Fundraising cyclists Marty Flett (left) and Bruce Ruthven, with CLAN's Karen Scott, just before the pair set off for Aberdeen on Friday morning. (The Orcadian)

Two Orkney cyclists set off, on Friday, on a 500-mile challenge, from CLAN in Orkney to CLAN in Aberdeen, to raise money for the cancer charity.

Marty Flett and Bruce Ruthven left Kirkwall on Friday morning and hope to arrive in Aberdeen on Sunday.

In support of the fundraising cycle, Alex Clark, of Cycle Orkney, is also holding a static cycle on the Kirk Green, in Kirkwall, tomorrow, Sunday, from 10.30am.

Comedian Bill Bailey is back in Orkney this weekend — and said he aims to explore as much of the county as possible during his  visit!

Trialling brand new material, the musical funnyman will offer Orkney comedy fans yet another opportunity to sample fresh, original musings. Speaking to The Orcadian, earlier this month, the Spaced and Black Books star said he is hoping that his new work in progress, Qualmpeddler, will get a good reception in Orkney.

“There’s a thrill about trying out new stuff in front of a smaller crowd, and, if you can try something out in a place as beautiful as Orkney is, it is a massive privilege,” he said.

He added: “I have the most vivid of memories from my last visit of standing on a beach looking out over Scapa Flow.

There was not a dot of wind, the sky was calm and the water was a beautiful turquoise colour and I just wished I could have had longer there.”

The show is in the Pickaquoy Centre’s Arena tonight, Saturday.

Stromness youngsters get into the spirit of days gone by, by dressing in the appropriate attire. Pictured, from the left, are: Lewis Flett as Dr William Balfour Baikie, Shana Foubister as Lady Jane Franklin, Cody Chalmers as Eliza Fraser and Erik Park in a Hudson’s Bay Company outfit. (Rebecca Marr)

There’s a chance to take a step back in time at the Stromness Museum tomorrow, Saturday, and experience a “Victorian encounter” with people from the past.

A Victorian Encounter with Seafarers and explorers is taking place as part of the national Festival of Museums programme.

Visitors will be transported back to the Victorian era by free horse and carriage rides through the street with George Loutit and Stromness by Carriage. Stromness Drama Club will be adding a touch of nostalgia by bringing famous characters from the town’s past to life and, during guided tours, will show people the items that they would’ve owned and the stories behind them.

Younger visitors can try out the museum’s new costume box — exploring key characters such as Eliza Fraser, Lady Jane Franklin, Dr William Balfour Baikie and a Hudson’s Bay Company labourer, through dressing up as them and thinking about how the clothes that those people wore differ from their own.

Once dressed in character, visitors can be photographed in the Victorian manner by photographer Rebecca Marr against a backdrop painted by local artist Marian Ashburn.

Entry is free throughout the day, with the Victorian characters visiting from 11am to 4pm.

The second draft of the Local Plan for Orkney has been published by Orkney Islands Council for final public comment.

The “Modified Proposed Plan” has been produced in response to consultation comments received in relation to the initial Proposed Plan published last year.

Anyone interested in the direction of planning in Orkney in years to come is being urged to take a final look at the document before it is forwarded to the Scottish Government for scrutiny. A copy of the plan can be viewed at Kirkwall and Stromness Libraries, and in mobile library vans, as well as from the council’s Stromness and Kirkwall customer services offices. It can also be downloaded from www.orkney.gov.uk.

Anyone with questions about the revised plan can ask to see a development and marine planner at the council offices between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The closing date for comments is June 18.

The Stromness registration office has relocated from the town’s Old Ferry Terminal building to the Stromness Library, on Hellihole Road.

Customers are reminded that this office is “by appointment only”.

Appointments can be made by calling Marian Ashburn on 850854.

Police are appealing for information after two vehicles were damaged while parked at Kirkwall’s Balfour Hospital and the airport during May.

It would appear that a vehicle reversed into a blue Ford Focus parked at the hospital sometime between 10.45am and 3pm on Wednesday, May 16.

A red Ford Fiesta was also damaged while in the car park at the airport, sometime between May 5 and May 16.

Anyone with any information is asked to contacted local police on 01856 872241 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Orcadians and Norwegians came together on Thursday to celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day.

As usual, a series of events was held, starting at 10.30am, with a short memorial service in the St Olaf Cemetery at the graves of the Norwegian sailors who died in the Second World War. This was followed by a procession, or “tog”, at 11.30am, from the Kirkwall pierhead to St Magnus Cathedral.

There was then be a concert in the cathedral from 1pm to 1.45pm, and the day’s events were rounded off by a buffet supper and dance in the Kirkwall branch of Royal British Legion.