Times Past 21.11.08
25 YEARS AGO
The first year class at the Anderson High School is full up and no more can be accepted into the class unless someone leaves.
A recent judgment by the Sheriff of Grampian, Highland and Islands, upheld the decision of the education authority to turn down a request by a parent living outside Lerwick for his daughter to go to the Anderson High. The number of pupils in the first year is 140 and no more will be take in this year. The parent concerned said he wanted his daughter to go to the Anderson because he wanted her to get musical instruction in drumming which she can’t get at Scalloway. “This makes it second-rate compared with the Anderson High,” he said.
However, education committee chairman Mr Bill Smith said this week that this was not so. A school is not obliged to give individual musical tuition in a particular instrument, he said, “and this does not make a school second-rate”.
50 YEARS AGO
THERE should be thirty-three buildings in Lerwick which have special architectural or historic interest, according to a list submitted to the County Council by the Department of Health. But in actual fact, there are only thirty-two and a bit – because the Town Council recently demolished steps forming part of one of the buildings!
The effect of the inclusion of a building in the approved list will be that no person shall execute any works which would involve demolition or seriously affect the character of the building, unless certain notice of the proposed works is given to the local planning authority.
The buildings on the list are in three categories – those of national importance (in the Lerwick list only the Broch of Clickimin comes into that category); buildings of national or local importance, or good examples of some period or style which may have been somewhat altered; or in some cases buildings of no particular merit which happen to group well with others in the first two categories.
100 YEARS AGO
Aithsting correspondent. – In this locality the old style of Shetland marriages seems to be passing away, as most persons in the country districts now prefer to get themselves joined in matrimony by some minister connected with Lerwick.
However, a remarkable exception to this growing custom took place on the 10th instant at the church of Twatt, when Miss Thomasina Tait was married to Mr James Sinclair, under very favourable circumstances in regard to the weather.
As the day was so mild and dry, a large company of about 200 young people, mutually linked together as possible candidates for matrimony, marched in long procession from East Burrafirth, to the church, accompanied by music and the frequent discharge of firearms, which greatly helped to make the proceedings both lively and pleasant.
The bride wore a very stylish dress of white satin, and carried a beautiful bouquet. The religious ceremony was most ably performed by the Rev. Stables Smith, Lunnasting, who very willingly came to officiate at the special request of the bride’s parents, as the Rev. Rose was unable to be present.
Besides the usual music and dancing, supper and refreshments, during the night the large company of guests were entertained by selections from the gramophone.
