Home again - islanders gather to welcome Cameron back to Orcadian soil

The flag says it all - Cameron Stout arrives back home on Saturday afternoon.

Thousands of Orcadians and visitors turned out for the return home of Big Brother winner Cameron Stout on Saturday afternoon.

Crowds lined Stromness harbour as the MV Hamnavoe pulled into the town, with Cameron, and his mother Doris, holding aloft the Orkney flag.

Escorted through the crowds, Cameron was taken to the Stromness Town House gardens where he answered questions and thanked the people of Orkney for their support over the past months.

In the evening, the street was filled again as townsfolk gathered for a celebratory homecoming party.

Archive story: Stromness celebrates as Cameron wins Big Brother
Click here for more photographs

Heirloom ploughs dusted off for traditional ploughing match

The annual Boys' Ploughing Match and Festival of the Horse took place on Saturday afternoon in South Ronaldsay.

The event began as usual with the parade of "horses" at the St Margaret's Hope school at 2.30pm. The boy's ploughing match then took place at the Sands o' Wright at 4pm.

Click here for official Ploughing Match website.

Update software to avoid 'Blaster' Worm

The second attack on the World Wide Web by the malicious blaster worm seems to have passed without causing much damage.

The worm exploits a weakness in the Windows operating system and began its rampage earlier this week. It was programmed to launch a midnight attack on the Microsoft website, but this appears to have been dealt with.

The message to all PC users is to update their virus and firewall software and download a patch programme from the Microsoft update site.

Cumming & Spence closes doors

One of Orkney's oldest grocery stores, Cumming and Spence, closed its doors for the last time on Friday.

The shop, part of the Scarth Orkney business, was put on the market in December 2002 but failed to attract a buyer.

See also: Kirkwall shop with 170 years of retail history

Drink driving campaign under way

Inspector David Miller said: "It is always disappointing for anyone who drinks and drives. This operation reinforces the fact that we are still pro-active in trying to catch drink drivers.

"It is never going to go away until the public stops."

Wallace advises business to check water bills

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace is advising small businesses in the county to check their water bills after Scottish Water billing errors were uncovered.

The issue was raised after two customers were billed for the fixed charge for a 25mm water meter, when their actual meters only measured 20mm. As a result they had both been overcharged by £200.

In both cases Scottish Water admitted they were in error and adjusted the charges.

Sea Snail turbine launch next week

The postponed launch of the "sea snail" tidal turbine is now expected to take place next Friday - August 22.

The trials of the prototype tidal energy turbine were postponed last month after a hole was discovered in one of the device's buoyancy tanks.

Standing 15 metres in height, the turbine support frame uses hydrofoils which use the down-thrust from tidal currents to hold the structure firmly on the seabed.

Minister welcomes progress on youth justice in Orkney

Scottish Executive funding to tackle youth crime in Orkney is set to increase from £40,000 to £51,174 over the next two years, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson announced today.

The Minister commented: "There is no single solution to tackling and reducing youth crime. That is why the Scottish Executive is already providing funding for a range of local measures - from prevention and early intervention programmes to the most intensive and robust methods of supervision."

Sea Change book launched

A new book on Iron Age Orkney and Europe was officially launched in Kirkwall on Thursday night.

Published by Orkney Heritage Society, Sea Change: Orkney and Northern Europe in the later Iron Age features papers from the 2001 Iron Age conference held in Orkney.

Sea Change is available now from local bookshops, priced £18.50.

Click here to order online

Thirteen compete in Wideford Hill race

Thirteen competitors took part in Wednesday night's annual Wideford Hill senior race.

Norman Maclennan came first in a time of 34m 40s, followed by Graham Harcus (35m 38s) and Craig Shearer (36m 6s).

Only one youth runner competed, with Thomas Fay completing the youth course in 34m 30s.

Stromness diver locates tragedy wreck

The SS Norge

A Stromness diver has found the final resting lace of a 19th century ship which sank with the loss of more than 600 lives.

At the time, the loss of the SS Norge, which went down in 1904, was the biggest maritime tragedy in the Atlantic.

Stromness-based wreck researcher and diver Kevin Heath had been interested in the Norge since 1985 and finally pinpointed the wreck near Rockall, 400 miles from Orkney.

See also: Local divers find U-boat wreck

Stromness marina pier complete by end of August

The concreting of the new 100-metre pier for the Stromness Marina is hoped to be completed by the end of August.

The pontoons are due in September and installed on the landward side, where the depth at high tide is six metres - 3.6 metres at low tide.

NorthLink gear up for livestock season

NorthLink are gearing up for the start of the livestock season, chartering a third livestock vessel to handle the busy three-month period.

The ferry company's existing freight carriers, Hascosay and St Rognvald, will be joined by the Zebu Express - a vessel currently en route from Singapore and expected to be on station by the first week in September.

The additional ferry means the company now has the capacity to ship upwards of 10,000 cattle, with uplifts on Mondays and Tuesdays for the duration of the livestock season.

CCTV required says victim of Kirkwall smash-and-grab

Cleaning up - repairing the damaged window on Wednesday morning

A local shopkeeper has added his voice to the calls for CCTV in Kirkwall following a smash-and-grab raid on his shop overnight.

The window of E. G. Kemp's sport shop on Bridge Street was smashed some time early on Wednesday morning and a quantity of items - including knives, binoculars - stolen. The thieves, says the proprietor, must have used a sledgehammer to break the toughened glass to gain access.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Archive stories: CCTV demand after Kirkwall vandalism
CCTV - Do we need it?

Sheriff opens St Magnus Fair

St Magnus Fair on Wednesday afternoon

The annual St Magnus Fair took place on Wednesday afternoon, in the shadow of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

The annual fair, to raise money for the upkeep of the twelfth century cathedral, was opened this year by Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie.

But although the weather wasn't as good as it has been recently, it didn't seem to deter the public who turned out to support the event.

New role for airport rescue boat

Kirkwall Airport manager Tommy Tullock (second left) hands over the new rescue boat to Orkney Sailing Club's Brian Kynoch (third left)

Orkney Sailing Club took possession of a new fast rescue boat on Tuesday - a donation from Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

The vessel served as the Kirkwall Airport rescue craft until it was replaced last year. Now the rigid inflatable will enjoy a new lease of life with the sailing club.

The handover took place on Tuesday, with Brian Kynoch representing the OSC, receiving the vessel from Mr Tommy Tullock, airport manager.

Grimbister Cheese in Harrods promotion

An Orkney cheese took pride of place in Harrods on Tuesday, celebrating the diversity of Scottish fare.

Grimbister Farm Cheese, from Firth, is one of 50 companies from across Scotland taking part in the ten day promotion at the prestigious London shop.

The event was launched on Tuesday to coincide with the "Glorious Twelfth" - the start of the grouse shooting season.

Exam wait is over for Orkney students

The long wait was over on Tuesday as anxious teenagers across Orkney began receiving exam results.

But no matter what the grades, help is available for local youngsters considering the implications of their results.

Careers Scotland has vacancy information about courses at universities throughout the country and can give advice on how to apply for them. Click here for contact details.

Fringe performances of Barriers sold out

The St Magnus Festival Players production of Barriers is into its third day at the Edinburgh International Festival.

A love story of the Italian POW 'invasion' of Orkney during World War II, Alan Plater's play featured in last year's St Magnus Festival.

This year's performances in Edinburgh are now sold out - the production running until August 15 at the city's Venue 45.

Lottery cash for Hoy Outdoor Centre

Hoy's Outdoor Centre project received a cash boost today with the announcement of a £37,500 grant from the New Opportunities lottery fund.

The cash will go towards the £680,000 project to extend and modernise the building, allowing it to be developed into a multi-purpose community resource.

Welcoming the lottery funding, an OIC spokesman said "Not only will the Centre make a significant contribution to our school's outdoor education programme but it will also act as a community resource to stimulate the social and economic regeneration of Hoy."

Youth squad triumph in Norway football tournament

Orkney's Under-14 footballers have had a successful trip to Norway, with the Team Orkney squad winning the friendly tournament.

The squad left Orkney last weekend and travelled to the Askoy tournament via Shetland, where they also won their game.

The final score in Saturday's final was Askoy '1' 0, Team Orkney 2.

Wick success for Orkney triathletes

Orkney's successful triathlete squad.

Six Orkney triathletes cleaned up at a Caithness triathlon at the weekend - taking all six top places in the Wick event.

Gavin Walls, Bobby Oag, Thomas Fay, Mark Dowell, Tim Hartmann and Keith Farrer travelled across to compete in the Wick Triathlon, with Gavin Walls first home in one hour and three minutes.

Bobby Oag was second home and also lifted the Junior Cup.

Orkney prepares for Cameron's return

Orcadian Big Brother winner Cameron Stout is coming home on Saturday - with a street party in his honour taking place in Stromness on Saturday night.

Cameron will sail into Stromness on the MV Hamnavoe on Saturday afternoon to what will undoubtedly be a warm welcome from the gathered townsfolk and other Orcadians.

2001