Orkney Women Doctors Project (1894 to 1948)

  In Part 1 we introduced Dr Robina (Rina) Marwick and her early life.   In this post the story focuses on her time during World War II on the island of Sanday, one of the more Northerly of the Orkney Islands. She arrived on the island in 1940 as the previous island doctor had been called up. Rina Marwick on Sanday Rina Marwick was born in Stromness on 2 nd  August, 1914, just two days before World War 1 broke out and now in 1940 she was once again living through war but this time taking an active part. Records show Dr Marwick was on Sanday in March 1940.[1] She was the first woman doctor to reside on the island, there having been one earlier known woman doctor, Dr Jean McPhail, acting as a locum for her brother in the 1920s.[2] It had been thought that the isolation of Sanday was an unsuitable place for a woman doctor.[3] However, at just 25, Dr Marwick found herself the sole medical doctor on the island, caring for an island population of about 1,000.[4] Doctors ...

 Dr Robina Marwick’s story is now perhaps better known among an older generation in Orkney. She was on our initial list of Orkney women doctors when we first formed our group, but with over 50 women to research, we had only gathered some basic information. Recently, however, we have been delighted to receive a wealth of source material from Dr Marwick's daughter, Thelma Stewart.  We are indebted to Thelma for sharing more about the life of her mother which gives a rich insight into the extraordinary life of Dr Robina Marwick. We aim to tell Dr Marwick’s remarkable story in a series of blog posts. Graduation photo of Robina Marwick WHAT WE KNEW Rina (as she was known to family and friends) was born Robina Margaret Marwick, in Graham Place, Stromness on 2 nd  August 1914.  She did extremely well at school in Stromness and won a Scholarship to the University of Edinburgh to study medicine, qualifying in 1937. She briefly worked in Edinburgh and Sunderland hospitals be...

  We are delighted to share a short film that Fiona Sanderson was asked to produce by the Pier Arts Centre about the exhibition "Finding Dr Garvie". She also tells a little bit about the continuing Orkney Women Doctors Research Group. Hopefully those who were unable to come along to the exhibition and talks get a flavour of what was on show, and the story behind it. The film is about 14 minutes long. Click Here for "Finding Dr Garvie" Video on Vimeo Credit: Pier Arts Centre, Stromness

Several of the women doctors we have so far identified were born in Orkney.  Some went South to pursue their careers, while others remained to practise on the islands. Dr  Harriet Taylor chose to practise in Orkney for most of her professional life.   Clockwise: Elizabeth (Lizzie), Harriet, William, Georgina (Gena) and their dog. Thanks to the family for permission to use the photo thought to have been taken about 1920. She was born Harriet Johnston Sutherland Taylor  on 9 October 1896 in Longhope, Walls, on the island of Hoy. She was one of twins, though it was said the girls never looked alike.  Her father, William, is listed variously as a postmaster or farmer, and the family lived at Ness House, up from the pier at Longhope.[1]  Her mother, Georgina Sutherland, died when Harriet was just 4 years old, leaving William to raise Harriet and Elizabeth (twins), Georgina (born 1898) and step-daughter Lena (1883, died 1918).[1, 2] Harriet seems to hav...

Photos by Dr Garvie (Photo: Jenny Hall) Saturday 15 March was the opening of  “Finding Dr Garvie” , the exhibition based on the creative collaboration between North Ronaldsay islanders, the wider Orkney community, and Fiona Sanderson. This project arose from the island photographs of Dr Garvie, who was doctor on North Ronaldsay for 16 years, almost a century ago. A selection of these photographs are also on show, along with three of the nine albums of photographs that are now held by the Orkney Library and Archive. These albums include Garvie’s handwritten notes and captions. An enthusiastic and interested audience were present for an entertaining and informative talk by Fiona.  Memories were stirred for those attending from the island and more stories shared. You can read more about the Exhibition here Fiona Sanderson at the exhibition she curated The photos also document life on North Ronaldsay in the 1930s and 40s.  Although one photo of a cow being lifted onto the fer...

  An interesting article in The Herald by journalist Sandra Dick, about Dr Beatrice Garvie and Fiona Sanderson's research into her life and that of North Ronaldsay. Please click on link: The island GP whose evocative images captured Orkney life The Exhibition continues at the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness, until 26th April.