SHOPPING WEEK – 1949

“Never in the 132 years of its existence as a burgh has there been such a day in Stromness as there was on Saturday.

From morning until night the streets were thronged with people from all parts of the county,” said The Orcadian.

And so began Stromness Shopping Week, the annual gala week which was to become a fixture in the Orkney calendar in the second half of the 20th century.

The first Shopping Week was held from July 18 to 23, 1949, organised in just three weeks by the newly-founded Stromness and West Mainland Chamber of Commerce to attract shoppers to the burgh. The credit, or otherwise, for the idea was given to Mr W.C. Howard who was said by The Orcadian to be the “inspiration” behind the suggestion which was “met with warm support.”

There was no Shopping Week Queen that first year when Provost George Robertson opened the event in front of a “Welcome to Stromness” banner across Victoria Street, but 4,000 people turned out for the closing fancy dress procession, led by Kirkwall City Pipe Band, with 900 flags bedecking the streets.

Mr W. Towers, chairman of the chamber of commerce, said members looked forward to holding “an annual event somewhat similar to this.”

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