John R Hume
READERS of Life and Work may remember a letter in the February 2019 issue by Mr A W Sutherland, referring to this church, and his joy in securing preachers for it in the summer of 2018. This reminded me of visits to this church over a number of years.
Between the mainlands of Orkney and Scotland is the second largest of the Orkneys, Hoy, much of it barren moorland. At its extreme south east is the fertile island of South Walls, linked to it by a sandbank known as The Ayre. During the Second World War, a road was built over the Ayre, replacing a ferry across a deep bay, (really a sea-loch), in two parts, Longhope and North Bay. In the days of sail this was a ‘harbour of refuge’ in westerly gales. Flanking its entrance are two Napoleonic War Martello towers, at Crockness on the north and at Hackness on the south where there is also a battery of cannon to defend the bay. The Hackness defences are now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.