This is Dementia Awareness Week, and various events have been planned through Alzheimer Scotland, whose local organiser is Ann Williamson.

Tomorrow there will be a reminiscence session in the Shetland Museum and Archives between 2pm and 3.30pm called Does du Mind?, focusing on summer holidays and summer activities.

Also tomorrow there will be a Midsummer Concert in the town hall at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm.

On Thursday the Dementia Café will take place at the Baptist Church at Quoys from 10am to noon and in the afternoon there will be a knitting group in the upper bar café at Mareel from 2pm to 4.30 pm, in association with Shetland Arts.

Finally there will be bingo by Roxanne at Bonhoga from 7.30pm to 9pm.

On Friday there will be an information stand at Tesco from noon to 6pm.

A man who had an argument with his wife and admitted venting his anger at the car they jointly owned had sentence deferred when he appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that Aigers Kadils, 39, a Latvian living in Cheyne Crescent, Lerwick, behaved in a threatening manner by shouting, brandishing a golf club and damaging the bodywork of the car with the golf club at Cheyne Crescent on Friday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Kadils, who had proceedings explained by an interpreter, had been in custody since the event and realised how stupid he had been.

Honorary sheriff Arnold Duncan said that Kadils’ actions had been “somewhat senseless”. Bearing in mind that Kadils had “no background” in this sort of behaviour, that he had spent four nights in custody and had made an early plea of guilty, he deferred sentence for three months for Kadils to be of good behaviour.

An act of “simple wickedness” led to a man who appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court today being told to leave Shetland within 24 hours.

Dean Armstrong, 27, of Bridge Road, Lynemouth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging a car in Runafirth, Brae, on Sunday. A not guilty plea to attempting to take the car away was accepted.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the “strange” offence had taken place after Armstrong had been drinking, but not to the extent that he was unaware of what he was doing.

Armstrong admitted entering an unlocked car, ripping out the stereo system, breaking off the ignition cowling and trying to set fire to it. The fire did not take and he poured oil on the seat, but it still did not take. He caused damage estimated at £700 but could not explain his actions.

Mr MacKenzie said: “This sort of behaviour reveals a deep-seated wickedness, it’s quite concerning.”

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said that Armstrong, who has been working at Sullom, believed he could be suffering from depression. Mr Allan said that Armstrong expected to lose his job through his “bizarre” behaviour, but had an opportunity to go south.

Honorary sheriff Arnold Duncan said it was a “very serious” offence, and released Armstrong on bail, with the special condition he left Shetland in 24 hours. He is only to return to appear in court, which he will do on 11th July.

Shetland athletes Emma Leask and Caitlin Watt did well in competitions on the mainland at the weekend.

Leask broke her own Shetland record in the 800 metres at the British Milers Club Grand Prix in Manchester with a time of 2:08.89. The result pushes her up to sixth in the overall Scottish rankings.

She said: “I am delighted to break my personal best again and get below 2.10. I don’t usually go to the front of the group but I was feeling good so I just went for it.

“My first lap was 61 seconds which was a little too fast and I faded in the last 50 metres. I still feel I can go faster if I get the tactics right and it’s all good experience for my next race in two weeks’ time.”

Watch more video of 2013 British Milers Club Sports City Grand Prix on www.athleticos.org

Leask continued her fine form in Guernsey the next night where she ran the 400m and the 200m. She ran a time that was just outside the Shetland 400m record which she set last week. Her time was 58.33 seconds which was just shy of the record of 58.21. She ran a very good time of 26.95 in the 200m the same night.

Watt set a new Shetland record in Dublin at the weekend in the discus throw. She was competing for the Scottish Universities team against the Irish Universities team. She had already broken the record this year with a distance of 30.15 but improved on that distance in the Irish capital by throwing 30.73.

A spokesman for Shetland Athletics Club said: “We would like to congratulate Emma and Caitlin on their fantastic achievements this weekend and hope they keep on improving throughout the season.”

Leask said she would like to thank her sponsors Delta Marine for help towards the cost of her travels.

I suspect that all those in Shetland adversely affected by the present round of SIC financial cuts – 2,500 SIC staff plus their families, council house tenants, the elderly, parents, sports people, etc – have at least one thing in common. They all read The Shetland Times.

So why is it that when The Shetland Times mounts a petition calling for the government’s longstanding £40 million oil boom housing debt to the SIC to be repaid that so few – a paltry 813 at the time of writing – have signed?

The Scottish government is holding a cabinet meeting in Shetland next month and every Shetland resident worth their salt should sign the petition now.

Otherwise Alex Salmond will blithely imagine that nobody cares about the £40 million.

John Tulloch
Lyndon,
Arrochar.

[Including paper coupons sent to the newsroom the total number of signatories stands at 1,011. You can sign by visiting www.dropshetlandsdebt.org Ed]

Calls for Shetland Islands Council to stop investing in tobacco shares were renewed this week.

It was suggested at Wednesday’s special SIC meeting that, as the council begins sharing more services with NHS Shetland, impetus may grow for it to follow the health board’s lead in washing its hands of tobacco.

A joint SIC-NHS committee for delivering social care was recently created. While the council must strive to maximise stock market returns on its oil reserves and pension fund, some members argue that profiting from tobacco conglomerates could jar with its growing responsibility to champion public health initiatives.

“As we as a council move towards more integration with the NHS, it could be argued that we have a health interest which contradicts investing in tobacco,” councillor Billy Fox pointed out this week.

Leading health bodies, including the UK Faculty of Public Health, argue it is “untenable” for councils to continue buying shares in firms such as British American Tobacco (BAT).

Mr Fox told this newspaper: “It’s probably getting to the stage where there is sound reason to look at [whether to invest] in terms of tobacco companies.”

Ethical investment has long been a hobby horse of Lerwick South councillor Jonathan Wills. He was accused of sounding like a “cracked record” by councillor Robert Henderson during Wednesday’s SIC meeting.

Advocates of the status quo, such as councillor Allison Duncan, say fund managers’ advice that tobacco stocks are a good investment must be heeded.

Shares in BAT have risen by 433 per cent over the past decade, while Imperial Tobacco has enjoyed a 188 per cent rise. Both companies are major players on the FTSE100 index, where some of the council’s investments are kept in “passive” funds which seek to track the index’s overall performance.

Recently retired councillor Gussie Angus argued that buying tobacco shares was akin to “killing our beneficiaries”. Echoing that, Dr Wills said the good financial returns came at a high price – one Shetlander dies every week as a result of smoking.

“That’s their problem,” retorted Mr Duncan, who accused Dr Wills of harbouring “an obsession towards ethical investment”.

“My advice [to the fund managers] is, for goodness sake, put our money [wherever] it gets the best return,” Mr Duncan said. “If it should be tobacco, so be it.”

“Buy a whorehouse!” Dr Wills responded.

Speaking after the meeting, he told this newspaper: “The SIC already suffers because of the tobacco epidemic, due to lost time caused by tobacco-related illnesses, to say nothing of the many council staff who’ve died of tobacco over the years.

“If we hold shares in mining or oil companies, we can go to their annual meetings and ask them to stop destroying the Ecuadorean rainforest or polluting the Gulf of Mexico, but there [is no] way shareholders will force a tobacco company to stop producing tobacco.

“In this case the only option is to sell the shares. And I will keep on about it until we do, however many ignorant, unpleasant jibes I have to suffer from colleagues about ‘cracked records’ and ‘obsessions’.”

Quizzed by Dr Wills on Wednesday, Baillie Gifford investor Tom Wright said the company felt there was money to be made out of tobacco, a “legal, highly regulated and highly taxed” commodity.

“But there’s no getting away from the fact that tobacco is not a healthy product,” Mr Wright accepted.

Another investor, Black Rock, looks after 93 per cent of the SIC’s pension fund. But its job is to track the FTSE index – meaning selling tobacco shares is not an option.

“All we can do is work behind the scenes with company management on shareholder interest and environmental matters,” said Black Rock’s investment manager Graham Jung.

Councillor Drew Ratter said he was content with that explanation. “If something is legal and regulated, what measure would one come up with to define its ethicalness or not? I doubt we’d find a very good answer.”

SIC convener Malcolm Bell said it was a “moot point” and Dr Wills had “every right” to continue raising the matter.

Mr Bell is no fan of smoking, and did not dismiss the idea of ceasing to buy shares in tobacco firms. But he stressed the local authority’s duty to “steward Shetland’s public finances to the very best we can”.

“I’m not saying we should or shouldn’t [invest],” he said. “BAT is a big player on the FTSE. If we’re going to track the FTSE you have to have a stake in it. Actively managed funds are slightly different.

“We’re discussing our investment strategy at the end of the month. I’ve no doubt that will come up and we’ll have to make a decision.”

Firefighters were called to a dramatic van fire in Lerwick’s Greenfield Place shortly after 8.30am this morning.

The van, belonging to building contractor Norman Coutts, was completely destroyed in the blaze, which took hold quickly with billowing smoke being seen as far away as Gremista.

Mr Coutts had been working at a house in the road when he went back to his Ford Transit van and noticed flames coming from underneath the dashboard.

Flames billow from the van which was destroyed by the blaze. Photo: Frank Bradford

He attempted, unsuccessfully, to put out the blaze with a small extinguisher but the flames took hold, quickly engulfing the vehicle.

Two fire appliances from Lerwick attended and firefighters using breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze with two hosereel jets. Fire headquarters in Inverness said the alarm was raised at 8.53am, with many calls received from the public. The incident was over by 9.37am, with a “quantity of workmens’ tools” destroyed by the fire.

These details are subject to change or cancellation without prior notification. Check with organisers if unsure.

Useful numbers:

Islesburgh Community Centre – 01595 745100; Shetland Amenity Trust (SAT) – 01595 694688; Shetland Arts – 01595 743843; Shetland Box Office – (www.shetlandboxoffice.org) or 01595 745555; Shetland Museum & Archives – 01595 695057.

JULY 2013

Sailing/Rowing Regattas and Sheepdog Trials (dates tbc)

until 7th: Shetland Nature Festival 2013 + European Geoparks Week

3rd: Cruise Ship Ocean Princess in Lerwick Harbour

4th: Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

5th: Cruise Ship Serenissima in Lerwick Harbour

5th: Mid Yell Boating Club – Chinese Night

6th & 7th: Party at the Pier at Cullivoe

6th: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Skellister, Nesting, book at Tourist Office

6th: Cruise Ship Azamara Quest in Lerwick Harbour

6th: Uyeasound Regatta

7th to 14th: UnstFest 2013 – a week of events, entertainment and activities in Unst

10th: Baltasound Hall – Music, Dance & Teas, 7.30-10pm

13th & 14th: North Mainland Gardening Club – Gardens Open weekend, more details later

13th: Baltasound Regatta

13th: Burravoe Fishing Competition

14th: Inter-County Bowling Match at King George V Flower Park from 10.30am

14th: Unst Angling Club Trout Competition, 4-10pm

15th: Unst Heritage Centre course – Introduction to Lace Knitting (experienced knitters); bookings/info 01957 755244; info@unstheritage.com

18th: Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

20th & 21st July: Glusstonberry

20th: Sailing & Rowing Regatta at Burravoe

20th: Sandwick Family Fun Day – various events and entertainments

20th: Unst Angling Club Sea Competition, 6-9.30pm

21st: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Basta Voe to Gloup, Yell, book at Tourist Office

21st: Cruise Ship Silver Cloud in Lerwick Harbour

21st: Vidlin Hall – Sunday Market & Teas

22nd: Cruise Ship Corinthian in Lerwick Harbour

23rd: Cruise Ships Hebridean Princess and Columbus 2 in Lerwick Harbour

23rd: Spor-Tea in the Park, 4-7pm at Gilbertson Park

24th: Baltasound Hall – Music, Dance & Teas, 7.30-10pm

25th: Cruise Ship Thomson Spirit in Lerwick Harbour

26th: Cruise Ships Eurodam and Corinthian in Lerwick Harbour

27th: Yell Sheepdog Trials at Westsandwick from 8.30am

27th: Inter-County Football Fun Day, 10am-5pm at Clickimin Muckabouts & Rugby Area

27th: Whalsay Gala at the Pelagic Pier, Symbister, 11am-1am, with live music, BBQ, tea room, stalls etc

27th: Herra Eela Competition, Yell

27th: Senior Inter-County Football, 6pm at Gilbertson Park

28th: Unst Farmers’ Market in Baltasound Hall, 12noon-2pm

31st: Cruise Ship Brilliance of the Seas in Lerwick Harbour

AUGUST  2013

Sailing/Rowing Regattas and Sheepdog Trials (dates tbc)

1st: Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

2nd: Cruise Ship Marina in Lerwick Harbour

2nd: Mid Yell Boating Club – Chinese Night

3rd: Voe Agricultural Show (tbc)

3rd: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Fetlar, book at Tourist Office

3rd: Cruise Ship Hamburg in Lerwick Harbour

3rd: Champion of Champions Bowling Final, 2.30pm at King Gorge V Flower Park

3rd: Unst Angling Club Trout (boat/bank) Competition, 3-9pm

3rd: Shetland Arts presents Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham in Cullivoe Hall, tickets Shetland Box Office

4th to 10th: Shetland Arts – Fiddle Frenzy (www.shetlandarts.org)

4th: North Ness Hall, Ulsta – Sunday Buffet, 12.30-6pm

4th: Trondra Rowing Regatta

6th: Unst Angling Club Sea Competition, 6-9pm

6th: Fetlar Hall – Fiddle Frenzy Concert

7th: Baltasound Hall – Music, Dance & Teas, 7.30-10pm

9th & 10th: Mid Yell Fishing Competitions (Skate day on 9th)

10th & 11th: Lerwick Regatta in Lerwick Harbour

10th & 11th: Lerwick v Buchan Junior Bowling Tournament in Clickimin Bowls Hall

10th: Cruise Ship Voyager in Lerwick Harbour

10th: Walls Agricultural Show

10th: Yoal Rowing Championships at Baltasound

11th: Sprint Triathlon, 11.30am at Brae

11th: Walls Agricultural Show Vintage Vehicle Day

12th: Unst Heritage Centre course – Introduction to designing a fine lace scarf (for very experienced); bookings/info 01957 755244; info@unstheritage.com

13th: Cruise Ship Discovery in Lerwick Harbour

14th to 17th: Annual Inter-Club Sailing Regatta in Lerwick Harbour

14th: Cunningsburgh Agricultural Show

14th: Cruise Ships FTI Berlin and Marco Polo in Lerwick Harbour

15th: Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

17th: Big Bannock 2013 (ticket holders only, tickets on sale at North Roe & Lochend Hall on 29th July, 7pm)

18th: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Stromness, Whiteness, book at Tourist Office

19th: Cruise Ship Nautica in Lerwick Harbour

23rd: Ragged Wood Promotions presents Devon Sproule at Mareel, 7pm, tickets £14 / £12

24th: Unst Angling Club Olick & Tusk Competition, 2-6pm

24th: Ragged Wood promotions presents Devon Sproule at Fair Isle Hall

25th: Unst Farmers’ Market in Baltasound Hall, 12noon-2pm

25th: Unst Angling Club Trout Competition, 3-9pm

29th: Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

31st until 7th September: Shetland Arts – Screenplay Festival (www.shetlandarts.org)

31st: Cruise Ship Caribbean Princess in Lerwick Harbour

31st: Unst Show (tbc)

SEPTEMBER 2013

Shetland Arts – Wordplay Festival (date tbc)

1st: Vidlin Hall – Sunday Market & Teas

5th: Cruise Ship Crystal Symphony in Lerwick Harbour

6th: Mid Yell Boating Club – Chinese Night

7th: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Skelladale, book at Tourist Office

7th: Yell Show + entertainments at East Yell Hall

12th: Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

13th to 15th: 10th Shetland Blues Festival

13th: Visit of Statsraad Lehmkuhl to Lerwick Harbour

14th: Farmers’ Market in Tingwall Public Hall, 10am-2pm

14th: Unst Angling Club Trout Competition, 2-8pm

14th: Burravoe Hall – Music Night with Alan Tulloch & Friends, in aid of Old Haa

18th: Visit of Statsraad Lehmkuhl to Lerwick Harbour

21st: Hairst Trophy Dinghy Regatta in Lerwick Harbour

21st: Cullivoe Hall – Irish Country Concert (tbc)

22nd: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Scatness, book at Tourist Office

22nd: Cruise Ship Fram in Lerwick Harbour

23rd: Cruise Ship Norwegian Star in Lerwick Harbour

23rd: Centre for Nordic Studies – Talk: ‘Archipelago Poems and Paintings: Islands, Nations, Position and Power’ by Alan Riach, in NAFC Marine Centre

26th: Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

27th: DF Concerts & Events presents Tim Burgess in Mareel

29th: Unst Farmers’ Market in Baltasound Hall

OCTOBER 2013

4th: Mid Yell Boating Club – Chinese Night

5th: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Uyea, Northmavine, book at Tourist Office

5th: Farmers’ Market in Tingwall Public Hall, 10am-2pm

5th: Yell Show Prizegiving & Trophy Presentations in Mid Yell Hall

7th to 13th: Shetland Wool Week

8th: Centre for Nordic Studies – Talk: ‘Ecclesiastical architecture in early medieval Scotland: Orkney and Shetland in context’ by Sally Foster, in NAFC Marine Centre

9th: Unst Heritage Centre courses – Knit a cockleshell scarf (experienced); Introduction to designing fine lace scarf (very experienced); bookings/info 01957 755244; info@unstheritage.com

10th to 14th: Shetland Fiddle and Accordion Festival

20th: Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Mangaster to Nibon, book at Tourist Office

25th: Shetland Country Music Club presents Hal Ketchum in Clickimin Centre, 8pm, tickets £23.50 / £21.50 / £13.00 from Shetland Box Office

27th: Vidlin Hall – Sunday Market & Teas

27th: Unst Farmers’ Market in Baltasound Hall

NOVEMBER  2013

2nd: Farmers’ Market in Tingwall Public Hall, 10am-2pm

19th: DF Concerts & Events presents Ricky Ross in Mareel

DECEMBER 2013

1st: Vidlin Hall – Sunday Market & Teas

7th: Farmers’ Market in Tingwall Public Hall, 10am-2pm

2014

JANUARY 2014

10th: Scalloway Fire Festival (tbc)

28th: Lerwick Up-Helly-A’

MAY 2014

1st to 4th: Shetland Folk Festival

JULY 2014

27th to 1st August: European Fireball Sailing Championships in Lerwick Harbour

===================================================

Every care is taken in the compilation of this list. If you are aware of any errors or need details amended or added, please contact our office or send an email to info@shetland-times.co.uk

These details are subject to change or cancellation without prior notification. Check with organisers if unsure.

Useful numbers:

Islesburgh Community Centre – 01595 745100; Shetland Amenity Trust (SAT) – 01595 694688; Shetland Arts – 01595 743843; Shetland Box Office – (www.shetlandboxoffice.org) or 01595 745555; Shetland Museum & Archives – 01595 695057.

JUNE 2013

until 9th: Bonhoga Gallery Main Exhibition: ‘Four Journeys from Blue’ by Ria Moncrieff, Rachel Ross Smith, Diane Garrick and Gail Harvey – winners of Shetland Open 2012; Lower Gallery: Bairns’ Open Drawing Awards 2013; Craft Cabinet: UK Craft

until 30th: Da Gadderie Exhibition (at Shetland Museum) – ‘Of Time and Water’ by Peter Davis

to 7th: Alzheimer Scotland – Dementia Awareness Week Events inc. 6th: Dementia Café in Quoys Baptist Church, 10am, Knitting Group in Mareel Café 2pm; Bingo in Bonhoga 7.30pm

THURSDAY 6th

Cruise Ship Discovery in Lerwick Harbour

Shetland Aerogenerators – ‘Change’ Conference at Mareel, 7 for 7.30pm

Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

Variety Concert with various local artistes in Garrison Theatre, 7.30pm, in aid of Eric Gray Services Hansel Fund

FRIDAY 7th

Big Yell Weekend – Chip Suppers & Music Night in Weavers Shed, Burravoe

Mid Yell Boating Club – Chinese Night

Mareel Café Bar – Mixology@Mareel, 9pm-1am

The Funk & Soul Show – Motown, Funk & Soul Disco in Royal British Legion, Lerwick, 9pm, over 18s, £5

Mid Brae Inn – Live Music by Overdrive from 9.30pm

SATURDAY 8th

& 9th: Big Yell Weekend – Shetland Dinghy Sailing Championships at Burravoe; also Breakfasts in Weaving Shed

Family 1-10k Fundraiser, with Disney-themed fancy dress, at Clickimin Track, 1.30pm, in aid of Yorkhill Hospital Children’s Foundation

Nesting Rowing Regatta & Pier Party at Catfirth Slip from 2pm

Sandwick School Family Gala Day, 12noon-4pm

Bridge End Outdoor Centre – Car Boot Sale 12noon-2.30pm; Soup, Bannocks, Teas & Homebakes; Eela Competition 2-4.30pm followed by BBQ and music etc

Walls Public Hall – Curry Night, eat in or takeaway, 5-8pm

Big Yell Weekend – Burravoe Carnival from 6pm at Burravoe Hall; The Bashies in the Weaving Shed & Fiddle/Accordion music in Barrel Store

Shetland Folk Society & Shetland ForWirds – Book Launch of reprint Da Sangs at A’ll Sing ta Dee’ in Shetland Museum, 7pm

Mid Brae Inn – BGD Efternoon Karaoke, 2.30-6pm; Turbo Tunes Disco from 9pm

Cunningsburgh Hall – Games Night, 8pm

CANCELLED – Muckle Roe Race Night & Supper in Muckle Roe Hall, 7.30pm

SUNDAY 9th

Shetland Dog Club – Annual Dog Show at Gilbertson Park from 9.45am

CLAN 30th Anniversary – Walk around Cunningsburgh, meet at hall 2pm, followed by Teas in the hall, 2.30-5pm

Vidlin Hall – Sunday Market & Teas, Music etc, 2-5pm

Moving On Employment Project – Sunday Teas & Car Boot Sale etc in Gulberwick Hall, 2-4pm

Voe Show – Sunday Teas & Car Boot Sale in Voe Hall, 2-5pm

Shetland Fencing Club – Car Boot & Homebakes at Whiteness & Weisdale Hall, 2-5pm

Cunningsburgh Hall – Sunday Teas in aid of CLAN, 2.30-5.30pm, also Car Boot

South Mainland Kindergym – Sunday Teas in Bigton Hall, 2.30-5.30pm

Hillswick Hall – Plant Sale & Teas, 3-5pm

North Ness Hall, Ulsta – Quiz, 7.30pm (tbc)

MONDAY 10th

to 14th: Art & Textiles Exhibition of work by Creative Industries students at Shetland College, Gremista, open 9am-4pm

Tingwall & Girlsta Summer Playscheme – AGM in Tingwall Hall at 6.15pm

Tingwall Public Hall – AGM in the hall at 7pm

Baltasound Hall – Music, Dance & Teas, 7.30-10pm

Walls Swimming Pool Association – AGM at the pool at 7.30pm

TUESDAY 11th

to 15th: National Carers’ Week – local events and activities inc. Market House coffees & drop in on 11th, Market House crafts & Mareel coffees & crafts on 12th; Scalloway boat trips & museum visit on 13th; Nordalea Unst and Yell Leisure Centre drop ins on 14th; Islesburgh Information Session  on 15th

Cruise Ship Serenissima in Lerwick Harbour

Tingwall & Girlsta Summer Playscheme – AGM in Tingwall Hall at 6.30pm

WEDNESDAY 12th

Masters Swimming – Information Meeting in Waterside Suite, Clickimin Pool at 6.30pm

Shetland Arts – The Edrom String Quartet in Mareel, 7 for 7.30pm, tickets £18 Shetland Box Office

Shetland ForWirds – AGM in Shetland Amenity Trust Office, Garthspool at 7pm

Anderson High School – Summer Concert in St Columba’s Church at 7pm

THURSDAY 13th

Cruise Ship FTI Berlin in Lerwick Harbour

Whitedale Youth Club – EGM in the Club at 6.30pm

FRIDAY 14th

Walls & District Agricultural Centenary – Fashion Show + Teas, Music etc in Aith Hall, 7pm

Team Malawi Volunteer Project – Inferno to Malawi in Mareel, 7 for 7.30pm, £8

Shetland Library – Criminal Capers with Marsali Taylor + Crime Writers Mini Quiz, 7.30-9pm

Mareel Café Bar – Mixology@Mareel, 9pm-1am

SATURDAY 15th

Cruise Ship Costa Pacifica in Lerwick Harbour

Lerwick Thistle FC – Coffee Morning in Clickimin Centre (Multi-Use), 10am-12.30pm

Mid Yell Regatta

Junior Rugby 7s Tournament at Clickimin Pitch from 11am

Simmer Dim Cycling Sportive, 2pm at Clickimin & Midsummer Family Cycle Event, 7pm, Lerwick Up-Helly-A’ route

Unst Angling Club Sea Competition, 6-9.30pm

Launch of Unst’s new yoal at Baltasound Marina

Mid Yell Hall – Steak Night, in aid of Yell Youth Café

Shetland Arts – Peatbog Faeries in Mareel, 8pm, tickets £18 Shetland Box Office

SUNDAY 16th

& 17th: Shetland v Orkney Junior Inter-County Sports – 16th: Athletics 10.30am Clickimin Track; Netball 4pm Clickimin Centre; Football 6.30pm Gilbertson Park; 17th: Hockey 10.30am Brae; Swimming 2pm Clickimin Pool

Shetland Field Studies Group Guided Walk – Uyea Isle, Unst, book at Tourist Office

Aquabike Competition, 9am, Clickimin

Mareel Café Bar – Singers & Songwriters’ Night from 7pm

MONDAY 17th

Cruise Ship Seven Seas Voyager in Lerwick Harbour

Gulberwick & Quarff Yoal Club – AGM in Quarff Hall at 7pm

TUESDAY 18th

to 23rd: Visiting Yachts in Lerwick Harbour from North Sea Triangle Yacht Race, 1000-mile Double Handed Race and Bergen-Shetland Race

Crossroads (Shetland) Care Attendant Scheme – AGM in Market House at 12noon

WEDNESDAY 19th

Cruise Ship Island Sky in Lerwick Harbour

Shetland Abattoir Co-operative Ltd (SACL) – AGM in Shetland Rural Centre, Staneyhill at 7pm

Shetland Fiddlers Society/Shetland Folkdance/Shetland Arts – The Reel Thing in Mareel, 7 for 7.30pm, £6 / £3

THURSDAY 20th

Asta Golf Clubhouse – Traditional Music Evening (very informal, join in or just listen)

Callum Younger Reach Fund – Isle Love Talent in Mareel

FRIDAY 21st

Callum Younger Reach Fund – Shetland Take Me Out in Mareel

Epilepsy Support Group (Shetland) – Midsummer Dance with Loveshack in Royal British Legion, Lerwick, 8pm, tickets £5 High Level Music

SATURDAY 22nd

Singing Saturdays / Islands Songs 2013 – ‘Along Came Man’ by Lin Marsh in Mareel at 1pm

Lerwick Lifeboat Open Day

Midsummer Carnival in Lerwick

Mid Yell Hall – Fashion Show, in aid of Yell Youth Café

Unst Angling Club ‘Simmer Dim’ Trout Competition, 8pm-8am

Live Music with Quicksilver + Wind-Up Projectiles in Royal British Legion, Lerwick

Callum Younger Reach Fund – Summer Carnival Family Disco in Mareel

SUNDAY 23rd

Celebrate Shetland Walk at Nesting Primary School, 2pm

Northern Focus – AGM in Islesburgh at 2pm

Callum Younger Reach Fund – The Big Quiz in Mareel

MONDAY 24th

to 28th: Centre for Nordic Studies – Viking Culture Summer Course (www.nordic.uhi.ac.uk)

Cruise Ship Nautica in Lerwick Harbour

Unst Heritage Centre courses – Spinning (suitable for beginners); Knit a Shell or Cockleshell Scarf (experienced knitters); Introduction to Lace Knitting (experienced knitters); bookings/info 01957 755244; info@unstheritage.com

Equestrian Association of Shetland – AGM in Herrislea House Hotel at 7.30pm

TUESDAY 25th

to 27th: Old Gaffers (gaff-rig) Sailing Boats in Lerwick Harbour

Cruise Ship Costa Voyager in Lerwick Harbour

Voluntary Action Shetland – AGM in Market House at 7pm

WEDNESDAY 26th

Shetland Arts – Rachel Sermanni + support by Keirynn Topp in Mareel, £14

Baltasound Hall – Music, Dance & Teas, 7.30-10pm

Scalloway Parent & Toddler – AGM in Scalloway Hall at 8pm

FRIDAY 28th

Burravoe Eela Competition

Klub Revolution presents John Power with Jay Lewis + North Country Fair in Royal British Legion, Lerwick, tickets £13 Shetland Box Office

SATURDAY 29th

until 7th July: Shetland Nature Festival 2013 + European Geoparks Week

& 30th: Midsummer Swimming Meet, 10am in Clickimin Pool

Cruise Ship Marco Polo in Lerwick Harbour

Senior Rugby 7s Tournament at Clickimin Pitch from 12noon

Bastavoe Regatta

Lerwick Gala Day at Gilbertson Park, 12noon-4pm

Haroldswick Hall – Soup & Sweet

Unst Angling Club Species Competition, 1-5pm

SUNDAY 30th

Cruise Ship Gann in Lerwick Harbour

BP SVT Junior Golf Open, 11am at Dale golf course

Unst Farmers’ Market in Baltasound Hall, 12noon-2pm

Cullivoe Hall – Soup & Sweets, 12noon-4pm, in aid of Yell Show

Singing Saturdays / Islands Songs 2013 – ‘Along Came Man’ by Lin Marsh in Haroldswick Hall, Unst at 1pm

REGULAR EVENTS

all month: Shetland Craft Trail – Shetland Arts & Crafts members open to visitors (www.shetlandartsandcrafts.co.uk/crafttrail.html)

all month: Films and events at Mareel (www.shetlandboxoffice.org | www.mareel.org)

all month: Shetland Museum & Archives events and activities (www.shetland-museum.org.uk)

all month: Da Gadderie (at Shetland Museum) Art Exhibitions (www.shetland-museum.org.uk)

until end year: Shetland Museum exhibiting ‘Recent Acquisitions’ in the galleries

daily (until 13/10): Quendale Water Mill open 10am-5pm

daily (until 30/09): Tangwick Haa Museum open 11am-5pm

daily (until 30/09): Hoswick Visitor Centre, Sandwick open 10am-5pm (Sun11am-5pm)

daily (until 30/09): Unst Heritage Centre open 11am-5pm (www.unstheritage.com)

daily (until 30/09): Unst Boat Haven open 11am-5pm (www.unstheritage.com)

daily (until 30/09): Fetlar Interpretive Centre open 11am-3pm (Sat & Sun 1-4pm) (www.fetlar.com)

daily (until 30/09): Crofthouse Museum, Dunrossness open 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm (www.shetland-museum.org.uk)

daily (until 30/09): Scalloway Museum open 11am-4pm (Sun 2-4pm) (www.scallowaymuseum.org)

daily (except Thu): Lea Gardens at Tresta open 2-5pm, or by appointment (01595 810454)

daily: Seabirds-and-Seals Boat Trips (07595 540224 | www.seabirds-and-seals.com)

daily: Thule Charters Boat Trips (07796 912237 or 07876 522292 | www.thule-charters.co.uk)

daily: Shetland Sea Charters Boat Trips (01595 692577 or 07759 668969)

various: Up-Helly-A’ Exhibition open in Galley Shed, St Sunniva Street

various: Shetland Small Group Tours (01595 692080 | www.shetlandtours.co.uk)

various: Island Trails Tours (07880 950228 | www.island-trails.co.uk)

various: Shetland Walking & Wildlife Tours (07720 169191 | www.shetlandwalkingandwildlife.co.uk)

various: Unseen Shetland Tours (07554 344914 | www.unseenshetland.com)

various: Shetland Geotours Tours (01595 859218 | www.shetlandgeotours.com)

various: Shetland Nature Tours (01957 710000 | www.shetlandnature.net)

various: Old Scatness Broch & Iron Age Village open (01950 461869 | www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/scatness)

various: RSPB events and activities (01950 460800 | www.rspb.org.uk/reserves)

various: Mousa Boat Trips (07901 872339 | www.mousa.co.uk)

various: St Magnus Bay Charters Boat Trips (07799 610025 or 01595 810378 | www.stmagnusbay.shetland.co.uk)

various: Shetland Marine Charters Boat Trips (01806 522429 or 07880 950246 | www.shetlandmarinecharters.com)

various: Sailing Trips on the Swan (01595 695193 | www.swantrust.com)

Mon, Thu, Fri & Sat: CLAN Cancer Support Centre – Drop-In at 39 Commercial Road open Mon, Thu, Fri 10am-4pm; Sat 10am-1pm (01595 720320)

2nd Mon of month: Burra History Group meet in Easthouse at 7.30pm (www.burrahistory.info)

Mon: Drop-In Craft Day at Centre for Creative Industries, Sellafirth, Yell, 10am-12.30pm

Mon: Weisdale Kirk – Afternoon Teas served 2-4pm

Mon: Royal British Legion, Lerwick – Bingo, 8pm

Tues to Sat (until 13/11): Shetland Textile Working Museum open at Bod of Gremista, 12noon-4pm, Exhibition: ‘from the Croft… to the Palace’

Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun: Noss National Nature Reserve open (info line 0800 107 7818)

Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun (until 30/09): Bressay Heritage Centre open 11am-5pm (Sun 10am-4pm) (www.bressay-history-group.org)

Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun: Old Haa, Burravoe open 10am-4pm (Sun 2-5pm)

Tue, Thu & Sat: Changing Arts Exhibitions at Vaila Fine Art, open 11am-5pm

Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun: The Cabin Museum, Vidlin open 1-5pm

1st Tue of month (not Jan or Aug): CLAN Shetland Support Group meet in CLAN Support Centre, 39 Commercial Road, 7pm (01595 720320)

Tue: Shetland Gone to Pieces Quilters meet in Islesburgh Community Centre, 6-9pm

Tue: Douglas Arms (The Marlex) – Live Traditional Music Sessions

Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun (until 30/09): Whalsay History Group – Heritage Centre open 2-5pm (www.whalsayhistorygroup-phase2.co.uk)

Wed & (occasional) Thu: Traditional Music Sessions in Lounge Bar, Lerwick

Wed & Sun: Sailing Trips on Dim Riv longship from Victoria Pier: Wed 7pm; Sun 3pm (07901 588168 or 07753 959536)

2nd Wed of month: Forget-Me-Not Self Help Group meet in Islesburgh Community Centre, 6.30-8.30pm

Wed: Cycharters Boat Trips to Foula (01595 810887/ 07887 945480)

Wed: Royal British Legion, Lerwick – 500 cards, 8pm

Thu & Sat: ‘Yell for Cancer Support’ Shop open at Aywick, 1-5pm

last Thu of month: Alzheimer Scotland/Shetland Arts – ‘Knitting for Dementia Awareness’ drop-in knitting group in Mareel Café Bar, 2-4.30pm

Thu: Sewing Group meets at Centre for Creative Industries, Sellafirth, Yell, 6.30pm

Thu (until 12/9): Yoga in Islesburgh Community Centre, 7.15-8.45pm

Thu: South Mainland Community History Group meet in Quendale Mill, 7.30pm (www.quendalemill.co.uk)

Fri & Sat: Posers Nightclub open in Grand Hotel

Fri: Royal British Legion, Lerwick – Bingo, 7.30pm

Fri: Cullivoe Hall – Club Room open from 8pm

last Sat of month (exc. Jul & Dec): Shetland Scrapbookers meet in Methodist Schoolroom, 10am-1pm

Sat: Good as New Shop in Brae Youth Centre open 2-4pm

Sat: Fetlar Hall – Social from 9pm

Sat: Douglas Arms (The Marlex) – Karaoke

Sat: Burravoe (Peerie) Hall open from 8.30pm

3rd Sun of month: CLAN North Support Group meets in North Haven Care Centre at 2.30pm

Sun (Jun, Jul & Aug): Sunday Café in Walls Regatta Club, 12noon-4pm

===================================================

Every care is taken in the compilation of this list. If you are aware of any errors or need details amended or added, please contact our office or send an email to info@shetland-times.co.uk

New government figures show the SIC’s spending per head on secondary pupils was more than double the Scottish average a year ago.

In 2011/12, the local authority – which last year unveiled plans to shut secondaries in Aith, Sandwick, Skerries and Whalsay – spent £12,826 for every secondary pupil. That is more than £3,000 more per pupil above the next highest spender, the Western Isles. The Scottish average was £6,321.

The council’s main explanation is that “almost all of our secondary schools are very small and employ full time specialist staff who do not always have a full timetable”.

In primary education, where proposals have been tabled to shut five small schools, Shetland spent £8,238 per pupil. That is over £500 less than the Western Isles and only marginally above Orkney’s costs, but again much higher than the nationwide average of £4,792 per pupil.

Although it comes at considerable expense, Scottish Government data shows Shetland pupils benefit from excellent-quality education. More adults – 93 per cent – are “satisfied” with the schools in their area than anywhere else in the country.

Educational achievement is high too: 52 per cent of pupils gain five or more level five, or “intermediate”, grades. Only East Renfrewshire performs better. Shetland is joint 13th out of 32 local authorities when it comes to highers – 26 per cent of pupils attained five or more level six grades in 2011/12.

The council’s unpopular blueprint for education proposals are designed to save £3.25 million from its £41 million education budget.

Jeremy Sansom of the Parent Council Group, which is fighting against the closures, believes insufficient attention has been paid to “imaginative and creative” money-saving solutions it tabled earlier this year.

A document submitted to Hayfield House in January suggested making greater use of technology, cutting the cost of managing schools and gradually reducing the number of teachers.

Mr Sansom said the group remained in dialogue with schools officials and is due to meet again next week. But he feels its proposals are “not really being given the space we’d like [them] to have”.

“We’re asking for time to look at a broad strategy for education in Shetland,” he said. “We want to know where we’re going to be in 2025. There’s no vision – the vision is: close the schools.”

Meanwhile, over 100 people turned out in Aith Hall on Wednesday in the latest step to “galvanise folk into action” against the proposal to shut its junior high department.

Formal consultations on shutting Skerries’ secondary and Olnafirth’s primary are now taking place. Aith’s turn will come in the autumn.

A video recording of a pre-Christmas bus trip designed to help councillors understand how long West Side children would have to spend travelling to and from Lerwick was screened during the meeting.

Mr Sansom said: “That began at the beginning of the meeting, and an hour and a half later when we ended it was still playing. Several people said it was quite nauseous seeing this going on in the background while folk were talking.”

He said Aith parents felt closure was a “ridiculous notion”. Their chief objection is to the “unacceptably” lengthy journey time pupils as young as 11 might face, along with the impact on the wider community.

“People are very aware that it is a very vibrant community, and losing the school will severely jeopardise that vibrancy,” Mr Sansom said.

RICHELEI, CUNNINGSBURGH

OFFERS OVER £68,000

Detached, single storey property in ‘walk-into’ condition, conveniently situated at the north end of Cunningsburgh on the Lerwick – Sumburgh bus route.  Lerwick 10 miles.

Accommodation all on one level comprising:- west-facing living room, modern fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms, single bedroom currently used as an office, refurbished bathroom with bath & separate shower, utility room & hall.  uPVC double glazing & gas-fired central heating.  Ample parking, established garden areas to the front & rear, useful garden shed plus 32’ long Portakabin / workshop with power & lighting.  Excellent starter home or perhaps a holiday let. EPC Rating E.

Viewing – please telephone 01950 477 221.

DOWLE, SMITH & RUTHERFORD, Solicitors & Estate Agents, St Olaf’s Hall, Church Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 OFD. Tel. 01595 695583. Web. www.d-s-r.co.uk

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

Injury Shetland has an opportunity for a part-time Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist to join us when our new clinic opens in July.

You will have access to our rehabilitation gym and the technology for sports and running analysis. You will be able to liaise with other health professionals who will also be working in our clinic.

At Injury Shetland, we want to achieve the best results for our patients. We strive for high clinical standards and a very professional service. We believe in hands-on physiotherapy so good manual therapy skills are essential. An interest in sports physiotherapy would be beneficial.

For further information, please call Ross Smith on 07775 772854.

48,000 miles, MoT Feb 2014. Only 3 owners, unleaded petrol. £3,000 o.n.o. tae end of June.

Tel. Kevin 07449 331562.

If you want to see car go to 21 Westerloch Drive, Gordon will let you look round. V5 will be given when car paid for.…

Chef de Partie required, experience not essential.

Sous Chef required, experience essential.

Applications in writing to Queens Hotel,24 Commercial Street, or apply online to: info@kgqhotels.co.uk…

In principle integration between Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland is a sound idea.

By working together the organisations should be able to reduce the duplication of work and ultimately provide better services to the public.

Yet, as with all public services there has to be accountability. This is where early plans to see the NHS and SIC work more closely are already beset with complications.

Smirk’s take on proposals form an NHS-SIC committee.

The responsibility would be immense as the committee would decide how to run services including mental health, dentistry and social work.

But how are the members of the health board to be held accountable by the public?

If poor decisions are taken at least the electorate can have their say on the councillors involved. There is no such recourse for non-elected members, some of whom are appointed by and responsible to government in Edinburgh. Who is to say they will serve the best interests of Shetland?

A similar scheme has already been introduced in Orkney, with senior sources expressing concern about the set-up.

This latest plan would worryingly see decisions made by “consensus” rather than majority. If it goes ahead it will be another example of democracy being diminished.

The fact that several councillors have been prepared to speak out against the idea is promising.

The public must be able to hold its decision-makers to account. It would be wise to exercise the democratic right to protest against this proposal.

SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUES

(All kick-offs 6.45pm unless otherwise stated)

Tonight 7th June – G&S Flooring Premier League:
Celtic v Spurs at Seafield (referee Robbie Leask).

Monday 10th June – Manson Cup (semi-finals):
Whalsay v Thistle at Harbsion Park (Steven Goodlad);
Whitedale v Celtic at Strom Park (John Saunders).

Wednesday 12th June – Mind Your Head Reserve League:
Celtic B v Ness United A/B at Gilbertson Park (Robbie Summers);
Delting B v Scalloway B at Brae;
Spurs B v Thistle B at Seafield (Kevin Valente);
Whitedale B v Whalsay B at Strom Park (Robbie Leask).

WORKS LEAGUE

Sunday 9th June – Injury Shetland Works League:
Emergency Services v Banks at Clickimin South (6pm, referee Derrick Bradley).

Wednesday 12th June – Injury Shetland Works League:
Ness United v Wast Linga Ramblers at Cunningsburgh (6.30pm).

HOCKEY (at Midway Pitch, Brae)

Monday 10th June – Shearer Shield:
Juniors v Zetland at 6.30pm (umpires Simon Skinner, Sarah Couper and Scalloway rep);
Spurs v Scalloway at 7.50pm (Skinner, Couper and Juniors rep).

Thursday 13th June – Shearer Shield:
Scalloway v Juniors at 6.30pm (Skinner, Couper and Spurs rep);
Zetland v Spurs at 7.50pm (Skinner, Couper and Juniors rep).

Concerns have been raised by members of the council’s social services committee that increased integration with the NHS may lead to a reduced level of democratic control over council funds.

Three councillors have spoken to The Shetland Times this week to express their disquiet over the proposals for a ‘health and social care partnership committee’ (HSPC), due to be discussed at the full council meeting on Wednesday.

If agreed, the committee would eventually take on responsibility for strategic planning and policy-making in a raft of areas previously dealt with separately by the NHS and SIC, including adult social work, criminal justice, mental health, dental services, primary medical services, ophthalmology, podiatry and community nursing.

The committee would be made up of seven councillors and seven members of the health board. It would also include further ‘non-voting members’ from both organisations, as well as from the voluntary sector.

At a seminar on the subject earlier this week, several councillors expressed serious reservations about aspects of the proposal. Chief among these was that, by diluting the influence of elected representatives in significant areas of policy, local democracy could be undermined.

A committee that was 50 per cent unelected would have decision-making and budget-allocating powers on matters that had previously been decided by councillors, fully accountable to their constituents.

This is something that worries Allan Wishart. While he’d had “some reassurance” during Tuesday’s seminar, concerns remained, he said, over the loss of “democratic control” and the potential clash of cultures between the two organisations.

Allan Wishart: There’s nothing like a good debate and vote.

“My fear was that we have two different cultures” he said. The NHS is “a board that’s appointed, including officers responsible to Edinburgh, to the government”, while the council is “locally elected, and directly responsible to the people of Shetland.

“I just felt that there could be a fundamental mismatch and culture difference there in the whole way it’s set up and runs.”

One particular change that worries Mr Wishart is that decisions will no longer be made by a vote among members. Instead they will be made on the basis of consensus.

“Now that’s not the way that a local authority works” he said, “or democratic bodies. That concerns me because I think there’s nothing like a good debate and a vote to be open and to give evidence of the democratic system working. Obviously, it’s stood the test of time and is valuable.”

Under a bill currently being considered by the Scottish parliament, all local authorities will be required to develop community care partnerships with the NHS. Until that bill is enacted in April 2015, the HSPC will act as a “shadow” committee, though the extent to which authority would be delegated to it has yet to be made clear.

None of the councillors we spoke to have any difficulties with the principle of integration; all, in fact, wished to emphasise the necessity of partnership with the NHS. Their concern, rather, is with the erosion of accountability, the lack of detail in the proposals and the pace at which those proposals are being progressed.

According to Billy Fox, establishing such a partnership committee at this stage is “very much jumping the gun”. The council were “second guessing what’s going to come out of the bill” he said.

“There’s nobody saying no to integration and there’s nobody saying that we shouldn’t actually continue to integrate, but to move to this ‘halfway house’ committee, which will have consensus decision making and undermine the democratic process – I’m not even sure that we as a council have a mandate to do that.

Billy Fox: Move is “jumping the gun”.

“I mean, can the Scottish government actually ask us to do that? Do they have a mandate to tell wis to do that? Do we have a mandate fae wir electorate to do that? I dunna think we do.”

Another member of the social services committee, Gary Cleaver, emphasised this point. The council is unwise, he said, to be pushing ahead with their plans while the government is still debating the bill.

“I think that Shetland Islands Council is maybe going too far down the road on a model which, although it’s reflected in some of the elements of the bill, is not the only model that’s being suggested.

“There’s nothing wrong with being well prepared and having a good discussion about this. But I’m just a little bit concerned that we appear to want to commit to one very distinct structure that may not actually 100 per cent fit with what we’re being asked to do.”

Gary Cleaver.

Orkney Islands Council (OIC) has already imple-mented a similar partnership model to that being proposed in Shetland, and rumours are now emerging that all has not been plain sailing.

A senior source at OIC acknowledged that there were “barriers” to the kind of integration that had been established.

“I think it’s fair in saying” the source admitted, “that while Orkney has made progress in some respects, they’ve had their difficulties as well”.

The chairman of Shetland NHS board Ian Kinniburgh said that he did have a certain degree of sympathy with the councillors’ concerns over democratic accounta-bility.

However, he feels the partnership model that is being proposed does not, in fact, threaten that accountability.

“I can clearly understand” he said, “both from a philosophical point of view but also from an operational view, a nervousness about appearing to potentially lose a degree of control.

“But certainly the arrangements as they are suggested at this point in time, in practice, wouldn’t remove that degree of control until the bill goes through [in 2015].

Mr Kinniburgh said the benefits of working together far outweighed the risks. And these benefits had already been demonstrated.

“We’ve been working jointly at the grassroots level and at some of the management tiers in trying to join services for almost ten years. We’ve had some joint appointments between the two organisations in place for that period of time.

“We’ve seen a lot of the potential benefits that we could get from joint working, [but] the grassroots – the staff – have in the past told us that the biggest obstacle that they perceive is that we don’t have the joined-up thinking at the top.”

Mr Kinniburgh also took issue with the councillors’ suggestion that the proposal was being moved ahead too quickly, in advance of the bill’s passage through parliament.

“If you accept the principle that making decisions in possession of the full set of information will help you make a better decision than if you only have half the picture, then why would we delay doing that?”

“I think it would be unfortunate if we lost the opportunity to take this forward, but I fully recognise that, at the moment, both the health board and the council have an opportunity to either play into this or not.

“Personally I would hope that we grasp the nettle and try and use the time that we have between now and the bill kicking in to best effect … Because we’re talking about very, very significant services for very vulnerable people and it’s important that it works.”

The Shetland Times editorial comment.

Perhaps this is a good time, with all the talk of the SIC’s investments and rising funds, to write in the hope that at next Wednesday’s full council meeting, councillors consider very carefully and seriously the proposed severe cuts in the islands’ youth work service.

Take time to consider the implications and consequences such cuts will have, both on our communities and our children and young people – the children and young people who are, after all, Shetland’s future and thereby surely the best investment of all.

Jenny Henry
131b North Road,
Lerwick.

Ryan Arthur outlines why islanders want the SIC to leave their school alone.

“In no circumstances is this Skerries community giving up the fight”. The defiant words of Ann Anderson summed up the mood music among the 25 residents who attended the latest in a seemingly never-ending series of consultations on whether to close Skerries’ small secondary school. 

The three-pupil department was spared the axe as recently as December 2010. The faces of some of the councillors have changed, but the arguments on either side have not – and the community’s exasperation at retreading the same old ground yet again was plain to see.

Around a third of the population turned out for a two-hour meeting at Skerries Public Hall on Friday lunchtime to tell councillors and officials how they felt.

One local woman, Melanie Gorman, asked if the council could not just refer to earlier consultations: “Does everyone have to re-say everything again for the millionth time? Those comments are still valid – there’s nothing changed.”

Financial savings are estimated to be £76,336 once extra transport and hostel accommodation costs are factored in. It forms part of wider efforts to shut several primaries and junior highs to save over £3 million a year from the SIC education budget.

The SIC’s educational case for shutting the three-pupil department centres on greater opportunities to interact with people of the same age, enjoy better access to specialist teachers and a wider choice of subjects. Pupils would be transferred to the Anderson High School in Lerwick next year.

Islanders counter that children in Skerries enjoy a superior experience growing up, both in and out of school. Education officials argue that pupils miss out on after-school clubs and activities, but residents point out the benefits of interacting with people of all ages, and learning traditional skills.

“They learn everything from beginning to end,” said mother Denise Anderson. “crofting, fishing, plumbing – the skills they’re learning here are second-to-none.”

Ms Gorman was taught on the Shetland mainland, but found moving to Skerries “an eye-widening experience”.

“You went off in a boat and did things, mended nets, things I never had the option [to do]. I think for Shetland’s heritage, things like that are important – going back to the roots, things people learned from their folk and their grand-folk. By going to the hostel they’re going to lose that.”

Denise Anderson asked whether pupils would still be able to enjoy the same diet – lobster and crab included – that they were accustomed to. Schools official Shona Thompson said she could not guarantee lobster would be on offer in the hostel dining room. 

Ann Anderson: community will not give up fight.

Parents remain unhappy at the prospect of children aged 11 and up spending all but 44 hours a week away from home during term time. Arrangements for travelling to and from Lerwick are a major cause of concern too: islanders blanch at the idea of their bairns travelling unsupervised on a 90-minute ferry journey across open seas.

North Isles councillor Gary Cleaver, one of six elected members present, said it was wrong for officials to draw parallels with travelling by bus, as many other isles pupils do.

“We need to get away from this rather glib assertion that a ferry is like a bus,” Mr Cleaver said. “There are whole periods of time when no member of the ferry crew is anywhere near the [passenger] saloon. I would really need to seek very, very strong assurances as to how the children can be guaranteed to be in a safe place at all times on their journeys.”

Two-and-a-half years ago, a study highlighting the importance of Skerries’ seafood industry to the wider Shetland economy was widely believed to have swayed some councillors’ minds. The study is to be updated this time around.

While the island’s population has been dropping, Ryan Arthur suggested that could be down to the fact that “in the last three decades we’ve hardly ever been without the threat of closure”.

When he moved to the island a few years ago there was one family with young children. Now there are three, and by the end of the summer it will be four. Mr Arthur said it was “the best time Skerries has had in its recent history” in that sense.

He had nothing against the Lerwick hostel, but said many found it difficult to adjust to even at the age of 16. “There’s just no way I’d send… a very homesick 11-year-old [there], it’s just not going to happen.”

Mr Arthur said he was sure the Scottish Government would want to see evidence that alternatives to closure had been fully investigated. Although IT was “not ideal in all circumstances” it would be “hugely less unacceptable than the alternative”.

The other main council service islanders benefit from, its ferry link, is also facing cutbacks. Infrastructure committee chairman Allan Wishart agreed that those changes must not be made in isolation from the impact on education.

Ann Anderson said she had encountered a Lerwick community councillor on a recent night out in the town. He had told her Skerries should give up its fight “so that his bairns could have a better education in Lerwick”.

The community councillor in question said he had spoken to Fair Isle folk who had gone to the AHS aged 11 without any difficulties.

“He could only go on what somebody else said,” Ann Anderson said. “I turned around and said ‘that can’t be dy opinion, because you’ve not lived it’. I don’t think it’s right to say that our bairns should suffer so his bairns get a better education.” 

Vaila Wishart assured islanders the SIC would listen to their points of view.

A more detailed consultation report will be drawn up, with input from the community and Education Scotland, before councillors are asked to take a decision in the autumn.

Education and families committee chairwoman Vaila Wishart said afterwards that the council had been keen to hear the community’s views.

“Once again the Skerries people have taken the opportunity to air their views and ask questions,” she said. “We’ll do our best to make sure these questions are answered before the consultation paper is published.”

The Moorfield Hotel in Brae promises to bustle with guests when it opens in two months – even if it is still a construction site at the moment.

A 60-strong team of tradesmen are busily working towards the planned completion date of what will be Shetland’s largest hotel on 22nd July. 

That will pave the way for teams of staff to complete three weeks of training in time for the August 12th opening. From then on residents will be able to look out the large windows which flank the bar and restaurant area and gaze across Sullom Voe.

A panorama of the Moorfield Hotel. Photo: Dave Donaldson

Enjoying the view, guests will tuck into locally-sourced produce served by people employed from within the isles.

And guests there most certainly will be. Ceilings and furnishings may still need to be added, but the Moorfield must enjoy one of the most promising business plans yet for a new hotel venture.

All of its 100 rooms will be occupied by workers from Total for the first year.

And 80 per cent of the hotel rooms are booked by the French energy giant for the following six years, as the new gas plant takes shape.

That’s not to say Shetlanders are excluded. Developers Redefine BDL Ltd are keen that locals and tourists should be made welcome for a meal or drink.

The Shetland Times was given a tour of the up and coming building, thanks to the Moorfield’s general manager, Ailsa Sangster, and John Cullen of Irish construction firm McAleer and Rushe.

Site manager John Cullen. Photo: Dave Donaldson

Ailsa has gained experience in the hotel trade ever since she bought the Spiggie Hotel in the late nineties with her parents.

She has also worked for Sodexo at the hospital, and at the Sella Ness accommodation building for 14 months. She is clearly relishing the challenge of the new Brae venture.

John, meanwhile, has seen the hotel emerge in under a year.

Prior to his arrival here he man­aged a hotel site at Blackfriars in Central London. Moorfield will, no doubt, offer something of a contrast.

Before going in, photographer Dave Donaldson and I are ushered into one of the on-site cabins for the obligatory hard hat and high-visibility waistcoat, while a general construction-site bustle goes on in what will, one day, shape up to be a car-park capable of taking over 50 vehicles.

So far, so Auf Wiedersehen Pet. But it’s not until you enter the hotel itself that you realise how much thought has gone into it.

Access to the vast building – it measures over 48,000 square feet – will be through a revolving door which will lead into an expansive reception in front of an admini­stration office.

Like many hotels, the Moorfield boasts a luggage store – except this one seems unusually large. The extra size is needed, Ailsa says, because of the planned rotation of plant workers who will call the Moorfield home for three weeks at a time.

They are two gaping holes just now, but two lifts will be installed to offer access to the three levels.

Nearby are two meeting rooms which, once completed and fur­nished, will feature a removable partition that will help staff turn the two rooms quickly into one big one, should the need arise.

There is no swimming pool – the Brae pool is close-by – but the promised gym will shortly be filled with fitness equipment similar to that installed at leisure centres by Shetland Recreational Trust.

Buffet meals will be provided in the restaurant which boasts those impressive views.

The interior will provide a warm feel, with heavy fabrics, exposed stone and timber.

A buzz is expected to emerge around breakfast time, as large numbers come down to the largely open-plan eating area for their first meal of the day. Similarly, the hotel will be busy for evening meals.

Visiting guests should be able to enjoy choosing from an a la-carte lunch menu, however, when the atmosphere should be more relaxed.

This view of what will be the restaurant and bar.

Professional caterers will work out of a large kitchen, too. A laundry service is also promised.

There are “mess rooms” on each floor, where Total staff are expected to congregate after a hard day’s graft.

Looking more ready for use than anything else are the 100 hotel bedrooms. Not that we poked our noses into every one – the rooms are identical, each boasting a paint­ing of a Viking longship, presum­ably to give the place a special Shetland-feel.

The hotel rooms have already been the centre of a story. They were contained in specially-built modules before being shipped, fully furnished, from Warrenpoint Harbour in County Down. There they were built in factory-condi­tions by experienced workers at McAleer and Rushe.

BDL’s chief technical officer, Ross Morrow, says the modular method of construction was becom­ing more widely used for hotel projects – particularly in London where sites are “tight” and costs are high.

The construction firm has already built two hotels for BDL – one in Milton Keynes, the other in Liverpool.

“This is quite a unique project for McAleer and Rushe, because

it allowed them to build these modules half an hour down the road from their head office.

“All the men who usually spend their lives on the road – people like John – were fighting to work on this project because it was only half an hour away from them.”

All the rooms need is for the plastic coverings to be taken away and some last minute snagging before the cleaners are sent in to make them sparkle.

The obligatory tea and coffee-making facilities will form part of all the rooms, as well as a television and fridge.

Half the rooms are fitted with baths, while the remaining 50 per cent have baths and showers.

One of the bathroom suites. Photo: Dave Donaldson

John says the rooms offer a “home from home feel”, with a mix of modern and practical.

Although big, the architectural design somehow manages to avoid looking cumbersome, or slab-sided.

Much use is made outside of Shetland stone-cladding.

Ross says significant methods were used by East-Kilbride archi­tects, ica (the name is in lower-case), to mitigate against the hotel’s considerable size.

He adds the council’s planning department had “embraced” the idea during numerous meetings prior to the application being made.

“You can see the top floor is primarily dormer, in that it has not got the usual three storeys plus a roof-space. It’s got what you might call two-and-a-half-storeys, but of course there are three storeys of bedrooms there.

“With the building being in a kink which breaks the building into sections, it splits that overall mass in two. We are conscious that it is a big building, but I think they [ica] have done a good job.”

Ailsa says the emphasis will be on providing a hotel that is distinct to the area, and will draw on re­sources available within the isles.

“It will be a local hotel, to be part of the community and employ local people and use local produce.”

Ross describes a company-wide policy of using locally-sourced pro­duce. He said Shetland’s remote­ness made it all the more sensible.

“We always have a real emphasis, anyway. But in this instance in particular there was an opportunity for us to integrate further – and also be able to provide Total workers local produce.”

But while all rooms are block-booked for the first year, Ross is determined that locals and tourists should also enjoy the building.

“If we get it right it will be a lovely place to sit and have a beer. We want that local community, similarly, to come and sip a beer. We want to create a nice place for people to drop by.

“This hotel is not let for ever more. We’re keen for the com­munity, and tourists, to come and use it.”