Aiming to be the best Shopping Week ever!
(Story dated: Saturday, July 16)

Shopping Week Queen Erika Norquoy (back centre) is pictured with attendants Kelly Nicolson (left) and Lauren Stanger. Pageboys Rohan Crichton (left) and Dean Croy, with flowergirl Savanna Taylor are also pictured.

The circus is coming to town . . . but that’s not all.

Last year, Big Rory’s girlfriend, the 9ft 2ins Gorgeous Morag, finally said “yes” and next Friday — not before time — they tie the knot, and everyone is invited to watch.

There will even be a reception later at Stromness Academy with music and dancing, speeches, supper — a real traditional Orkney wedding-day treat.

The 57th Stromness Shopping Week programme, which kicks off on Sunday, will be hard to beat.

Indeed, Mrs Isobel Wishart, who chairs the Shopping Week committee, says: “We are trying our hardest to make it the best ever.

“It is a family event with attractions for all ages. We are delighted to welcome the Cottle and Austen Circus to Stromness, which we are certain will bring even more people to the town.

“The timings of the performances mean that people from the isles will be able to get here to see it.”

The circus was the idea of Mervyn Harcus, who was able to persuade the circus management to include Orkney in their schedule.

Mervyn, who has been on the Shopping Week committee for many years, received a vote of thanks from the other members at their recent meeting for the work he has done over a long period.

With a packed programme and so much going on, Mrs Wishart is appealing for volunteers to help both at the Pierhead Portacabin and the teddy stall.

As always, the public are urged to give generously, as grants are now substantially reduced and the week costs in the region of £26,000 to put on.

As last year, the open air dances at the Pierhead will be in a cordoned-off area where no glass bottles will be allowed.

Plastic glasses will be provided in exchange for any bottles. This scheme proved very successful last year with no broken glass and Mrs Wishart commented on the good-natured co-operation from everyone.

Music for dancing this time will be by the Irish band, Playboys.

The Scalloway Jarl Squad are back again this year, joined by the Cullivoe squad.

Shopping Week Queen, Erika Norquoy, together with her attendants Kelly Nicholson and Lauren Stanger, pageboys Rohan Crichton and Dean Croy and flower girl Savanna Taylor, will be at the inaugural service on Sunday at the Church of Scotland at 11.15am, and the following day will sail through the harbour on the Stromness lifeboat for the official opening by Archie Bevan, and the crowning of the queen by her predecessor, Laura Wilson.

This year, the visiting pipe band are Deeside Caledonia, who will be playing throughout the week and on the closing Saturday will be joined by the Stromness British Legion Pipe Band and Kirkwall City Pipe Band, in escorting the fancy dress parade and floats to the Market Green.

Two Viking squads will be in Stromness this year. As well as the Scalloway Jarl Squad, the Cullivoe Jarl Squad are also planning an invasion.

More floats can be expected this year with the decision of the young farmers to enter theirs in the closing Saturday parade.

To encourage more participants, an additional prize for the furthest travelled float is being offered.

Highlights of the week include:

SUNDAY

Sunday sees the all-day men’s, boys’ and ladies’ golf open and the sprint triathlon which starts with a 750 metre swim, followed by a 20 kilometre cycle ride and finally a five kilometre run.

Entry forms have to be with Becky May, Skirlo, Berstane Road, Kirkwall, by tomorrow, Friday, July 15th.

MONDAY

Before the official opening on Monday, at which Stromness Community Council chairwoman Linda Lennie is master of ceremonies, the pipe band will be playing at the Pierhead.

Following the release of pigeons supplied by Raymie Manson, the queen and attendants will be escorted through the street by the pipe band.

Queen Erika then returns to the Pierhead for a royal walkabout. After lunch she and her attendants present sweets and fruit to the residents of St Peter’s House while the pipe band play selections.

The band will also be playing at the Pierhead daily from Tuesday until Friday in the forenoon.

At the community centre, the SWRI handicrafts exhibition and the exhibition by Stromness Flower Club open for the week, and the children’s programme gets under way with the doughnut eating competition, plus the fun day and sports.

In the evening, there is football at the Market Green, when the senior East and West teams compete for the Brown Cup.

Full details of special events, children’s programme and sporting events are contained elsewhere in this feature, and in the official programme.

Stromness football club are organising the lunchtime dunk tank event at the Pier Head, when spectators can also enjoy selections played by the Strathspey and Reel Society and by music from the Playboys who, from 9pm, will be entertaining at the Stromness Hotel. Also on Monday evening there will be prize bingo, organised by Diabetes UK (Orkney Branch).

TUESDAY

The children's three-legged race through the streets of Stromness

Highlights of Tuesday’s programme include music in Stromness Church of Scotland by Delille Diament, Steven Flett and friends. They will be there again on Wednesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile in the adjoining church hall, soup and sandwich lunches which have proved extremely popular in past years, will be served from Monday till Friday.

Deeside Caledonia Band will be playing in Graham Place, while children gather in Leslie’s Close for the pavement artist competition, previously held at the Pier Arts Centre.

This year, with major building work taking place there, a change of venue was required.

The first of the daily workshops organised by the Pier Arts Centre for children will be held at the community centre, where the annual sandcastle competition is being held.

An afternoon of junior athletics is scheduled for Stromness Academy. And, in the evening, a magic show with Mr Colour Magic, rounds off a busy day for the kids.

Anything that Jim Troup does not know about Stromness is hardly worth knowing, and he will be doing one of his very informative history walks which last about two hours, starting at 7pm, from outside the ferry terminal.

That evening 4th Dimension will entertain at the Pier Head.

Sporting activities loom large on the Tuesday evening programme, starting with the East v West junior hockey, bowls for the final of the Chamber of Commerce Cup and the senior East v West hockey.

Requiring just as much energy and planning, the Daft Raft Race is launched at 8pm at the Ness slip.

Mrs Wishart reminds crews that they must remove the rafts from the water and the pier area immediately after the prize-giving.

With that all over, you have a choice - the drama club’s performance of The Laramie Project at the Town Hall or the Playboys at the Ferry Inn.

WEDNESDAY

The Laramie Project is on again on Wednesday evening, while the Playboys are to be found at the Stromness Hotel.

The yard of ale and team beer race in the Town House garden is not to be missed, especially as the rules say spillage may lead to disqualification!

Children have their fishing competition in the morning and a talent competition in the afternoon.

Undoubtedly popular is the three-legged fancy dress juice race along the street, where victory in the race goes to those who get in plenty of practice beforehand.

No disqualification threat for the youngsters however, as orange squash flies in all directions at the drink stops.

There are separate prizes for the best fancy dress and if last year’s examples are anything to go by, parents will have been busy for months, creating some very effective and imaginative costumes.

Children’s bingo is in the evening.

Football takes place again at the Market Green when the junior East and West teams meet to preserve the honour of their respective territories.

On Wednesday night the Playboys will be at the Stromness Hotel from 9 pm.

THURSDAY

Watch out for Big Rory, as he and his lovely fiancée Gorgeous Morag hit town. She has to find a suitable wedding dress for their wedding ceremony on Friday, and Big Rory heads off from the Pierhead at 1.30 pm — a rather early start for his stag night.

The queen, who will have been busy all week handing out prizes, keeps up the good work after the round the town race in the afternoon, with prizes in the sections for males and females in the classes for 9–11s, 12–13s, 14–15s and those 16 and over.

Five-a-side football for the youngsters takes place at Stromness Academy. For the fives and under, a party is being held at the community centre, ending in time for them to get down to the Town House garden where the fun pet show is on.

The queen and her attendants will be presenting sweets and fruit to the residents of Rae’s Close. The pipe band will be in attendance.

Rounding off the day, 4th Dimension play at the Pierhead early in the evening, followed by the Mr and Mrs and Bidey-ins competition at the Town Hall and finally the open air dance at the Pierhead to music by the Playboys.

FRIDAY

There is no doubt what the biggest event on Friday will be — THE WEDDING. If it takes place inside the Town House, a big screen in the garden will relay the scene, at 1pm.

Earlier, there will be a fun swimming gala for all the family, followed by the Holms Race and Little Iron Man which features optional cycling and running in addition to the Holms swimming race.

A less serious sporting event is the three-legged fancy dress male/female beer race that evening.

Disqualification is threatened for all who do not drink every last drop of their beer, to prevent total sobriety giving any competitor an unfair advantage.

It starts at 7pm and finishes eventually. While this is going on there is football at the Market Green for the Parish Cup.

Jim Troup has another of his history tours on Friday afternoon, when there is the annual bonny baby show in the Town Hall, and Big Rory will be out and about and being congratulated. It is the final day of the SWRI handicraft exhibition.

The Town Hall is the venue at 7pm for a traditional music concert given by West Mainland children in aid of sports equipment for children in Malawi. The day ends with Big Rory and Morag’s wedding feast at the Garson Dining Hall, in Stromness Academy, starting at 9pm.

A riotous time is promised — music by the Playboys, grand march, dancing, speeches, supper, traditional bride’s cog and a free glass of bubbly for all those attending in their wedding guest finery. And only £5 to get in and £3 for children.

SATURDAY

The last day of this year’s Shopping Week, and an 8am start on Saturday for the trout fishing competition, with the weigh-in at the Pierhead from 2pm–3pm, when the fish will be auctioned, the proceeds going to a local charity. The sea angling competition begins at 9am and continues the following day.

To sample everything would be impossible — the 10km run, the five-a-side football, the greasy pole, the Malcolm Russell Walk with Magic, the rugby sevens for men and ladies, the adult talent competition, evening football and then the fancy dress and floats procession to the Market Green, escorted by the Deeside Caledonia Pipe Band, the Stromness Royal British Legion Pipe Band and Kirkwall City Pipe Band.

To end the week, a Pierhead open air dance from 10pm until 1am, with music by the Playboys and at 10.45pm the fireworks display.

Another year over!