North Mainland Notes

FAB ball at Mossbank

The charity summer ball held recently in the Mossbank hall in memory of Fabian Richardson was a huge success, raising £1,268.27 for Diabetes UK (The Fabian (FAB) Richardson Tribute Fund – Diabetes UK).

A huge amount of effort was put into organising the event and the hall looked brilliant with silver, gold and black themed decoration. Glam was the order of the night from start to finish and the fairy lights, starry sky and hanging decorations added to the atmosphere.

People turned out in their droves and again the glam theme transcended the dress code. Jakki Grant from Mossbank broke the habit of a lifetime and wore a dress especially for the occasion. Anyone who knows Jakki is bound to know she doesn’t do dresses and her efforts raised £305 alone in sponsorship funds. By all accounts she looked lovely, so well done to Jakki.

Winners of the most glam competition were Becky Miller in the adult section and Shannon Williamson was judged to be the most glam junior.

The organisers would like to say a big thank you to Margaret Cooper (aka Granny Mags) for judging the competition. It was no easy task with so many beautiful outfits.

Music for the evening was provided by local DJ Martyn Neeson, a good friend of Fabian, and he did an excellent job of keeping everyone on the dance floor. Boyz Aloud also made an appearance and entertained an appreciative audience until closing time.

The raffle was very popular with all the guests who generously bought tickets for some great prizes donated by local businesses and individuals and the hall committee provided a fantastic buffet that ensured everyone was well-fed throughout the evening, providing energy for the dancers.

Fabian’s mother, Anja Richardson, was the main organiser of the summer ball. She has been overwhelmed by the community support the event generated.

Anja said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the ball in any way. There are too many folk to mention individually but you know who you are. I’d also like to say a special thanks to my family and friends for being there every step of the way.

“The support and generosity of businesses, the Mossbank community and the general public as a whole in Shetland is second to none and without it we would have not had such a successful night.”

Anja is keen to have a photographic record of the summer ball, but unfortunately many of the photos she took on the night have been lost. If anyone has photos of the pictures they would be willing to give her, she would be most grateful. They can be e-mailed to Anja at anjar65@aol.com

Hillswick eela

Here’s hoping the piltocks are biting tomorrow for the Hillswick eela competition.

Fishing will commence at 3pm and crews should weigh-in at the Hillswick hall at 7pm prompt. Each boat is responsible for tending to their own catch.

A fish auction will follow the weigh-in with the prize-giving, a fry-up and dance in the hall to round off the night. To enter, please telephone (01806) 503246 or 503261.

Delting hosts SYRA

Delting Boating Club will host the Shetland Yoal Rowing Association Championships tomorrow.

On what promises to be a busy day, proceedings get under way with the first boats in the water for 2pm. Races will take the following order: under-16 boys; under-16 girls; veteran women; veteran men; under-21 men; under-21 women; open women; and open men.

There will be plenty of onshore and foreshore entertainment including a barbecue, stalls and side shows. The evening will be rounded off with Boyz Aloud in the clubhouse from 9pm, where members and guests will be made most welcome. The committee would also like to remind people that fully serviced caravan pitches are now available at the club for anyone who would like to make a night of it.

With regard to rowing in Shetland, the organisers find it hard to believe that it is the teens of years since rowing made a comeback when Delting Boating Club first hosted a visit from Hvalvík-Streymnes Rowing Club from Faroe. Competitive rowing has advanced since that time to the Shetland-wide phenomenon that it has become today.

Voe eela competition

The Voe Pier Trust is holding the annual eela tomorrow afternoon.

Boats can fish anywhere from 3pm to 5pm and should weigh in at the Voe pier at 6pm.

Catches will be fried up at the Pierhead where supper will be available after the competition.

North eela

While the piltocks are hopefully still biting, the Ollaberry and North Roe Eela competition will be held on Sunday from 4pm to 7pm.

Entry costs £5 per boat with a maximum crew of three and the weigh-in will take place at the Collafirth pier following the end of fishing.

Fish will be auctioned after the weigh-in and soup and sandwiches will be available.

Sullom eela

While we’re on the subject of eela competitions, the Sullom one will take place next Saturday.

Boats with a maximum of three crew can fish anywhere from 5pm to 7pm.

The weigh-in will take place at the Sullom hall at 8pm and there will be a fry up and fish sale after the weigh-in.

Entry costs £5 per boat and to enter, or for more details, phone 522284.

Farmers’ market

In addition to the usual stalls at the final summer farmers’ market in the Vidlin hall next Saturday, there will be a number of added attractions.

John Jacobs from Vidlin, who recently demonstrated his pottery techniques at the Voe show, will be at the hall with his wheel during the afternoon. Suzie Jacobs will also be using some of the local produce available at the market in some cookery demonstrations and as well as tea, coffee and homebakes, light meals will also be on sale using market produce.

If anyone is interested in booking a place at the market they should contact Arlene on (01806) 577235.

Shop is well cleared

The recent stock and fittings clearance nights at the now community-owned Hillswick shop have resulted in a clear space for the community to make a fresh start.

The steering group organised three clearance nights when folk were encouraged to take away items of stock or fittings in return for a donation. The shop area is now a bare shell, ready for new shelving, flooring and lighting. Donations received from the clearance nights have covered the cost of the materials required to carry out repairs to the flat roof at the back of the shop premises.

At a meeting of the steering group last week, a new layout was agreed upon for the shop and flooring was chosen as well as a lighting plan.

Staff at the NCDC are now gathering quotes for the required materials and the group hope to lodge an application to the SIC Rural Shop Scheme for grant assistance towards 50 per cent of the costs.

The steering group is delighted with the amount of sweat equity that folk in the community have volunteered. Many of the jobs will be carried out free of charge by local people, thus keeping the costs of refurbishment to a minimum.

As one local pointed out: “The more jobs we can do as a community means we can spend less money on refurbishment and more on stocking wir shop.”

Depending on delivery timescales, the community hopes the shop will re-open in November.

Maree Hay