The Orcadian Features - A look back at the year 2002

A look back at events of 2002

April

Thousands of salmon escaped from their cages at the Bay of Puldrite, sparking a fishing frenzy at Kirkwall Pier, all along the shore at Rennibister in Firth, at the brig in Finstown, the Bay of Hinderayre in Rendall and the Tingwall jetty. The eight cages, owned by Orkney Sea Farms, were damaged due to bad weather conditions although only six of the cages had fish in them. It was believed at the time that around 20,000 salmon were lost from the cages.
NorthLink chief executive John Horton said he was "really very worried" about the ability to get the entire fleet of 72 livestock carriers known as cassettes built and delivered by the autumn. He was speaking after a meeting with council representatives and Orkney NFU.
Construction work on the new ten-pin bowling alley at Great Western Road in Kirkwall got under way. Mr George Drever, a director of Powerbowl the business behind the £604,000 project predicted that around 12 jobs would be created when the centre opened.
Eoin Millar, owner of Kirkwall-based Bob¹s Taxis, claimed that violence on the streets of Kirkwall was "spiralling out of control". He made his claim at an OIC licensing sub-committee meeting, claiming that the burger vans parked near his taxi rank at weekends were attracting too many people and making it hard for him to find staff to work on weekends because of the violence.
Orkney Brewery beat off the challenge from heavyweight competitors all around the world to clinch the top prize at the Brewing Industry International Awards the world cup of beers. The company secured the prize for their Red MacGregor beer.
There was disappointment for Orkney Rugby Club this month, as their First XV lost their BT National Division Four play-off match against Stirling University. However, the club were able to put that disappointment behind them, when they were entered into a four-way play off in May for a second chance at promotion.
Orkney¹s oldest resident, Miss Isie Thomson, died in April aged 104.
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited managing director, Mr Bob MacLeod, announced this month that work on a £1.9 million Instrument Landing System at Kirkwall Airport was due to start in the summer.
The announcement was made at the official opening of the new £2.6 million terminal building by Scots First Minister, Mr Jack McConnell.
Orkney¹s MSP, Mr Jim Wallace, met with senior officials to discuss a staffing crisis at Kirkwall¹s Balfour Hospital. This followed a report that NHS Orkney had been forced to consider temporarily closing the local cancer care unit, Macmillan House, to help cope with a short-term shortage of acute nursing staff.
Orkney Islands Council¹s director of finance and housing, Mr David Robertson, moved on after 17 years with the OIC. He left Orkney to take up a new job as head of accounting at the Highland Council headquarters in Inverness.

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