Stuart Christie, Over The Water (1980)
Dublin Core
Title
Stuart Christie, Over The Water (1980)
Description
Stuart Christie: 'Over the Water, Sanday, Orkney (Dec 1980): with Megan (left) and Mirk (right). Megan is looking slightly cowed as she's just been told off for chasing sheep. Mirk, on the other hand couldn't give a toss. The original owner of 'Over the Water', built sometime in the 18th Century I believe, was a sneaky Jacobite by the name of King ... ('The King — over the water!')...
It was around that time the the Chief Constable of the Grampian Police sent me a letter (hand delivered by a Sergeant and Constable specially flown up to Sanday — from Inverness via Kirkwall) to say that he was refusing my application for a shotgun licence (because of my conviction by a Francoist Council of War) and that if I wanted to challenge his decision I would have to deposit £1,000 with the High Court in Edinburgh. All this happened at the time we (a loose conglomeration of anarchists and libertarians in Orkney) successfully halted (among other things) a major SAS manoeuvre to secure Orkney's uranium deposits. A letter to 'The Orcadian' from Ross McGilchrist (an anarchist lightkeeper at Cantick Head, Longhope, How) spoke of an Orcadian 'Citizens' Militia' waiting for them with shotguns to shoot them out of the sky if they decided to drop in. Our local (alternative) paper, 'The Free-Winged Eagle' (published from 'Over the Water') was also responsible for exposing the role of Brigadier Malcolm Dennison, Lord Lieutenant of Orkney, as MI6's 'surrogate' security 'adviser' to Sultan Qaboos of Oman (after having helped overthrow his father!); we also played a small part in helping to halt the proposed major seal cull at the time (a large and ongoing part, of course, being played by Ross Flett). Not really surprised the Chief Constable opposed my shotgun licence application. I learned later that the argument was in fact that with a licence I could purchase multiple shotguns and rifles and, possible, arm a militia! As he handed me the letter in the gravel-ash yard outside 'Over the Water', the sergeant studiously avoided referring to the empty, discarded shotgun cartridges strewn around the place....'
It was around that time the the Chief Constable of the Grampian Police sent me a letter (hand delivered by a Sergeant and Constable specially flown up to Sanday — from Inverness via Kirkwall) to say that he was refusing my application for a shotgun licence (because of my conviction by a Francoist Council of War) and that if I wanted to challenge his decision I would have to deposit £1,000 with the High Court in Edinburgh. All this happened at the time we (a loose conglomeration of anarchists and libertarians in Orkney) successfully halted (among other things) a major SAS manoeuvre to secure Orkney's uranium deposits. A letter to 'The Orcadian' from Ross McGilchrist (an anarchist lightkeeper at Cantick Head, Longhope, How) spoke of an Orcadian 'Citizens' Militia' waiting for them with shotguns to shoot them out of the sky if they decided to drop in. Our local (alternative) paper, 'The Free-Winged Eagle' (published from 'Over the Water') was also responsible for exposing the role of Brigadier Malcolm Dennison, Lord Lieutenant of Orkney, as MI6's 'surrogate' security 'adviser' to Sultan Qaboos of Oman (after having helped overthrow his father!); we also played a small part in helping to halt the proposed major seal cull at the time (a large and ongoing part, of course, being played by Ross Flett). Not really surprised the Chief Constable opposed my shotgun licence application. I learned later that the argument was in fact that with a licence I could purchase multiple shotguns and rifles and, possible, arm a militia! As he handed me the letter in the gravel-ash yard outside 'Over the Water', the sergeant studiously avoided referring to the empty, discarded shotgun cartridges strewn around the place....'
Creator
Stuart Christie
Collection
Citation
Stuart Christie, “Stuart Christie, Over The Water (1980),” Stuart Christie Memorial Archive, accessed November 21, 2024, https://stuartchristie.maydayrooms.org/items/show/496.