Isles Views 01.08.08
Another golden wedding
THIS summer seems to be the season of golden weddings and last Saturday night over 90 guests gathered to help Joan and James Tulloch celebrate their half-century of marriage. Joan, nee Laws, is Australian and the two of them met for the first time at a church service in Joan’s native New South Wales.
They came to Britain to be married in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh on July 2nd 1958 and since then they have divided their time between Shetland and Australia. James was a merchant seaman and this meant that long periods were spent apart when Joan lived with James’ parents, Nicky and Chrissie, in Cullivoe.
A meal of exceptional quality was served up in the Cullivoe Hall for the occasion and when everyone had had their fill 90-year-old Captain Andrew Anderson, who knew the Laws family from his time sailing on the Australian coast, ably proposed the toast to the golden couple. In his reply James thanked Andrew and the guests for sharing their celebration and said that he could hardly believe that their happy marriage had started 50 years ago.
The company, who had come from far and wide to be there on the night, retired to the clubroom area of the hall to enjoy a wonderful evening of reunion with James and Joan. James very much enjoyed the music from the Cullivoe Fiddlers; on this occasion Jean Anderson accompanied them on piano.
Joan wants to thank everyone who rallied around to make it a truly memorable evening but most of all she wants to thank the Cullivoe Hall Committee for the delicious meal of homemade soup, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and gravy followed by trifle, tea, biscuits and wedding cake. They also provided a vegetarian option. Most impressive was the platoon of smartly dressed teenagers who acted as waiters and waitresses.
James and Joan wanted no gifts, just the company of their many friends and the entire gathering wished them well in the future. May they have health and happiness to celebrate many more landmark anniversaries.
Fancy tunes
Last summer a group of musicians got together under the leadership of Meilo So to put on a recital in the North Ness Hall one Sunday afternoon. Since then they were involved in the Cullivoe School’s production of The Sound of Music and now more musicians have joined so they can call themselves “Fancytunes Ensemble”, a mixture of people from different backgrounds and cultures.
The group consists of Janice Armstrong and Peter Blanker (vocals), Tara Payne (violin), Brian Gregson (flute), Clare Stiles and Michelle Grant (clarinets), Alison Dobson (trumpet/piano), Robert Goodlad (double bass), Meilo So (piano/vocals), and Ron Sandford (percussion).
Meilo So says that they offer a taste of a variety of music, different styles from different periods, Barque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, hence the title of the concerts, Musical Allsorts.
They will perform in the North Ness Hall, Ulsta, tomorrow at 3pm. On Sunday they can be heard in the Museum Auditorium, Lerwick, again at 3pm, where sweeties, fancies and tea will be offered. Admission is free but donations to Guidedogs.org.uk and 512 China Earthquake will be welcomed.
Symbister Hall fund raising
Last Sunday saw the first big effort by the new committee to raise money for the Symbister Hall in Whalsay. The previous week had been the Whalsay regatta blessed by weather that was as good as any we have seen this summer. The hall committee reasoned that the timing was right to put on Sunday lunches and benefit from the momentum created by a successful regatta.
In the event they had to close bookings at 130. To accept more for lunch would have been biting off more than they could chew. Head chef Iris Anderson and her staff served up a mouth-watering menu and wide choice of quality food. There was a choice of four starters, four main courses and sweets as well as tea and coffee. The bar was open for those who wanted a drink and wine to go with the meal.
Iris, who is also hall committee chairwoman, wishes to thanks all those who helped behind the scenes as well as all the Whalsay folk who supported the hall on the day by buying a meal. The committee feels that this successful day was a good start to their fundraising for the hall and they have much, much more planned.
CCI open day
The Centre for Creative Industries is having an open day on Sunday 10th August between 10.30am and 3.30pm where tea, coffee, sandwiches and biscuits will be available. The centre was opened in February 2007 and among others who were there was MP Alistair Carmichael. The last year has been spent working on various projects and with graduates Angarad McLaren and Lauren Crawford. Students Mary Penny, who is from Wales but lives in London, and Sabrina Grigis, who comes from Switzerland, were here for a month this summer.
Melanie Venes, a weaver from England, has been working with Mid Yell Junior High School on a commemorative curtain for the new school soon to be built. Other visitors include Ann Sutton and MSP Mary Scanlon. Johanna Byrne and Clare Clements have visited and worked with local musicians and there are now advanced plans for a full-blown festival celebrating the voice.
Local artistes and craftspeople have also been involved in the various projects and some of the results will be on display on the open day. Creative director Andy Ross says that the centre is moving on to the next stage, implementing the findings from the last year and finding out from Shetland communities if the centre can help them and if they can help the work of the centre. Andy warmly invites anyone with an interest in music or textiles to come along to the open day or get in touch with him on (01957) 744 355 or email globalyell@btconnect.com
Unst angling
Unst Angling Club held the third junior point competition on Wednesday 23rd July in the Easter Loch in Uyeasound. The catch proved to be a mixture of trout, eels and flooks. Chelsea Jamieson came out on top with three trout that gave her 42 points. Stewart Ferguson was second with two trout for 16 points; Alfred Holt was third with one fish for 11 points. Others who caught fish were Mark Ferguson, Tighe Henderson, Oran Holt and Amber Henderson. The next competition for the juniors is on Wednesday 13th August in Watlee.
On Sunday 27th July the Club fished for the Hellina Braun cup. This is contested by pairs fishing from boats but the conditions were not ideal when the light south-east wind fell calm. Lindsay Thomson landed top basket, five trout that weighed 5lbs. This included the two best fish of the day at 1lb 10ozs each.
Davy McMillan had three trout for 1lb 15ozs to take second place and Sydney Priest was third with two fish at 1lb 9ozs. The Hellina Braun cup was won by Lindsay Thomson and Cameron Ferguson. As a pair they had six trout for 6lbs. Second were Sydney and Barbara Priest who had three trout for 3lbs 1oz. In third place with four fish for 2lbs 12ozs were Davy McMillan and Steve Palmer.
Fetlar’s event put off
The World Quickplay Hnefatafl Championships has been put off for two weeks due to a bereavement.
Skeld success for yoal
The Yell yoal Yela enjoyed considerable success at the regatta in Skeld last weekend. The under-16s crew of Lisa Smith, Amber Inkster, Clare Morris, Amanda Gray, Savannah Inkster and Debbie Smith was coxed by Denise Nicolson. They won their race by seven seconds. Amber is one of the powerhouse rowers and she freely admits to being the most vocal member of the team.
Lisa Smith and Amanda Gray joined Denise Nicolson, Helen Jamieson, Kerry Nicolson and Stephanie Keith in the under- 21s. They were coxed by the only male allowed anywhere near the boat, John Odie. They completed the double when they, too, won their race. In the open section the Yell women finished third.
Lawrence Tulloch
