The Evacuation of St Kilda | St Kilda | Poverty | Dangers of the Mainland | Scotland | 1972

Some extracts from a Thames television Documentary on the islands of St Kilda. In these extracts we hear from some of the inhabitants of the Island about why there was a need for the evacuation. And we also hear from a Mainland Doctor who worried for the islanders immune system once they moved to the mainland.
First shown: 04/04/1972
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Quote: VT60265

[@michaelsalt4565]

I visited St Kilda several times, it is one of the most beautiful places on this planet. Nature at its finest, but life for former inhabitants must extremely hard.

[@jasonayres]

From what I have read, they were literally 'hungry'.
It had become unbearable, apparently.

[@michaelsalt4565]

@@jasonayres no doubt about that, they were starving ( grain crops had failed due to over farming and use human excrement as fertilizer) wild bird eggs and fishing was the only natural food supply. Next to no medical care leading to high infant mortality.

[@jasonayres]

@@michaelsalt4565 Such a shame.
I'd read that the island had been continually inhabited for some 2000 years.
Still, they had to be practical.
Thanks for sharing.

[@michaelsalt4565]

@@jasonayres Hirta was the main island and the only one to have a human presence. On the east of Hirta was a bay and relatively flat piece of land. This place was partially protected from the Atlantic weather systems that rolled in with some force and this were the community had lived as you say for thousands of years.. All that remained on the island was a British military unit to man several radars, the remnants of the stone cottages and sheep they left behind, plus millions of sea birds.

[@jamesgale2147]

such noble people

[@faisalahmad4455]

Respect. Thankyou

[@raymondbonington9355]

I remember watching this in 1972 , then watching Macmillan and wife , bloody hell 49 years gone fast .

[@raymondbonington9355]

How can I remember 49 years ago but not last month , I'm only 65 lol .

[@dezmondwhitney1208]

Real Human Experience. Great Stuff.

[@cushyglen4264]

It was the church that undermined the culture of St Kilda. It convinced them how badly off they were. Read Tom Steel’s book.

[@brendamorrison2792]

Sad.

[@thespamdance311]

I’d be desperate if I’d only won one premiership.

[@anyatranter5588]

They should have been paid top dollar for their tweed
They are now.

[@CallemJayNZ]

Those in the Tokelau would appreciate these stories. They're an island full of people that are being evacuated due to climate change

[@jreg2007]

climate changes constantly. we humans are so insignificant on this earth, its unreal the propaganda of man-made climate change. the ocean and the sun are the biggest contributing factors to co2.

[@jreg2007]

@Seosamh MacAoidh not much no.

[@baliksupper6043]

@@jreg2007 is that you Trumpy baby!?!?

[@onemexican1973]

@@jreg2007 they do not want to know......it has to be alarmist predictions. We had scientist Flannery in Australia telling sea levels would rise 10 meters ...back in the 1980's....idiot comes to mind.

[@robokill387]

​@@jreg2007 but dumping millions of years worth of stored greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in a short period of time does not help. P.S the sun is currently in a part of its cycle that it's getting colder, not hotter.