The Boys' Ba' 2004

The first ba' of the new year went down - with doonie boy Julian Thomson winning the trophy.

Thrown up at 10.30am, the Boys' Ba' reached the Kirkwall basin at 1.47pm, taken into the water by doonie John Tait, who had made a break from the car park behind Boots.

The pack reached as far south as the new Orkney Library, but the Doonie boys were not giving in without a fight.

The Boys' Ba' was donated by Mrs Irene Donaldson, whose late husband, Norn Donaldson, won a Men’s Ba’ on New Year’s Day 1978.

Click here for a selection of pictures from the Boys' Ba'

MBE to Orkney Science Festival Director

Howie Firth MBE

Orkney Science Festival founder and director Howie Firth has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

Mr Firth receives his award for services to popular science. He left Orkney in 1999 after working in broadcasting with the BBC. Mr Firth was Radio Orkney's first senior producer and presenter when the local radio station was launched in 1977.

He is currently director of Moray College's Centre for Communication of Science.

2004 heralds a year of celebration for The Orcadian's 150th anniversary

The Orcadian's 150th birthday celebrations kicked off in earnest on Wednesday with the New Year edition of the newspaper on sale.

Included with this week's newspaper is a special 20 page souvenir section on the history of the newspaper, as well as a facsimile copy of the first ever edition - printed in 1854 in Victoria Street, Kirkwall.

The birthday celebrations will last all year with new features, events and a fresh, new design to our news pages.

Wrigley sisters come home for New Year

Sister act Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley were due to perform a special afternoon Hogmanay concert on Wednesday at the King Street Halls, Kirkwall.

After successive years of touring, the pair have consigned their suitcases to the attic and will be celebrating the New Year at home in Orkney.

Jennifer said: "It's about time we did a new year gig in Orkney. It's such a special time of the year and we're really looking forward to spending it at home."

Executive cash boost for isles ferry service

A voluntary project to maintain a ferry service between Westray and Papa Westray is to receive £4,500 from the Scottish Executive.

The grant, part of the latest round of the Executive's Rural Community Transport Initiative, will allow the service, which links the two islands outhwith school hours, to continue throughout the winter months.

Douglas Hourston, chairman of the Papa Westray Trust, said: "This is excellent news because it is a winter connection to Westray where there are far more night classes and things for the kids to do. You can even use it to go out for a meal. It is a very well used service."

Police urge care in wintry weather

Orkney had its first taste of winter this week, with snow covering much of the county on Monday and Tuesday.

But although the snow ploughs and gritters were out, driving conditions in some places remained far from ideal.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, Inspector David Miller stressed that although the main roads were clear, motorists should heed the conditions and drive carefully.

The cold snap is not expected to last, however, with a thaw expected to be under way today, Wednesday.

Wallace commends OIC submission on CAP reform

Mr. Wallace said: "This timely and welcome submission shows how central agriculture is to the Orkney economy, and the impact which a fully decoupled system, under a reformed CAP, could have, not only on the farming sector, but also on a wide range of associated industries, as well as on the delivery of public services in the islands."

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Orkney donations sought for Iran relief fund

Following the major international rescue effort under way after the earthquake in Iran, people in the Northern Isles can now make donations to the relief fund.

According to Kenneth Thomson, local Red Cross manager, people in Orkney and Shetland have already expressed their wishes to make donations.

Cheques, made payable to the British Red Cross, can be sent to Kenneth Thomson, Services Manager, Red Cross House, 4 Victoria Road, Kirkwall.