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Mr Willie R |
| Interview Number: 166 |
| Other Interview Material |
| Sex: |
| M |
| Year Of Birth: |
| 1886 |
| Place of Residence: |
| Shetlands |
| Family: |
| 3 siblings. Eldest son, 2 brothers. Mother lived to 102 years, 6 months. Temperate upbringing. Mother's brother lived with family. |
| Marriage: |
| Married in 1911 in Aberdeen. 2 daughters, teacher and shop assistant. One daughter plays in orchestra. |
| Housing: |
| Rented tenement house in Lerwick. Private landlord. 3 rooms, gas and sanitary. |
| Education: |
| Parents' Work History: |
| Father was seaman, sailed distances including Australia. Mother assisted her brother in shoemaking business before marriage. Then carded, spun and knitted wool into shawls. Uncle had shoemaking business. Wife in charge of dairy before marriage |
| Work History: |
| As schoolboy, WR delivered milk before school. Apprentice butcher, then, aged 13, became apprentice shoemaker. Eventually took over his uncle's business. |
| Final Occupation: |
| Shoemaker |
| Political Affiliation: |
| Father was apolitical. WR was Liberal but became active Labour (Social Democratic Federation) supporter. Also early Labour politics. |
| Religious Background: |
| Mother was strict member of Church of Scotland. She read the Bible every night. |
| Occupational Class: |
| Skilled Manual |
| Leisure Activities: |
| Family very musical. WR played violin, his brother violin and piano. Attended concerts of Gilbert and Sullivan. Enjoyed cycling, football and dancing. Belonged to Volunteers. |
| Health / Childbirth: |
| Miscellaneous: |
| Description of first motor car in Lerwick; milk delivery; class distinction; boys' pranks. Dutch fishing vessels. |
| Number of pages in Transcript: |
| 51 |
