| Description | Tape 1 Side A JOHN HENRY MANSON born 15 January 1922, Lerwick, Shetland. Paternal family: father worked in Post Office, emigrated to Australia, became a seaman, eventually returned to Shetland. He eventually rejoined Post Office where he remained as sorting clerk, telegraphist. Describes him. He had a literary bent, wrote in local paper, including 'Impressions of Distant Lands' in Shetland News. Grandfather was a seaman. Details re names etc. Maternal family: great grandfather was a fisherman involved in haaf fishing. Explains arrangement whereby boats belonged to 'merchant laird', people's dependence on him. Mentions maternal grandfather, family records. Details re a relative who emigrated to New Zealand on the toss of a coin. Mentions own lifelong interest in ships. Is youngest of 3. Details re sisters. Describes childhood home, a 'new hoos' (council house) in Lerwick. Shetland was not a classed society. Recalls the 'Scotties', fishermen from Moray Firth area, who spoke the Doric, their houses. Describes wealth divisions in Lerwick. Reference to herring merchants. Shetland dialect was a binding influence. Explains. Recalls Depression times, father's situation, the economic and employment situation, a neighbour who was at sea and came home every 18 months, the poor house. Recalls father's work routine at Post Office, his work in the telegraph instrument room. Details re communications in Shetland at that time. Incomers were mainly professionals, ministers etc. Spoke Shetland dialect. Details. Example of Norse connections of the dialect. Shetlanders identified as British first, Scottish second. Dialect forbidden in class. Loved school. Explains decision to study engineering, interest in mechanical devices. Studied at Royal Technical College, Glasgow.
Tape 1 Side B Details re work experience in Shetland during period when studying engineering. Recalls broad experience, working on submarines etc, 'Shetland Bus' boats. Describes. Details re a big explosion near a boat, clandestine operation getting young men away from Norway. Father a moderate drinker. Lerwick was dry. Has always had interest in music. Details re music in family. Grandmother was Presenter in Tingwall Church. Details re United Free churches. Father was a Session Clerk. Mentions importance of church in Shetland. Recalls father's idiosyncratic way of tipping hat to people in the street. Explains own love for singing, music. Graduated BSc 1943 in mechanical engineering. One of few Shetland graduates. Details re engineering study, success in aeronautics. Explains expectation to leave Shetland. Prospects then for Shetland. Teachers saw themselves as educating emigrants. Describes mother. She went for a while to Heidelberg University. Mentions father sending butter to her in Germany. Pre-war prospects in Shetland. Father built his own radio. Mother was strongest influence in own life. Details. Recalls father's work routines. Fishing in Shetland was predominantly summer herring work. At other times of year, Lerwick just about died. Recalls cinema. 1943-47 in forces with REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers). Details. Gained self-confidence. Explains. Details re time in army, specialisation. Recalls experiences related to own height. Enjoyed leadership, mixing with colleagues, relating to people. Feelings about leading parades. Never tried to stand on dignity. 1947 Joined Anglo-American Oil Company (now Esso) as industrial lubricant engineer. Reason for joining. 1950 resigned, worked for Parsons Steam Turbine Company. Explains. Reference to Eakring oilfields. 1953 rejoined Esso Petroleum Company.
Tape 2 Side A 1953 Esso Petroleum Company (cont'd). Details re Midlothian 1 and 2 oil wells which closed in early 1950s. At first worked in oil storage, facilities. Then sent to on marine bunker terminals, airfield refuelling. Mentions overseas work, eg Cape Verde Islands. Explains daily routine, move (1959) to Pipeline Department as Assistant Chief Engineer. Reference to secret wartime pipelines, role of Fawley in PLUTO (pipeline under the ocean). Worked on expanding Fawley, pipeline network to London Airport, Midlands. Details re wartime pipelines in Scotland, England. Recalls 3-month training assignment in Houston, Texas at School of Pipeline Technology. Explains course including hydraulics, pump stations, pressures, legislation, size of pipelines, surrounding space etc. Recalls designing first pipelines from Fawley to London and ICI at Severnside, contacting estate agents, selling idea to local councils etc. Explains complexities of work, local opposition. Recalls first meeting future wife, marriage 1956. Details re her names, sons. Both sons in oil industry. Details. Became Manager, Pipeline and Rail Technical Services. Details re family situation, death of parents. Didn't maintain regular contact with Shetland. Background to employment, 1972, with Zetland County Council as assistant to County Clerk, General Manager with responsibilities for oil-related matters. Recalls earlier Shetland notion of impossibility of an oil industry, and explains a saying that, 'Amsterdam was built on the back of Bressay'. Recalls meeting with Ian Clark. Impression of him. He knew where he was going. Recalls later discussion re own high level of expertise. Wanted change from pipeline work. Mentions pipeline situation in coastal waters, onshore. Feelings about own identity when in England. 32 years away from Shetland.
Tape 2 Side B Recalls feelings about returning to Lerwick. Different reaction of sons to living in Shetland after living in England. Attitude in Shetland to England, English people because of speech etc. Explains arrangements for Shetland re oil industry made possible by Zetland County Council Act 1974. Gives examples of Ian Clark's style dealing with councillors, e.g. own unforseen appointment as Depute Director of Design & Technical Services. Recalls situation when first arrived in 1972, Ian Clark's negotiations with Scottish Office, oil companies. He always had a councillor with him. Recalls negotiation with oil companies, their stand, Ian Clark's attitude. Details re showing senior Shell man, Peter Buxendale, around Sullom Voe area. Shetlanders had mixed feelings about oil industry coming. Explains changing trend in population. Attitude of people in Sullom Voe area. Reference to land options taken by Totale. Clark determined that Council should acquire land where there was likely to be significant oil development, have control of its use. Recalls government visitors coming to Shetland, e.g. minister from Norway. Fishermen were concerned, especially about pipelines. Had job of explaining situation to them. Oil companies said pipelines would be buried but this didn't happen. Explains. Mentions regular inspections subsequently carried out. Recalls major incident when Brent pipeline floated to surface near Sullom Voe, remedial action that had to be taken. Details of cause of incident, effects of tides etc. 1981 Assistant to Chief Executive of Shetland Islands Council. Mentions Sullom Voe agreement 1975 signed in Lerwick. Recalls underground storage argument, million pound investigation by oil industry, conclusion that it was not viable, reaction of Ian Clark and others.
Tape 3 Side A 1974 Zetland County Council Act gave powers of compulsory purchase of land where oil industry might develop. Details re role of Ian Clark, Edinburgh legal firm and Rothschilds financial advisers. Involvement of Shell. Purpose of Esso Petroleum Act. Recalls ambitious plans of Convenor of the time. Compares with situation in Orkney whose Chief Executive came to pick Clark's brains. Reference to Orkney County Council Act, Occidental. Orkney followed Shetland's example. Bigger divide between prosperous farmers and normal working folk in Orkney, mostly crofters in Shetland. 1974 visited Unst with Professor George Dunnett, zoologist, of Aberdeen University, and others - first effort towards Sullom Voe Environmental Advisory Group (SVEAG). Organisation was BP-dominated, didn't last long. Advent of Shetland Oil Terminal Advisory Group (SOTAG). Explains activities of group. Details re tanker collision with wharf night of Hogmanay, 1978, oil spillage. Effects of spillage on sea life, sheep. Role of Sullom Voe Association, a limited, non-profit making company. Details re oil industry and council representations on board. Became Company Secretary of SVA. Mentions Professor Derek Flinn's geological work, his involvement in cavern oil storage argument. Further details on this. Recalls size of caverns in Sweden. Visit of John Smith MP, story of his arrival in Lerwick covered with straw, leisurely lunch with him, hastily arranged helicopter flight. Explains own admiration of Smith. Recalls 1975 visit by Lord Kearton and others including John Liverman, Department of Energy. Reference to Jo Grimond. Mentions Ian Clark's appointment to BNOC (British National Oil Corporation). Feelings about Kearton. Comments on Clark's appointment, his religious activities, attitude to alcohol. Reference to Up Helly A festival.
Tape 3 Side B Recalls hearing Ian Clark preach in church, conversation with him next day about the sermon. Mentions North Port, Council rivals for Sullom Voe land. Clark returned only once to Shetland after leaving. Details of a speech given by him related to oil industry prospects. Clark was generally well respected. Mentions compulsory purchase issue, threats of a rival group led by a minister. Recalls 1975 visit of President of Serbia and his daughter and UK ambassador to Yugoslavia. Visit by Tony Benn 1977, Minister for Energy. Impression of him. Recalls conducting him around tanker jetties in storm force winds, his interpretation of working conditions. Question to Benn at dinner in the evening re religion. Ian Clark left in 1976. Mentions own role as Depute Director, Design & Technical Services. Mentions first oil coming ashore through Brent, Ninian pipelines, 1981 inauguration of Sullom Voe. Recalls hearing IRA explosion. Details re bomb scares on St Clair ferry. Situation after departure of Ian Clark, details re his successor. 1981 appointed Assistant to the Chief Executive. Explains main concern, responsibility, for the jetties. Retired 1984. Reference to Chinook helicopter disaster. Feelings about changes to Shetland since childhood days. Mentions good roads, new standards of life. Evolution of fishing industry, situation now with salmon farmers. Comments on Shetland deal with oil industry, use of reserve fund. Council now sole owner of Shetland Towage. Details. After retirement, moved back to Scotland for family reasons. Details re homes, eventual move to Cruden Bay. Mentions time as Session Clerk at parish church in Shetland. Feelings about being in Shetland.
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