UHI Shetland staff ‘devastated’ after death of ‘kind and sincere’ colleague

UHI Shetland has paid tributes to a “kind and sincere” colleague who has died aged 58.

Lifeboat launched amid report of ‘fault’ with aircraft

The lifeboat has been launched this morning following a report of a “fault” with a helicoper trying to land at Sumburgh Airport. 

The coastguard confirmed it received the call at 9.10am this morning (Monday) and tasked Lerwick Lifeboat with attending this incident. 

Police, ambulances and fire crews from Sumburgh, Sandwick and Lerwick were also called to the scene around 9am. 

It is understood the aircraft has since landed safely.

NorthLink sailings to go ahead but passengers warned to expect delays

NorthLink has confirmed tonight’s (Saturday) northbound sailing to Lerwick will go ahead after it was placed under review yesterday.

Search launched for missing man believed to have gone swimming in South Mainland

Rescue teams will resume their search this morning for a missing man.

No injuries after car crashed into ditch and caught fire

The occupants of a car which crashed into a ditch, flipped onto its roof and later caught fire, managed to escape without serious injury, police said.

In this week’s Shetland Times

In today’s (Friday, 27th December) edition of The Shetland Times:

• EXCLUSIVE: Transport chiefs assessed 72 vessels for the Northern Isles ferry service.
• Winner of Times 2025 calendar competition is revealed.
• Althing organisers say debate is needed now more than ever.
• EXCLUSIVE: Tourist centre sale expected in new year.
• EXCLUSIVE: Council received £700k investment returns from Smyril Line.
• Gilbert Bain’s Santa Claus retires after 10 years of hospital rounds.
• EXCLUSIVE: School absence soars as families jet off to avoid holiday rush.
• Part one of our Review of the Year and Sports Review of the Year.
• Historian Jon Sandison looks back at Christmas 1914.

Santa’s last rounds at the Gilbert Bain

After more than a decade of ward rounds at the Gilbert Bain hospital, Santa Claus is hanging up the red robes, nylon beard and fuzzy, festive garters.

Every other day of the year, David Fryer is a consultant physician specialising in hormone disorders.

But for the past 10 Christmases Dr Fryer has come in, often off the clock, to lift the spirits of patients spending the holidays lain up in hospital.

Helped this year by a shortage of elves (the children of other consultants), Dr Fryer started his tour in the medical ward.

“You go round the patients, hand out a little gift and say ‘ho ho ho,'” Dr Fryer said. “It’s quite a fun morning.”

Then it’s off to the surgical ward and finished with a lap of the maternity unit, which was empty this year.

“I’m not sure the babies really remember that,” Dr Fryer admits, “and the mothers have a far better present than I can offer them.”

Slight and clean-shaven, Dr Fryer is, by his own admission, not of a traditional Father Christmas build.

But with the help of a hospital bed pillow strapped at the waist he has filled out the hospital’s Father Christmas outfit since he first moved to Shetland from Newcastle in 2013.

After hanging up his stethoscope for good in the new year, Dr Fryer said he’s looking forward to retiring back South to Shropshire.

And as for who will take up the reindeers’ reins?

“I don’t know what’s going to happen but I think finding a replacement for Santa is less of a problem than finding a replacement physician,” said Dr Fryer.

“I think Santa will be an easier ask.”

  •  Read more stories from a decade of Christmas rounds in this week’s edition of The Shetland Times, out Friday, 26th December.

£180k from National Lottery for Clan child support

The National Lottery has awarded Clan more than £180,000 to support children impacted by cancer.

The funds will be split between the Clan’s children and family services (CFS) wings in Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

CFS support is not only for children fighting their own cancer diagnoses, but also those who are affected when parents or guardians fall ill.

2024 has been the busiest year from Clan since it launched its children’s service a decade ago.

“We work with around 300 children and young people every year, often through what can be the most difficult time of their life,” said Kay Johnston, head of cancer support services at Clan.

“We are incredibly grateful to National Lottery for this significant amount which will sustain this service for three years. As a commercially independent charity this funding is essential.”

Clan currently keep five dedicated staff for children’s support, one of whom is based in Shetland.