Number Plate Stories
Home is where the number plate is
By Ruby Speechley
Another Orkney number, this time with a famous history, has returned to the island thanks to its new owner. Previously owned by circus impresario Billy Smart (Junior), the popular BS 1 was successfully transferred to Bill Spence of Kirkwall for an undisclosed sum. “I bought the plate to celebrate the centenary of my Shipbroking and Stevedoring Company, John Jolly. I’m also pleased to be bringing BS 1 home again after over fifty years of absence.
“I have been researching it’s provenance and discovered that it was first registered here on 15 March 1904, assigned to William MacLennan of Grainbank. It was held by him for eight years until 1912 when it passed to John McEwan, Rector of Kirkwall Grammar School. George Drever, Manager of the National Bank in Kirkwall, acquired it after that. In 1921, it was transferred again, this time to Charles Haydon of Lynnfield, for his Crossley. Eight years later, it went to John Robert Cursiter in Stromness. In 1930, BS 1 with the Crossley, was sold to John M. F. Groat of Moasound, Longhope. I first remember seeing BS 1 on the old Crossley in JMF’s coal store in the 1950’s, not long before it left Orkney to go to Sheffield, to its new owner Bob Stanley.”
Whilst perusing the old records, Bill found out a few more facts about BS numbers. The first number registered in Orkney, on 21 January 1904 was BS 3, not BS 1. The author George Bernard Shaw was given BS 73 on 5 November 1908 and Barry Sheen had BS 7 at one time. Bill already owns quite a collection of BS numbers himself, including BS 15, BS 38, BS 43, BS 47 and BS 4747. “In my opinion, BS 1 is the ultimate Orkney number”, he said.
Another man who is very proud of where he comes from is Steve Pentith from Anglesey, North Wales. He runs his own business, Pentith Self-Catering Holidays in Benllech. “I’d wanted an Anglesey, ‘EY’ plate for some time. When I bought one, another dealer rang me up offering me a higher price for it! I’d never sell it though, I consider it a family heirloom now,” said Steve.
continued... |1|2|3|
