Police appeal after treasured watch is stolen from Eday Heritage Centre in Orkney's North Isles
Issued: 2 Sep 2025
Police in Orkney are appealing for information following the theft of an irreplaceable watch which was stolen from the Eday Heritage Centre in Eday, Orkney.
The theft was reported on 31 August 2025 by staff at the centre and is a gold rotary watch donated to the Heritage to be put on display for visitors.
It was given to the centre by Alistair Scott who received it from the RNLI for a courageous rescue he was involved in 30 years ago.
The watch is gold with a white face. The dial has numbers 1 to 12 on the face as opposed to Roman numerals. It is a wind up watch and has a brown leather strap. There is also a unique engraving on the back.
The watch was given to Alistair following a rescue which took place on 6 August 1967.
Two boys from Sanday went out on the motor vessel the "Pansy" to have a look around the area known as "Lashy Skerry," which is to the south east of the Calf of Eday when the head rope slipped off the foredeck and went into the propellor and damaged it.
The boat, with no oars and boat hooks, was lifted about in the swells on a particularly rough sea. It was then swept onto the Skerrys at "Lashy Skerry" (rocks out on the fore shore). The boat was 18 to 20 ft in length and was too heavy to be moved.
It was then spotted by two lads from Sanday who raised the alarm. The Coastguard in Kirkwall and Eday were notified. Dave Reid and his son Alex got the lifeboat ready while Dave's wife notified the owner of the watch Alistair Scott. Alistair was notified by 6pm.
The lifeboat got to the area and the crew threw a line with a breaches buoy attached to the Pansy. The boat was 15 to 20ft away.
Time was running out and the boat was being pushed further up the rocks and was about to topple over. The lifeboat crew then managed to get the two boys on board. Within five minutes of the rescue the Pansy was swept away, went down the Lashy Sound and sunk.
Clearly the watch is of great sentimental value and Police are appealing for anyone with information about its whereabouts to come forward. Indeed anyone who may be offered such a watch is also urged to contact Police in Orkney on 01856 872241 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
