Hardy Island Voters in 1835 Election

Written by The Balfour Blogger #3

Thomas Balfour was elected as Conservative MP for Orkney and Shetland in 1835, thanks to a hard-fought campaign paid for by his father, Captain William Balfour RN of Elwick.

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Most of the expense was the agents’ travel, canvassing around Orkney and Shetland, and the travel and lodging of the voters. Unfortunately, Parliament had been dissolved on 29 December 1834 and the voting, in Kirkwall and Stromness, was on 5 and 6 February so all the travel was in mid-winter. This may help to explain why only 198 of the 298 electors voted, though some were determined to have their say, as demonstrated by some of the entries in a list of expenses totalling £1412 0s 5½d  Ref D2/29/3/69

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Owner and Master & crew of the Catherine, for bringing in and putting back again the Westray voters in the worst weather (16 days) £19

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Owner and crew of the Despatch for bringing in and carrying out Stronsay voters in very bad weather £20

Extract from D2/29/3/69

George Harvey, Master of the Canning, for self & crew, out five days in a perfect storm & bringing in the Eday voters at the most desperate risk, only one hour before the final close of the poll. £8.7s

At least they had something to cheer them on their way-

Extract from D2/29/3/69

James Drever bill for wine and spirits provided to the vessels sent for the voters £11 19s

South Isles voters had a slightly easier time:

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Ferrymen at Holm for carrying on shore and putting off voters of South Ronaldsay and a cart bringing one old man to town 14s 6d

And Deerness seems to have made an occasion of it

Extract from D2/29/3/69

The Deerness men proposing to walk in procession, given them to purchase flags and to drink after their return home, they having consequently agreed among themselves to taste nothing in Kirkwall – to which they strictly adhered. £5

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Extracts from archive items in D2/29/3/69 from the Balfour of Balfour & Trenabie papers 

The Archive Time-Machine

Let us pretend that it is 1997 again, when the Iraq war had not happened, Tony still had all his hair and Labour politicians were all boogying about to D:REAM like Dads at a wedding. Down South, the papers were all full of the big Labour victory, but the Orcadian front page was all Jim Wallace's as he had been elected for the fourth time running.

Look how happy these counting people are!

It had been hoped that the constituency count would be a little faster in 1997 but foggy weather meant that the ballot boxes from the outer Shetland isles could not be collected by helicopter and had to arrive by boat instead. Eventually the Shetland boxes arrived in Kirkwall with Shetland councillor Jan Riise. When asked how his journey had been Mr Riise answered "so so."

The Iceland ash cloud caused a bit of concern this year and apparently "a really fast boat" is standing by to bring the northern votes this year.

Cheers! Let's rejoice! Friends is still on telly and Neighbours isn't rubbish yet!

The Orkney Library and Archive are of course completely objective and apolitical. We are the David Dimbleby of the North. We shall be equally overjoyed whatever happens tomorrow morning. If Gordon wins, we'll open some bubbly, if it's Nick, then we shall dip our faces in melted chocolate and then proceed to do the same to a bowl of hundreds and thousands. If David moves into number 10 then we shall run screaming through the centre of Kirkwall, clawing our eyes out in a frenzy of unalloyed joy. We shall miss our eyes.

All photos: Orkney Photographic

Information taken from The Orcadian dated 8th May 1997

Not Sure If You're Registered For Tommorrow?

The Orkney Library and Archive had an amazing May Day holiday thanks for asking. Our mums made us a pack lunch and we sat at the back of a bus singing 'You cannae push your granny off a bus..' and 'Stop the bus I need a wee wee...drink of tea.'

We went 'round all the tourist sites and then headed back to Kirkwall for our session at Jungle World. Who do you think we met there? Only Craig David!

'Craig!' we cried, 'what are you doing here?'

'It's my birthday Hot Stuff, I love the ball pit!'

'Ah, but do you prefer it to laser quest?'

'It's Six of one, half a dozen of the other.'

'Shall you be voting tomorrow Craig?'

'I thought the election was in 7 days.'

No silly, it's tomorrow.'

I can't remember if I've registered to vote, can you fill me in on how I can find out that information?'

'Just check the electoral register, dummy, it's at the archives desk on the first floor.'

'Thanks.'

31 Years Ago Today

Reference D1/511

I Like the Snickers Ones

Last night the Orkney Library and Archive was the venue for the Election Hustings which were hosted by Radio Orkney.

The event was due to take place in the MacGillivray room on the first floor, but our lift broke and seemed as though it was not going to be ready in time.

This would not do, as it meant that the first floor was inaccessible to any one who had difficulty negotiating stairs. So, it was decided to hold the hustings in the foyer and close the library early. This meant we had to move 60 chairs to the ground floor using just the tiny book lifts and our brute, peasant strength.

BUT THEN THE LIFT GOT FIXED. But by then it was too late to move the location so we had to move all the chairs anyway! And then move them back upstairs again first thing this morning! (I say we, I moved about 6...)

The event seemed to be a great success though which people enjoyed and Radio Orkney gave us sweets, so all is well.

Early Closure

This evening, Radio Orkney will be hosting the Election Hustings in the foyer of the library. This event was due to take place in the MacGillivray Room on the first floor, but our lift is out of order.

Due to this unforseen change of circumstance, the library will be closing early today at 5.00pm. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.

My Tea and Bun Hell

The keyword 'election' retrieves 147 records in our database. Posters, special editions of newspapers, manifestos and leaflets have all been carefully saved for posterity.

Orkney has, for the last 60 years, been a Liberal, later Liberal-Democrat seat. This began with the very popular Jo Grimond's 33 years as MP for Orkney and Shetland and continued with 18 years from Jim Wallace and the current MP for the Isles, Alastair Carmichael.




There is a lot of dissatisfaction with the political process nowadays with many people unattracted by any of the three major parties. That is why Orkney Library and Archive plan to start their own amazing political party.

Our aims are simple: to promote interest in local culture and history and encourage the collection and preservation of 'old tat'. We further hope to raise the profile of the pleasures of a simple book. Our slogan will be something like 'Stop doing that crack and heroin, read a book instead.' I cannot believe that no-one has thought of this already.

We are a modern institution and realise the importance of capturing the media attention. Our candidate has already lined up an interview with the Orcadian wherein they plan to talk candidly about that time they got a stapler stuck under their fingernail when removing it from a deposit and 'My tea and bun hell'. A few teary pictures should move even the most stone-hearted of voters.

Getting the candidate's other half to mince about town in an M&S dress whilst distributing home-made snacks may be harder to achieve but should ultimately be worth it.

Our campaign song will probably be 'No Stoppin' Us' by Ollie and Jerry, which is also the theme tune to Breakin' (Electric Boogaloo), surely the greatest film that has ever been made about Breakdancing.

The first campaign meeting shall take place next week. Come down and bust some moves with us and eat some radical home-bakes. You can also bring the £1,500 you owe us for the last three posts. You thieves.

If you need to check if you are registered to vote, then the Archive hold a copy of the electoral register which you are welcome to consult.