Flottarian written in the local dialect. Stories of Willick first appeared in the Orkney newspaper 'The Orcadian'. David still lives on Flotta and amongst other occupations is Flotta's Registrar.
Willick and the Black, Black Oil, first published in 1994. Tales of Willick set during the coming of the oil terminal, interspersed with the author's own experiences, difficulties and views of the terminal during its construction. Excellent firsthand account of a turbulent period in Flotta's history.
The Satires of Juvenal, was written by the Roman author Juvenal critising the morals of his time, James published a translation of the work in 1814 with appended notes. James was born in Kincardine and moved to Flotta in the 1840s to work as a minister.
He also published works on classical and mathematical subjects.
Elementary Human Physiology, published in 1924. Flotta born Professor Sutherland left the island aged 19, attended classes at Edinburgh University and then emigrated to America where he became professor of Physiology at Cornell University in 1908. It was said that he was nowhere so happy as on Flotta and had an ambition to build a home on the island when he retired but never did. His last visit to Flotta was less than three years before his death in 1923.
Will Your Anchor Hold? - The Story of an Orkney Seafaring Family 1850-2000, first published in 2002 by the Dalhanna Press, 164 pages. Excellent family history by a Flottarian descendant. Includes an eighteen page chapter on the Sutherland family of Little Lurdy, an eight page chapter on the Sutherlands of Windbrake, six chapters on the author and his brothers and sisters (with accounts of their experiences of the Second World War), a chapter on the Axinite and its Sutherland Captain, a postscript on Captain Cook and mention of Forby Sutherland, as well as a family tree. Capt RL Sutherland was born in Stromness and served in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War.
Also published the following:
Romiosini
If you can add to this list in any way, please me.