Andrew T. Cluness
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Andrew Thomas Cluness, 'A.T.', was born on the 14 of July, 1890 at Colvadale, Unst, the son of John Cluness (b.19.6.1862, Sandwick, Unst) and his wife Mary Clark Jamieson (b.14.6.1858) also of Unst. He married Robina Jamieson (b.2.7.1908) in 1952.
He was educated at The Anderson Institute and Edinburgh University, where he achieved first class honours in Classics. In WWI he served in the army in Belgium and France, was wounded four times and received the Military Medal and Bar for his bravery.
Following the war he became a teacher and was appointed Rector of the Anderson Institute, a position he held for nearly thirty years from 1924 until he retired in 1952.
Andrew T. Cluness is best known for his book "Told Round The Peat Fire", a collection of old Shetland Tales, first published in 1955. The first edition sold out in a few weeks and the book has been reprinted four times. He also published The Shetland Isles in the County Books series in 1951, and edited The Shetland Book, published by the Shetland Times at the behest of Education Committee of the County Council in 1967. He also wrote a memoir of J. D. Rattar, the Shetland photographer, A Time to Keep.
Andrew 'A.T.' Cluness died on the 3rd of January 1966. He is buried at Sandwick Cemetery, Unst.
