Each working day, the working men of the village (as distinct from those who for any reason were not working) got together and agreed the jobs for the day and who would be doing them. Although not formally called "the Parliament", in an isolated community, this was a serious task, and on occasion lives were saved when someone did not return at the right time. There was no need to search - everyone knew exactly where that person should be found. On one occasion, the factor arrived, and hearing that the men were thinking about going to Boreray the following day, said that he would like to accompany them. He was told that they would meet at the boat "first thing". Waiting at the boat the following morning, he eventually gave up and wandered up through the village to see the cause of the delay - they were simply chatting! Clearly a St Kilda "first thing" was not to the same time scale as "first thing" to the factor!
One of the most widely published pictures of the "St Kilda Parliament" was that taken by Norman Macleod in August 1886. Norman was an employee of George Washingtom Wilson who landed in St Kilda in 1886 and took some of the best known photographs of the islanders.
Almost every year, Work Parties stand in the same spot in the street where the original GWW photograph was taken. This year, Alison (our cook) decided to set new standards in Parliamentary photographs and orchestrated an up market photograph, directed, as previously mentioned, by Alex, the NTS artist in residence.
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| The Parliament in 1886 |
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| The Parliament in 2013 |
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What a bunch of ruffians! Many thanks to Alison (our Producer), Alex (Artistic Director), Alex (for the photography) and all those who helped create this masterpiece.
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