Isles Views 04.07.08
BY LAWRENCE TULLOCH
Partnership moving out
Unst Partnership is giving up the lease of units one and two at Hagdale Industrial Estate as from the end of June. The directors have taken the decision as they could no longer see an income stream for the units at present.
The PURE Energy Company will continue to do business from units three and five with Unst Coastguard using unit four.
In the past, unit one was sub-let to Shetland College and unit two to the Unst Response team. NIRT have now vacated unit two and the Shetland College is in the process of moving in as it is a more flexible teaching space. The college will rent the premises directly from HIE.
Unit one will therefore be available for rent from HIE as an office area. Anyone interested should contact HIE direct. In the meantime, HIE are hoping to upgrade the units to make them more serviceable for modern business activity.
Unst Partnership will be holding a sale of office/business equipment on Sunday 13th July at 3pm in unit one at Hagdale. The partnership will continue as an organisation and hopes to secure new premises and projects in the future.
The annual general meeting of the partnership will take place in August.
Whalsay team’s success
Last Wednesday a strong team from primary six and seven at Whalsay School made their mark in the county primary sports at Clickimin. The team brought home an impressive haul of 10 medals and the team were congratulated at the school assembly.
Gold medal winners were: Rory Irvine – boys’ 200m, boys’ sack race, long jump and team relay; Brittany Coan – high jump and team relay; Mairi Polson – girls’ sack race; Sophie Irvine – team relay; Lee Irvine – team relay.
Silver medal winners: Rory Irvine – boys’ 100m; Brittany Coan – girls’ 100m.
Bronze winners: Ellie Simpson – high Jump; Brittany Coan – girls’ 200m.
Earl Viking cruise
Sunday was the day of the Earl Viking cruise from Ulsta and Toft to Baltasound and back.
This was a repeat of the cruise done last year and had a twin function. It traced part of the route followed by the steamer Earl of Zetland, which plied her trade among the isles before the days of the ro-ro ferries.
It also sought to highlight the archaeology and geology of the North Isles, and Shetland Amenity Trust, working closely with the SIC ferry services, maked the trip a most enjoyable one.
Lawrence Tulloch was the guide and he had the very able support of archaeologists Val Turner and Chris Dyer while Jonathan Swale spoke about the complex geology of Unst and Fetlar.
The ferry Daggri left Toft at 9am with more than 80 folk on board, master Ian Nicolson, mate Steven Spence and a crew including SIC head of ferry services Alistair Christie-Henry. Among the passengers were Alastair’s parents, Jamie Christie-Henry and his wife Frances, both in their late 80s.
The Daggri went up the east coast of Yell, into Mid Yell Voe, then past Brough Lodge in Fetlar and Cullivoe to the north end of Bluemull Sound and into Lundawick for a sighting of the Viking settlement of Underhoull at the Westing in Unst.
It turned back from there and followed the south coast of Unst, passing Uyeasound and Haaf Gruney to have a close look at another important archaeological site at the Easting.
A three-hour stop in Baltasound allowed plenty of time for coach tours to the south of Unst, taking in Belmont House among other places of interest. Another coach went north giving the opportunity to visit the Keen of Hamar where Edmondston’s chickweed – a flower unique to the area – grows, the Unst Boat Haven and the heritage centre. After all that there was just time to visit a very busy farmers’ market in the Baltasound Hall.
The hall car park was filled to overflowing and organiser Anna Niven said that there were eight produce stalls and six craft stalls with an interesting variety on offer. Unst Youth Club provided the teas and coffee and the ever-popular home bakes were, again, a successful fund-raiser for charity.
From Baltasound a course was set for Strandibrough, Fetlar, and a sally deep into the Wick of Tresta, another port of call for the Earl.
The cruise concluded around 7pm and everyone said that they had had a great day out. The fact that the sea was as slight as a loch helped, as did the excellence of the master and the crew who served lunch and tea.
On Sunday the North Isles Nature Cruise takes place. Weather permitting the Daggri will circumnavigate Yell, Unst and Fetlar. The cruise is hosted by Brydon Thomason, the wildlife expert from Fetlar, and he will have other guides on board to speak about natural history. This cruise has the same schedule as last week, starting off from Ulsta at 8am.
This is yet another ferry excursion which has proved to be popular, so much so that it is a virtual sell out.
Foy time in Fetlar
Last weekend was the 10th Fetlar Foy and over 300 people attended the massive party on the Links of Tresta. There were all the usual attractions of live bands, beer tent, barbecue, five-a-side football, tug o’ war and even the Viking games, hnefatafe and kubb.
The live music went down really well from bands Bodega, Loveshack, Rummel, Ryan Couper and Adam Johnson and Fulsceilidh Spelemannslag.
Many folk described the event as “better than last year” and the fine weather helped as well. The crowd really enjoyed themselves partying until late, the campsite was extremely busy and the free mini-bus service was well used through the isle.
The following morning the Fetlar Cafe was very busy, cooking over 60 breakfasts as well as serving bacon rolls by the dozen.
Busy in Skerries
As well as everywhere else Skerries is a busy place at the moment.
The school had two Eco Days recently and lots of visitors came for picnic lunches and the bairns had stalls with plants and the calendars they had made. The calendars were sold out in no time so orders were taken and more will be made.
The eela competition will be held on 12th July and will be followed by a dinner of “fishy dishes” made from the catch, then a dance with music from the Old Farts Band who are firm favourites in Skerries.
On Friday 18th July there will be a Chinese night in the hall and there is a late ferry to back that up. It is hoped that many will take this opportunity to visit Skerries.
The next day the the Round Skerries Yacht Race takes place, also followed by a dance and music, this time by the Fustra. The race is earlier than usual this year because many are going to the Tall Ships event in Norway.
MSP Tavish Scott will visit Skerries on Thursday when the air ambulance service will be at the top of the list of topics to be discussed. Many Skerries folk are deeply concerned by the service as it is. Recently it took 14 hours to get a stroke victim to hospital.
Bobby Tulloch night
Shetland Amenity Trust and Shetland Bird Club will host a night of songs, music and stories to remember the late Bobby Tulloch at the Shetland Museum on Saturday 12th July.
Among those who will share memories are Dennis Coutts, Jonathan Wills and Martin Heubeck. Organiser Helen Moncrieff says that Yell musicians Ian Clark, Lana Thomson, Lisa Smith and Brian Nicolson will be there and tunes composed by Bobby will be played. The event is free – doors open at 6.45pm – but ticketed. Tickets are available from Islesburgh Community Centre.
Party At The Pier
This weekend in Cullivoe is the annual Party at the Pier.
Tomorrow night sees a kaleidoscope disco and Rummle playing in the tent at the pier rather than the big shed. There will be bar facilities and the usual cocktail bar.
For anyone who does not fancy a disco there is music in the club room in the hall. Local band Rack ‘n’ Ruin will be the anchors here but anyone else who wants to play will be made welcome.
On Sunday the action will be at the pier. There will be games like “hook a duck”, tombola, the bottle stall, beer tent and fish ‘n’ chips all day.
Heart fund campaign
The fund-raising campaign in Yell for the British Heart Foundation reaches its climax on Saturday 12th July with a grand variety concert and dance in the East Yell Hall.
As well as the many well-known artistes there will be supper after the concert and James Leask and his Band will play for the dance. The big raffle will be drawn on the night as well.
