North Mainland Notes 31.12.08

Watch night collection

EACH year, funds raised from the collection at the watch night service in Hillswick Church of Scotland are donated to charity. Due to the concerted effort in Shetland at present to raise money for the CLAN 1,2,3 appeal, as well as the number of people in the area who have benefited from services provided by CLAN, it was decided to donate the collection money to this cause. During the service a total of £300 was gathered for the appeal. The Church would like to thank all who attended the service and gave so generously.

New Year’s Eve celebrations

Folk in Firth and Mossbank will have a chance to get together to bring in the New Year at a Hogmanay family disco in the Mossbank Hall. Admission to the event is free and as the bar will be open, a parent or guardian must accompany under 18s. The fun begins at 9pm.

The Brae Hall will also be open for New Year’s Eve celebrations with a family night from 9pm. Bar facilities will be available and under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Entry is £5 at the door.

Scaldin Bragg at Sullom

Irish influenced Scaldin Bragg rocked on to the music scene in Shetland. The six-piece folk-rock band has proved a big hit with audiences and was winners of the Captain Flint’s “Battle of the Bands” competition in 2008.

The band will be playing in the Sullom Hall on Friday night from 9.30pm and entry costs £5. As this is a licensed event, under 14s will not be admitted and a responsible adult must accompany under 18s.

Thanks

I would like to extend special thanks to all the people in the North Mainland who have provided stories, information and contributions to the North Mainland Notes over the past year and hope you will continue to support the column in 2009.

Happy New Year!

As I mulled over 2008, I looked back on the year we have experienced in Northmavine and went on to think about 2008 in terms of the North Mainland and the wider Shetland context. I thought instantly about the economic climate in relation to these areas. Each week the headlines warn us that we need to watch the purse strings, globally as well as locally. We are left in no doubt as to the importance of money in our society.

While considering this, I thought of Northmavine and the Initiative at the Edge (IatE) status. When Northmavine first received the status in 2004 the community felt that the most important matter to address was the economy of the area – we needed jobs, industry and businesses. As time went on, many folk in Northmavine realised that the resource we needed most was people. People provide the innovation, the inspiration, the drive and enthusiasm to bring forward ideas to sustain and grow thriving communities and are often a much under-rated resource. They are the roots of a community and without them it is impossible to grow anything.

We are lucky in Shetland to have many individuals, families and communities that work tirelessly, often without proper recognition, to help make Shetland a vibrant place to be. I hope 2009 will be a healthy and prosperous year for everyone. Happy New Year to you all.