North Mainland Notes 04.07.08

Cheerio to Drew

AFTER some 25 years of compiling the North Mainland Notes, Drew Ratter has set down his notepad and it is now my pleasure to try to fill the breach.

Drew will still compile his regular Landwise feature so he will not disappear from the pages of The Shetland Times completely. Over the years he has done a sterling job keeping us all up to date with what’s happening in the North Mainland and many folk have already asked me to pass on their thanks for keeping us on the map.

I’m keen to hear your news from all over the area – North Roe to Nesting and Vidlin to South Voxter. So if you are holding an event, or if there is something newsworthy about to happen in your community, please get in touch.

From Chelsea to North Roe

The award-winning Shetland Crofthouse Garden from the recent Chelsea Flower Show will continue life in North Roe.

The North Roe Community Garden group has secured the plants from Chelsea and intends to reconstruct the garden.

The North Roe Community Garden, situated near the Church of Scotland, has been running for a few years but was suffering a lack of volunteers. A recent meeting resulted in a number of local people volunteering services and materials to the project and the plants from Chelsea have now arrived in North Roe via a Streamline container.

The first job will be to construct the crofthouse façade and stone walls before the job of planting can begin. Some parts of the original design, such as the wrack wid for the fence and a crofthouse door are still needed for the reconstruction and the group would be very grateful if anyone could help provide these items.

Both Martin Anderson, who had the original idea after being inspired on a trip to Shetland, and Sue Hayward, the designer of the garden, have been very helpful in providing plans and photographs of the original design.

Martin is also co-founder of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the aim of the garden at Chelsea was to raise funds and awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

On Sunday 20th July the garden group and friends are holding a nine-mile sponsored walk and roadside redd up to raise funds for MND and the garden project. The walk will start at the Hillswick junction at 2pm and finish in the community garden at North Roe. Anyone who wishes to take part or sponsor the event should contact me on (01806) 522390 (evenings) or e-mail maree@northmavine.com

Ten years of dancing

Dancing is very much alive in Ollaberry and this year the Ollaberry Dance Group celebrates its 10th anniversary.

To mark the occasion the group is holding a buffet dance in the Ollaberry Hall tomorrow night, starting at 8.30pm. Music will be provided by Leeshinat and folk can pay at the door – £8 adults and £4 for under-14s.

Christian Aid collection

The recent Christian Aid collection in Northmavine, organised by the Northmavine Church of Scotland, has raised the magnificent sum of £1,121.08.

The organisers would like to thank the generosity of folk in Northmavine and extend a special thanks to all the collectors.

Foys and fayres

Last Sunday the rain cleared in the morning to make way for an afternoon of brilliant sunshine for the Urafirth School Fayre and the Mavis Grind Foy.

At Mavis Grind the day began with raft day. A selection of home-crafted rafts took part and the race was won by Daniel Johnson and his team. Back on dry land folk browsed the craft stalls, enjoyed Sunday teas courtesy of the Sullom Hall ladies and gorged on the array of meat and fish on the barbecue.

Many folk took advantage of the warm sunshine to sit at the picnic benches, relax, yarn and enjoy traditional music from a selection of Northmavine players. The musical tempo increased around tea-time as the day was rounded off with a range of Irish and country music favourites from Scaldin Bragg.

Sullom and Gunnister Hall, organisers of the foy, would like to thank everyone who helped with the event in any way. Over £2,000 was raised for hall funds.

The school fayre at Urafirth attracted lots of visitors and there were plenty of attractions to keep the bairns (and the bigger bairns!) happy. Along with the side shows and games, Oscar Charlie and the Aith Lifeboat treated the crowds to a rescue demonstration in the voe.

The Parent Staff Association of the school would like to thank everybody who helped in any way to make the fayre such a successful and enjoyable day. They would like to say a huge thank you to the coastguard service, the duty crew of Oscar Charlie and the crew of the Aith lifeboat for their fantastic display. The money raised was just over £1,100 and the association hope to see you all again next year.

Belly dancing at the Booth

Belly dancing has proved a popular pastime here in Shetland recently Beginners’ classes for those of us who haven’t yet shaken their booty will take place at the Booth in Hillswick on Sunday 13th July at 10.30am. I’ll maybe see you there!

Delting regatta

The new marina and improvements to the shore side facilities at Delting Boating Club has done much to attract visiting vessels to the club.

This is especially evident in the number of yachts entered in the Delting regatta races this weekend, with numbers reaching well into double figures.

Tonight there will be an opportunity for yoals to take part in the regatta. The races will not count towards the points for the SYRA championships, but it will be a good opportunity to practise and socialise.

Yacht races will also take place tonight and these will be followed by a prize giving and barbecue. The club hopes musicians will come along with their instruments for an impromptu session or two.

Tomorrow sees a full day of yacht racing with three races throughout the day. Two races will take place in the morning with one after lunch. The barbecue will be fired up during the day and well into the evening. After the prizegiving local band Scaldin Bragg take to the stage. They were recent winners of the Captain Flints “Battle of the Bands” competition and the audience is guaranteed a lively night of music.

Dinghy and mirror races will be held on Sunday with two dipping lug races for Shetland Models.

The weekend will be rounded off with the traditional clubhouse karaoke after Sunday’s prizes are awarded.

RYA training courses

If you’re between eight and 14 years old and want to learn to sail, Delting Boating Club is hosting summer training sessions during the school holidays.

The week-long courses, run by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), will run from Monday until 15th August.

Young people from all over Shetland are welcome and can sign up for a morning or afternoon session.

For further details or to sign up for a session, contact Islesburgh Community Centre on (01595) 692114.

Maree Hay