Spence's Pier

It was a beautiful morning as I trotted along to open the craft shop this morning. The sun was shining and the sea was calm.

In the distance is the pier where the Pentalina, the ferry which goes across to Gills Bay, near John o'Groats, sails from but this little pier is named after a shop which used to be close by. Once the Churchill Barriers were built and folk had road access to the main island all the little shops in South Ronaldsay gradually closed.

There used to be a book shop, watch makers and jewellers, garages, drapers, butchers and bakers and several other shops selling hardware etc in St Margaret's Hope itself, as well as other general stores throughout the island, but now we are down to two small family mini-markets and a general store. We still have a part time post office and a doctor's surgery, a couple of cafes, a garage, a pub and very high class restaurant. We are very lucky but still have to adopt a "use them or lose them" mentality to keep them all going!

This is the same pier I blipped a while ago, looking much less shipshape!