Introduction / Families / Drever / David Drever and Ann Reid / John Drever and Barbara Groat

Getting the Doctor

In the early 1890s on the occasion of an imminent birth at the north end of the island, attempts were made to take the big boat that was kept at Ware Geo over to Eday to get the doctor. There was a gale of wind from South East.

There were four men in the boat to haul on the oars to get her away, a further one at the helm and another to hoist the sail but the boat ended up broadside on to the sea and filled. They tried on a number of occasions but failed.

James Groat from Lakequoy came down and told them that they would have to stop or someone was going to lose their life. By this time, the sea was fairly “smoking” wae the wind and the sleet was coming on so the attempt was abandoned.

Reliance had to be placed on Babie Drever (Barbara Groat, who was married to John Drever) from Windywa, who had been a great mid wife in her day. She was now about eighty.