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A.T. Cluness, teacher and author, was born in Uyeasound, Unst. He received his early education there, later winning a bursary and attending the Anderson Educational Institute in Lerwick from the age of 14. He went on to Edinburgh University, graduating with a first class degree in classics.

Cluness became classics master at Duns, Berwickshire, in 1914. He was in the job for less than a year before joining the army. During the war he served in the Cameron Highlanders and the Machine Gun Corps. He was wounded four times. For his war efforts, Cluness was awarded the Military Cross, to which a bar was subsequently added for gallantry in the field.

After the war, Cluness returned to his job in Berwickshire. Then, in 1923, he moved to Leven Academy, and a year later he became rector of Anderson Educational Institute. He served in this post for 28 years. in 1952, shortly before his retirement, Cluness was awarded the O.B.E.

Alongside his teaching career, Cluness wrote both fictional and non-fictional works about Shetland. After retirement he edited The Shetland Book, a text book that was used by generations of pupils in secondary schools.