Shetland Gymnastics Club held its annual championships at the Scalloway School gym hall on Sunday with 68 members of the club participating.

Each gymnast performed a routine consisting of eight floor skills plus two vaults, as per Scottish Gymnastics competition rules for floor and vault competitions. All performed well with medals won for individual vault and floor scores as well as an overall score plus team scores.

In the age seven boys category Josh Johnson won gold on floor, vault and overall.

In the age eight boys group Reece Black came first on vault, floor and overall, James Masson second on vault, third on floor and second overall and Connor Sinclair third on vault, second on floor and third overall.

In the age nine boys Zak Carroll came first on vault, followed by David Williamson second and Joseph Briggs third. On floor David Williamson finished first, then Zak second and Joseph third. This placed David first overall, Zak second and Joseph third.

Olivia Inkster performing a bridge as part of her floor routine during the age 7 girls competition in last Sunday’s Shetland Gymnastics Club Annual Competition at the Scalloway Games Hall. Photo: Kevin Jones

Next came the age 10 boys and the vault was won by Wayne Leask, followed in joint second place by Stephen Leask and Joe Sales-Leslie, then Ben Kay in bronze position. The floor was also won by Wayne Leask, followed by Stephen second and Joe third. This meant Wayne finished with gold overall, Stephen silver and Joe bronze.

Ronan Grant won gold on floor, vault and overall in the age 11 boys category and Magnus Williamson in the age 12+ category won gold in floor, vault and overall.

Moving on to the girls, in the age seven group first place on vault went to Sadie Fox, second to Eva Smith and third to Tegan Hendren. The floor first place went to Eva Smith, followed by Freyja Tait and Jess Fraser second and then Tegan Hendren.

Overall the highest combined score meant Eva Smith finished first, Jess Fraser second and Freyja Tait third.

In the team competition Team C, consisting of Ruth Anderson, Merin Smith, Eva Smith, Molly Fraser and Jess Fraser, won gold with a score of 60.05. Silver went to Team A (Jessica Halcrow, Jemima Budge, Sadie Fox and Tegan Hendren) with 58.70 while bronze was won by Team B (Freyja Tait, Olivia Inkster, Cameron Johnston and Ayla Leask) with 57.15.

Next was the age eight girls with vault first place going to Lily Rendall, second to Freya Masson and third to Charlotte Holmes. The floor first place was won by Lily Rendall, second Freya Masson and third Alanna Leask. This meant that overall first place went to Lily Rendall, second Freya Masson and third Alanna Leask.

Team C (Charlotte Holmes, Heather MacDonald, Lily Rendall and Katie Williams) won the gold medal with a score of 63.80. Second were Team B (Amy Hunter, Alanna Leask and Courtney Young) with 62.25 and third was Team A (Ruby Adamson, Martha Brown and Freya Masson) with 57.10.

Moving on to the age nine girls, vault first place went to Ellie Bisset, second Kirstin Grant and Lily Roberts and third Rhiannon Taylor. The floor first place went to Maddie Smith, second Kirstin Grant and third Lily Roberts. Overall highest combined scores meant first place was won by Maddie Smith, second Kirstin Grant and third Ellie Bisset.

The first team was Team A (Ellie Bisset, Kirstin Grant, Eva Jamieson and Rhiannon Taylor) with 71.10. Team B (Lucy Kerr, Sonja Kurtz, Lily Roberts and Maddie Smith) came second with 71.05.

In the age 10 group the vault gold went to Aimee Smith, second place to May Young, and joint third were Christy Henderson and Katie Dinwoodie. First on floor was won by both Christy Henderson and May Young, second Aimee Smith and third Katie Dinwoodie.

With combined overall scores first were both May Young and Christy Henderson, second Aimee Smith and third Katie Dinwoodie.

In the age 10 team competition Team A (Emily Black, May Young and Christy Henderson) finished first with 70.20 while Team B (Aimee Smith, Eda Leask and Katie Dinwoodie) were second with 64.90.

In the age 11 girls group Arwen Grieve finished in first on floor, vault and overall. Abbie Galbraith was second on floor, vault and overall, Alisha Taylor third on vault and third overall and Isabel Beswick in third place on floor.

The age 12+ group competed last with Hannah Robertson winning gold on vault, silver on floor and gold overall. Evie Craigie won silver on vault, gold on floor and silver overall. Emily Briggs won bronze on vault and Rona Learmonth won bronze on floor and bronze overall.

Christy Henderson performs a difficult straddle lever as part of her age 10 girls floor routine. Photo: Kevin Jones

The last group was the 12+ intermediate group where Sophie Grant won gold on vault, bronze on floor and bronze overall. Ami Maddison won silver on vault, gold on floor and gold overall and Vikky Morrison won bronze on vault, silver on floor and silver overall.

A spokeswoman said: “The club would like to thank everyone who helped in the run-up to the competition, on the actual day with judging, paperwork, setting up and dismantling equipment and looking after gymnasts. It was another successful competition.”

Medals and trophies will be presented to all the winners at the presentation night on 4th January.

Allan Wishart sought assurances the “bad report” was under control.

The Viewforth House care home in Lerwick for people with dementia is under close council scrutiny after it received poor reports in two recent inspections.

The council-run premises was subject to two unannounced visits from the Care Inspectorate during the last year, one last December and another in May.

In December it received the low grading of two – the second to low­est grading – in all four categories assessed. These comprised the qual­ity of care and support, environment, staffing and leadership and manage­ment.

Any score below three is consid­ered unacceptable, and by May this had not improved. As a result a “comprehensive action plan” has been drawn up to ensure that improve­ments are made.

The findings emerged at a meet­ing of the council’s social services committee on Wednesday, when interim director of community care Simon Bokor-Ingram said View­forth’s performance had been rated as “weak”. However, this had not affected the care of the clients.

Mr Bokor-Ingram, who was not in post at the time of the inspections, said: “There were no issues about hands-on care or the interaction between staff and clients. They [the issues] were about the documentation process. The Care Inspectorate’s job is to reduce risk by making sure standards are maintained, and some of the documentation was not evident for them to see.”

In December the inspection report made five requirements for the 20-bed care home – “require­ments” being stronger than “recom­mend­ations”.

These centred on staffing ratios, safe practices, the provision of interests and activities and the need for an audit system.

The requirements stated Viewforth must:

● Make sure staff understand their roles and responsibilities and ensure safe practices;

● Make appropriate provision for the promotion of interests and activites. In order to achieve this the provider must undertake a review of the pres­ent medication procedures, training, staff practices, the provision of interests and activities and audit systems to ensure they are fit for purpose;

● Ensure staffing ratios detailed on the condition registration are upheld and maintained at all times;

● Have in place an audit system which reviews the maintenance and Health and Safety provision at Viewforth House;

● Have in place an audit system, which reviews the service provided and is inclusive of keyworker and staff practice and staffing training.

The inspectors observed that monitoring of care plans were of poor quality with some sections not signed, some care agreements were out of date, personal “significant events” such as birthdays were not always recorded, some charts and personal inventories were incomp­lete, personal items for safe keeping were not always recorded and some items, whose owners were unknown, were found in a cupboard.

Inspectors spoke to staff about promoting interests and activities, and were told by some they they did not have “the staff or the time”. Their time was impacted on by hav­ing to cover safety checks, including of the boiler, as the maintenance man only “popped in” from time to time.

A bath on the ground floor had not been repaired, or removed, between December and May, and deep cleaning was not adequately recorded. Items such as broken photocopiers had been dumped in a lounge, meaning it could not be used by clients. These shortcomings have now or are in the process of being rectified.

However, inspectors found many positives, including that accidents were reported well, and, crucially, that relatives were happy with the care of their loved ones and felt involved with this care. The unit also had good support from GPs and district nurses.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the problems of Viewforth were raised by councillor Allan Wishart, who wanted to know the situation in the “bad report” was now under control.

He was assured by chief social work officer Hughina Leslie that an action plan is now in place, following a meeting of community care managers and the Care Inspectorate.

Mr Bokor-Ingram said: “The score in both reports was really disappointing. Very little progress was made since December and it wasn’t implemented fast enough to raise the score. It’s certainly disappointing that the early warning wasn’t progressed between December and May.

“There is now a very comprehensive action plan in place to make sure the standards set by the Care Inspectorate are being set.” Weekly reports are now being sent to him and Mrs Leslie – among other things these will “evidence” activities being carried out.

Mr Bokor-Ingram said there had been no staff shortages at Viewforth, but said that the old premises were “more challenging” to work in than an new purpose-built unit.

Chairman of the social services committee Cecil Smith said he was “disappointed” with the report but a “robust plan” was now in place. He said the poor performance was a “one-off” and the care of residents had not been affected.

Extremely disappointed: Allison Duncan

Vice chairman Allison Duncan said: “I was extremely disappointed when I read the full report, and took immediate action to ask questions. I am happy there are now to be weekly reports and the situation will be monitored. On the positive side, all our other care homes got excellent marks.”

Although people with a diagnosis of dementia are cared for in the community as far as possible, there has to be accommodation such as Viewforth for the few people for whom this, or a standard care centre, would be unsuitable.

According to the agenda of the social services committee: “All Shetland’s care homes will continue to support people with dementia as required. Future building works are scheduled in Lerwick that could provide a semi-secure environment to replace the existing Viewforth resource.”

Viewforth is due to be replaced by a more modern unit, the plans for which should be in place by April. Mr Bokor-Ingram said the building work currently going on to link Lerwick’s two care centres, Edward Thomason House and Taing House, could create more bedrooms. But, he said, he would like to do “something better” for particularly challenging behaviour. This provision could be within the exisiting buildings or “somewhere else”.

The former Seafield hockey pitch could become a new caravan and camping site. Photo: Jim Nicolson

A development group is being set up to improve camping and caravanning in the isles as well as promoting the leisure activity for the future.

The hockey pitch at Seafield could be the new venue for a new caravan and camping site if the Shetland Caravan and Camping Development Group (SCCDG) can secure funding and show that the proposal is viable.

Last November caravan enthusi­asts discovered only through this news­paper that Shetland Recrea­tional Trust had sold the existing campsite at Clickimin to the SIC and that the site would close.

Since then several local caravan owners have got together to set up the SCCDG, which is looking into establishing a new site in Lerwick which is equally good if not better site than previously existed.

Group chairman Gary Leask said the new group was separate from the Shetland Caravan Club which would still exist. But at the annual meeting of the caravan club this year he and Finlay MacBeath stepped down in order to set up the new group.

Finlay MacBeath: The new group is looking into the possibility of developing the site.

Mr MacBeath said: “When the Clickimin site closed some local caravan owners and enthusiasts immediately got together to try to secure a parcel of land in Lerwick for a new campsite.

“We approached the SIC and several sites were viewed including sites at the Knab which had poor access and at the Gilbertson Park [which] was in the middle of a residential area. None proved to be suitable apart from a site at Seafield – the [former] hockey pitch.

“At this point we are only looking at the possibility of developing this particular site, but initial negotiations have been very positive and we have a lot of people who are willing to come on board with the development of this site. Already there have been verbal offers of help.”

Early negotiations with SIC have suggested a long-term lease on the site.

Mr Leask said: “At the moment we are still very much at the stage of formalising ideas. Initial plans for the site have been drawn up but they are not official and changes might need to be made, but we are looking to provide a site with access for up to 30 caravans as well as a tented area.

“Improvements would be made to the existing toilet block [at Sea­field] but a further building would also be constructed to provide more toilets with showers and laundry facilities, possibly a kitchen, office and reception space.”

The site would be terraced with new drainage and the group will be looking into the provision of environmentally friendly surfaces for hard-standing for the caravans.

Mr MacBeath said: “We want to establish a park akin to mainland sites and this would include stances for disabled drivers whereby they could simply drive into a caravan stance without the need for awkward manoeuvring.

“At Seafield we would hope to provide up to five such stances. We would also like to provide a wash bay for caravans as some visitors have expressed concerns about the effects of salt spray on caravans.

“The rule on caravan and camping sites is that washing of caravans in stances is not allowed but a desig­nated bay would resolve this issue and larger sites on the mainland do have this.”

The group has not set a timescale for putting its proposals into action.

Mr Leask said: “Much of what we are proposing is dependent on funding of course. While we do not intend to approach the council for funding we do hope that they will point us in the direction of sources of funding for our project.

“We have been in touch with local community groups who seem very keen to lend their support, but we are looking for support from interested parties.

“Should we be allowed to go ahead we would hope to eventually end up with something much better than the former site at Clickimin and we would hope to be linked into other caravan bodies such as the national Caravan Club.”

The group does not have an official membership yet but it does have a committee of 10. At one time the Shetland Caravan Club had a membership of 117 but in recent years that has declined.

Mr MacBeath felt that was not due to a decline in interest as caravan ownership is increasing in Shetland but rather that many owners have been put off coming to Lerwick owing to uncertainty surrounding the future of the Clickimin site, fears which had proved to be well founded.

The SCCDG has already spoken with Serco NorthLink about provid­ing a better service for those wishing to take caravans to Shetland.

Mr MacBeath said: “It used to be that if you arrived in Aberdeen wanting to take your caravan on to the ferry and you arrived before the boarding time you would have to wait on the road to board. In the summer months, it would not take many caravans travelling to Shetland to create a long tailback and real congestion.

“The SCCDG contacted Serco about this and in three days Serco had changed the system so that caravans and camper vans could park up on the pier early. This is just one example of improved services and facilities that the group wants to implement and promote.

“With improved facilities we would also hope to offer a longer opening season at the site and in turn this could encourage new members. We would have the site fully open in the summer months but still keep it part open during the off season for the more intrepid caravaners and campers.”

The SCCDG is keen to hear from any interested parties and those wishing to offer help and support and are asked to contact the com­mittee by email at sccdg13@gmail.com.

As a member of Shetland Multifunctional Response Team, you will be responsible for carrying out dig down repairs and maintenance on water mains, maintaining water network assets including service reservoirs and pumping stations, carrying out road reinstatements, replacing ironwork and a variety of other tasks throughout the area.

You are required to participate on a 1 in 2 standby rota involving out of hours work which attracts an additional standby retainer payment of £105 per week.

You will be dealing with our customers daily and are responsible for resolving customer issues and recovery of any reputational impact our operations have on customers.

Good communication skills, ability to work as part of a team, flexibility and a full driving licence including categories C1 & E are essential. A current CPC Excavator qualification is preferred but not essential as training can be provided.

Previous experience of this type of work and some computer skills are preferred however all relevant training will be given.

Should any candidate require further clarification of role they should contact Scottish Water on 0845 601 8855 and ask for Jim Anderson, Multifunctional Response Team Leader.

Application packs are available at www.scottishwater.co.uk or from Human Resources, Tel: 0131 445 6330 during office hours or Email: hrconnect@scottishwater.co.uk

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 29th November, 2013.

Police are investigating a break-in at the council’s education headquarters at Hayfield House in Lerwick.

The incident apparently took place between 10pm and 11pm yesterday evening. At just after 11pm the alarm could be heard ringing loudly in the area. However, it is not known yet whether anything was stolen.

The police were carrying out door-to-door enquiries this morning. If anyone knows anything about the incident they are asked to call Police Scotland on 101.

The town centre was a hive of activity this afternoon with Living Lerwick’s street parade the centre of attraction.

Heading towards Commercial Street via Pitt Lane the atmosphere was immediately evident, with children holding balloons and people lined up on both sides of the street in anticipation of the event.

Not everyone was aware of what was happening, however, as a few bemused shoppers picked their way through the throng.

One elderly man was a case in point. “Whit’s aa dis?” he enquired of a woman standing nearby.

“It’s the parade,” she replied. “The Christmas parade.”

“I thought Christmas was next month,” he shrugged, and carried on his way.

At 3.45pm the lights were switched on, the dusk having begun to fall. The first evidence of the parade, which had started at Bain’s Beach, was the appearance of jeweller Ken Rae, a Living Lerwick stalwart, in a festive hat.

He was followed by the rotund figure of Santa himself, and a few “ho ho ho’s”.

Then came the acclaimed Shetland ponies in their Fair Isle garb. They were quite willing to be patted by excited children and one even had a sniff of somebody’s shopping bag. Perhaps there were carrots inside.

The parade included a host of playgroup, nursery and toddler group representatives, followed by Lerwick Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and Guides in uniform.

At around five minutes to four the Lerwick Brass Band appeared, and immediately struck up with an impressive versioon of Oh Come All You Faithful, followed by God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Last, but definitely not least, came the Jarl’s Squad, with Guizer Jarl Stevie Grant leading an excellent turnout of squad members. This should be an excellent warm-up before their big night at Hogmanay in Edinburgh next month.

To the strains of Jingle Bells the crowd began to disperse, many of them heading towards Harrison Square where the Revellers would be playing live.

Councillor Gary Cleaver, writing in Readers’ Views on 22nd November, makes some clever points. This is no surprise to those who have heard him speak in the council chamber, where it is always obvious just how clever he is.

Tempting as it is to ignore Mr Cleaver’s strictures on my character and motives, I think it wiser to refute, lest folk get the wrong impression.

First of all, he expresses “dismay” that I have “chosen to disregard the democratic decision” of the council on 13th November (about reducing all junior secondary schools to nine-year “super-primaries”, or “middle schools” as they are called in some countries).

Clever, but wrong: I don’t disregard it at all. I accept it, but that will not prevent me pointing out that, if implemented, it will indeed breach council financial policy – unless the £600,000 cost is found from savings elsewhere in the schools budget.

Then there is the shocking accusation that I insist on “looking for arenas outside of the council chamber” to continue my arguments. I plead guilty as charged: I have a right, and in my opinion, a duty, to explain my position to the voters, using the public media.

If councillors observed a vow of omerta except when taking part in debates in the chamber it would be a very strange state of affairs, reminiscent of the orchestrated machine “politics” of the People’s Republic of China.

So, at the risk of further upsetting Mr Cleaver, I will continue to take part in public debates in the media about council policy. I think that is part of what councillors are paid to do.

Next comes the charge of “unfortunate scaremongering” in my letters and radio appearances. If I may presume to translate, what Mr Cleaver probably means is that he disagrees with me and would prefer if I did not point out the possible consequences of the education committee failing to save the £1.5 million a year which it is obliged to save, under a council policy for which Mr Cleaver voted a couple of months ago. These consequences obviously include amalgamating some primary schools.

Like Mr Cleaver, I had read the report for the council meeting thoroughly (although he cleverly insinuates that I had not). I cannot agree with him that council education spending per pupil “remains stubbornly complex”. In fact it has been repeatedly analysed and explained to councillors over the past ten years, in five fudged attempts to reform our education system and reduce the number of schools to what we can afford, while providing the best possible opportunities for all pupils.

As for the “uncertainty that surrounds the full cost of the service and the potential for further efficiency savings”, if Mr Cleaver knew of a clever way suddenly to save the £600,000 a year he wants to spend on making Aith and Sandwick into super-primaries (apparently by cutting back on school dinners and cleaning), why on earth didn’t he tell the education committee about it, long before the report on school costs came to full council?

If he and his clever colleagues have no confidence in the ability of our council’s education officials to do the arithmetic, perhaps they should have the courage to say so in public.

It is clear from his comments that Mr Cleaver has still not fully understood what he voted for. The council decision to add £600,000 to the education department’s annual costs, on top of the £916,000 in savings it had already failed to deliver, leaves the department £1.56 million short.

The vice-chairman of the education committee attempted to have this saving shifted to other departments which had already met their savings targets. When I pointed out to the meeting that this would be in breach of council financial policy, he amended his proposal to mean that education, and not other council services, would still have to find the saving, unless and until the full council decides otherwise.

After the meeting, he attempted to suggest that the money would be found by other services after all. This was a fudge. To have ignored it would not have been clever at all.

Jonathan Wills
Councillor for Lerwick North
Sundside,
Bressay.

Athlete Emma Leask was last night named the 2013 Shetland Sports Awards Sportsperson of the Year.

The middle distance runner collected the honour in recognition of her gold medal winning performances in Bermuda during the NatWest Island Games and her achievement in forcing her way in to the Scottish athletics squad.

Sportsperson of the Year Emma Leask. Photo: Kevin Jones

After the ceremony, which was held in the Clickimin Leisure Complex’s bowls hall and was attended by 150 people Leask said she was “so delighted” to receive the recognition of fellow Shetlanders.

The dual achievements of that gold in Bermuda and representing Scotland had made it a season to remember, she said.

Referring to the run in the Bermudan heat in July Leask said: “It was just a relief. I just wanted to do Shetland proud and win the gold again.”

The sportsperson of the year award capped that. She said “it shows all the hard work has paid off”, adding that to be recognised in Shetland for her achievements was particularly special.

Leask was presented with her award by the political leader of Shetland Islands Council, Gary Robinson. He had told the audience that the judges had faced the most difficult task in choosing a sportsperson of the year since the awards were launched seven years ago.

That meant there were four nominees for the title, instead of the usual three. Leask had been up against swimmers Andrea Strachan and Felix Gifford and triathlete Pete Fenwick and she had won the award by the “narrowest of margins”, said Mr Robinson.

There was also tough competition for the Team of the Year Award, with the promotion-winning Shetland Rugby Team, record-breaking Shetland Island Games Swim Team and medal-winning Shetland  Triathlon Team all vying for the title.

Tavish Scott speaks to Shetland Rugby Team coach Bryan Leask as the team accept the Team of the Year award during last night’s Shetland Sports Awards 2013. Photo: Kevin Jones

It was the rugby team who claimed the award and spokesman Bryan Leask said it was recognition for the time and effort that goes into competing in a national competition on a weekly basis.

Achieving promotion to the the RBS Caledonia League Division 2 North was “huge” said Mr Leask. “It might be we have a strong home team but to go away and consistently win away, that is what you have to achieve. It was huge.

“We also got to the semi-final of the national cup and won the inter-county. It was a successful year.”

If the awards for Leask and the rugby club were well received the biggest ovation of the night was when Rhoda Polson was named the winner of the Lifetime Endeavour Award in recognition of the years of dedication and support she has provided to generations of sportspeople.

Everyone in the hall rose to their feet as Ms Polson walked to the stage to collect the award from Tam Rowley, himself a great supporter of sport in the isles. She told compere, MSP Tavish Scott, that she was “just gobsmacked”.

The presentation of the award was a fitting end to the ceremony and afterwards Ms Polson told The Shetland Times: “It means an awful lot because it is from home. It is the folk in here [the audience], there were swimmers there that I taught and athletes that I held the stop watch for them.

Rhoda Polson was “gobsmacked” to receive the Lifetime Endeavour Award. Photo: Kevin Jones

“Getting it [the award] from your home place makes a difference.” She said that the most satisfaction she got from sport was when Shetland enjoyed success in the inter-county competitions.

For the second consecutive year Zoe Buchanan won the Young Sportsperson of the Year Award after her gold medal successes at the World Transplant Games in South Africa and at the British Transplant Games in Sheffield.

She was visibly emotional and summed up her mood with a simple, “wow!”. The other nominees were footballer Ryan Thomason and athlete and karate black belt Aidan Jarmson, who had also been part of an energetic demonstration by the Shetland Budokai Karate Club during the event.

In the Young Team of the Year category Shetland under-18 Athletics Team scooped the prize ahead of the the Junior Inter-county Hockey Team and the Junior Inter-county Swim Team. There was a large contingent from the athletics squad in the audience, who were thrilled to climb on to the stage together as Eoin Leask accepted the award. He said it was “unexpected” but that all those involved were thrilled.

Earlier in the night the sportscotland coach of the year winners were presented with their awards by regional coaching and volunteer manager Jan Stander.

They were: Young Volunteer of the Year, Tom Jamieson; Technical Official of the Year, Audrey Leask; Disability Coach of the Year, Dawn McKenzie; Young Persons Coach of the Year, Glenn Gilfillan; Young Coach of the Year, Emma Inkster and Vicky Anderson; Performance Coach of the Year, Andy Alderman; Development Coach of the Year, Petur Petursson and Community Coach of the Year John Ward.

Petur Petursson was chosen as the Shetland Coach of the Year. He was not present at the ceremony but his daughter Megan Petusdottir collected the award on his behalf and in a statement said that Petursson was humbled by the nomination and that coaching children and adults gave him “incredible pleasure every day”.

For full coverage of the Sports Awards, including interviews and more photographs, see Friday’s Shetland Times.

The Mareel Music Makers at Ireland beach. Photo: Alice Mullay

From rousing fiddles to crunchy guitars, heartfelt harmonies to clever poetry, Back from Beyond was an eclectic celebration of Shetland’s charms.

Visitors to Mareel on Saturday night were treated to a fantastic show – combining live music, spoken word and moving montages and short films.

In a packed auditorium, act after act delivered their experiences of visiting some of Shetland’s hidden gems.

Many local artists talked of their new appreciation of their surroundings, and, as a newcomer to the isles, Back from Beyond was a great introduction to what Shetland has to offer.

Eight musicians, musical groups and poets, all Shetland-based, shared their stories.

During the summer they travelled to the isles’ national nature reserves and national scenic areas, using their visit as inspiration to create music or poetry.

First up were the Mareel Music Makers, armed with an array of instruments to tell their story about their visit to Scalloway and Bigton.

It was a brilliant start to the show as the group combined ukuleles, guitars and percussion to represent the sea and surrounding beauty.

A slick blues section marked the journey between the two locations and the group was met by whistles and a rapturous applause from the audience at the end of the performance.

Next was Neil Thomson’s intricate guitar playing, which matched beautifully with the choral power of the da Shanty Yellmen in their take on Fethaland.

In an introductory video, Thomson spoke about the history of the area, its fishing heritage and “the lovely state of timelessness about the place”.

And his piece did not disappoint, transporting the audience to times gone by.

Teenage folk-funk band Teevliks had the crowd chuckling along with the introduction to their piece about their visit to Noss – encountering plenty of fog and gale force winds when they pitched up their tents on the island.

Eerie bass riffs and a toe-tapping funk section made for an interesting insight into their climb up the noup and their camping experiences.

A real highlight of the evening came just before the interval courtesy of Joyce Wark and popular Shetland band Bongshang.

The fusion of electronic beats, dreamy textures and old film footage, made for a moving and inspiring description of Muckle Roe.

And the high standard continued after the break with Freda Leask and the Shoormal Band and the Jennifer McCormack Trio.

Driving drums opened the second half along with tight harmonies for their piece based on Fair Isle.

“Wir blood is in the soil” was a standout lyric, highlighting the connection between the land and its inhabitants.

Trevor Smith’s guitar playing was also a pleasure to listen to as the array of talented musicians worked their way through the varied song structure.

The laughter continued in the second half as Maurice Henderson of Haltadans talked about the band’s visit to Foula.

Along with its stunning cliffs and scenery, Henderson spoke of the tired Transit van which struggled to transport the band members across the island – despite it only being three miles in length.

Henderson was clearly at ease with the audience and his enthusiasm, love of the island and its folk was there for all to see.

A trio of tunes was played by the group containing talented fiddle players, with Foula Transit being a particular favourite.

Laureen Johnson and Paolo Ritch’s poetry on Eshaness then followed, adding yet more variety to the evening.

Ritch was unable to attend the event but a video featuring stunning views of the cliffs was played to the audience along with a voice over of his poem Da Villans At Da Gate.

Written in dialect, Ritch spoke of his existence in comparison to the great cliffs, drawing on themes of longevity and time.

Johnson’s two poems – Timescales and Comin Fae Da Mill  included similar time themes and were warmly received as she recited them on stage.

Folk rockers the Revellers rounded off the evening with their anti- war song Lower The Rope based on the escape of Danish king Guthrum The Dane, who escaped from Unst following a shipwreck.

Adam Priest, who occasionally plays bass with the band, hails from Unst and spoke at length about the group’s trip to Hermaness and how the idea for the song came about.

Priest joined The Revellers on stage as the group injected a good helping of gritty guitar riffs to proceedings.

One happy punter said to me at the bar afterwards, it was like seeing Shetland through my eyes – as if it was all for the first time again.

As a celebration of Shetland, Back from Beyond is both diverse and thought provoking. The night was a huge success.

A website has now been launched – www.backfrombeyond.org – featuring all the music and poetry from the gig.

The project is hoped to encourage people to get out and about and explore Shetland.

Visitors to the website can download the creations so they can listen to them when they visit the various locations featured in the project.

People are also encouraged to upload their own creations onto the website, drawing their own inspiration from the sites.

Haltadans, near Gaada Stack, Foula. Photo: Maurice Henderson

West Side registrar Mona Walterson will be hanging up her pen after 19 years working as registrar from her home at Modesty, West Burrafirth, when all Shetland mainland rural registries close at the end of the year.

Her final job was registering baby Eloise Joan Tulloch, who visited Modesty with her parents Stuart Tulloch and Emma Robinson to be registered last Wednesday.

A couple of weeks ago Mrs Walterson officiated what was her last marriage when Chris Brown and Rama Thakar of Germatwatt tied the knot in a cross-cultural ceremony in the Modesty conservatory that included elements of Sikh, Native American and Hindu tradition, while Mona oversaw the official details.

Mrs Walterson reckons she has conducted hundreds of births and deaths and over 100 civil marriages since taking over the registry in 1994.

She said: “There has been a huge amount of folk here and all types of ceremonies. Sometimes folk wanted no fuss. You might be doing peerie weddings for four – just the bride, groom and witnesses – or there might be a large company of folk. It was always good.

“I suppose it’s a little different and I was always keen for folk to come here. It’s been really good and I’m sad it is finishing.“

Mrs Walterson, who is one of a family of 10, was more or less born into the trade, as her father Bertie Deyell was well known as the Sandsting and Aithsting registrar. He worked from home at Semblister and held the position for 43 years. According to Mrs Walterson the bairns had to keep quiet while her father conducted registry affairs in the sitting room.

The job has been ideal for her, as she has managed to bring up her own family of six while working part-time. The family connection continued when she conducted the marriage of her brother John Robert and his wife Peta in August 2003.

The births, deaths and marriages civil registry began in 1855 when it took over from the church registry. Since then, the West Side registries have been among the busiest in Shetland.

To add to her duties Mrs Walterson took over the registry for Walls a few years ago. New rules were also introduced around 2006 allowing registrars to conduct marriages outside the registry office at venues like Burrastow or Busta House Hotels.

Of course, the registry involves births and deaths as well as marriages. “You are seeing the spectrum of life right from babies being born to, sadly, folk dying as well. The thing with folk dying is that nearly everyone on the register was someone I knew. The least you could do with folk is to help them through the bereavement.”

One of the things about the job is its unpredictability and the requirement for the registry to be available when folk needed it.

Another side to the work was the great numbers of people looking for information on their relatives and ancestors.

Mrs Walterson met the actor Geoffrey Hughes, best known as bin man Eddie Yates from Coronation Street, who was a cousin of Andy Tulloch from Maywick and turned out to have ancestors in Skeld and Twatt. Mr Yates and his wife and Mr Tulloch visited Semblister to “red-up kin”.

Unlike his characters in Coronation Street and The Royle Family, Mr Hughes turned out to be “a very fine man” and a very interesting and educated individual.

Mrs Walterson added: “It has been a very interesting time that is coming to an end, and is the end of an era for rural registries.”

More than 10 rural registrars are to close in the New Year – some run by men and women who have been in their post for over 40 years – incredible service to their local communities.

Award winner Ailish Parham with Aubrey Jamieson (left) and Peter Campbell. Photo: Dave Donaldson

The Swan Trust’s end of season get together in the Lerwick Boating Club on Saturday was a double celebration for teenager Ailish Parham from Maywick.

She collected the Vevoe Trophy awarded annually to the best trainee and then was delighted to be presented with an international award for the young sail training volunteer of the year.

Presenting the Vevoe Trophy for the best trainee on the Swan during 2013, Aubrey Jamieson spoke of Ailish’s enthusiasm for sail training and how she had spent almost the whole summer as a volunteer crew member on the vessel.

He also explained about the Vevoe Trophy. A replica of Swan’s original wheel, it had been commissioned following a donation from the family of the late Willie Simpson, Vevoe, Whalsay. He had been a trustee of the Swan Trust and his family had been associated with the vessel for more than 50 years.

Willie o’Vevoe, as he was known, had first gone to the herring fishing in the early 1950s aboard the Swan. In addition to receiving the Vevoe Trophy which is awarded annually, Ailish was presented with a cold bronze casting of the Swan under sail, made by Terry Atkinson, Tingwall.

Ailish’s second trophy of the evening was Sail Training International (STI)’s award to the young sail training volunteer of the year. Making the presentation, Peter Campbell, who had accepted the trophy on behalf of Ailish at the Tall Ships Conference in Aalborg, Denmark, the previous week, referred to the criteria of skills, talent, time and dedication which the international panel of judges had used to determine the winner.

He then quoted Paul Bishop, race director of STI ,who had announced the winner. “This trophy is awarded to somebody whose defining moment in sail training was a stormy night crossing the North Sea. She rose to the challenge and impressed all aboard. Her experience encouraged her to become a very active volunteer and it soon became apparent to the skipper and trustees that she was an exceptional young person with maturity beyond her years.”

After accepting her trophies Ailish spoke of her amazement at winning.

She said: “I couldn’t quite believe it. I considered winning the Vevoe Trophy to be an achievement, but to win this international award is overwhelming.

“I must thank Sail Training Shetland for the opportunity to sail on Swan in 2012 and the Swan Trust for the support I was given over the summer.”

Both the trophies will soon be on display in the Swan Trust’s display case at NAFC, Scalloway.

Businesses need to be aware of the latest scam which infects computers with a virus, is the warning from Shetland Islands Council’s Trading Standards service.

The scam, which mainly targets businesses, appears in the form of an official-looking email purporting to be from an official source such as HMRC, a bank, Companies House or Royal Mail.

It contains a file which when opened proceeds to install “CryptoLocker” software on to Windows computers. The software then encrypts all the files on the infected computer, and demands a ransom – typically around £500 – for the code to unlock the encryption.

There is a countdown to providing the ransom – if you don’t pay in the given time, your encryption code will be destroyed.

Businesses are advised to remind staff not to click or download unsolicited email attachments; to keep anti-virus software up to date and back up important files and keep them off the network.

If a computer becomes infected it should be disconnected from the network and professional advice sought.

If you are a victim, report it to www.actionfraud.police.uk

Shetland Islands Council’s Trading Standards Team Leader, David Marsh, said: “We are aware of businesses in Shetland who have received these emails and opened the attachment and are now counting the cost in IT support and employee time to recover vital data, as well as the distress this has caused them.

“For more information about scams, along with general consumer advice, visit www.shetland.gov.uk/tradingstandards, phone Trading Standards on 01595 744887, or call along the Council’s office on the ground floor of Charlotte House.”

With reference to the article in The Shetland Times, 22nd November, “Seafield hockey pitch could turn new group into happy campers” – what about unhappy equestrians?

A hockey pitch! When was Seafield last used to play hockey on – maybe about 15 years ago! Since the astro turf pitch was formed at Brae hockey players have understandably foresaken Seafield.

It has, however, being used as an equestrian show area for the past few years. There is a drainage problem and the field is on a slope and it is not ideal but it is the ill-best the “horsey” people can get. Even so they can’t have both sides of the pavilion made available for their use for a pony show.

Why does equestrian sport come so far down our vouncil’s sports priority list? Are the councillors hoping that someone else will maybe pay out the “… up to £100 000 …” the SIC minuted which might be made available for another site for equestrian use. This was when there was the suggestion of building, on Seafield, an extension to the Eric Gray Centre. Be careful caravaners, have you been told about this?

For over 30 years the equestrian fraternity has been trying, without success, to get a suitable permanent central equestrian area. Not only does the council mean to destroy a perfectly good, centrally positioned, caravan site, but it is also thinking of handing over the only venue available for equestrian sport to someone else.

What’s wrong with the area outside the wall at Seafield for an extension to the Eric Gray Centre or a caravan park? Or maybe the Seafield football pitch could be made available for the horses or the caravaners! After all, there are about 14 football pitches in Shetland – and five of them are in Lerwick itself.

Helen Thomson

11 Sandblister Place

Scatness

Virkie

Missing Colin Arnot

Police in Shetland are requesting help in tracing Colin Arnot, 54, who was reported missing on Monday.

Mr Arnot is approximately 6′ 2″ in height, well built, with a beard and grey hair.

He is possibly driving a green Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin, registration number X699 VYA.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact police by telephoning 101.

Proposals aimed at heralding an end to council control over inter-island ferry services are due for debate by councillors.

The SIC’s development committee will tomorrow be asked to decide whether to take up a Scottish government offer of “dialogue” on who should have responsibility for the lifeline services.

It follows the release of a report almost a year ago by the SNP-led authority which set out its proposals for ferry services between now and 2022.

However, it is arguably unlikely that councillors will warm to the idea. Head of the local transport agency ZetTrans, Allan Wishart, last year said people would be “loath” to see control handed over to Holyrood.

Today he voiced concerns that the council would still be paying for a service run in Edinburgh, if the proposal went ahead.

“It’s quite clear the Scottish government will run them but still expect us to pay for them. If someone has got a problem on the Yell crossing who do they phone? If the Scottish government is running it I presume they will have to phone Edinburgh on a Friday night.

“My concern is we’ll end up losing control and not gaining anything for it.”

A report by the SIC’s chief transport official, Michael Craigie, also alludes to the Our Islands Our Future campaign, which focuses on taking control out of Edinburgh, rather than relying on ever-more centralised services.

According to the Scottish ferries plan, the government will consider a variety of factors should the council make an approach. However it states the Scottish government will only become involved if the local authority in question wishes it to do so.

“In considering any request to take over a ferry service, we will assess need on a case-by-case basis,” it states.

“We will take into account factors including: the lifeline nature of the route; the community served, including its population; alternative routes and historic carryings.

“Ultimately, however, it may not always be agreed that a transfer of responsibility goes ahead. In addition, the Scottish government cannot guarantee to be in a position to provide any additional funding.”

See Friday’s Shetland Times for a report from the meeting.

Criticism has been levelled against the Scottish government’s vision on how a Scotland separate from the rest of the UK would look.

The comments by Isles MP and Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael and his Edinburgh counterpart, Tavish Scott, have come after the release today by the SNP government of the white paper on independence.

Mr Carmichael says the weighty 670-page document deliberately ignores the uncertainties held by many people over separation.

Mr Scott, meanwhile, has highlighted “nationalist centralisation” and has criticised the nationalists for failing to provide islands legislation in the current parliament.

However the white paper has been defended by local nationalist Danus Skene, who hopes the paper’s release could move the debate on independence on to a new level.

The white paper set out a series of pledges, as well as gaining independence.

These include:

• Thirty hours of childcare per week for three and four-year-olds, as well as certain two year-olds;

• The removal of Trident nuclear weapons from the Clyde;

• Housing benefit reforms including the scrapping of the so-called “bedroom tax”;

• The retention of the pound.

Alistair Carmichael.

Mr Carmichael said the Scottish government had ignored the uncertainties and difficulties of independence.

“This was their chance to level with people. They have chosen a different path and people will judge them on that.

“For years we have been promised that all the answers on independence would be in the white paper. The big day has finally arrived and we have 670 pages that leaves us none the wiser on crucial questions such as currency, pensions and the cost of independence.

“People will draw their own conclusions that the Scottish government have deliberately sought to ignore the uncertainties and difficulties of independence. We are simply expected to believe that everything will be perfect after we leave the UK. We are asked to accept that ending a 300 year United Kingdom will be straightforward. We are told it will all be all right on the night.

“It is astonishing that the Scottish government can sit in private discussing the costs of independence and then refuse to share those figure with the Scottish people. John Swinney’s leaked paper said it would cost £600m every year to run an independent tax system but today we saw nothing about that.

“It looks more and more like the Scottish government will continue to keep these things private. If they had convincing answers then today really would have been the day to share them with everyone.

Mr Scott added: “The SNP have confirmed that there will be no islands legislation in the current Parliament. The islands councils asked for this just last week but today they have been told ‘no’. That is deeply disappointing. It shows that the islands are secondary to independence while nationalist centralisation and removal of local powers will not be reversed under the SNP.

“People will see right through this manifesto and wonder why the nationalist government couldn’t use the powers they have had for six years to help Shetland families, businesses and local people.”

However Mr Skene said the launch of the paper was a significant milestone in the run-up to September’s referendum.

“I think we’ve had a very negative period. We’ve had a period that has been dominated by so-called ‘project fear’. That period, which has been led by a whole series of scare stories about the possible effects of independence … has not increased the ‘no’ vote. There has been a very modest hardening up of the ‘yes’ vote, although I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on it.

“There has been remarkably little movement over this last six months. Now the positive arguments are being consolidated. One of the reasons I look forward to reading this with some care is that I very much hope this is a document that will be about options which will be available to a Scottish electorate and not some sort of prospectus for a post-independence SNP government.

“I think it’s a red-letter day in the sense that I would hope this will move the debate onto different territory, and that we will be able to focus on what the issues actually are.”

He insisted the paper did highlight issues pertenent to the isles, particularly surrounding the stabilisation of the oil industry and the Our Islands Our Future initiative.

“There is a cabinet committee being designated to look at this to take stuff forward.

“This is not an exercise about an SNP government, it’s an exercise about getting choice and policy options within Scotland whoever has control. I think one of the interesting speculations is what happens if the first post-independence referendum produces a non-SNP government.”

He said the financial comparisons on either side of the border were “extremely close”.

“By that I mean the per capita income between Scotland and England – we’re not talking about Germany and Greece. The fiscal wealth source of revenue is pretty close.

“While we do receive slightly higher government expenditure per capita in Scotland we are more than that contributing slightly higher taxation per capita in Scotland.

“What I think the endless debate about money is telling us is that the conditions either side of the border are extremely close.

“The issue is about how you distribute that wealth to what effect. The Scottish electorate is more prepared to see a greater equality generated through the taxation system spent on the social services, health etc.

“Scotland has a different distribution and spending agenda than England.”

He added: “It’s not just a question of independence it’s a question of what the risks are of continued union. The UK as a state is facing considerable difficulties of debt, fiscal options and the rest of it. There is risk there.”

A man who admitted being over the legal alcohol limit when in charge of a car was allowed to keep his licence when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Alexander McNicol, 54, of Broomfield Street, Larkhall, pleaded guilty to being in his car in Commercial Street, Lerwick, on 16th August with 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The court heard that a concerned member of the public phoned police at around 3.30pm. McNicol was booked on the ferry departing at 5.30pm for Aberdeen, and had been intending to head for the boat when the police went to the scene. They found McNicol sitting in a car park in the driver’s seat, speaking on his mobile phone.

Defence solicitor Sandy Morrison said a toxicology report gave a relatively low reading, and McNicol had “miscalculated” his ability to drive. He said that McNicol, who had been working at Sullom Voe, had various “historic” convictions for driving offences, including a custodial sentence, but his licence was clear at the moment.

McNicol had been working on the Borders Railway since September, and needed his licence to commute to work from his home in Larkhall to Galashiels. He had to stay in Larkhall to look after his 30-year-old son, who lives with him and has medical problems.

Mr Morrison asked Sheriff Lorna Drummond to consider McNicol’s personal circumstances and suggested penalty points on his licence might be appropriate, rather than disqualification.

In view of the circumstances, McNicol’s full-time job and low alcohol reading, the sheriff “against her instinct” imposed 10 penalty points and fined him £650.

Searches continued throughout yesterday for North Roe resident Colin Arnot, who was reported missing with his car at 7pm on Monday.

Mr Arnot, 54, is approximately 6′ 2″ in height, well built, with a beard and grey hair.

He is possibly driving a green Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin, registration number X699 VYA.

Shetland Coastguard searched an extensive area of the North Mainland from 8am yesterday until darkness fell in the afternoon. The rescue helicopter searched inland areas, including off-road tracks around his home, where he farms alpaca sheep, as far as Collafirth and Uyea on the west. On the ground, coastal teams from Hillswick, Sullom Voe, Lerwick and West Burra Isle searched the coastline of Eshaness, North Roe, Collafirth Pier, Fethaland, from Mangaster to Nibon and Muckle Roe.

Police have not requested the coastguard to undertake any further seraches today.The force said “multi-agency” searches were taking place today, as well as other enquiries, but the helicopter is not involved.

Meanwhile they have appealed to anyone with information about Mr Arnot’s whereabouts to telephone police on 101.

Six people have been arrested and charged in connection with drug supply offences following a major police operation.

Raids were carried out across half a dozen addresses around Lerwick throughout yesterday and today.

A statement from Police Scotland said the searches were aimed at disrupting the availability of drugs in the community.

The operation involved officers from N Division and the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit (North) conducted the activity.

The statement said: “Six people have been detained as a result of the operation which has been intelligence-led. Six persons have been arrested and charged in connection with drug supply offences and are expected to appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court.”

Area commander for the isles, Chief Inspector Angus MacInnes, said: “The communities in Shetland are aware of the impact of substance misuse, be it alcohol, synthetic highs or illegal drugs. In response to these …Police Scotland, both local policing based here in Shetland, assisted by Dogs Against Drugs handlers and drugs dogs, and specialist resources from throughout Scotland, have carried out a number of pieces of work, including the activity of the past two days.

“As the area commander I welcome the access to the wider Police Scotland resources that have assisted us. This demonstrates our ongoingcommitment to addressing national and local issues and contributes to keeping people safe.”

The Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit (OCCTU) was introduced as part of the Specialist Crime Division of Police Scotland when the single service formed in April this year.

Det Supt Phil Chapman, who leads OCCTU North, said: “Specialist officers from the OCCTU have worked closely with officers from local policing to ensure our activity is as focused and as impactive as possible.

“Specialist Crime Division will support local policing and communities where issues requiring the skills of specially-trained officers are required. There is no community in Scotland which is immune from the potential reach of organised crime. But there is also no community in Scotland which is out of our reach in terms of how we respond.

“Our activity today will help to send a clear message out that we will make our communities hostile environments for criminals and that communities can be assured that resources like the Specialist Crime Division will be fully utilised to help keep people safe.”

At the new quay, with the first vessel to use it, Sea Trout, in the background aare (from left): Lerwick Port Authority chief executive, Sandra Laurenson, Harbourmaster, Captain Calum Grains, Tulloch Developlments Ltd director George Smith; Arch Henderson partner Andy Sandison, Tulloch Developments directors, Alistair Tulloch and Frank Tulloch. Photo: John Coutts

Lerwick Harbour’s third new quay in 21 months been brought into immediate use owing to the high level of activity at the port.

The 100 metre Berth 7 at Greenhead Base provides an extension to a 100-metre-plus quay added there last February. Providing nine metres water depth, the two common-user quays service the oil and gas industry mainly.

The offshore industry supply vessel, Sea Trout, was the first ship to use the new berth.

Mair’s Quay, at 150 metres, completed this summer, will bring significant improvements in the fishing industry’s operations and provide the site for a replacement white fish market.

The three quays, at a total investment of £11.5 million, are part of a suite of quays and land reclamation consented in 2010, with the first contract award in December that year.

Local contractor, Tulloch Developments, has successfully delivered the works on time and on budget, with design and supervision by Arch Henderson.

With three quays built within the last three years LPA is now turning its attention to its next capital projects as part of an ongoing investment plan.

Harbourmaster Captain Calum Grains said: “With the current high activity level, in the offshore sector in particular, and a positive outlook for the foreseeable future, the latest quay is a timely addition to our deep-water infrastructure. Development is ongoing to ensure we continue to meet new opportunities.”

Tulloch Developments director Alistair Tulloch said the firm’s involvement began in January 2011 with work on the initial Berth 6/7 which included dredging and modifications to Berth 5.

In August last year Tulloch’s started work on the Mair’s Yard project and in January on the final berth part of the scheme.

The work has involved moving 335,000 tons of rockfill and hardcore, 42,000 tons of rock armour, 8,736 tons of concrete, 4,500 square metres of sheet piling, said Mr Tulloch

He  said he was pleased that all the work had been completed on time and to agreed budget.

Lerwick now has almost 4,000 metres of quay, including over 1,300 metres of deep-water berthing, following developments to accommodate larger vessels now operating. Investment of over £83 million by the Port Authority has taken place since the 1970s, much of it directed at the offshore industry.

Additional lay-down areas are being created and further deep-water berths are also in the pipeline.

Sea Trout at the new quay. Photo: John Coutts