The Lyness Museum

Young and old were invited to join in a trip down memory lane at the wartime museum at Lyness on Hoy on Sunday.

Organised by Orkney Heritage, the family fun day took visitors to the island back to 1942, with the aid of concerts, live performances, period costumes and 1942-style menus.

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Young Orcadian sailors rendezvous with Prince William in Germany

Ian Chalmers, from Evie, and Thora Aitken, From Kirkwall, are taking part in the Orkney Enterprise sponsored tall ships adventure sailing, which leaves Travemunde in Germany today, Saturday.

The young sailors will join the crew of the twin-masted brig Prince William on the voyage to Aberdeen.

'Cameron Stout' launched at Beer Festival

Cameron Stout with his namesake beer (K. Pirie)

Orkney's tenth annual beer festival is under way in the Stromness Hotel.

Among the attractions this year was the official launch of a new cask stout - unsurprisingly named Cameron Stout.

This year's festival will also feature Cameron Strongarm, Scotland's Champion Beer, Harviestoun's Bitter, as well as 17 other selected beers from Scotland and England.

The festival runs until Sunday night.

Treasure trove of Orkney lore goes online

A treasure trove of Orkney information on the Internet was officially launched in Kirkwall on Friday by Orkney MSP Jim Wallace.

The information, covering culture, history, science and community resources, is part of the Resources for Learning in Scotland (RLS) website. The site now features 1,500 detailed entries celebrating Orkney's history and culture - ranging from images to sound clips.

Subjects covered include the oil age, folklore, aerial views and much more. Click here to visit the NLS site.

Sea Snail trials shelved until 2004

Plans to launch the 'Sea Snail' tidal turbine have been shelved until spring next year.

The prototype tidal energy turbine was to have been placed in the turbulent waters of Eynhallow Sound but the trials were postponed again this week because of the weather conditions.

With the weather now expected to deteriorate as the summer draws to an end, the RGIT engineers plan to continue work with the scale model in Aberdeen.

CCTV planned for town centre?

CCTV cameras could be installed in the centre of Kirkwall for the first time, as part of a three month trial to combat vandalism.

It is understood the three cameras will be wireless to allow them to be moved to different parts of the town as and when required.

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

Police target rural dealers in latest drug awareness campaign

The latest police drug awareness campaign poster

The police have launched a 'Drug Dealer' awareness campaign, aiming to get communities to help tackle the growing problem of hard drugs in the Highlands and Islands.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the problem, emphasising that hard drugs are no longer a problem associated with big cities.

Between April and July of this year Northern Constabulary detected 96 drug supply offences and 509 drug possession offences.

Dounby Stores' butcher tries for top industry award

The Dounby butcher is taking part in the 'Make it With Meat' awards - a competition promoting excellence in meat product development in Scotland.

The winning entries across three categories - beef, lamb, and pork will be revealed at the Scottish Meat Trades Fair on September 7.

Orkney solicitors at forefront of schools' law project

An Orkney law firm is at the forefront of a nationwide scheme to teach young people about the law.

Solicitors from Lows Orkney are involved in the Scottish Schools Law Project, an initiative that helps 10-15 year-olds understand that laws bring not just rights but also responsibilities.

The initiative is proving very popular with both teachers and lawyers, and has gained the full support of the Law Society of Scotland.

Skald 2003 writing festival launches

Orkney's second writing festival - Skald 2003 - was launched on Wednesday. The four day event runs until Sunday and features films, readings, workshops and music.

Among the visiting writers is Todd McEwen, who was Orkney's first writer in residence in 1997.

There is a strong Canadian theme running through the festival with five leading writers making their way to the county from Canada.

Click here for official Skald 2003 website

Redemptorists buy ferry to provide Stronsay link

Eilean Bhearnaraigh leaving Eriskay on Saturday

The vessel will be used by the Transalpine Redemptorists as a link between Stronsay and Papa Stronsay, allowing them to transport goods and the materials needed to progress the construction of the Golgotha Monastery.

Eilean Bhearnaraigh served the islands of Berneray and North Uist from 1982 until becoming a relief vessel in 1998. The vessel was advertised for sale earlier this year.

Weather forecast halts launch of Sea Snail turbine

The planned launch of the Sea Snail wave turbine on Friday has been postponed again - this time the victim of the gale force winds forecast for the end of the week.

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.

Computer learning centre opens in Dounby

Following the successful funding bid for computer equipment, the Dounby Centre have appointed a co-ordinator to run a series of free computer courses.

Prior to the courses beginning on September 2, an open day is taking place on Saturday when anyone interested can go along to discuss their learning needs.

The open day runs from 10am to 4pm. Contact the centre for more details.

Fire hits butcher shop on first day after reopening

The premises of George Donaldson & Son on Tuesday morning

An electrical fault is thought to have been the cause of a fire at Donaldson's butcher shop in Albert Street on Monday night.

The retail premises, which only reopened for business on Monday morning, was extensively damaged in the fire around 7pm.

Firefighters from Kirkwall and Stromness attended the scene and brought the fire under control.

Interim cover sought for NHS chief executive's post

Mrs Wellden returned to the helm of NHS Orkney in August 2002 after six months absence but has now gone on sick leave again. Board chairman Jenny Dewar confirmed today that it is not known when she will return.

She added: "The Scottish Executive is therefore urgently seeking someone to come to Orkney as an interim chief executive to cover Judi's absence."

Deep Sea World brings marina life to Orkney

Marina life comes to Orkney next week with a week long touring extravaganza from Deep Sea World.

The Queensferry marina's roadshow aims to teach schoolchildren about the underwater world, transporting a selection of its inhabitants to visit over 1,000 children in schools across Orkney.

The trip, which starts next Monday, is hoped will allow young Orcadians the opportunity to see some of Deep Sea World's fascinating creatures up close.

Crossing the Pentland Firth - by inflatable boat

Keith Hart (left) arrives in Kirkwall on Monday morning. (Pic: M Macleod/StyleStudio)

A former Orkney policeman crossed the Pentland Firth on Monday morning - in a small inflatable boat.

Keith Hart, who was a served as a policeman in Orkney in the 1970s, made the journey this morning, in the middle of a trip to travel clockwise around the coast of the UK.

Keith is accompanied by a team in rigid inflatable boats, and will spend the next six days cruising around the county.

Donaldson's reopens for business

As one established Kirkwall shop closes, another reopens, with Donaldson's butcher shop reopening for business on Monday morning.

Days after the grocers Cumming & Spence closed their doors, Donaldson's Albert Street shop opened as a self-service outlet.

The shop originally closed in 2001 to allow the firm to concentrate on the wholesale side of the business.

2001