North Mainland Notes 18.07.08

Mossbank Musical Evening

Mossbank Guides, Brownies and Rainbows held their end of term concert in the Mossbank School on 5th July. It was well attended and the bairns put on a wonderful show.

Among other items, the Rainbows danced a “Haymakers’ Jig” accompanied by Ashley Leaper on the fiddle. Ashley’s talents were further highlighted when she and Chloe Hansen staged a duet. She then went on to play a selection of solo tunes, some of which were her own compositions. The next item was a dance routine from the Mossbank Guides, followed by Meghanne Reader’s solo rendition of “Evergreen”. The group then performed a dance routine to “Together” from High School Musical, followed by “A Whole New World”. For the concert finale, everyone sang “Tomorrow” from Annie and Catherine Johnson and Shannon Sinclair performed a duet.

The raffle raised £123, which was split between the Unit and The Pancreatic Cancer Charity. The Mossbank Guides, Brownies and Rainbows were then all rewarded for the hard work they put in for the concert when Fiona Marshall, county commissioner, handed out the badges. Ashley also made her promise as a Young Leader. The Guides received “Go for It”, Performing Arts and Music Group Badges. The Brownies and Rainbows all received Entertainer and Musician Badges and Ashley received a Music Zone Badge for her work in composing tunes for the fiddle.

The Mossbank Guides, Brownies and Rainbows wish to thank Rebecca Cheryan for all her work in helping to make the concert possible – they couldn’t have have done it without her. Thanks also to Fiona for giving out the badges and everyone who came along to support the concert.

Voe Eela

If you fancy your chances at sea angling or perhaps just a fishy fry up, why not head to Voe for the annual Voe Pier Trust Eela Competition? The Voe Eela takes place tomorrow night and people can fish anywhere as long as they weigh-in at the Voe Pier at 7.00pm. The entry fee for fishing is £2.00 per person and the competition lasts from 4pm-6pm. A fried fish supper is available in the Pierhead after the weigh-in and costs £3 at the door.

Northmavine Sheepdog Trials

This year sees the 30th sheepdog trials in Northmavine on Saturday. Although the event started in 1977, the competition could not take place in 2002 due to the outbreak of foot and mouth on the UK mainland. The trials take place in North Roe and this year sees the introduction of a female judge. Teas and a barbeque will be available on the field throughout the day.

The trials begin at 9am with the limit class, which is open to dogs – and possibly handlers – who are less experienced. The junior class is run next and is open to handlers aged 18 or under. Experienced dogs and handlers take to the field after that in the open class where the trials are made more difficult for dogs and handlers with the introduction of drives and “shedding” of sheep. In this class some of the sheep are marked with ribbons and these must be broken from the herd during the run.

If working one sheepdog isn’t enough for some handlers, the next class of the day is the doubles where the handler runs two dogs to pen the sheep. The trials are rounded of with the championship when five handlers from the open class with the highest points compete for the overall title. Here the handlers must complete two sheds, shedding two marked sheep from five. The judge for the day is Jessie Main, a very experienced trials competitor, from Humbie in East Lothian.

Wheelbarrows ready

The annual fancy dress wheelbarrow race will take place in Hillswick on Saturday night. The race is open to all ages and prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed person and the best wheelbarrow. Entrants should gather at the Hillswick hall at 8pm for an 8.30pm start.

Coffee for CLAN

If you’re out in Eshaness for a Sunday run, why not call along the Eshaness Community Centre for tea and tabnabs. The centre is having a coffee afternoon in aid of CLAN house from 3pm-5pm.

North Roe teas, walkers and roadside redd up

North Roe and Lochend hall is holding Sunday Teas and a Car Boot sale at the hall from 3pm-6pm. The Nort Trow Gairdin group will also be completing their sponsored walk and roadside redd up. This will start at the Hillswick junction at 2pm and will finish at the North Roe community garden, next to the Church of Scotland. Motorists are asked to exercise caution as there will be walkers on the road – and they will be brandishing donation buckets.

From Vet to Vicar

When Elspeth MacLean, from Newmachar, started her university studies to become a vet over 20 years ago, she had no idea at that time that over two decades later she would be back at university studying to become a Church of Scotland minister. Now approaching her final year at university, Elspeth has travelled to Shetland as a student minister for the summer, attached to Delting and Northmavine.

Elspeth qualified as a vet and eventually became a partner in a busy practice outside Aberdeen. She threw herself into her work, describing herself as a “workaholic”. She went on to have a family and was also involved in her local church, becoming an Elder.

As the years went by, a combination of events began to make Elspeth re-examine her priorities in life and the direction she was heading in. Firstly, her daughter was involved in a serious accident. During this time Elspeth prayed like she never had before and vowed to do something to help others if her child pulled through. She made a full recovery and as a result Elspeth took part in a sponsored cycle through Uganda to raise money for Leonard Cheshire Disability that supports disabled people and builds homes worldwide. Next Elspeth heard of a “pilgrimage on wheels”, where people cycle across Israel and Palestine and she took part four times in five years. The route included a trip across the Sea of Galilee, which Elspeth described as a “very, very powerful, magical experience”.

Becoming a minister was still far from her mind and she attended an enquirer’s conference. This is usually the first step people take when they are considering joining the ministry, but Elspeth decided it wasn’t for her and undertook some Elder training instead.

During a course on leading worship Elspeth realised that she did actually want to become a minister and she began the enquiry process for suitable candidates. In May 2006, after final completion of the process, she was accepted to Aberdeen University to study theology. Placements are very much part of the university course and student ministers complete part-time placements during their first and second years. Full-time summer placements are also available. Between second and third year, students can volunteer to become “locum” student ministers, covering annual leave for parish ministers and this is what brings Elspeth to Shetland.

As she enters her final year, Elspeth is looking forward to finishing university and taking up a position as a minister in a parish. She’s unsure where this may be, but her love of nature indicates that it may be a rural area. She said: “God will send me where he wants me to be.” We wish Elspeth well in her future as a Church of Scotland minister. If you would like to meet her while she is in Shetland, look out for the service times. There will also be coffee afternoons in the Mossbank Church of Scotland at 3.30-4.30pm on Wednesday 23rd and Wednesday 30th July and she would be delighted to see you.

Maree Hay