George Waterston (1911–1980), OBE, the former Scottish Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, was a much-loved figure who had a massive and positive influence on Fair Isle. He bought the island after World War Two and co-founded the Bird Observatory in 1948, giving the isle’s economy a much-needed boost. In 1955 the National Trust for Scotland succeeded him as landlord and helped islanders to stem emigration and revitalise the community. Dr Waterston’s memorial is a fascinating museum in the former Fair Isle School, packed with displays of the island’s history from prehistoric times to the present. The oil paintings are not on display.