Isles Views 22.08.08

By Margaret Tulloch

Unst police change

POLICE Constable Scott Haig, his wife Janette, daughter Lucy, aged four, and son Ross, aged two, have left Unst to take up a new post in Kingussie.

The family have been in Unst for three years, they have taken an interest in local events and will be greatly missed. Their successor will be PC Garry Scott who is moving from Inverness. PC Scott has been policing in Alness and will take up his new post in a few weeks. His wife Ellis and two-year-old son Charlie will join him.

Olympics come to Unst

On Sunday the Mayor of Beijing will hand over the Olympic flag to the Mayor of London to start the countdown to London hosting the big event in 2012.

At the precise moment of the handover 600 flags will be raised throughout Britain. The most northerly of the flags will be raised in Unst and will fly above the Unst Boating Club.

A spokesman for the club has expressed his delight and says that they are greatly honoured to have been chosen to be a part of the changeover. The fact that Unst girl Faye Richardson has a chance of being selected for Great Britain makes the Unst involvement all the more fitting.

New minister for North Isles

The Rev. David Cooper has been appointed as the new Church of Scotland minister for Yell, Unst and Fetlar.

This is the first time that the three isles will share a minister who will be based permanently in the isles. Recently a number of ministers have been in the isles temporarily, the most recent being Tony Lang who stayed in Unst but has now left to return to his native Australia.

A new manse is to be built in Gutcher but in the meantime, until the building is erected, the family will stay in rented accommodation in Gutcher.

The Rev. Cooper will be inducted at a service in St Olaf’s Church in Cullivoe tomorrow at 2pm followed by an informal social gathering at the Cullivoe Hall at 3pm where there will be a few musical items and food.

The new minister’s first services will be on Sunday in St John’s, Baltasound, at 10.30am, followed a united service in Mid Yell Church at 3pm.

Teddy bears picnic

Astrid Hoseason, aged two, from Aywick, must be one of the youngest fundraisers in the isles. Recently Astrid invited her friends to her house there they were to bring along a teddy bear and have a picnic. Astrid’s baby brother Earl wasn’t left out; he too had friends to visit. Together they raised £70 which will go to Tommy’s baby charity. This charity offers support and counselling to those who have suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth as well as for parents of a premature baby.

Many thanks to Andy Ross who made a guest appearance and sang to the children and to Mary Nicholson from Aywick Shop who generously donated the picnic food.

Jamieson glass

At the recent open day at the Centre for Creative Industries in Sellafirth one of the latest crafts being produced in Unst was on show.

Fused glass is being made by Cheryl Jamieson of Uyeasound, who started working in the craft in spring and is now making very eye-catching jewellery, bowls and plates.

The venture started when she went on a fact-finding trip to Norway with Initiative at the Edge North Isles, where she met a girl who was working in glass and she fell in love with the craft. On returning to Unst she set about starting her business, she took a course in Glasgow and was pleased to get help through the Unst Response Team to part fund the equipment required to set up her business.

At the moment Cheryl works from home but hopes to set up a workshop/display space where she can show people her work and hopefully sell some of her work.

Farmers’ market

This month’s farmers market in Baltasound will be on Sunday, one week earlier than usual due to the Unst Show at the end of the month.

There will be the usual array of produce in the main hall and crafts in the library. The local youth club will prepare the soup, sandwiches and tea. To book a table for produce call Anna on (01957) 755245 or for crafts call Sarah on (01957) 711367.

Burravoe fund-raiser

To help raise funds for the provision of public toilets and a shower block at the Burravoe marina, there will be a combined craft fayre, farmers’ market and table top sale in Burravoe Hall tomorrow.

Twenty-two tables have been booked – ranging from glassware and woodwork from Unst; cards, photos, jewellery, machine embroidery and fishing tackle from Yell; Fair Isle “hoodies” and handbags, cushion covers, magnets, keyrings, candles; plus Virgin Vie and Body Shop items.

There will also be a variety of home bakes, jams and chutneys and four “table tops”.

The sales tables are open from 4.30pm until 7pm, with fish suppers available from 5.30pm until 8pm. Afterwards there will be a prizegiving for the fishing competition held that morning, the raffle will be drawn and local artistes will provide music.