FOYER
We love coincidences in the Orkney Archive and the first one today is a beauty. In our new display we have a few pages from Gunner Astles Diary (Archive Reference: D1/237) showing what the weather was like in May 1918. Gunner Astle, originally from Great Budworth, Northwich, was stationed at Hoxa Battery on South Ronaldsay from 1917-1918 and wrote more about the weather and wildlife of the island than the progress of the war. Here is the entry for Thursday 9th May 1918:
It seems that he had just recovered from the flu or something like it and had been confined to his hammock, so he was not delighted by everyone saying "Many Happy Returns", as he did not want to return to his hammock.
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We are also delighted to be able to use a selection of photos from the newly acquired Gunnie Moberg Archive. Our second coincidence of the day, was that the only photos catalogued so far - are nature ones!
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In the Orkney Room we have a selection of books about Nature in Orkney written by Orcadians and visitors and travellers to Orkney, including A Countrywoman's Diary by Bessie Skea, Orkney Shore by Robert Rendall, The First Wash of Spring by George Mackay Brown and Orcadian Papers of the Orkney Natural History Society 1887-1904.
Lovely blog, Lucy! Happy Birthday Gunner Astle. Many Happy Returns of your diary to the notice of the Orkney public! Alison
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