STROMNESS ‘WET’ AGAIN – 1947

The people of Stromness – “dry” since 1920 – went to the polls to vote in a referendum to decide whether to repeal the temperance legislation which had seen no pub licenses granted for over a century.

The previous polls in 1923 and 1926 had seen majorities of 217 and 243 in favour of the continuance of prohibition. The Orkney Presbytery expressed their unanimous support for the continuation of the “dry” era.

But on the eve of the poll, Stromness Town hall was full to hear Inverness lawyer Major J. Mitchell put the case for repeal of the ban. The “repeal” lobby claimed that Stromness had lost prosperity because of the drink ban, because ships and trawlers were now avoiding the town.

The vote took place on November 25, 1947, and among those who braved hail storms to vote was 89-year-old Mrs C.G. Robertson.

The result was announced by her namesake, Provost George Robertson. For continuance 328, for repeal 405 – a majority of 77 for Stromness to go wet.”

Stromness had been Britain’s most northernmost “dry” town after Wick and Lerwick had both earlier repealed the temperance laws in their towns, and the vote in Stromness was to prove to be one of the final nails in the coffin of Scotland’s controversial Temperance Act of 1913.

Even before the repeal of the temperance legislation, many Stromness people had been able to get a drink, for the preceding month had sent he British Legion create history when the organisation opened the burgh’s first licensed club, which was permitted under different legislation.

But, even after the referendum vote, it would be another six months before licenses were granted and the first bar in the town opened to the public. That honour fell to the Stromness Hotel which reopened its bar on Saturday, May 29, 1948. The previous legal drink sold over the bar in Stromness had been at noon on May 28, 1921, when the last license lapsed.

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