Councillor’s wife wins Toyota car in the long-awaited CLAN raffle

By ROSALIND GRIFFITHS

The eagerly-awaited CLAN raffle was drawn on Tuesday by the Guizer Jarl in the prestigious surroundings of the Town Hall’s upper chamber. With the star prize of a car – a Toyota Yaris, sponsored by Toyota and Jim’s Garage – and many others including trips to the mainland sponsored by NorthLink and Loganair/Flybe, there was much to anticipate.

The occasion had a grand air as the regally-clad Guizer Jarl and his squad marched in, their scarlet and crimson costumes enhancing the ornamentation of the chamber’s carvings and stained glass.

Following an afternoon of school and hospital visits, this was another chance to make someone’s day.

Chairwoman of the CLAN com­mittee Elaine Jamieson introduced the proceedings, announcing that a grand total of 19,019 raffle tickets had been sold and thanked the spon­sors. She extended special thanks to those who had gone the “extra mile” selling, counting and re-counting the tickets – Iris Anderson, Cecil Smith, George Henderson and Lesley Hutchison. Then the moment itself.

The red barrel, with all raffle ticket stubs inside, was turned to ensure fairness.

Jarl Stephen Mouat, in his guise of Othere Fra Hålogaland, dipped his arm inside. It was a requirement of the raffle that the person drawing it should have bare arms to ensure no tickets could be concealed, and Othere had only a leather wrist­band.

There was going to be elation and disappointment.

The winner of the car was announced as Anne-Marie Robin­son, of Lerwick, wife of Shetland west councillor Gary Robinson.

Mrs Robinson said: “I was quite surprised, I don’t usually win anything at all. I’m thrilled with it, it’s a nice small car to drive.” She had not known anything about it, she said. Her husband, who himself has a Toyota, had bought £20 worth of raffle tickets at Tesco’s on Monday night, the night before the raffle was drawn, and put her name on some of them.

Second prize of a return trip to Aberdeen for four people, including a cabin and car, was won by Mary West of Lerwick and Sunny Mooney of Dunrossness took third prize, a return trip for two to any major Scottish airport.

There were various other prizes too, several of which went to Unst, home of Othere (and Stephen). Donations from the isle have recently come from two steak nights organised there by Belle Spence in aid of the CLAN 1,2,3 appeal, the most recent two weeks ago.

A total of 61 people ate on both nights raising £572 and £645 for the charity. Charlie Priest cooked the steaks and he received many compliments from the customers.

Mina Spence and Rose Anne worked alongside him cooking the rest of the meal. Belle Spence made the sauce and Nigel Stickle did all the washing up.

Servers were Ruth Scott, Chelsea Jamieson, Anna Macaulay and Faye Richardson who did an excellent job serving the steaks on the sizzlers.

The team worked well together and the meal was excellent.

Each night there was a raffle with items donated from people from all over Unst.

Belle said: “Unst residents have been very supportive of CLAN as many have already had the need to use the cancer centre in the past.”

CLAN committee treasurer John Telford said funds for the appeal were now heading towards £200,000.