`,o=`${t.title}`,s=document.createElement("article");s.classList.add("minipanel"),s.innerHTML=`${n}${o}`,e.appendChild(s)}))}function b(e){if(!e)return;let t=document.querySelector(`.account-mobile-${N.status.mode()} .bookmark-list`),n;t.querySelector(".bookmark-page").style.display="none";let o=document.createElement("div");o.classList.add("panel-error"),o.innerHTML=`${e} A LERWICK café is to step back in time to the 1940s as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of VE Day this week A series of events are being planned in the lead up to VE Day on Thursday with the town set to welcome a flotilla of World War Two-era Norwegian ships from Tuesday A ‘liberation convoy’ of five Norwegian vessels is expected to arrive in Lerwick tomorrow after leaving Norway this morning (Monday) Among the other events planned to mark the historic milestone are a procession through Lerwick on Wednesday night a civic reception at Lerwick Town Hall and wreath laying ceremonies in town and Scalloway Shetland Museum and Archives will also host a VE celebration on Thursday ration-era cookery demonstrations and 1940s hair styling available Lerwick coffee shop Blyde Welcome is set to join in the celebrations by transporting visitors back to the 1940s on Thursday Its staff will don 1940s attire and will serve up a nostalgic menu of British classics bakewell sponge and Victoria sandwich cake There will also be an opportunity to sample a traditional wartime oatcake alongside Blyde Welcome’s own version of kirn cheese Blyde Welcome said Shetland had a “long tradition of baking” with people having to be resourceful during the war years to combine rations for even a simple cake Founder Celia Smith said they were “honoured to take part in this tribute to Lerwick’s history” “Our coffee shop is all about warmth and welcome so bringing that spirit of friendship to this commemorative event feels very fitting,” she said Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Living Lerwick is also coordinating shop window displays along the street to mark the town’s wartime contribution and the bravery and heroism of those involved in the Shetland Bus operation Blyde Welcome said locals and visitors were invited to stop by the Commercial Street shop on Thursday to raise a cup to eight decades of peace and remembrance At Shetland Museum and Archives people are being encouraged to “dress to impress in your best 1940s style” for their VE 80 Celebration event on Thursday night from 7pm to 9.30pm Local historian Jon Sandison will give a talk with live music being provided by Girsie and the Loose Ends Taste of Shetland will be on hand to give demonstrations of ration-era cooking while UHI students will offer 1940s hair styling Artefacts and military uniforms from World War Two will also be on display at the event, which people can book tickets for here Ability Shetland are also hosting a VE Day variety concert at the Whiteness and Weisdale hall on Thursday from 7pm  with tea/coffee and homebakes included The event is raising money for the Shetland team attending the Scottish Learning Disability Sport National Games this July All five visiting Norwegian ships will be open to the public from 11am to 5pm on Wednesday veterans and guests will also form a procession led by Lerwick Pipe Band from Lerwick Harbour to the town hall on Wednesday at 6.30pm Council convener Andrea Manson will then host an evening civic reception at the town hall for invited guests On Thursday the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe (‘VE’) day will be marked with public commemorative events in Lerwick and Scalloway Lord Lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch and convener Manson will lead the laying of wreaths with a memorial service in Lerwick taking place at the county war memorial at 11am In Scalloway a memorial service will take place at the Shetland Bus memorial at 3pm In the evening of 8 May musicians from the Norwegian Naval Band will perform a free concert in St Columba’s Kirk in Lerwick from 7.30pm with donations to be split equally between veterans’ charities The vessels are expected to start departing Lerwick on Saturday 11 May with some returning to Norway and others visiting Shetland ports like Scalloway and Baltasound Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks: If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News varying from breaking news delivered on the minute We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security improved speed and the best overall experience on this site Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.You can unsubscribe at any time We exist to support independent news providers Your answers will power important research We will share aggregated and anonymous answers with your news provider And we will produce an overarching UK-wide report complete the survey and enter your email at the end then please consider paying for membership and get the following features and services: - Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Emergency services were called to the pier in Gremista, Shetland on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services were to Gremista in Shetland at around 4pm on Tuesday afternoon following reports of a collision involving a jet ski. The RNLI Lerwick lifeboat, a coastguard rescue helicopter, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland were dispatched to the scene. Officers confirmed an 18-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and his family has been made aware. A 17-year-old boy has been taken to hospital for treatment. Police said enquiries into the incident are ongoing. An RNLI spokesperson said: “Lerwick lifeboat was tasked shortly after 4pm on Tuesday, April 22, to a multi-agency incident at Catch Pier in Lerwick. “The RNLI lifeboat supported Lerwick Coastguard Rescue Team, a coastguard rescue helicopter, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland.” Chief Inspector Chris Sewell said: “Around 4pm on Tuesday, 22 April, 2025, we were called to a report of a jet ski crashing into a pier at Gremista, Shetland. “Emergency services attended and an 18-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His family is aware. “A 17-year-old male youth has been taken to hospital for treatment. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. “The Marine Accident Investigation branch has been notified. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who has died.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" MORE equipment for the Rosebank oil and gas development arrived in Lerwick on a large barge on Tuesday evening was transporting items such as flexible flow lines and water injection lines Large pieces of infrastructure for the development began arriving in Lerwick last year for onward transport to the field which is located around 130 kilometres north west of Shetland Work can continue on the Equinor project despite a recent court ruling which means the UK Government will have to re-consider the development’s approval A spokesperson for developer Equinor said in March that the Rosebank oil and gas project is “progressing according to plan” They told Shetland News this week that the vessel Olympic Challenger arrived at the Rosebank field on 11 April and is performing pre-installation work at the infield area and at the gas export pipeline route The first seven mooring anchors will also be transported to Lerwick The vessel Deep Explorer will also starting installing mooring suction anchors The Equinor spokesperson said the Norwegian company is “very grateful for the good collaboration and contributions” from Lerwick Port Authority and local suppliers instead going through a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel gas from Rosebank will go through a new export pipeline to the existing West of Shetland pipeline system Equinor said the gas will go through BP’s sweetening facility at Sullom Voe Terminal before heading into a new crossover pipeline It will then go into the existing SIRGE pipeline before eventually finishing up at the St Fergus terminal on the Scottish mainland quashed decisions from the government to approve the Jackdaw and Rosebank developments Already a member? Sign in to hide this message The projects – which have not yet begun producing oil and gas – will have to be reconsidered and take into account the emissions which would result from burning the oil and gas produced from the fields But Lord Ericht suspended the “reduction” on the decision until a fresh decision has been reached This enables the oil and gas developers to continue working on the projects up to that point Equinor previously said the company and its joint venture partner Ithaca have already committed over £2.2 billion on developing Rosebank – “awarding vital contracts across the supply chain and employing personnel to deliver the work” The Rosebank development – estimated to be the largest undeveloped field in the UK continental shelf – is criticised by environmental campaigners who say the oil should not be extracted said after January’s court ruling that “Rosebank is a disaster for the climate and will do next to nothing to create the prosperity and stability that the UK needs” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Part of The Shetland Times group Lerwick-born author and respected local historian takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the streets of the Conservation Areas of Lerwick and having trained as a Green Badge Tourist Guide following retirement Douglas began writing articles for local papers which resulted in the publication of two books on the subject He also provided walking tours of Old Lerwick which proved to be very popular Douglas enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and was keen to share his vast knowledge of the historic area where he grew up Through delving behind the facade of many important buildings and landmarks to discover their origin this book answers many of the questions put to him over the years by visitors and also locals and subsequent determination to relate and record his findings this informative book will serve a s a lasting legacy to Douglas and the Lerwick he loved The Shetland Times Bookshop, 71-79 Commercial Street, Lerwick, ZE1 0AJTel: +44 (0) 1595 695531Email: bookshop@shetlandtimes.co.uk LERWICK is set to get a lot warmer this summer with the addition of a new 20-seater sauna which currently has two trailers based at the St is set to expand with the addition of two extra saunas in the coming months at a location which will be announced shortly with the other 20-seater unit also going to St The move will allow the company to begin offering traditional sauna rituals – known in Scandinavia as aufguss – as well as meeting growing demand for the existing sauna Haar Sauna co-owner Callum Scott said they had been keen on opening a sauna in Lerwick for “quite some time” A £15,000 funding boost from the Scottish EDGE entrepreneurial awards in March has helped the company buy two sauna trailers from the Netherlands which are expected to be installed this summer “The reason why we wanted to buy them was to give us bigger sauna space,” Scott told Shetland News “We want to do sauna rituals inside the actual sauna itself “To do that we wanted a bigger capacity but also a bigger space for the master to do the ritual.” is a “very new concept for Shetland” Haar Sauna began running rituals in its two Bigton saunas last year with the biggest of the two holding eight people Scott said that every session had since been sold out with some people booking out every one after trying it once sees a master move the hot air around the sauna “in a certain motion” with a number of natural products used to make a “really good smell inside the sauna” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Birch branches are also used to hit or massage the body to improve circulation Scott said people had embraced it wholeheartedly “It’s absolutely been really popular,” he said “It’s like finding a new way to sauna “A lot of people just sit there and sweat and don’t sauna in the right way.” Each session has three or four rounds lasting “approximately 12 minutes” and Scott says people “come out of feeling alive and just incredible” Aufguss is very popular with our neighbours in Norway and Scott said Haar Sauna was the first to take it to Scotland He said there had been a “steep hockey stick curve” for aufguss in this country after it had been trialled in Shetland “We’re bringing something from the north Our ritual sessions for May and June are already booked up.” Haar Sauna will not be announcing the location of its Lerwick sauna until a few weeks before it opens to the public Scott hopes the two of them will be open in either June or July He said the lack of capacity at the two current Bigton trailers had hindered the already strong progress of Haar Sauna “We find that that we just need more space,” Scott said especially for the community and women’s sessions.” As well as the £15,000 Scottish EDGE funding boost Haar Sauna is also in the running to win a share of a £1.5 million prize The company has made the final of Scottish EDGE’s bi-annual awards which celebrate the best of small businesses in Scotland Scott and co-founder Hannah Mary Goodlad will pitch their business ideas to a panel of eight judges next Friday for the chance to win £100,000 He said that would be a “huge amount of money” for them and he encouraged other small businesses in Shetland to apply Scott urged anyone interested in taking part in Scottish EDGE to contact Haar Sauna with any questions Already a member? Sign in to hide this message “Is this the queue,” enquired a slightly disorientated visitor when faced with the mass of people in what was soon to be transformed into the festival club she – and clearly many others – had not been expecting this preliminary part of the proceedings to be quite so busy clearly energised throng again packed into the club this time for the opening ceremony and introductory event Everyone appeared more than ready for the annual four-day feast of music this opening event takes the form of an appetiser with bite-size pieces and tastes of many of the visiting acts served up to further whet the appetites of the expectant audience this year celebrating its 43rd incarnation is the epitome of what a true community event should be adopting a diverse approach as regards the scope of events it incorporates – including concerts for bairns and youths both in and outwith schools – all aimed at ensuring a truly inclusive impact provided for the community by those in the community and run by a committee and volunteers on totally voluntary basis Here the term ‘folk’ is generally open to interpretation when it comes to this particular festival’s overall musical approach my weekend kicked off on Thursday night in the magisterial – or should that be ministerial – surroundings of Lerwick’s St Columba’s Church commonly known as ‘da big kirk,’ featuring a concert line-up that was heavily laden with Americana all bound up with waves of wonderful harmonies – in particular from Australian visitors the Maes Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Fast forward to Friday night and the relative sedateness and acoustic ambience of the previous evening gave way to the aptly titled ‘Spanging Spree’ in the cavernous confines of Clickimin Centre Spanging is a Shetland word which means ‘jumping around,’ so perhaps you get the picture and spanging or dancing thankfully isn’t mandatory – especially for those of us with age-related sitting down is not encouraged during this particular event as was immediately evident from the ample dancing space provided in front of the venue stage Opening act Astro Bloc were introduced as ‘one of the most exciting new young bands on the Scottish music scene’ A fairly accurate description as it transpired this being only their fourth gig – not of the festival as such You’d have been forgiven for finding that hard to believe though given the tightness of their overall performance An aural assault from the twin fiddles of Eryn Rae – an ex BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year – and award-winning Irish fiddler Eadaoin Ni Mhaicin spearheaded the charge accompanied by the guitar of Gillie O’ Flaherty and drums courtesy of Shetlander Paul Jennings coupled to the sheer youthful enthusiasm of the band that soon started to entice people into the area of the dance floor Initial hesitance soon gave way to a few tentative ‘spangs’ and you began to sense it wouldn’t be all that long before things took off – somewhat akin to a pan on a hotplate where After a deceptively laid back start their set literally exploded into life via some ferocious fiddling and powerhouse musical accompaniment interspersed with moments of tranquillity and sheer musical beauty They certainly lived up to their original billing in terms of both excitement and ability What followed however was little short of a unique and somewhat eccentric revelation America’s Elias Alexander is basically a hybrid of a live musician and a DJ – a multi-instrumentalist ably blending guitar whistles and vocals with electronic loops and pounding dance beats He was introduced as a ‘one man party’ but what followed was more akin to a one-man musical tornado brightly coloured floral suit that looked as if it had been hewn from his nan’s parlour curtains Elias promised to take us on a ‘journey’ with his set Starting off relatively moderately in first gear we hadn’t got too far down the road before he quickly put the pedal to the metal so to speak and went into overdrive unceremoniously grabbing a set of bagpipes against a backdrop of body-pounding big-beats and challenging the clearly more than willing crowd to stay with him Granted his approach to playing the pipes would be unlikely to win him an award at a more serious piping competition but this guy is an engaging so we weren’t too far into this particular journey before large sections of the crowd Refusing to be hemmed in by a mere stage Elias ended his set down among the audience as the crowd acclaimed surely one of the most astounding and unique artists ever to attend the festival while some is unapologetically aimed simply at filling dance floors are more than able to address both of these requirements Brilliantly adept musicians spearheaded by fiddle and accordion driven along by a veritable power-station of supporting accompaniment they are making a welcome return to the festival eight years down the line from their first memorable Moderation is clearly not a term these guys are familiar with Through them rock and folk music collide like two runaway express trains hurtling down the tracks at 100mph with the two main instruments at times screaming at you and each other like the breaking-systems of said trains assault to easily induce the required level of spanging it’s intricate enough to treat the more passive bystander to a hugely entertaining musical experience in its own right at the culmination of the night many have not only suitably spanged to the point of near exhaustion but we’ve all been treated to a huge and rich variety of fantastic music with far more people on the dance floor than remain sitting down Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Kansa were one of the highlights of the opening night at Mareel. Photo: Malcolm YoungerKansa were one of the highlights of the opening night at Mareel after a year of counting down and crossing off the calendar one of Shetland’s most anticipated weekends of the year arrives Folk fever was in the air at Mareel for Thursday night’s opening salvo the anticipation palpable in the packed auditorium Some awaited their first taste of the folk festival others are battle-hardy veterans ticking a 43rd off that there was not a seat to be had by 7.10pm a full 20 minutes before the opening note was struck This reporter found his access all areas pass could only get him so far Fiddler Bryan Gear was the perfect person to ease in those enjoying the festival for the first time starting with a set of three Shetland reels to give them a taste of why the isles’ has earned its strong name in the fiddling world Accompanied by Martin Henderson on keyboard and Brian Nicholson on guitar Gear’s reasoning for opening with home-grown tunes was simple “We decided that Shetland tunes are the best,” he said to a raucous Mareel reception rattling off reels from Orkney too in between jokes from Gear that Nicholson – sporting a mop of hair – isn’t sharing it out with the band evenly enough Nicholson ties the set together with a country cover of Hank Williams’ You Win Again giving the audience something to sing along to for the first time on the night Already a member? Sign in to hide this message A California country star herself is Margo Cilker heralded as the new star of country rock by Uncut magazine Cilker arrives on stage very much looking the part decked out in double denim and with guitarist Forrest van Tuyl sporting a moustache that would put Yosemite Sam to shame Their style blends country and Americana and it doesn’t take the audience long to get onboard though songs about canyon craters could not be much further away from Shetland’s peat hills However Cilker explains she and van Tuyl live in a “windy place with lots of sheep” asking: “Does that sound familiar?” Rose of Nowhere is a touching tribute written by van Tuyl for partner Cilker which she brings to life beautifully with a voice that can range from lilting and sweet to fierce and strong when she wants it to Hailing from America’s West Coast originally it’s no surprise to hear she “didn’t know much about this festival” before speaking to friends in previous visitors The Hackles “Get some sleep while you can.” They will be one trio that people will be seeking out over the weekend and they’ll have good reason to do so Homegrown heroes Kansa were welcomed to the stage vociferously by a Mareel crowd who mostly knew just how good this Americana inspired sextet are they explained they were aiming to shake people back to life after the mid-concert break before a raw and emotive cover of Like a Cloak by The Milk Carton Kids Kansa were the solitary six piece amongst a trio of trios and having double the members certainly did not muddy their sound With perfectly melded harmonies from Norma Wishart and Karlyn Garrick pounding double bass from Adam Priest and intricate fiddle and mandolin playing from Robert Wishart Adrian Wishart and Lois Nicol respectively every performance from Kansa seems better than the last A woman next to me summed it up best in one word at the culmination of a cover of Long Time Gone by the Everly Brothers: “Wow.” Having Americana groups this good in Shetland must be a relief for the folk festival committee No need to jump on the NorthLink and escort these guys to the isles – they’re waiting on our front door to blow the roof of Mareel Kansa on this form are a tough act to follow but Canadian fiddle extraordinaire Richard Wood is exactly the man to do it the opening night’s headliner springs and bounds on to stage looking a bit like Robert Plant Wood – returning to Shetland for the first time since 1997 – is equally adept at psyching up a crowd urging them to match his fast-paced tempo and at one point decrying the lack of a dancefloor To see Wood is to believe in the potential of the fiddle to be a rock instrument wielded and worn out by him at frenetic pace He calls it an “honour and a pleasure” to be back in the islands he last visited It helps he’s also excellent company One slow air is movingly dedicated to his late mother and father who he said were excited about his descriptions of the “magical” Shetland that he visited Wood jokes it “must be for someone in the US” Shetlanders lap that one up more eagerly than the American tourists sitting in front of me With a final tribute to his backing band and his wife who he credits with getting him back to Shetland this year Wood bounds back off stage to close night one of this year’s folk festival Folk fever exits Mareel and makes its way the short distance through the Lerwick rain to Islesburgh to continue the party Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Swan Trust trustee John Goodlad at the exhibition on Friday ahead of its opening. Photo: Shetland NewsSwan Trust trustee John Goodlad at the exhibition on Friday ahead of its opening the major thing the Swan does is bring history alive.” That is the view of Swan trustee John Goodlad who is speaking in the midst of a new exhibition celebrating the 125th anniversary of the iconic boat The exhibition at the Shetland Museum is a key part of this weekend’s anniversary celebrations offering people a chance to learn more about the lengthy history of a vessel which has become something of an emblem for the isles There is a host of Swan related items on show from her 125-year history as well as a timeline on the wall telling the storied history of the much-loved boat When asked what makes Swan LK243 so special Goodlad – who has been a trustee for around 12 years – said although Shetland is blessed with maritime history resources such as the museum and archives “there’s no substitute for actually being on the boat” He said the Swan brings history alive and helps to spark an interest in this history among younger folk has two objectives – to maintain interest in maritime fishing history “This is a boat that’s owned by the community,” he continued “The trustees are volunteers – there’s a huge number of folk involved in volunteering in all capacities but this is a community boat which is supported by the community financially and through volunteers feel that it is aabody’s boat and [something] they’re proud of.” While the Swan is now a sail training vessel offering people the chance to experience life at sea on trips around Shetland and further afield Already a member? Sign in to hide this message The Fifie boat was launched in May 1900 at Hay and Company’s yard in Lerwick and she was used for catching whitefish and herring She was then taken over by a Whalsay crew in 1905 working from the island for nearly 50 years The Swan was re-rigged in 1908 to make her more suitable for inland fishing She was given an engine and a “new lease of life” in the 1930s before taking part in seine net fishing and Swan was retired from fishing in the 1950s before being towed to Grimsby in 1960 to be converted into a houseboat But the Swan was brought back from the brink in the late 1980s after she was bought by boat enthusiast Keith Parkes who was keen to restore her but the project was said to be too vast She then ended up in the hands of Shetland navigation teacher Tom Moncrieff who was keen for the Swan to be brought back home and used as a “living museum” and sail training vessel This then prompted the formation of a Swan steering group which ended up buying the boat and taking her home after being made seaworthy enough for the trip north which oversaw a six-year restoration project; it was only in May 1996 that the refurbished Swan made her first sail through Lerwick Harbour It was in 1998 that she began a new life as a sail training vessel with many Shetland young people in particular enjoying trips on the Swan Goodlad said the trust gets “tremendous” feedback from parents who say that “after a week on board the Swan you need to be part of a team,” he said “I think that’s a huge part of what the Swan offers – that experience of being at sea “[Former skipper] Maggie Adamson once told me that in her experience you get a crew of teenagers coming aboard as individuals but as soon as the boat is out of sight of the land and as soon as the sleep pattern is broken up with watches the behaviour changes and they start to work together as a group as opposed to individuals Which is a fascinating piece of psychology.” Goodlad also described the Swan as a “wonderful ambassador for Shetland as she goes around the North Sea into different ports There’s a lot of marketing of Shetland which is done but it’d be really good to get a financial assessment of how well the Swan has marketed Shetland as a destination…it’s incredible what she’s achieved.” and Goodlad pointed to a “huge refurb job” on the forepeak – or front section – which is coming up which is set to be carried out after her mast was replaced last year the forepeak is going to be altered,” he said “We never have a problem getting a crew and skipper and there’s never any shortage of folk wanting to sail on her So long may she continue to be an integral part of the Shetland summer.” The Swan exhibition will open to the public at 10am tomorrow (Saturday) with trustees set to be in attendance until midday to speak to visitors and share stories It is being held in the Briggistanes area to the left of the main entrance until 22 June On Sunday the Swan will return to her “birthplace” Hay’s Dock for a free public open day At this event the community will be able to tour the boat and learn more about her past. There will also be full-day and half-day sailing opportunities on the Swan on 3 and 5 May, with bookings available online Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Lerwick's Gilbertson Road. Photo: Shetland NewsLerwick's Gilbertson Road Photo: Shetland News PUBLIC consultations are set to take place in the future around possible new traffic calming measures in parts of Lerwick They will focus on four areas – Gilbertson Road Shetland Islands Council’s (SIC) roads service asset and network management team leader Colin Gair presented some early ideas to a meeting of Lerwick Community Council on Monday night to guage members’ thoughts he stressed the proposals are just ideas at this stage – with formal public consultation set to take place in the near future The most advanced proposal is Gilbertson Road and the rest is set to drop to 20mph soon as part of the new roll-out of lower limits in residential areas Gilbertson Road was the subject of a petition in 2019 which called for more traffic calming measures with the then SIC starting work on proposals But the Covid pandemic and then new guidance on 20mph limits from the Scottish Government put the plans on the backburner However the SIC is looking to revisit traffic calming proposals in a bid to support the upcoming 20mph limit there Ideas presented to Lerwick Community Council included possible zebra crossings potentially near the junction with Anderson Road and Hayfield Lane which would be similar to the one next to the Viking bus station Also suggested is a flat topped hump near to the lower gate of the Bell’s Brae school which would see the road narrowed slightly Other proposals include a couple of possible speed cushions road markings and a raised junction area at the corner of Bell’s Road where it heads towards Montfield Gair said at Monday’s meeting that the proposals for Gilbertson Road are designed to address a “speeding issue that will not be solved by just putting up some signs” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message One long-standing issue is concern about children crossing the road at the school while cars parking there can also affect visibility and I don’t like them – although they are a means to an end” and do help to slow traffic He added that cushions can allow larger vehicles to more easily pass than other traffic calming measures like flat topped humps The idea of road markings for cyclists was raised by Lerwick North and Bressay councillor Arwed Wenger but the message back was there is limited road space at the moment – especially with vehicles parking on the street “Hopefully the whole ethos of reducing vehicle speeds will make folk feel safer cycling,” Gair added He is set to meet with the Bell’s Brae parent council on the Gilbertson Park ideas before a public consultation is held in the coming months King Harald Street meanwhile is one road in Lerwick which was left out of the roll-out of 20mph zones in town Gair said this is because it would need traffic calming measures and could be likely to receive objections which would have delayed the rest of the 20mph roll-out King Harald Street not being included in the 20mph roll-out was brought up at a meeting of Lerwick Community Council in January, with councillor Stephen Leask saying it is “incredibly dangerous” for young children to cross the road He pointed to the adjacent play park as a reason for a lower speed limit being required Possible traffic calming measures which have been suggested include the junction with King Erik Street – which leads towards the playpark and flower park gates – being a raised junction area The raised junction area would result in the road being the same level as the kerb so people with prams would not need to stop to lift them up This would include one or more zebra crossings on King Erik Street and King Harald Street Also suggested are a couple of flat topped road humps with zebra crossings – like the Viking bus station one – near the junctions to Union Street and Harbour Street Leask continued to express concern about King Harald Street and young pedestrians “I’ve spoken to a lot of families in the area with young children and they’re actually quite concerned about the speed of the cars in King Harald Street,” the councillor said “Whereas the adults are maybe less concerned but dare I say you wouldn’t put your kid on a bike there “I think something has to be looked at.” Gair said the SIC has also had representations about the road around the nursery at the end of King Harald Street and he is also well aware of issues with the junction at the other end was described as a “nightmare” for pedestrians and this could be looked at separately in the future “Twenty mile an hour speeds in place in the area helps drive that change,” Gair added “There is funding available for that sort of improvements [and] I’ll do my best to tap into it.” A possible extension of the 20mph zone along Scalloway Road and South Road was also put to members of Lerwick Community Council This could potentially see a zebra crossing possibly near the junction to Bell’s Road Meanwhile Lochside is also set to be consulted on Lerwick South councillor John Fraser said feedback from some residents highlighted an interest in South Lochside being considered for a lower speed limit He said the view from some residents was that there were a “lot of potential hazards” in the area South Road and Lochside would all be consulted on at the same time It is expected that the consultation could happen sometime this year Regarding the wider roll-out of 20mph zones in residential parts of Lerwick which is being funded by the Scottish Government Gair said all of the signs are pretty much all up Once road markings are completed then the signs can be uncovered Lower speed limits are also in line to be introduced in Scalloway Already a member? Sign in to hide this message AN OUTDOOR service is set to be held in Lerwick this weekend to mark the second National Fishing Remembrance Day It will be hosted by the Fishermen’s Mission at Albert Wharf Local mission area officer Aubrey Jamieson said it will be a “simple service” held on the quayside “I trust it will give the opportunity for families and the wider community to remember those from our islands who over the years have paid the ultimate price whilst bringing us the harvest of the sea,” he added “Members of Lerwick Brass Band will lead us in our hymns “Towards the close there will be an opportunity for anyone who wishes to put a flower into the water as an act of remembrance.” chief executive of the Fishermen’s Mission said it was an “important day of remembrance for the families and communities who have lost a loved one while working at sea” He added: “For our fishing communities it is important that the dangers of fishing are recognised alongside the risks that are inherent in bringing in the catch fishing is an important part of our history and culture which we both celebrate and commemorate.” The Fishermen’s Mission is the only national charity that works solely to support both active and former fishermen and their dependents while it maintains a “Christian presence around the coast of the UK” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message THERE have been reports of a number of vehicles being damaged in Lerwick last night (Sunday) has been reported on vehicles parked in a number of parts of Lerwick Russell Crescent King Haakon Street and Harbour Street with a glass pane in a door smashed overnight Police Scotland said it had received “multiple reports of vehicles being vandalised” at addresses in Lerwick on Sunday “We also received a report of vandalism at a school in the Lerwick area,” it added “Enquiries are ongoing and anyone who has any information CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to contact police on 101.” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message St Clement's Hall in Lerwick has gone back on the market. Photo: Shetland NewsSt Clement's Hall in Lerwick has gone back on the market Photo: Shetland News A FORMER church building in Lerwick which was damaged in a fire in 2014 has gone back on the market which overlooks the King George V play park has fallen into a state of disrepair over the years Planning permission was granted in 2022 to turn it into four two-storey flats Estate agent Anderson Strathern said the two-storey rear extension is derelict This extension would require to be demolished and rebuilt to one of the residential units The property is on the Buildings at Risk register The distinctive building was opened in 1911 and was used as the parish hall for Lerwick Parish Church for many years In the late 1990s it was regularly in use for sales and stalls most notably by budget retailer Chris Hodge St Clement’s Hall, St Olaf Street, Lerwick Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A stop/go traffic management system will be put in place to allow short traffic holds on Irvine Place and Commercial St at the junction with Irvine Place between 4pm and 6pm These holds will be kept to a minimum and traffic will be allowed to flow as normal once the holds are released There will also be some parking restrictions on Irvine Place to keep the area clear of vehicles for continuity Also on Tuesday Commercial St will be closed at the junction with the A969 heading towards The Queens Hotel This closure will take effect between 6pm and 8pm Vehicles will be able to enter from the east from the junction of Lovers Loan and Twageos as SIC have allowed to rescind the one way to allow vehicular access The production team apologises in advance for any inconvenience these restrictions may cause For further queries regarding any of the upcoming restrictions, please contact assistant location managers Andy “Mod” Ross (07963 713 446 or jamiros@aol.com) or Lyall Gair (07786 653 859 or lyallgair@yahoo.co.uk) Already a member? 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Sign in to hide this message Neil and Jolene Tindall, and sons Eddie and Ollie, lost their family home and belongings in Tuesday's fire.Neil and Jolene Tindall lost their family home and belongings in Tuesday's fire A LERWICK family who lost their home and belongings in a huge fire on Tuesday have seen the community raise tens of thousands of pounds in their name Jolene and Neil Tindall’s Cheyne Crescent home – which they share with sons Eddie and Ollie – was destroyed in a blaze which required eight fire appliances to extinguish A JustGiving page was set up on Wednesday night to raise money for the Tindalls However within minutes the appeal had surged past that figure and had raised almost £10,000 an hour later A second fundraising page has also now been set up to raise money for the Dedman family – who live next door to the Tindall’s – whose home was also damaged by the fire had been left “devastated” by the damage this week “We have started this page to give people the opportunity to offer much needed support to the family “The family are incredibly thankful for everyone’s love and support We send our love and thoughts to the Tindall’s too The damage caused by house fires is devastating.” The Tindall’s fundraising page was started by Lerwick hairdressing salon Envi and has been shared around 200 times on Facebook “Everyone at Envi would like to start this page to give people the opportunity to support them and to help them get started again and build a new home,” the fundraiser said “The family are overwhelmed and very thankful for everyone’s love and support and everyone who knows them knows how kind “They would do anything for anyone and are always the first to offer a helping hand Already a member? Sign in to hide this message “Everyone at Envi would be grateful for any donations received.” Tuesday’s fire also spread to a neighbouring property Local fire commander Matt Mason said his thoughts were with both families that had been affected this week “It’s been absolutely devastating for them,” he said However Mason said the community response had been incredible – with people donating items to the Tindalls before fire crews had even left the scene on Tuesday “It’s been really heartwarming to see the community and local businesses reaching out to support the families in their time of need,” he said One person was treated at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service on Tuesday Already a member? Sign in to hide this message A man and woman have been charged after drugs were seized at Lerwick ferry terminal Police officers recovered a cache of heroin at the ferry terminal on Shetland at about 7.30am on Sunday April 27 The drugs found had an estimated street value of £20,000 A 42-year-old-man and 32-year-old woman were arrested and charged in connection with the recovery The pair are expected to appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court this week A report will also be sent to the procurator fiscal DI Calum Reid said: “Drugs cause misery in our communities and we are determined to disrupt the supply of illegal substances and trace those involved “Information from the public is absolutely crucial to our work and we urge anyone with knowledge or concerns about drugs activity in their area to contact police on 101.” Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 POLICE will carry out “high-visibility patrols” around Lerwick following widespread damage to cars in various streets throughout the town on Sunday night Vehicles parked in a number of parts of Lerwick during a spate of incidents across Lerwick into the early hours of Monday morning but police inspector Sam Greshon said they are “following positive lines of inquiry” “We have carried out extensive enquiries since these incidents took place and there does not appear to be any wider risk of further damage at this time,” she said “Officers are working hard to trace and deter those responsible and we are following positive lines of enquiry “We will be carrying out additional high-visibility patrols in the Lerwick area and I want to make it clear that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated Already a member? 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Sign in to hide this message Source:  Image by Jiri Vondrous Shutterstock Shetland Islands Council is recruiting an architect and principal designer to retrofit a former educational hostel in Lerwick [Deadline: 11 April 2025] The winning team will refurbish the Category A-listed Janet Courtney Hostel and convert the 1939 former student accommodation block into new affordable housing The complex is one of four buildings – along with a church institute and another hostel – that remain on the site of the former old Anderson High School following its relocation to nearby Clickimin Edinburgh-based 7N Architects has drawn up a masterplan for the site which is located on the Knab peninsula in Lerwick on the southern fringes of the island’s largest settlement the Janet Courtney Hostel was used as student accommodation for pupils from outlying areas in Shetland following the relocation of the school and the provision of new student accommodation ‘This project is for the conversion / refurbishment of the existing Janet Courtney Hostel into a combination of one two and three beds flats for use as affordable housing by Shetland Islands Council ‘Early option appraisals indicate that it may be possible to accommodate up to 19 flats although this will be dictated by further detailed design space standards and current levels of demand in the area.’ Lerwick – which means ‘bay of clay’ in Old Norse – is the main port for the Shetland Islands and currently has a population of around 7,500 The latest procurement comes almost three years after Kevin Kelly Architects won a competition for a £5,000 ‘beacon’ installation on Foula in the Shetlands Bidders must have an average annual turnover of at least £54,000 Bids for the commission will be evaluated 60 per on experience and 40 per cent on methodology Applicants must hold employer’s liability insurance of £10 million and public liability insurance of £5 million Tags Hutchison Ports is recruiting a design team for its new £9 million… An open international contest is being held for a major €27.5 million… An international design and build contest is being held for 25 new… The UK Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) has… Stuart Fox of The Dowry. Photo: Stephen MercerStuart Fox of The Dowry Photo: Stephen Mercer TWO LERWICK bars have been nominated for a prestigious national award celebrating the best pubs across the UK The Dowry and the Douglas Arms (Marlex) will go head-to-head with hostelries across northern Scotland to be named the best in the county And they will compete to be named as the best in their region during the ceremony at Big Penny Social in London on Tuesday 24 June Scotland and Northern Ireland have been shortlisted with an array of awards to be handed out on the night Highly commended venues for each area will also be celebrated and its editor Tristan O’Hana said its aim was “simple” “We want to showcase how brilliant these businesses are and how valuable pubs and bars are to fabric of society across the whole of the UK “It has never been harder in hospitality Whether it’s a countryside pub with rooms or a city centre bar showing live sport these operations deserve widespread recognition and more customers – hopefully the National Pub & Bar Awards can help with both.” The awards night will also crown the pub group of the year the overall national pub and bar of the year On top of that the 2025 event will launch the top 10 pubs and bars in the UK list which has been voted for by hundreds of operators from across the country Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message FIRE CREWS attended the scene of a vessel fire in Lerwick’s Greenhead base this morning (Monday) were called to the scene at around 10.23am The fire was aboard an unmanned feed barge police and an ambulance were all in attendance along with coastguard officers and the Lerwick lifeboat The coastguard said the lifeboat and its coastal officers were on the scene to provide safety cover could be seen on Shetland Webcams view of the Greenhead base The fire was declared out at around 12.15pm with fire crews remaining on the scene to check for further spread Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message The beautiful animals were spotted just outside of the Shetland Museum and Archives on Friday The orcas had been seen in the waters all around the town ShareSave'My jaw stopped growing after a bike accident when I was 10'When Alana Brownie was 10, a horrific bike accident stopped her jaw from growing. Huntington's disease 'evil blend' of MND, dementia and Parkinson's16 Apr 2025NE, Orkney & Shetland'One of the secrets to 70 years of marriage is time apart'Two couples who got married together in 1955 have put the foundation of their 70 years of marriage down to spending plenty of time apart. Drone footage shows fire-damaged cargo vessel in AberdeenA cargo ship involved in a crash with an oil tanker in the North Sea has been towed to Aberdeen. Uninvited otter wreaks havoc in family kitchenA family was surprised by the uninvited guest who wreaked havoc in their kitchen in Shetland. 'We want to stay in Scotland having fled Ukraine'More than 28,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Scotland since the invasion three years ago. Rare hair specimen hints at Scots ancestors' low vitamin DA rare hair specimen from a 400-year-old skeleton has revealed that present-day Scots could be just as deficient in vitamin D as their ancestors. Watch: Shetland skies set alight in Europe's largest fire festivalShetland has celebrated its Norse heritage with a firelit procession for over 140 years. 'It's strange my missing sisters didn't say about ending tenancy'Two missing sisters had not told relatives they planned to "immediately" move out of their rented Aberdeen flat, their brother has said. Watch: 'Renewing our vows on a wild swim tour'Comedy couple Julie Wilson Nimmo and Greg Hemphill have taken the plunge and renewed their vows - fresh from a dip in Orkney's freezing waters. A day in my life as a young farmer as the industry protestsNicola Wordie from Aberdeenshire explains some of the worries young farmers are facing in uncertain times. My interest in antiques is a comfort from ear painThe teenage antiques collector says his hobby helps take his mind off living with chronic pain. Watch the moment a skate attacks a fisherman's boat off ShetlandRNLI technician Paul Hutchison was out at sea at Muckle Roe when the large fish began to ram his boat. Pudsey flies in to meet children on Fair IslePudsey Bear has made a special visit to one of the most remote island communities in Scotland. ️The orphaned otter that is now part of the familyA man's bond with orphaned otter becomes a movie hit️. Shetland oysters back on the market after 130 yearsA family-run croft in Shetland has made history by exporting oysters for what is thought to be the first time in more than130 years. Watch: 40 years of Jim McColl on Beechgrove GardenFormer Beechgrove Garden presenter and "Scottish national treasure" Jim McColl has died aged 89. 'I've had difficult moments but my rugby family was always there'Scotland rugby internationalist Emma Wassell has told how her "family" of teammates cared for her through tumour surgery months after her mother died. Hysteroscopy felt like insides were being 'clawed'Wendy McLean took over-the-counter pain killers before the procedure at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Meet the primary school class who are all boysA primary school on Orkney is starting its new P1 class with and intake of only boys. Photo: SICPhoto: SIC THE APPLICANT behind plans to build a glamping pod in Lerwick’s Twageos Road has defended the project after more objections were lodged Four neighbours have now written to the council’s planning department calling for them to throw out the application The majority have cited its proximity to the Louise Hughson baby memorial garden as reasons for their objections to the glamping pod Two people from Gressy Loan wrote to the council saying it would be “entirely inappropriate” and “highly disrespectful” to grieving parents and families to build a glamping pod within the vicinity of the memorial garden But applicant Kate Wills – who says she has lived in the area for 12 years – wrote in a letter to the planning service that she was “horrified that anyone would consider that I would be disrespectful of it” “I have visited the Louise Hughson Memorial Garden many times personally and have taken my children to play with boats in its pond,” she said “We have cleaned litter from the garden and particularly the pond where litter congregates after a storm.” The garden is found within the extension to the Knab cemetery in Lerwick and allows those who have experienced the loss of their baby to honour and remember them which provides local support to grieving parents and families has previously directed people to the garden if they want to create a memorial for a loved one It is maintained by Shetland Islands Council Wills said the glamping pod would predominantly be used by her family “I will however have to recoup the costs of building the pod and therefore intend to rent it out to appropriate persons whilst I do that,” she added She said she was “acutely aware of the needs of the area” and “frequently kept noise to a minimum” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message The applicant also said she had not taken her car out when there had been funerals in the area or when people were visiting the memorial garden “I am respectful of my neighbours and have enjoyed excellent relationships with them – visiting regularly sharing food and even being a responder for their community alarm when needed,” she said “The plan for the pod is to provide a tranquil and affordable place for people to relax in when needed – it is therefore perhaps of particular appeal to grieving families who could combine this with a visit to the memorial garden/graveyard “I am a considerate neighbour who has enjoyed positive relationships with those in the area and I hope that I can continue to do so with new residents to the area in future.” Shetland News reported earlier this month that Lerwick Community Council had decided not to object to the plans That came after two separate objections were lodged with one pair accusing Wills of failing to show how close the garden is on the application They said a site inspection by council planners would “clearly show how inappropriate the proposed development is” saying there had been “no attempt to deceive anyone as to the proximity of the memorial garden to the proposed glamping pod.” Another two objections have been lodged with council planners since the previous story both of whom refer to the memorial garden as their reason for asking for it to be refused One wrote that the baby memorial garden is where “parents/families can grieve and remember the loss of their babies” and that the glamping pod “will take this away from them” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Among the flotilla of vessels visiting Shetland will be the restored merchant cargo ship S/S Hestmanden, now officially the Norwegian War Sailor Museum and normally based in Kristiansand. Photo: Vest Agder MuseumAmong the flotilla of vessels visiting Shetland will be the restored merchant cargo ship S/S Hestmanden now officially the Norwegian War Sailor Museum and normally based in Kristiansand Photo: Vest Agder Museum A FLOTILLA of six restored historic vessels from World War Two will cross the North Sea to be in Lerwick for the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8 May which is known as the ‘Liberation Convoy 2025’ will be Royal Norwegian Navy submarine chaser HNoMS Hitra All five vessels operated from Shetland across the North Sea as part of the covert activity to support the Norwegian resistance known as the Shetland Bus operation The largest ship in the convoy will be the 60-metre merchant cargo ship S/S Hestmanden – originally built in 1911 and which sailed in both the first and second world wars The vessel is now fully restored and officially entitled as Norsk krigsseilermuseum – the Norwegian War Sailor Museum honouring the estimated 4,500 sailors who died in the Second World War The convoy of vessels will be berthed in Lerwick Harbour and be open for the public to visit during their stay Crew members from the vessels will take part in local commemorations being planned in Lerwick and Scalloway to mark VE Day and will spend time ashore during their visit Some vessels in the convoy will then sail on from Shetland to Liverpool in time for Norway’s Constitution Day on Saturday 17 May The ‘Liberation Convoy 2025’ is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence the Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce and others The convoy is organised by an informal group of museums professionals and enthusiasts of Norway’s maritime wartime history Shetland’s lord lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch said: “Shetland was a strategically important location for the Allied Forces during World War Two and the wartime history of the ‘Shetland Bus’ operations is well known “It’s a fitting recognition of the vital maritime alliance between the UK and Norway during the war that we will see the Liberation Convoy in Shetland on the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.” Already a member? 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Sign in to hide this message A FUNDRAISER has been set up after a Lerwick house fire left a couple with virtually no belongings.  Rhanna Latham started the GoFundMe following the fire on Harbour Street on Tuesday night which saw parts of the surrounding streets closed off Latham said on the online fundraiser that they had “lost a huge deal” in the fire with her husband Gary – who works as a joiner – having most of his tools ruined She added that while they were “incredibly grateful” nobody was hurt it had been “completely devastating” to lose so much so close to Christmas Latham said it would “take a huge deal of work to get the place liveable again” adding they did not have contents insurance either Latham said the couple had been at Tesco to return to find their home on fire Most of the flat has been badly smoke damaged with Rhanna saying everywhere “was just black” when they got inside “When we first got there the firefighters couldn’t even say what it looked like,” Gary said they said ‘we can’t see anything in there’.” The couple said they wished to thank everyone who had donated to the fundraiser Fire crews from Lerwick and Scalloway were called to the scene just after 8.10pm two hose reel jets and a thermal imaging camera were used to extinguish the fire The last appliance left the scene at around 10.10pm People can donate to the GoFundMe by following this link Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Calum Grains (left) and his family are gearing up for their big day. From left: Calum, Ian, Colleen and Melanie Henderson. Photo: Dave DonaldsonCalum Grains (left) and his family are gearing up for their big day Photo: Dave Donaldson Guizer Jarl Calum Grains has had to wait almost 17 long years for his chance to lead the Lerwick Up Helly Aa festival – but the countdown is now almost over Grains joined the Up Helly Aa committee in October 2008 and should have been the head of the 2023 festival but for the intervention of the Covid pandemic he and his family – partner Melanie Henderson 16 year old son Ian and 19 year old daughter Colleen – are eager for the big day to finally arrive “I think we’re pretty much ready,” Calum said “We’re still finishing things up who is in the Jarl’s Squad and will stand beside her dad throughout the day confessed to being “super excited” already “I’m almost at the stage where I can’t sleep,” she added Partner Melanie agreed that the “excitement has really set in” Both she and Calum referred to the experience of preparing to lead the festival as “humbling” pointing to the incredible amount of work that goes on behind the scenes – from the hosts and hostesses at the halls to those who will ensure it all runs smoothly for the pair on the day who is Lerwick Port Authority’s (LPA) chief executive thinks his squad will be in ship-shape condition when the final Tuesday of January rolls around “I think it looks fantastic,” he said of the suit his squad will proudly display “We’re just working on assembly at the moment.” really chuffed with the suit” – which all of the family have been involved in crafting “We’ve been making kirtles three or four nights a week which has been one of the special bits for me and Colleen,” Melanie said Already a member? Sign in to hide this message “It’s been absolutely brilliant all making and working together who will also walk beside his dad on Tuesday 28 January has been involved in working on the leather – and Melanie added there had been “lots of the family involved” in making the suit four nieces and three nephews will march proudly behind him “The squad have spent a lot of time together and we had lots of folk that didna ken each other that have been getting on really well and working together,” the jarl said Calum is preparing to take part in his fourth Jarl’s Squad his cousin John Hunter in 2011 and Mark Evans in 2016 He said he has “expected quite a lot of what was coming” because of his previous experiences But Calum – whose squad is known as the Whiteness and Weisdale squad – said this year had been a “different feeling to everything I’ve done before” “It’s an awfully humbling experience,” he said “Since the mass meeting time everything becomes a bit more surreal.” “I feel like it’s gone really quickly.” Colleen said the last year had surprised her in some ways saying she “wasn’t fully aware how much effort actually goes into it” “I didn’t realise it was going to be this much work Calum has had to balance his responsibilities as head of Europe’s biggest fire festival with leading Lerwick’s port authority at the same time and he admitted it had “been quite a challenge at times” “It has been quite a bit of juggling,” he said “I’ve really tried to focus on the squad stuff at nights.” he paid tribute to the board of the LPA – calling them “really supportive” throughout the whole experience And the maritime support does not end there Calum will be joined on Up Helly Aa day by the chief executives of the Stornoway and Montrose port authorities “They’re really excited to be part of it,” he said “There’s never been three ports working together like this before.” They are not the furthest travelled squad members with one family coming from New Zealand and another member journeying up from the south of England Melanie paid tribute to everyone who contributed in any way to ensuring Lerwick Up Helly Aa went as smoothly as it does calling it “so much bigger than any of us” “The support of folk has just been brilliant they’ve just helped out wherever they can,” she said “It’s just amazing to see all the work that goes into it “You canna understand how much goes on behind the scenes until you see it up close.” the family are preparing for what they are most looking forward to when Up Helly Aa arrives like the galley shot down at the wharf and the procession at night-time,” Calum said with the number of people that’s out to see you “But just seeing the whole family out together when we first get going will be pretty special.” For Ian “going to all the halls” at night that will be a highlight while for Colleen it’s simply “everything” that she is excited for She added that “standing by dad’s side the whole day” will be something to remember she is “really excited to see them ranking up for the first time” “I think that’ll be a really emotional moment,” she added “The burning at night will also be really special.” Already a member? Sign in to hide this message The production team will be filming Season 10 at various locations throughout the isles until Friday 2 May and will be returning for more in June this will result in parking restrictions and traffic controls necessary to safely facilitate filming at certain times and locations Details of these restrictions will be advertised locally including here on the Shetland News website The production team is apologising in advance for any inconvenience these traffic control measures may cause and asks those with concern to contact them directly on the numbers below They added: “We are in constant dialogue with the Shetland Islands Council roads department throughout the production process and take their guidance and advice on any requests we have made to them “We endeavour to cause the minimal disruption possible we will publicise our upcoming traffic restrictions throughout the filming period.” there are three traffic restrictions in place for different locations and time in Lerwick Holmsgarth Road: between 8am and 4pm a manned traffic light system will ensure that scenes of an ‘action vehicle’ travelling the road can be filmed safely The traffic holds will be kept as short as possible and to a minimum Commercial Street will be closed at the junction with the A969 (Esplanade/Church Street) heading towards the Queen’s Hotel between 3.30pm to 6.30 pm. Vehicles will be able to enter from the junction of Lovers Lane and Twageos as the one way system has been rescinded for the period of filming Commercial Street will also be closed between the A969 junction and the Market Cross between 5.30pm and 7.30pm to allow the safe filming of exterior scenes There will be a Stop/Go at the Market Cross to allow clean dialogue to be recorded. These holds will be very short and kept to an absolute minimum Some parking restrictions will apply in order to park a generator at the Market Cross to service filming Please see enclosed maps for more information Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message The stills and fermentation units. Photo: Sandy Boak/Lerwick DistilleryThe stills and fermentation units Photo: Sandy Boak/Lerwick Distillery PROGRESS on Shetland’s first whisky distillery is said to be going well – with two 4,000 litre malt stills now installed The Lerwick Distillery team’s aim is to first open the shop part of the building on Market Street A blended whisky will then be produced from casks from south initially before a single malt made on site follows in the coming years Once the doors open to the whole building – which could be next year when people will be able to go on tours – it is thought that more than £4 million will have gone into the project A significant part of this has been through an investors scheme which has drawn interest from Shetland all the way to Australia It is through this investment that the scope of the project has been able to expand since its initial concept Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has also put in £250,000 towards production equipment Its head of business growth in Shetland Andrew Gear said the development of the isles’ first whisky distillery will be a “real asset” to Shetland “It will create a high-quality product with global appeal that will enhance Shetland’s food and drink offering and the visitor experience for our growing tourism market,” he said “It will also help create valuable employment opportunities in a new industry for Shetland.” It is hoped that those employment opportunities could result in the creation of between 12 and 14 jobs the equipment has the potential to produce around 700 to 900 litres a day Scottish law dictates that a spirit cannot legally be called a whisky until it has matured for at least three years and one day so the distillery plans to bottle a blended spirit which will be sold from the shop in the meantime Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Operations director Calum Miller said it is an “amazing” feeling to get the project – first mooted around six years ago – to this stage “It’s definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever accomplished in my lifetime,” he said so it’s a bit of a cautious excitement.” Co-founder Martin Watt added: “Calum and I had our first meeting probably six years ago and we must have looked like rabbits in headlights at that meeting “To see what’s behind us now is absolutely fantastic I just cannot wait to get the doors open and get people in here and actually see what we’ve put together.” Visiting the premises earlier today (Thursday) it is clear the installation work is moving forwards Enter through the front door on Market Street and you are greeted with a grand oak counter in the shop area which feels like will be the cornerstone of the room The shop will offer whisky as well as other items including knitwear – with Fair Isle’s Mati Ventrillon involved in curating the stock Walk through the former joinery building and you get to what will be the tasting room – with a large table which will heat the liquid and have cost around £800,000 in total stand tall alongside seven 5,000 litre fermenters Miller proudly describes them as Shetland’s first ever malt whisky stills and people on tours of the building will be able to get a close look at them thanks to an elevated platform While Miller and Watt are the founders of the business the long established Ian Millar has signed on as the master distiller Watt said the aim when it comes to staffing is to create high quality jobs while there is a hope to offer career progression including for young people and graduates The team are also testing the viability of homegrown barley for use in the whisky-making process “We’ve done one test batch,” Watt said “If there are any other crofters that believe they’ve got soil that’s suitable for growing barley we’d be interested in talking to them “The aim is to get at least 30 tonnes of homegrown barley as soon as practically possible.” Meanwhile the team also said they would be happy to see other distilleries pop up in Shetland in the future “If you’ve got more distilleries people will then start making an effort to visit Shetland because there’s distilleries here,” Watt said “Whisky tourism is massive on mainland Scotland and also on the islands “Anybody who is thinking of setting up a whisky distillery in Shetland…we’re here to give advice and feedback Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Photo: Malcolm YoungerPhoto: Malcolm Younger CEREMONIES and services are being held across Shetland today to mark Remembrance Sunday In Lerwick wreaths were laid at the war memorial opposite Lerwick Town Hall with the event led by lord lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch MSP Beatrice Wishart and Shetland Islands council convener Andrea Manson Thanks to Malcolm Younger for the photos from the Lerwick ceremony Already a member? Sign in to hide this message Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.