Finstown lights join the festive programme

The folk of Finstown got into the Christmas spirit on Friday night, with the village's first-ever tree lighting ceremony.

The tree was officially lit after a lantern procession from the community centre.

Islands sporting integration progress

The Islands Forum, which, in partnership with sportscotland, aims to further integrate Scottish island communities into mainstream Scottish sport, has announced its latest progress.

A number of issues were considered at a workshop earlier this month, with a long-term aim including the possibility of professional staff support to co-ordinate key aspects of the forum’s work, and ensure local delivery of its plan.

A spokesman for the six forum partners said: “By coming together under the united banner of the Islands Forum we intend informing the Scottish Executive, governing bodies of sport and the wider population that investment in the islands is a worthwhile objective and one that will encourage our integration into mainstream sport in Scotland.”

Archive story: Jim Wallace launches Islands Forum for Sport

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace has welcomed the changes to the Least Favoured Area Support Scheme.

Announced by Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie, the changes will com into effect in 2002 and increase payments to beef farmers and rough grazing.

Full story >

A former Stromness Church of Scotland minister is to act as principal clerk to next year’s General Assembly.

The Church of Scotland have announced that Reverend Marjory MacLean, who is currently depute clerk of the General Assembly, will carry out the principal clerk role in 2002.

Born in Forfar, Miss MacLean (39) became minister in Stromness in 1992. Appointed depute clerk in 1996, she remained in Stromness until 1998, when her current duties became full time.

Hamnavoe construction work begins

The new NorthLink fleet

Construction work on the Hamnavoe - the vessel for the Stromness and Scrabster route - has begun, heralding another milestone in NorthLink's ferry building programme.

The traditional metal cutting ceremony at the Akers Finnyards yard in Finland was carried out by Roy Chenery of Lloyds Register.

Construction of all three vessels to serve the Northern Isles from October 2002 is now under way. For photographic updates on the Hrossey, Hamnavoe and Hjaltland, see the NorthLink website.

Maeshowe broadcasting on the Web again

Catch the winter view from Maeshowe live on the WWW

The annual winter Internet broadcast from the chambered cairn Maeshowe, is now live, broadcasting images from the Stenness monument across the World Wide Web.

Three cameras have been set up in the prehistoric tomb, hoping to catch the images leading up to the winter solstice, when light from the setting sun strikes the back wall of the main chamber.

The images, uploaded between 8.30am and 4pm, are scheduled to continue until mid-January. Full details can be found at www.maeshowe.co.uk.

Longhope man's sentence deferred after admitting assault

Sentence has been deferred for reports on a Longhope resident who admitted assaulting a woman on the island.

Appearing from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Thursday, Nicholas George Waite (52), St Colms Quadrant, Longhope admitted assaulting a woman at another St Colms Quadrant address on Wednesday, pulling her out of bed, punching her on the face and standing on her neck. He further admitted threatening to throw a chair out of a window and committing a breach of the peace.

Honorary Sheriff Eric Green deferred sentence until December 18 and released Waite on bail on condition that he stay away from the victim and her property.

Salmon Farm boss fined for police assault

The head of a local fish farm company has been fined £1,000 after refusing to leave a hotel bar at closing time during during a working trip to the Scottish mainland, .

Bruce Mainland (52) of Cott in Rousay, who is head of Aquascot locally, admitted shouting and swearing at police when they were called by staff at the Dolphin Hotel in Eyemouth and assaulting a constable and policewoman by punching them at Duns Police Station. He further admitted damaging the door of the cell compartment in a police van.

Procurator fiscal Mr Graham Fraser told Duns Sheriff Court on Wednesday that Mainland, who was said to have no recollection of the incident, had been “heavily intoxicated at the time of the offence”.

The current head teacher of Papdale Primary School in Kirkwall has been appointed assistant director (Pre-12) in the council's department of education and recreational services.

Mr Peter Diamond (39) has been head teacher at Papdale since 1996 and, after interviews on Wednesday, will replace Mrs Belle Drever, who is retiring in the New Year.

Seven creamery staff accept voluntary redundancy

Six full-time members of Orkney Cheese Company staff, and one part-time, have accepted voluntary redundancy, after employees were given extra time to consider an enhanced redundancy package. This means the company will not need to issue compulsory redundancies.

Manager Mr Tim Deakin explained that this was fewer redundancies than previously sought but that problems with the new production line meant that they needed to retain all of the remaining staff.

He added that staff had been informed there would be no more redundancies – if future jobs needed to be shed, they would try be sourced through natural wastage.

No council application means no provostship for Kirkwall

Kirkwall will not be considered for the granting of Lord Provostship because Orkney Islands Council did not apply for it.

Kirkwall Community Council chairman, Spencer Rosie, intends writing the OIC, after learning that the Community Council’s application to the Golden Jubilee Lord Mayoralty Competition could not be considered because it had not been made by the local authority.

In October, Kirkwall Community Council applied for the competition but in a letter to Kirkwall Community Council, members were told that applications for Lord Provostship had to be submitted by the local authority, namely OIC, so Kirkwall could not be considered.

Concerns grow over fate of missing man

Police concern is growing for the safety of the loner who disappeared a month ago on the island of Hoy.

As reported last week, the man had been living on the island throughout the summer months, sleeping on the hills in a tent.

A two to three-man dome tent, believed to belong to the man, was found pitched on Mel Fea hill, Rackwick, on the north of the island.

Inquiries are ongoing and police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen this man. They should contact Stromness Police Station on 850222 or Kirkwall police on 872241.

Cash boost pushes forward Holm Hall renovation

Plans to renovate the Holm Community Hall have been given the go ahead this week, after the Holm Community Association were given £189, 748 from the Lottery’s Community Fund.

The news comes after members suffered a series of setbacks, including losing out to the new community hall in Deerness two years ago, when Orkney Islands Council were forced to choose between projects when putting them forward for Scottish Executive funding.

The upgrading of the hall will include a change of entrance to what is currently the back of the hall, and allow access for disabled people.

Community Council looking for cash to register Kirkwall Coat of Arms

Kirkwall Community Council are to approach Orkney Islands Council after members heard that the £841 fee is required to formally register the Kirkwall Coat of Arms.

An investigation by Orkney’s MSP, Mr Jim Wallace, revealed that there was no way of reducing the cost of registering the Coat of Arms.

As a result, the community council are investigating ways of paying for registration, as the plaques they produced last year – marking historical sites in Kirkwall – are technically illegal.

Archive story: Call for return of Kirkwall's Coat of Arms

Study aims to find out what makes Stenness loch tick

A major study of the Loch of Stenness is under way, looking to find out more about the factors influencing the loch - the largest saline lagoon in Britain.

The International Centre for Island Technology has been commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage to carry out the 18 month investigation, gathering historical and up-to-date information on the loch and its catchment.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the project can do so through the Orkney Coastal Forum, which is due to meet in mid-December, or by contacting ICIT staff in Stromness (Tel. 01856 850605).

Another ghostly tour planned following success of fundraising venture

The “Historical Haunts” tour the old streets of Kirkwall last Friday night proved to be such a success that another is planned for the spring.

The tour, which brought the darker side of Kirkwall’s history to life, raised over £300 for a new skatepark in Orkney at the same time.

Archive story: Ghostly recruits sought to help with ‘Historical Haunts’ tours

Police seek witnesses after Burray death

Kirkwall police are appealing for witnesses after the death of a 52-year-old Burray man on Monday night.

The man, who has not been named, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall.

A police spokesman said that although there appears to be no suspicious circumstances, they would like to hear from anyone who may have been in the area of the boat yard or slip in Burray between 1pm and 4pm yesterday.

Anyone with any information should call 872241.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) used the opening of the new Kirkwall terminal this week to announce the opening of the airport for scheduled and charter services on Sundays from next summer.

HIAL’s managing director, Mr Bob MacLeod, said that they hoped to provide cover for three additional services from Loganair on Sundays. These include flights to and from Aberdeen; a feeder link between Orkney and Shetland for a direct service from Sumburgh to Bergen in Norway and to allow the northbound flight from Glasgow/ Inverness to Sumburgh to stop off in Kirkwall.

Sanday resident remanded in custody

A Sanday resident was remanded in custody on Monday, charged with several driving offences.

Bail was refused on Wilhelmus Johannus Albertus Taylor (40) of South Mire, Sanday by Honorary Sheriff Bryan Clark at Kirkwall Sheriff Court.

Taylor admitted breaking a window at Corsequoy on the island on November 24, but denies driving a car while over the legal alcohol limit on November 25, failing to provide a breath specimen, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Taylor was remanded in custody, sentence was deferred and a trial date was set for December 18.

NHS Orkney board members announced

Scottish Health Minister, Ms Susan Deacon, announced on Monday the membership of the new NHS Orkney board.

They include Kirkwall GP, Dr Douglas Deans, and Rousay GP, Dr Garry Mearns. The other members are Mr Richard Jenkins, a farmer from Evie, and former Conservative Party candidate; Councillor Janice Annal, chairman of the OIC’s education committee and who also chairs the Orkney Child Care Partnership; and Mrs Kathleen Pye, currently Patient Care Co-ordinator at the Balfour Hospital.

These non-executive members have been appointed until November 2005 along with the new chairman, Mrs Jenny Dewar.

They join the management team - chief executive, Mrs Judi Wellden; director of public health, Dr John Curnow and finance director, Mr Roger Dart.

Video conference draws together construction industry

A video conference at Orkney College on Thursday aims to bring together people in the construction industry from all over the Highlands and Islands.

The Chartered Institute of Building are holding a four-way video conference between members, builders and interested parties in Orkney, Inverness, Shetland and Benbecula where questions can be put to CIOB vice president Professor Stuart Henderson and chief executive, Mr Chris Blythe.

The video conference takes place between 2 -3 pm on Thursday. Anyone interested in taking part should telephone Charlie Kemp on 01856 871447, or Stewart Brown on 07721 466551.

New Kirkwall airport terminal open for business

Kirkwall Airport’s new terminal building officially opened for business yesterday.

The new terminal, which will be developed as a gateway to Orkney, has a total floor area of 1,350 square metres and is fitted with a modern flight information system, baggage carousel, check-in desk.

A new terminal has also been built at Stornoway which is due to open on December 10. Both buildings have cost £5.2 million in public money.

Orkney’s sporting talent celebrated

The Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall was the venue on Friday night for the Orkney Sporting Awards Dinner, where the seven top prizes for sporting achievement were handed out.

Sportsman of the Year went to triathlete Ewan Taylor, while Sportswoman of the Year was Rosie Cursiter, for her performances over the past Athletics season.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year was the multi-talented Lisa Johnston, who picked up her award for her contribution in Hockey, Badminton, Netball and Volleyball.

Calvin Poke was named Coach of the Year for his work with Dounby and Sandwick, league champions and Parish Cup winners respectively, among other honours in the past season.

The Team of the Year was the Island Games double bronze medal winning Clay Pigeon target shooting pair, Victor Smith and Alan Clouston.

The Services to Sport Award this year went to Drew Kennedy for his dedicated work with pupils of the martial art Shotokan Karate Do.

Rosie Cursiter picked up a second award on the night when her entry in the Sports Photographer of the Year category, of a sprinter coming out of the blocks, was judged the winner by the audience at the awards dinner.

Pentland Ferries sailings suspended until next year

Pentland Ferries have made their final crossings this year on the short-sea route between South Ronaldsay and Gills Bay in Caithness.

The vessel Pentalina B which has operated the service since June made her last trip across the Pentland Firth on Friday afternoon.

There will now be a break in service until March 2002, to allow improvements to be carried out at the Caithness harbour to provide additional shelter when berthing in bad weather.

It is planned to sink a redundant floating dry dock from Shetland at the end of the existing Gills Bay terminal to provide additional shelter.

Orkney to host international conference of island groups

Politicians and officials from various islands within the EU will be meeting in Kirkwall on May 2-3, 2002 for the annual meeting of the Islands Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions.

OIC convener, Councillor Hugh Halcro-Johnston, said “This is really a once in a lifetime opportunity for Orkney. It will provide a major opportunity to promote island ideas.” .

Director of development and protective services, Jeremy Baster, said that although it maybe wouldn’t be the biggest in terms of numbers, the conference with 200 delegates, would be the most complicated with the need for interpreters and soundproof booths to provide simultaneous translations of the speeches and discussion.

Orkney launch of Grimond biography

Jo Grimond: Towards the Sound of Gunfire by Michael McManus had its Orkney launch on Saturday night in the Royal Hotel, Kirkwall.

It is the first biography of the man who saved the Liberal Pary when it was at its lowest point and restored it as the independent third force in British politics.

It is also the story of a man who faithfully and devotedly served Orkney and Shetland for a third of a century.