by Fiona Grahame

IN THE SPRING of 1931 great gales rocked the islands of Orkney. The worst snowstorm of the winter wreaked havoc with telegraph poles torn down and roads blocked as winds of over 82mph blasted across the land.

For ships at sea it was a disaster with even those tied up in the shelter of Kirkwall Harbour in danger. Many fishing vessels called into Orkney in those days. The anchor of the Grimsby trawler Lord Selbourne failed to hold and she was driven ashore. Blowing her siren she alerted the Coastguard Station where Mr J Donovan fired a ‘stand by’ signal to alert local volunteers of the Rocket Brigade to be ready to go to the vessel’s aid. The crew of the Lord Selbourne managed to get her underway, however, the men of the Rocket Brigade remained ready throughout the night.