Tom Jamieson 67.
This fine photograph shows coal being unloaded from the puffer Kaffir at the pier in 1952. Shovelling coal from the hold into a 5 cwt tipping bucket, which was then toppled into a tractor and trailer or into the estate's Morris lorry, was a dusty, backbreaking job which nobody liked. The estate ordered 100 tons of coal at a time from Troon in Ayreshire, and the coal was then either used by the estate, especially for the lodge's heating system, or by crofters. The crofters paid for their coal, but transport to the island was provided free by the estate.