A look back at events of 2002

November

• Pentland Ferries launched their new ro-ro service from Orkney to Invergordon, carrying freight and passengers on the six-hour journey.
• South Ronaldsay woman, Dr Helen Martini, criticised the wave wall on the number two Churchill Barrier after two vehicles were battered by lumps of water crashing over the top. Although a number of other people were injured by waves on the barrier,
• Orkney Rugby Club were hit by floods for the second time in 2002. After losing to Heriot¹s FP 115-6 in the club¹s much-anticipated BT Scottish Cup match in Edinburgh, members returned home to discover that the clubhouse had been flooded.
• Local jewellery firm Ola Gorie came third in the annual Made in Scotland Scottish Gift of the Year event, while Shapinsay-based company Lovatt Textiles were commended by judges.
• A survey not surprisingly discovered that petrol in Orkney was among the most expensive in the UK. The survey cited Kirkwall as having the most costly unleaded petrol at 83.5p a litre.
• The future pattern of livestock shipping from Orkney and Shetland was plunged into turmoil again in November. Uncertainty about the kind of shipping service which would be available to farmers and crofters by the autumn of 2003 was caused by Orkney Auction Mart¹s decision not to take up the £4.3 million council loan to build and operate the new cassette system for animal transport.
  
  At the same time, Orkney Marine Logistics, who were contracted to design and supply the cassette system, threw their hat into the ring as potential operators.
• Pentland Ferries decided to discontinue their freight service from St Margaret¹s Hoe to Invergordon in November within its first month if operation. Managing director Mr Andrew Banks blamed its demise on the lack of trade using the route.
• Orkney Islands Council announced that they were going to examine the possibility of expanding or enhancing the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall, after the Millennium Commission flagged up the chance of a share of their final grants before they wind down. Projects flagged up ranged from a swimming and leisure pool to proper floodlighting for the athletics track and football pitch.
• Two new Orkney wines were launched on the market 18 Carat and Ba¹nana.
• Orkney TV presenter Julyan Sinclair picked up the award for the best new television presenter in Scotland at the BAFTA Scotland awards in Glasgow.
• Orkney¹s secondary school pupils did better than any others in Scotland in the 2002 Standard Grade examinations, an official Scottish Qualifications Authority report revealed.
  
  According to league tables published by the Scottish Executive showed that 88 per cent of fourth year pupils who sat Standard Grades attained five awards at level four or better the Scottish average was 76 per cent.