North Mainland Notes 06.02.09

Fiddle night at Hillswick

The Shetland Fiddlers’ Society will be at the Hillswick Hall on Tuesday for a night of traditional music with the Northmavine Fiddle and Accordion Club. The event begins at 7pm, eight o’clocks will be served, the bar will be open and organisers extend a warm welcome to everyone.

Northmavine Fiddle and Accordion Club was formed in September 1982 with the aim of getting folk in the area together to enjoy playing traditional Shetland music. Tammy Anderson, probably one of the most famous of all Shetland fiddlers, and originally from Eshaness, was so excited when he heard about the club that he promptly sent a tune that had come to him as he did the washing up. The tune was named The Northmavine March and has become the club’s signature tune.

Shetland Fiddlers’ Society was formed in 1960 and the group was, at that time, affectionately referred to as Da Forty Fiddlers, led by Tammy. The aim of the society back in 1960 was “to further and preserve the art of fiddle playing and also to encourage the habit of listening to a type of music which is being threatened into oblivion by modern science”. Tammy and many more like him have done much over the ensuing near-half a century to ensure that this aim is being achieved.

Nesting and Girlsta festival

Guizers are gearing up for tonight’s Nesting and Girlsta Up-Helly-A’ so best wishes to Guizer Jarl Dave Phillips and his squad and all those taking part.

The light up will be at the galley shed and the procession starts at 7.30pm. Tickets for tonight at the South Nesting Hall and tomorrow’s hop at North Nesting are sold out but at the time of writing a few tickets were left for tonight at the North Nesting Hall.

Northmavine mass meeting

The mass meeting of the Northmavine Up-Helly-A’ will be held in the Hillswick Hall at 8pm tonight. All squads should be represented and committee members are reminded that a meeting will take place at 7pm, prior to the mass meeting.

Northmavine Up-Helly-A’ takes place on Friday 20th February and halls open this year are North Roe, Hillswick and Ollaberry. Tickets will be available in local shops soon. The hop will take place on Saturday 21st February at Sullom Hall and folk can pay at the door.

Classical evening at Busta

Ukranian soprano Oksana Mavrodii, accompanied by pianist Silviya Mihaylova, will perform at Busta House next Friday.

The evening will include a varied programme with works by Mozart, Puccini, Chopin and Gershwin. Tickets are £10 and £8 and are available from Islesburgh Community Centre on (01595) 745555

Wanted – BP monitors

The Brae Medical Practice has a stock of blood pressure monitors which are often given out to patients to allow blood pressure to be measured at home. Over the years many have been issued, but some have not been returned.

The machines are in constant demand and the practice is keen to retrieve any which may still be with patients. There is currently a monitor amnesty at the surgery so staff would be grateful if patients would return any blood pressure monitors in their possession.

Voxter centre meeting

The Voxter Centre is holding an open evening as well as the annual general meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday night.

The committee is always keen to see new faces and would welcome anyone who is interested in helping out.

The centre has an excellent range of overnight facilities and serves as an ideal base for visiting groups of locals or visitors.

For further information about the centre and the facilities on offer, go along to the open evening on Thursday.

NCC funding

Community groups in Northmavine still just have enough time to apply to the Northmaven Community Council for a local grant to help with project or equipment costs.

Forms are available from the NCDC office on (01806) 544222, and should be returned by Monday 16th February for consideration at the March meeting of the community council.

Maree Hay