Stromness real ale festival features Caledonian beers

The Stromness Hotel's Caledonian Brewery beer festival began on Friday and runs until April 28.

Among the real ales from the Edinburgh brewery on offer, are the award-winning Deuchars IPA and Greyfriar’s Bobby.

Orkney firms reach final of food "Oscars"

Two Orkney companies have been shortlisted for Scotland’s food and drink “Oscars”.

Crantit Dairy and Orkney Herring Company Ltd are among 40 Scottish companies to go forward to the finals of the 2002 Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards.

The competition results will be announced in Glasgow on May 16.

University director visits college

The director of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Professor Bob Cormack, has finished his first official visit to Orkney College in Kirkwall.

Professor Cormack was appointed last June and during his visit saw progress on the college extension.

OIC launch "vision" for Orkney

Orkney Islands Council have launched their "vision" for the county which contains a range of plans and objectives for the next few years.

The document "A Vision for Orkney" sets out council plans and targets within a range of areas, ranging from transport and leisure to the environment and social inclusion.

OIC convener Councillor Hugh Halcro-Johnston said: "People picking up this document should be able to find out in what way his or her life is going to be altered, depending on what their interests or enthusiasms are."

Peruvian released from immigration centre

The South American father of an Orkney boy has been released from the Dungavel Immigration Centre in Ayrshire, pending the outcome of a deportation appeal.

Eduardo Sanchez-Hoyos (35) who originally comes from Peru, has 21 days to prepare for his appeal. His nine-year-old son, Yan, still lives in Hoy, with his mother, Carol Shearer.

Foinaven company order new vessels

The company who ship the oil from the Foinaven Field in the Atlantic to the Flotta terminal have placed an order for two new vessels.

A spokesman for PGS Production A/S confirmed that two new tankers were under construction in Korea for delivery next year.

But he could not guarantee the vessels would be operating into Flotta, adding that a decision about their deployment taken later this year, at the same time as the re-negotiation of the trans-shipment contract for Foinaven.

Festival sees Levellers’ men return to old stomping ground

This year’s Orkney Folk Festival looks set to be another stormer with news that members of band The Levellers are to make an appearance at Orkney’s 20th annual folk feast.

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BS1 returns to Orkney roads

The Orkney registration BS1 has returned home to commemorate the centenary of Kirkwall Shipbrokers and Stevedores John Jolly.

The plate, which was seen on Orkney roads between 1904 and the 1950s, has been acquired by John Jolly’s proprietor, Captain Bill Spence.

Unemployment level drops slightly

Local unemployment has fallen slightly in the past month.

The number of people out of work and claiming benefit in Orkney at the middle of March was 267, eight fewer than the previous month.

The figure is 53 fewer than at the same time last year.

MPs back need for permanent Customs presence in Orkney

An group of visiting MPs have indicated they would back the need for Orkney to have its own Customs office again.

The Scottish Affairs Select Committee heard this week that although current cover was good, a permanent Orkney presence would be needed if the Scapa Flow container hub goes ahead and the numbers of visiting yachts increase as more facilities are provided.

The Orkney Customs office was closed five years ago but Select Committee chairman, Mrs Irene Adams, was optimistic they could now get the Government to rethink the decision.

Red MacGregor is best beer in the world

The best cask ale in the world is brewed in Orkney. It's official!

The Orkney Brewery's cask ale, Red Macgregor, has won the ultimate prize in the brewing industry, beating off heavyweight competitors from around the globe at the prestigious Brewing Industry International Awards.

The brewery was awarded the supreme championship trophy in London on Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony at the London Guildhall.

Rugby club in discussions over play-off fixture date

Orkney Rugby Club are in discussions with the Scottish Rugby Union to change the date of their next play-off fixture – to avoid a clash with their annual Sevens tournament.

The club are set to play Strathaven, Glasgow Accs or Lenzie on Saturday, May 4 - Sevens Day - in a fixture that will see the winner move one step closer towards promotion to the BT National League Division Four.

Shetland wholesaler to expand in Orkney

Shetland-based wholesaler J. W. Gray have announced plans for a £1 million expansion in Orkney leading to the creation of a 20,000 square foot cash and carry and distribution depot in Kirkwall's Hatston Industrial Estate.

The company, who have been based in Junction Road, Kirkwall for the past ten years have bought the Hatston "Tattie Shed" – and hope to have their new depot open on August 1.

Customs familiarisation for Scottish Affairs Committee MPs

Members of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee had talks with Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Enterprise and NHS Orkney, as well as meeting police and shipping agents about the customs implications of encouraging more cruise ships or private yachts to visit Orkney as well as the proposed container hub project.

Success for Orkney's marathon runners

The Orkney runners who took part in the London Marathon on Sunday all managed to complete the famous 26 mile run.

Trudy Marwick completed the marathon in 4 hrs 19 minutes. Her training partner, Catherine Siderfin, finished in around five and a half hours.

Iain Matheson finished in 4 hrs 22 minutes, with Ian Sloan also finishing in five and a half hours. Steve Walker, is understood to have completed the run in just over four hours.

Kildrummy oil reserves abandoned

Talisman Energy, operators of the Flotta oil terminal, have confirmed the reserves of oil in the Kildrummy Field, close to Piper B, are not sufficient to make it economically viable to exploit them.

After an exploratory well was sunk a year ago, Talisman predicted there would be “significant” reserves, which would help to secure the life of the Flotta Terminal for the next 20 years.

But Talisman now say that although oil was found, it was significantly less than anticipated. The appraisal wells are to be plugged and abandoned.

Radio Orkney goes global

Radio Orkney have begun broadcasting live to the world via the Internet.

From Monday, the station's 7.30am news bulletin, Around Orkney, will be broadcast live using Realmedia, remaining online until the next report airs.

The service is available via the Radio Scotland website.

Defeat by Stirling but Orkney have second chance

Orkney were beaten 58-26 in their play-off match against Stirling University on Saturday. 

Around 120 Orkney supporters turned out to cheer on Orkney Rugby Club's First XV in their attempt to secure promotion to Division Four of the BT National League.