North Mainland Notes 01.08.08

Mossbank Hall
MOSSBANK Hall Committee is working with the Moving On Employment Project to get some painting done outside and inside the hall. Moving On is a local charity set up in 1997 that has been successfully helping people with health problems and disabilities to find and hold down work. They focus on helping people find a job that is flexible to people’s needs, suitable for their skills and , hopefully, enjoyable.

The project at Mossbank will run every Tuesday starting on 5th August for six weeks. The first week covers training for the people involved in the Job Crew so painting at the hall will not start until Tuesday 12th August. The hall committee is looking for people from within the Firth and Mossbank community to come along and help whenever they can. If you are interested in helping, please contact Maureen on (01806) 242711, Margaret on (01806) 242754 or Heather on (01806) 242986.

Voe show
This week has seen a flurry of activity in Voe as the committee carry out final preparations for the Voe and District Agricultural Show to be held on Saturday. The show opens to the public at 12pm after judging during the morning. Entries in the livestock sections are on a par with last year, although due to a further foot and mouth outbreak in England on the eve of the show last year, sheep, cows and goats could not actually be shown. Overall, almost 600 entries are expected in the livestock sections including a large number of horses and ponies. The local produce and arts and crafts sections have attracted a large number of exhibitors, especially in the photography section. The number of home-made jams is also well up on last year and the committee is encouraged by the volume of first-time exhibitors in many sections of the show this year.

Out on the field, events begin at 2pm with the procession of the North Mainland Jarl’s Squad headed by this year’s Voe Show princess, Hannah Scott from Voe. Hannah will be accompanied by her attendants, Natalie Thompson from Girlsta and Maddison Gibbs from Nesting. The Jarl’s Squad will all take part in the tug of war challenges, hoping to knock defending champions the “livestock team” off the top spot which they have held for the past two years. This year the committee would like to encourage junior team entries and a cup will be introduced for the first time by former president Martin Peterson. Sheep-dog trials will also take place in the afternoon. Food, refreshments and live entertainment will be available throughout the day with side shows for the bairns and the popular “Castles in the Sky” from Jim Johnson. This year Mr Johnson will bring an inflatable snake to Shetland for the first time.

A record number of trade stands are expected to attend the show this year exhibiting cars, vans, trucks and diggers as well as agricultural machinery. The food sector will also be well represented and a large range of craft stalls featuring products made in Shetland. Demonstrations of cairding, knitting and spinning will take place throughout the afternoon and for the first time at the show, Philys Ross will demonstrate kilt-making. The volume of work involved in organising such a large and varied show is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the committee, most of all their first female president Helena Johnson. This is Helena’s first year as president after serving as vice-president for several years under the former leadership of Martin Peterson. Here’s hoping for a fine day o wadder!

Croft house completed
Plans to recreate the Shetland croft house garden at the Nort Trow Gairden, next to the Church of Scotland in North Roe, took a further step forward this week with the completion of the croft house façade. The team of four stone builders have made an excellent job of the façade and although Nort Trow Gairden group still have a lot of work ahead of them to complete the reconstruction, they are really encouraged by the number of visitors to the garden already.

Thorny issue
The introduction of soft verges along our roadsides in rural Shetland has met with many negative comments since the introduction of the “gutter” edging. Cars, vans and the odd essy kert have been known to stick in them, parents with prams and pushchairs find it impossible to walk along them and this year thistles seem to have taken over the verges of many single track roads. Crofters and farmers have spent a great deal of time and effort ridding their fields of this unwanted weed over the years, only to find they now face invasion from the roadside. Spraying has been carried out by the SIC in some areas, but many roadsides are a riot of blooming thistles, almost ready to spread their seed.

Pow wow at Eshaness
This Sunday will see the official launch of A visitor’s quick guide to Northmavine. This handy guide to the area has been produced by the Northmavine tourism group, a sub-group of the NCDC. The launch will coincide with the official opening of the wigwam accommodation at Braewick Café and will take place from 3pm onwards. The visitor’s guide will be on sale at the café at £4.50.

Bjorgs bannocks
The ever popular bannock making workshops continue in North Roe and Lochend hall on Thursday 7th August at 7pm. This is folks’ last chance to bake a batch before the Big Bannock makers descend on North Roe on 16th August. To book a place on the bannock workshop, phone Susan on (01806) 533340.

Maree Hay