Lauraine,
Thank you for that! And please thank your cousin for me!
I have found the Abernethy brothers as interesting to me as the subjects in the photograph. Your cousin's recollection just adds to that...and to think that was in 1944! I know both brothers died in Aug and Sept of 1950, just two weeks apart. I found an article/obit for him, published in the Shetland paper, on the 21 Sept, which was 5 days before I was born in the Appalachian Mtns of Virginia.
DEATH OF MR ARTHUR ABERNETHY
RETIRED PHOTOGRAPHER AND ARTIST
Exactly a fortnight after his younger brother, Mr Arthur Abernethy, retired photographer and artist, 6 Prince Alfred Street, Lerwick, passed on, death occurring last Thursday in the Gilbert Bain Hospital, to which he was admitted recently following a considerable period of failing health. He was 87 years of age, and his passing removes the second of two very well-known and esteemed brothers in Lerwick.
A son of the late James Abernethy, merchant, Browster, Bridge-of-Walls, and Janet Cheyne, deceased came to Lerwick about 60 years ago along with his brother Andrew, and as reported a fortnight ago in connection with the latter’s death, the brothers built up a well-known photographic business which they finally wound up on retirement in 1946.
While his brother’s spare-time interest lay in music, Mr Arthur Abernethy was an enthusiastic and painstaking artist. He painted in oils, and his Shetland landscapes are to be found in not a few Shetland houses. Accurate drawing was his strong point as an artist, and in his day he was much sought after for the execution of illuminated addresses and other decorative work. From 1906 till 1937 he was the painter of the beautiful and imaginative headings to the Up-Helly-Aa Collecting Sheets, many of which are preserved in the Shetland County Library, and from the first post-war festival of 1920, he made masks to order for innumerable squads in the most skilful manner. He also drew the black-and-white illustrations for the late Thomas Manson’s “Humours of a Peat Commission”. He was quite remarkable in his versatility, and could make anything he wished to make, from boots and clothes to printing blocks.
Apart from his photographic business and artistic work, which led him into local prominence, Mr Abernethy lived very much in private, but his sterling worth and quiet sagacity were keenly appreciated by those privileged to know him.
In 1900 Mr Abernethy married Mary C. Robertson, of Fetlar, and they celebrated their golden wedding this year, during the leave home from the Sudan of their missionary son Harry and his children, who left Lerwick again three weeks ago. Their elder son was tragically cut off in his early youth by flu in 1919. The elder daughter Peggie has always lived with them, and their younger daughter Mrs Laurence Linklater, only recently removed from Lerwick to Mossbank. To Mrs Abernethy and her family sincere sympathy is extended in their bereavement.
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon from the Congregational Church to the New Cemetery, Lerwick, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. William Campbell, assisted by Mr John Huggins.
The pallbearers were:--Messrs Laurence Linklater (son-in-law), Arthur and James Andrew Abernethy, and Andrew Cheyne (cousins), Otto Robertson, Stanley Childs, L.H. Mathewson and Magnus Shearer.
What an interesting life he lived! Thank you again!
