Just over 40 years ago, Orkney had a very unwelcome invasion of foot-and-mouth disease. As Britain awaits the outcome of the latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, read about the last outbreak in Orkney as described by Mary Bichan.

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An Orkney diver is planning to set up a registered charity to ensure that the wrecks of ships which have sunk in mysterious circumstances are officially remembered with onshore memorials listing the individual people who were lost.

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Jimmy and Marjory Walls bought Roadside Shop, in Lady, Sanday, on June 13, 1970, though some local comment was not particularly encouraging. More than 30 years later, they retired at the beginning of this month, and the thriving business has changed management; Ian Moore is the new shopkeeper.

Jimmy looks back over his working life: click here

How many people can say that they have held a subscription with The Orcadian for well over half a century – in fact before the start of World War Two?

At least one man can. He is 89-year-old James Groat of Bogfoot, Southwick, in Dumfries, who has just renewed his latest subscription to The Orcadian after taking out his first subscription in January, 1938.

For full feature, click here.

A fascination for the Kirkwall Ba’ game drew one Japanese professor thousands of miles across the globe for his third visit to the county - giving him another chance to watch the traditional game in action.

Professor Norihisa Yoshida left Orkney this week after spending a month researching the Ba’. His studies will eventually form part of his thesis on street ball games in Britain.

For full feature, click here.

Join us in a review of the events that made the headlines throughout 2000.

Click here to access.

Two stalwarts of the Stromness sailing scene have been successful in launching an Orkney Yole Association with the aim of preserving the traditional Orkney yole which has featured largely in the maritime economy of Orkney.

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A piece of technological history has been removed from the Orkney landscape with the toppling and break-up of the 3 megawatt prototype wind generator on Burgar Hill in Evie.

The 45 metre concrete tower and twin bladed rotor were knocked down with the help of a controlled explosion at precisely 12 midday on Friday, 10th November.

Around 100 spectators had come from all over the West Mainland and beyond to witness the demolition.

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The discovery of a Stone Age tomb on Westray complete with human remains has taken archaeologists by complete surprise.

The site at the Knowe of Skea, Westside, believed to be a prehistoric settlement, was being investigated by a team of archaeologists from Edinburgh because it is threatened by coastal erosion.

But when the archaeologists started excavating the site they were startled to find a 5,000 year-old burial chamber being unearthed beneath their feet.

For the full story, click here.

One of the only two women’s ba’s in existence is now on display in the Orkney Museum.

The 1945 Christmas Day ba’ was handed over to the museum last week by the sons of the first Women’s Ba’ winner, the late Barbara Yule.

Shortly after winning the ba’ Barbara moved to London, taking her prized possession with her. She passed away earlier this year, but it was her wish that the ba’ be brought back to its homeland.

For more on this story, click here.

A World War Two maritime mystery has been solved by two Orkney men.

For Ian Trumpess and Kevin Heath, both from Stromness, are the first people in over 55 years to see the wreck of a German U-boat, which sank in water off Orkney in 1944.

Fifty men perished when the vessel, on her first wartime mission, was gunned down in an air attack. Their bodies are believed still to be on board.

For the full story, click here.

The Wreck of the Johanna Thorden

In 1937, the Finnish vessel Johanna Thorden was lost in the Pentland Firth. All but a few of those on board perished in the raging seas but an element of mystery still surrounds the tragic event.

Click here for details of the incident as well as a report on the follow-up seminar held in July 2000.

The entire population of Wyre rallied round to create a brand new attraction on the island – its own heritage centre.

The old community hall has been transformed into a living museum with photographs and items donated by current and former islanders to illustrate the history of Wyre.

Prominent among the exhibits are early drawings and maps of the excavations of Cubbie Roo’s Castle and St Mary’s Chapel alongside.

Click here for details

Letters from World War I

The friendships that were struck up during the bloody war years were no more poignant than for one young Orkney man and his Lanarkshire comrade. For when they met, Orcadian man R. Ritch and Will Heron had no idea down which road their friendship would take them.

Click here to read more.

Orkney diver Mark Reeves dived to a record-breaking depth in order to lay a memorial plaque on the sunken aircraft carrier, HMS Dasher, which sank almost 60 years ago killing 379 men.

In a highly emotional ceremony, Mark dived to a depth of 131 metres (428 feet) onto the flight deck of the vessel which lies in the lower Clyde – and until now had been considered out of reach for untethered diving.

For this story, click here.

Several pairs of huge brown eyes stared up at Angus Ross and he was hooked. Clutching at his legs, the lost children of war-torn Burundi smiled up at him. They were looking for the love and affection that had been so brutally taken away from them.

And now Orkney couple, Angus and Janice Ross, from Finstown, are planning to join their daughter in helping the orphaned and maimed children of Africa’s Burundi. They are heading out to the country in September to set up a secondary school for the children.

Click here for more details.