The Hamnavoe berthed in Stromness on a fine Spring morning with ...

Issue No.45 MARCH 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 21
Fa natural harbour. Most houses used adjacent geos on
the east side of the island, where boats had to be raised
from the water to avoid be<strong>in</strong>g broken up aga<strong>in</strong>st the
rocks <strong>in</strong> the rough seas. Residents were very dependant
upon one another, especially to move livestock and supplies
on and off the island.
As with most who rely on fish<strong>in</strong>g for their livelihood,
Pharay men were great seamen. Nevertheless, the
rough waters surround<strong>in</strong>g the island were responsible
for several accidents and wrecks over the years that
sometimes resulted <strong>in</strong> loss of life. Drown<strong>in</strong>gs also occurred
<strong>in</strong> the sound that separates Pharay from a small
holm just to its north. When the tide was out, it was
possible to walk between the two islands, and Pharay
sheep were rout<strong>in</strong>ely grazed on the holm. On two occasions
residents were swept away when the tide came
<strong>in</strong> earlier or stronger than expected. Another boat<strong>in</strong>g
accident occurred when a cow was be<strong>in</strong>g transported between
Eday and Pharay. <strong>The</strong> cow put its hoof through
the bottom of the boat, ultimately caus<strong>in</strong>g it to capsize.
Although two men were saved, two were lost.
<strong>The</strong> most memorable and heroic event <strong>in</strong> the history
Pharay Heroes: Robert Reid, Holland; William Burgar, Cott; James Groat, Lakequoy;
John Harcus, Doggerboat; and John Drever, W<strong>in</strong>dywa.
of Pharay is the wreck of the trawler “Hope.” In late
December 1908 there was a severe snowstorm, and
the Hope, anchored <strong>in</strong> the North Sound to wait out the
storm, was set adrift. <strong>The</strong> boat was driven ashore on
the Pharay Holm dur<strong>in</strong>g the night. With great difficulty
the crew managed to get ashore and make some sort of
crude shelter. Early the next morn<strong>in</strong>g John Harcus of
Doggerboat saw the wreck. <strong>The</strong> men of Pharay gathered
at the north of the island, and decided to attempt a res-
cue us<strong>in</strong>g the yawl “Mary” owned by William Burgar. It
took a man at each of the four oars and one at the tiller to
make two dangerous trips across the treacherous waters
to rescue the n<strong>in</strong>e crewmen of the Hope. When the rescue
was complete, darkness had fallen and the men were
exhausted. <strong>The</strong> n<strong>in</strong>e Hope crewmen were distributed
among the eight houses where they received dry clothes
and food. Word spread of the heroic actions of the five
men and they received gifts and accolades from around
the world. In October 1909 they were each presented
the Board of Trade Silver Medal at Balmoral Castle by
K<strong>in</strong>g Edward VIII. <strong>The</strong> men who became known as the
Pharay Heroes were: Robert Reid, Holland; William Burgar,
Cott; James Groat, Lakequoy; John Harcus, Doggerboat;
and John Drever, W<strong>in</strong>dywa.
<strong>The</strong>re was a school build<strong>in</strong>g conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a classroom
and liv<strong>in</strong>g accommodation for the teacher located <strong>in</strong> the
middle of the island between Doggerboat and Hammer.
Parents had been compla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g about facilities and the
Stewart Endowment agreed to construct a new build<strong>in</strong>g.
<strong>The</strong> contract was granted to builders from Westray
(one of whom later moved to Pharay) and the new school
was built <strong>in</strong> 1884. Even
with the school build<strong>in</strong>g
there were often periods
when there was no
teacher present, especially
<strong>in</strong> the 1900s.
A chapel existed on
Pharay <strong>in</strong> the early
days. It was located
on the west side <strong>in</strong> the
middle of the island, at
the edge of the burial
ground, which is still
very much <strong>in</strong> evidence.
<strong>The</strong> wall surround<strong>in</strong>g
the burial ground was
built from stones that
orig<strong>in</strong>ally formed the
chapel. More than 30
headstones, many still
legible, mark graves,
and certa<strong>in</strong>ly many
more Pharay residents
are rest<strong>in</strong>g there.
Toward the end of the
1800s some of the longresid<strong>in</strong>g
families began
leav<strong>in</strong>g Pharay. Where
there had previously
been an extended family
of two or three households
liv<strong>in</strong>g on a ten-
ancy, there would only
be one. As years passed
more modern ways
came to neighbour<strong>in</strong>g
islands, but the way of life on Pharay did not change. As
new families replaced the long resid<strong>in</strong>g residents, they
tended to view liv<strong>in</strong>g on Pharay to be temporary until
they could go somewhere else, rather than consider<strong>in</strong>g it
their long-term home. Consequently, there was a much
greater turnover of residents. Lack of services such as
a shop or medical care meant residents were dependent
on neighbour<strong>in</strong>g islands, usually Eday, for these services.
<strong>The</strong> decrease <strong>in</strong> population from a high of over 80 <strong>in</strong> the A