T.P.Ollason

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T. P. Ollason, Thomas Peterson Ollason, or Tirval, Shetland author, was born in Lerwick on the 29th of August, 1865, and lived all his life at Chromate Lane, first at number 7, then at number 9, where he died on the 24th of February, 1908.

He was employed at first as a commercial clerk, but most of his life after the age of 20 was blighted by ill-health. Under his non-de-plume of Tirval (Peterson), Ollason wrote humorous and sentimental sketches and verse, which enjoyed great popularity. His main works were collected in Mareel, 1901, and Spindrift: Shetland Sketches and Verse, 1906, both published by T and J Manson. His poetry is featured in A Shetland Anthology.

'He was of a very social disposition,' said the Shetland Times in its obituary, 'and a number of young men visited him frequently, and showed him very devoted friendship. He was ever ready to enter into the spirit of any "fun" that was going on. He frequently wrote topical lines to some well-known tune to be sung at popular concerts, both in town and country; and frequently was of much assistance in devising and suggesting on "Uphelly A'" occasions, for along with his literary ability he had the artistic faculty largely developed; and he painted in oils - especially flowers and birds, with a delicacy and truth to nature that was simply wonderful in one who never had a single art lesson.'

William Sandison comments in Shetland Verse: Remnants of the Norn (1954), "he was of Lerwick in life and thought, and his dialect, unlike the dialect of Angus and Burgess, was purely of Lerwick ..."