A look back at events of 2004

August

• August got off to a sad start when a climber died tragically after "living the dream".
  
  Les Gorham, 55, plunged to his death when he attempted to abseil down The Clett - one of the two sea stacks in Windwick Bay, South Ronaldsay.
  
  Mr Gorham, a father of two, lived in Manchester, where he was the partner and director of a small company that deals with medical and industrial uses of magnetism.
• The national beef envelope prompted little reaction from Orkney farmers in August, with many expressing that it would make little difference. George Rouse, NFUS Orkney chairman, said that it was unlikely to influence whether or not farmers decided to reduce the number of cattle carried on their land.
  Ross Finnie, minister for environment and rural development, said that the rates of payment were approximate and final figures would not be known until 2005.
• Police in Orkney revealed that an operation to clean up youth crime in Kirkwall resulted in catching a group of 14-16-year-olds who had allegedly been on a crime spree which was responsible for over 50 acts of vandalism.
• Orkney doctors were grilled by lawyers in mock court rooms to prepare them for the ordeal of real-life negligence claims. The training course was backed by Dr Douglas Deans, a senior Kirkwall GP and vice-chairman of the health board.
  During the day-long courses, staff members were assessed on their performances as witnesses.
• Operation Keen, which had been running for the previous three months, saw PC Jim Mollison working on the beat talking to kids on the streets.
  Detective Sergeant Bob MacKenzie, said: "We have concluded the first part of Operation Keen, which is aimed at targeting reoccurring vandalism and thefts in Orkney."
• It was revealed in August that Orkney workers may not be receiving a fair deal at their work when it comes to paid leave.
  
  That was the claim of Kirkwall businessman and OIC councillor, Roderick McLeod, who highlighted his belief that many employees, both in Orkney and nationwide, were not getting the four weeks paid leave that everyone is entitled to.
• A Stromness solicitor insisted that Orkney Islands Council held the key to alleviating housing problems throughout the county.
  
  Anne Robertson, of J.E.P. Robertson, claimed that if the council increased the supply of special self-build sites, it would help solve high prices faced by househunters in Orkney.
  
  Ms Robertson was speaking in reply to figures that showed prices in Orkney had risen by 40 per cent in the previous year.
• A number of jobs in Orkney were safeguarded in August when the mother company of Orkney's jewellery industry insisted that it would not be sold.
  
  Ola Gorie had previously revealed that they were looking for a new owner, but later insisted that the 44 year-old company would not be sold.
• An exhibition showcasing the work of human rights charity Amnesty International was held in Orkney during August.
  
  Orkney artists got together to raise awareness of human rights abuses around the world by putting on an exhibition to raise funds for the charity.
  The exhibition was held in the Orkney Gallery in Kirkwall, with 50 per cent of art sales going to the international charity.