Preface

The story that unfolds here, with the necessary exception of the last chapter, is gathered from George's own writings.  In his essays and newspapers columns he often wrote about his life, past and present, and life in Stromness.  This is George's journey – harvested from his words, re-arranged into more or less chronological order, with a smattering of social history. 

That George thought of life as a journey is illustrated many times, as in the poem A New Child:   

                Wait a while, small voyager
                On the shore, with seapinks and shells.

                The boat
                Will take a few summers to build
                That you must make your voyage in

He wrote often about language, and his love of words came through everything he wrote.  He foresaw a day when old and lovely words would be lost.  So although I'm not an Orcadian, the title and subtitle of this work suggested themselves in order to celebrate two of George's favourite words, marvellous and peedie.  He wondered if there will come a day when the most enduring of all Norn words – peedie or peerie – will fade from every day Orkney language.  He felt that the English usage of little or small doesn't incorporate the same nuances of joy and affection. 

I hope my look at George's life embodies both these things.

Sue Tordoff
West Sussex
August 2003 

Note:
Readers may wonder at the scarcity of direct quotes in this work.  The main copyright holders refused permission for the extensive quotes needed [as they have every right to do] in order, they say, to protect the interests of other authors whose books are in the pipeline.  In spite of this, I have tried to give a true flavour of George's words.  For the real thing, see below the list of books I've drawn on.

Loaves and Fishes                  
pub by Hogarth Press 1959,  John Murray Publishers Ltd 1991

The Sun's Net          
pub by  Hogarth Press, 1976

Voyages     
pub by Chatto and Windus/Hogarth Press 1983

The Masked Fisherman            
pub by John Murray Publishers Ltd 1989

Straight from the Horses Mouth 
pub by Herald Publications 1996. reprinted by The Orcadian Press

Following a Lark                      
pub by John Murray Publishers Ltd 1996

Thanks go to Ingirid Morrison, George's niece and daughter of John [Jack], for her kind and enthusiastic help in supplying information for the family tree which would otherwise have taken me years to obtain. 

My thanks go to the staff of the Photographic Archives, Kirkwall Library
whose memory and diligence unearthed the 'pram' photo and helped with the other Brown family photographs.

And of course thanks to George himself as he rests in his beloved Silence, for many hours of unfailing delight sifting through his words.