Despite his forbidding appearance, he loved Scottish dancing and a good joke. He liked the joke about the Scotsmen who were sent to Hell. ‘Forgive us, God, we didna ken, we didna ken’. (Pause) And God replied, ‘Weel, ye ken noo’.
Ann Marie Legge, grand-daughter (Scottish Review 2001)
For a nutrition expert, his diet was unusual. Apart from his orange (and vitamin pill) in bed every morning, he was subjected to bacon, eggs and fried scones floating in grease – a breakfast later described as a ‘heart attack on a plate’. As Popeye (the family nickname) lived to 90 and Nanimma (nickname for his wife) to 99, they either had extraordinary constitutions or modern dieticians still have something to learn.
John Orr, grandson (Scottish Review 2001)
He was not used to the telephone. He did not say goodbye or any other of the conversational niceties. When he was through with his conversation, he would either just hang up or say, ‘That’s all’, and then hang up.
Family recollection (Scottish Review 2001)
Come on, my lads and lasses, there’s so much work to do and we must all work even harder.
Orr addressing his staff in Washington, where he was director-general of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation after the second world war
For the few readers who don’t know which mainland local authorities have no railway stations, they are: Midlothian and Scottish Borders.
The world of the children 1
Kenneth Roy
The world of the children 2
Angus Skinner and others
The world of the children 3
Maggie Mellon
Islay McLeod
Welcome to the cheery world of Livingston Football Club
What, even if there’s a second question?
Why do we need a joint board?
Forget the glam. You’re on Raasay now
The last word in ugly, disapproving signage
With a door like this, the laundry might be worth a miss
What happens to me if I do turn?
Only your credit card is allowed here
Avoid anyone in this area called Cliff
Islay McLeod is deputy editor of the Scottish Review
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