Carmichael votes to send assisted dying bill to House of Lords
The isles MP voted in favour of the Westminster assisted dying bill in parliament as it passed it third reading. A majority of members in…
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POLL: Should all drugs be legalised and regulated?
A former undercover officer who spent years working to infiltrate criminal drugs gangs will be talking at tonight’s This is Democracy event.
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Lifeboat tows yacht to safety after engine fault
Volunteer lifesavers rescued a stricken yacht after she suffered an engine fault.
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In this week’s Shetland Times
In today’s (Friday, 20th June) edition of The Shetland Times:
• EXCLUSIVE: Fears raised over future of the North Isles amid ferry fiasco
• EXCLUSIVE: Appeal launched after a third of defibrillators are out of use
• SIC issues apology over enhanced provision proposal
• Fetlar is dropped from fixed links plans
• Interview with former undercover officer on tackling drugs crisis
• Hundreds march in solidarity with the LGBTQ community
• SPORT: Shetland swimmer takes home British gold medal
UPDATE: Coastguard stands down after reports of vessel taking water
A search for a small vessel has come to an end after emergency services received reports of a small vessel taking water at St Ninian’s Isle.
The coastguard were alerted to a call around 2.20pm this afternoon (Wednesday) and rescue teams, including a helicopter and the RNLI was sent out.
Following the search, the coastguard confirmed there were no casualties.
LATEST BOOKS FROM THE SHETLAND TIMES BOOKSHOP
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A Shetland Boyhood: Memories of a Manse 1911-1922
Retired minister John B. Logan recalls his boyhood in Shetland where his father had the extensive Dunrossness parish between 1911 and 1922. A vivid portrayal in prose and poetry of …
£11.99FIND OUT MORERetired minister John B. Logan recalls his boyhood in Shetland where his father had the extensive Dunrossness parish between 1911 and 1922. A vivid portrayal in prose and poetry of …
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Discover Lerwick
Lerwick-born author and respected local historian, Douglas M. Sinclair, in his own inimitable style, takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the streets of the Conservation Areas of …
£14FIND OUT MORELerwick-born author and respected local historian, Douglas M. Sinclair, in his own inimitable style, takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the streets of the Conservation Areas of …
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To the End of the Days of Sail. The Mariners of Shetland
Laughton Johnston’s grandfather, like so many Shetland seamenof the 19th century, moved to Leith where his father’sgeneration was brought up. The Shetland family and seafaringconnections, however, proved strong and a …
£25.99FIND OUT MORELaughton Johnston’s grandfather, like so many Shetland seamenof the 19th century, moved to Leith where his father’sgeneration was brought up. The Shetland family and seafaringconnections, however, proved strong and a …
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History Maker
Essays in Honour of Brian SmithEdited by Mark Smith and Ian Tait In 1976, Brian Smith became Shetland’s first archivist. Since hisappointment, however, he has been much more than a …
£23.99FIND OUT MOREEssays in Honour of Brian SmithEdited by Mark Smith and Ian Tait In 1976, Brian Smith became Shetland’s first archivist. Since hisappointment, however, he has been much more than a …
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Telescope, Telescope, what can you see?
Join a young brother and sister as they gaze through a telescope from their bedroom window. Telescope, Telescope brings you to the heart of a small community, and an island …
£7.99FIND OUT MOREJoin a young brother and sister as they gaze through a telescope from their bedroom window. Telescope, Telescope brings you to the heart of a small community, and an island …
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Wild Shetland Through the Seasons
A visually stunning book showcasing Shetland’s natural history by one of the islands’ most renowned naturalists and photographers. Thomason’s passion for both the wildlife and the islands exude from every …
£36.99FIND OUT MOREA visually stunning book showcasing Shetland’s natural history by one of the islands’ most renowned naturalists and photographers. Thomason’s passion for both the wildlife and the islands exude from every …
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Farewell Fugley Island
Alec arrived on Britain’s most inaccessible inhabited island of Foula at a critical time, the last cattle had been sold, the shop was due to close and several young people …
£14.99FIND OUT MOREAlec arrived on Britain’s most inaccessible inhabited island of Foula at a critical time, the last cattle had been sold, the shop was due to close and several young people …
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A Shetland Knitter's Notebook
A Shetland Knitter’s Notebook is the companion volume to the bestselling A Shetland Pattern Book. First published in 1991, it contains more words and pictures from Mary Smith and photographs …
£10.99FIND OUT MOREA Shetland Knitter’s Notebook is the companion volume to the bestselling A Shetland Pattern Book. First published in 1991, it contains more words and pictures from Mary Smith and photographs …
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A Shetland Pattern Book
First published in 1979, A Shetland Pattern Book became a global bestseller, with numerous reprints and revisions. Since the last edition went out of print in the early 1990s it …
£9.99FIND OUT MOREFirst published in 1979, A Shetland Pattern Book became a global bestseller, with numerous reprints and revisions. Since the last edition went out of print in the early 1990s it …
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Best Days with Shetland's Birds - Paperback
PAPERBACK EDITION Spanning decades as well as the seasons, thirty well known figures of the local bird scene share what Shetland’s birds mean to them and recount their best days. …
£17.99FIND OUT MOREPAPERBACK EDITION Spanning decades as well as the seasons, thirty well known figures of the local bird scene share what Shetland’s birds mean to them and recount their best days. …
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Shetland's Boats: Origin, evolution and use
The popular view is that Shetland’s graceful double-ended boats are direct descendants of the Viking longship. This unbroken linking of the Shetland boat to the Norse era was fuelled by …
£40FIND OUT MOREThe popular view is that Shetland’s graceful double-ended boats are direct descendants of the Viking longship. This unbroken linking of the Shetland boat to the Norse era was fuelled by …
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Kirstie's Witnesses
In the hungry 1840s, the town of Lerwick is struggling with massive social problems, and Kirstie Jamieson, widow, is trying to feed three children. Like the town she lives in, …
£8.99FIND OUT MOREIn the hungry 1840s, the town of Lerwick is struggling with massive social problems, and Kirstie Jamieson, widow, is trying to feed three children. Like the town she lives in, …
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Knitting By the Fireside and on the Hillside
A History of the Shetland Hand Knitting Industry 1600-1950 First published 1995. This facsimile edition first published 2021. This book traces the history of the Shetland hand knitting industry from …
£9.99FIND OUT MOREA History of the Shetland Hand Knitting Industry 1600-1950 First published 1995. This facsimile edition first published 2021. This book traces the history of the Shetland hand knitting industry from …
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Fair Isle Designs from Shetland Knitters Volume 2
Following the huge success of Volume One, the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers are back with 12 new designs. Patterns range from peerie projects to full size …
£21.99FIND OUT MOREFollowing the huge success of Volume One, the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers are back with 12 new designs. Patterns range from peerie projects to full size …
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The Shetland Bus
Our bestseller now reprinted for a fifth time. A classic story of secret wartime missions across the North Sea. Dark winters provided the perfect cover for missions to occupied Norway …
£8.99FIND OUT MOREOur bestseller now reprinted for a fifth time. A classic story of secret wartime missions across the North Sea. Dark winters provided the perfect cover for missions to occupied Norway …
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Lifeboat launched after engine fire on sailing boat
The Lerwick Lifeboat has been tasked to assist the crew of a sailing boat after her engine caught fire.
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Free school meals pilot to begin in August
A pilot to expand free school meals to pupils from first to third year will begin in the isles from August.
Shetland Islands Council was one of eight local authorities to be selected as a pilot area for the scheme in partnership with the Scottish government on the test of change phase of the programme.
As a result bairns in S1 to S3 in receipt of Scottish Child Payment will be given free school meals for the academic year from the start of the new term.
SNP MSP Emma Roddick said she was “really pleased” to see Shetland selected as part of the pilot.
“It is very important that any expansion of support aimed at tackling poverty and promoting equity works everywhere in Scotland, so we need to trial these things in island communities as well as urban centres on the mainland,” Ms Roddick said.
She hoped it would “make a real difference” to families throughout the pilot’s duration and give the government key information that will allow more access to support in future.
Island games association selects flag bearer and water carrier
Lynsey Henderson and Katie Dinwoodie will carry the flag and water for Team Shetland when the NatWest Island Games kicks-off next month.
The pair won medals at the last island games in Guernsey and will have the honour playing a part in this year’s opening ceremony.
Games stalwart Henderson defended Shetland’s bronze medal in the triathlon two years ago, taking her medal tally to three.
While athlete Dinwoodie claimed two bronze medals, doubling her own collection and smashing her own personal best time in the 100 metres.
Chairwoman of the Shetland Island Games Association Lesley Hutchison said she was pleased to announce the selection of both Henderson and Dinwoodie as representatives at the opening ceremony on 12th July.
“They’re both successful games athletes, and fantastic ambassadors for their sports who deserve to be centre stage at the opening ceremony,” Hutchison said.
At the ceremony in Kirkwall’s Bignold Park, Henderson will carry the flag, leading Team Shetland as the island games celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Dinwoodie will join representatives of each competing team ceremonially pour water from their island into a fountain that runs throughout the games week.
Interconnector fund worth over £335k will provide new pathways
A new community benefit fund worth £335,000 has been announced – with safer walking and cycling facilities the first projects to get going.
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£3.2m deep-water port project to remove 450,000 cubic metres of materials
A multi-million pound project has been announced to enhance Shetland’s deep-water port capabilities.
Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) said the first phase involving “soft-dredging” of the harbour would begin this month, followed by a “hard dredge” to be completed by the end of the year.
The £3.2m development will see 450,000 cubic metres of material removed and disposed of at a site north of Bressay.
It will deepen the central area of the port as well as areas at Dales Voe.
LPA chief executive Calum Grains said: “Going ahead with this next dredging project reflects the strength of the authority‘s position and our confidence in the potential of the port’s diversified activities.
“Dredging will open the door to the next stage of the port’s evolution, attracting future generations of larger vessels and benefitting all port users, particularly the pelagic fishing, cruise, oil and gas and renewables sectors.”
The contract has been awarded to Boskalis Westminster Ltd, a global provider of maritime services, including dredging.
The award follows tendering led by project managers, Scottish-based Arch Henderson, part of international consulting engineers, Royal HaskoningDHV.
Boskalis Westminster managing director Paul de Jong said: “It is fantastic to see the impressive developments in the Lerwick port since our last works here in 2008 and we are proud to be able to return for another project that will allow even more growth.
“Involving trailer dredging, backhoe dredging and marine drilling and blasting, this is a complex project that we look forward to successfully completing for Lerwick Port Authority.”
The North Ness channel will be deepened and widened, improving navigational margins and access to Mair’s Pier which will be dredged to a continuous 10 metres at the quayside.
Approaches to Gremista quay will also be deepened, facilitating future developments for the fishing industry.
Dredging includes improving the approaches at Dales Voe and deepening the section of quay completed in 2016 to 12.5 metres depth to match the original quay.
Final depths next to the quay will increase to 14.5 metres and to 16 metres in the approaches.
Shetland swimmer takes gold in British Masters Championships
Shetland swimmer Emmie Hutchison has won gold at the British Masters Championships.
Hutchison took the top spot in the 100m butterfly for her age group at the London Aquatic Centre on Friday with a time of 1min 6 secs.
She said she was “really happy” with the race time and looking to be even faster at the Orkney 2025 Island Games next month.
The British Masters Championships is the highest level of domestic masters swimming in Great Britain.
This year’s event has seen British, European and world records broken as hundreds of top athletes took the water for three days of racing.
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Volunteers sought to help with tourist centre reopening
Volunteers have been urged to help with the reopening of the tourist centre – or risk seeing it close for good.
Shetland Tourism Association issued the appeal in the hope of saving the service.
The tourist centre has been closed since November when VisitScotland left as part of its nationwide closure of all iCentres.
New owners Elaine Nicolson and Netta Simpson completed the purchase of the building from Shetland Islands Council in April following a number of frustrating delays.
They have invited the STA to run the centre in a similar fashion to before but with a greater emphasis on Shetland arts and crafts.
Members have been discussing plans to set up a new organisation to run the business.
But they also need volunteers to get it back up and running.
Posting on Facebook, the STA said the volunteers were needed to “help get the doors open and provide a valuable service to our visitors”.
“The Shetland Tourism Association are working hard for Shetland not to lose this valuable service in the heart of Lerwick,” it said.
“We are also looking for sponsors from Shetland businesses and organisations to support us to support Shetland’s growing tourism sector.”
Email info@shetlandtourismassociation.org more information on volunteering or becoming a member.
Volunteer lifesavers honoured after rescuing 600 casualties over 33 years
Two of the Lerwick Lifeboat’s volunteer crew members have been honoured for their combined 33 years of service saving lives at seas.
RNLI Lerwick chairman John Webster recently presented certificates of service to Marcus Thomason and Garry Bremner for their efforts.
Mr Thomason served on the crew from 2000-22 and was also a mechanic for much of this time, while Mr Bremner served from 2008-19 and was second coxswain from 2012.
During their combined 33 years of service, they rescued or aided over 600 casualties – 476 during Mr Thomason’s service and 158 during Mr Bremner’s.
Paying tribute to the pair on Facebook, the Lerwick branch said: “The RNLI relies on dedicated volunteers, who come from many walks of life, to join our lifeboat crew and in many roles ashore, so that we can all help save lives at sea .
“From all of us involved with Lerwick Lifeboat, we’d like to offer our huge thanks to Marcus and Garry for their service.”
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Jack Reacher author Lee Child to headline Shetland Noir
International best-selling author Lee Child has been announced as the first headliner for Shetland Noir – a four day celebration of all things crime-writing.
The author of the hugely successful Jack Reacher is the first of six headline names to appear at the 2026 festival.
Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writes having sold more than 100 million books and picked up various awards including Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards.
He was appointed CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Shetland Noir will return to Mareel in Lerwick from 11th-14th June, 2026, bringing Shetland’s unique voice to the global stage of crime writing, with a programme packed full of author talks, workshops, panel discussions and special events.
Joining Lee Child will be five more headline authors, to be announced in the coming months, as part of a
programme curated by Shetland’s own Marsali Taylor and festival patron and award-winning crime writer, Ann Cleeves OBE.
Noir Cards went on sale on Friday offering people a 10 per cent early bird discount.
They can be bought from www.shetlandarts.org or in person at Mareel.
POLL: Would you try surströmming (fermented herring)?
One of our reporters bought a tin of surströmming from Island Fish this week – after a Facebook post suggested customers might “fancy a challenge”?
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In this week’s Shetland Times
In today’s (Friday, 13th June) edition of The Shetland Times:
• An “abomination” for additional support needs children at Aith school.
• Stuart Hill jailed for three months, and other court news.
• Latest farming news in LANDWISE.
• Progress on Culivoe Road and Fair Isle ferry, but businesses claim transport is still “hellish”.
• Preview of Shetland’s fourth Pride festival.
• SPORT: full reports from every sport at the junior inter-counties.
Stuart Hill jailed for three months
Sovereignty campaigner Stuart Hill has been jailed for three months after refusing to comply with an unpaid work order.
The 82-year-old was handed the punishment at Lerwick Sheriff Court today (Wednesday) after it was revealed he had issued Sheriff Ian Cruickshank with two invoices totalling £264,000.
Last week, the sheriff ordered Hill to complete 75 hours of unpaid work after he refused to pay an outstanding fine issued at Kirkwall Sheriff Court in 2017.
The court heard today how Hill had refused to sign court documents or comply with the order.
Sheriff Cruickshank said he did not want to send an 82-year-old man to jail – but added Hill’s actions had left him with no other option.
When the case was first called Hill claimed the court had “no authority” over him, describing it as a “legal fiction”.
He continued to challenge the court’s jurisdiction but the sheriff had heard enough.
“You have told me that 1,000 times,” Sheriff Cruickshank said.
“I’m not going to take it any more.”
After an adjournment to allow time for Hill to reconsider his actions, the court heard how the Sovereign Nation of Shetland had addressed a letter to the Sheriff which was received this morning.
Inside was two invoices — one for “the man” Ian Cruickshank and the other to “Sheriff Ian Cruickshank”. Each invoice was for the sum of £132,000.
Despite being given time to reconsider, Hill continued to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.
He was sentenced to three months imprisonment.
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Warning over potent synthetic opiates after officers administer seven shots of life-saving anti-overdose drug
A warning over the potency of synthetic opioids has been issued after it took seven doses of anti-overdose medication to revive a casualty.
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‘Despicable’ vandals scratched swastika into wall around VE Day
Vandals who scratched a swastika into a wall around the time of VE Day have been branded “despicable”.
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Charitable Trust investments bouncing back from global uncertainty
Despite tariff wars, real wars and global uncertainty, the Shetland Charitable Trust’s (SCT) investments have increased since the start of this financial year.
The fund — originally established to disburse the profits of North Sea oil — currently sits at £458.8 million, up roughly £25m since April.
“Despite the volatility we are seeing the external investments starting to creep back up,” said SCT chairman Robert Leask at a board meeting last Thursday.
Overall last year was still a poor year for the trust, which made enough to cover its grant spending but only a quarter of its average return from the past half decade.
At last week’s meeting trustees agreed that more instability could be expected on the horizon, but that the SCT’s new financial strategy (ditching property and diversified growth funds for infrastructure and private credit) could help hedge against this.
SCT also announced a new trustee.
Andy Turnbull is an environmental consultant and nature-based investment advisor, with a background in
timber and food production as well as landscape-scale nature restoration.
Bergen-Shetland Yacht Race to arrive in Lerwick next week
Around 150 crew are expected to take part in the 37th Bergen-Shetland Yacht Race which will arrive in Lerwick next week,
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