Fair Isle news, updates, pictures 2007

28th December
A few Christmas photographs
(click picture to view a slide-show)

'Rockpunnzel' at the Obs

Winter Solstice!

Sunset glimpsed between storm-clouds on the 22nd

and sunrise on the 23rd

20th December Rocks at sunrise

17th December Yet another great sunset The colours of the after-glow were incredible - from a brilliant red on the horizon through orange and yellow to the deepest of blues overhead.

15th December Crofters Christmas get together - clearing a roadside ditch above Wirvie An early start!
Looking south from from Ulieshield at dawn	Winter sunrise from the Fair Isle airstrip The low sun casting long shadows across the Directflight Islander

13th December A Fair Isle sunset A fleeting moment at this time of the year as the last rays of a setting sun, now below the horizon at shortly after 3pm, dramatically  illuminate  altocumulus clouds. Thank goodness that I always carry my compact camera with me as the light lasted only a matter of seconds

and another sunrise

11th December Hosanna Rock Fair Isle Primary School's Annual Christmas Show held at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Raven - Mary Henry - Joseph, Lowri - Innkeeper/Donkey Fyntan - Innkeeper/Cow Amber - Sheep/Angel Robyn/Ythan/Sebastian - Kings Alice - Narrator/Gabriel Click a picture for more

10th December Vote for 'Edges & Spaces'!

Local singer/songwriter Malachy Tallack's album Edges & Spaces has been nominated for Celtic Radio's album of the year awards. Up against stiff competition, every vote counts - so visit: www.nocelticboundaries.co.uk/contact.asp , choose General Message from the drop box and fill in your details and say you vote for Malachy Tallack's album 'Edges & Spaces'. Malachy's website - www.malachytallack.com

23rd November
M/S Explorer evacuated during Antarctic cruise

More than 150 passengers and crew have been rescued from the MV Explorer, after it hit ice off Antarctica. The M/S Explorer began listing close to King George Island in the Antarctic Ocean, near the South Shetland Islands.
The M/S Explorer is a regular visitor to Fair Isle during our summer.

More information on the BBC website

 M/S Explorer at anchor
off Sheep Rock, Fair Isle

21st November 100 and still counting! No  - not Stewart's age, but the number stamped on the side of the latest wheel he has made. This one, the hundredth he has made, is destined for a customer on Fair Isle. Most of the others in the pictures below are on their way to much further destinations. During the last thirty years Stewart's hand-crafted spinning wheels have found homes in many far-flung places around the world. Places like Japan, America, New Zealand, Canada  and more - and, of course, Fair Isle and the rest of Shetland.

Today 21st November

5th November
Are bird night attacks unique?
Incidents of a seabird preying on colonies of another species at night may be
unique to the remote islands archipelago of St Kilda.
More about this on the BBC website here.

2nd November Fair Isle WW2 - Spitfire makes 'wheels-up' landing Picture showing the aircraft in the process of being dismantled I recently received an email from Kevin Hood asking for information about the location where his father made a 'wheels-up' crash landing in his Spitfire on the Isle  F/L M. Hood DFC was returning from a sortie over Norway on July 22nd 1941 when engine failure resulted in the emergency landing. . Kevin enclosed the photo (above) of the aircraft after the maintenance unit had reached the Isle and put it back on blocks. The red roller (below & beyond the Directflight Islander) is probably the location of the Spitfire in the top picture. We wondered why he had made his crash-landing across the wartime emergency landing strip. Kevin guessed his father felt amazingly lucky to even make it to the Island...he was expecting to go for a swim and as he had no radio, no-one would have known where he was. Remembering what the original runway was like back when Loganair first commenced landings here I suggested that there probably little difference in width or surface condition between the strip and hill track anyway! Flying Spitfire X-4501 out of Wick F/L M. Hood's logbook for that day is quite succinct - "Photos of AAleslund (sic) from from 25,000 ft. Coolant leak began over AAleslund (sic) Managed to make crash landing on Fair Island with engine boiling hot. A/C badly damaged but self OK. Refuelled at Sumburgh on way out." A quick search of the internet yielded some further information from a newsgroup. Brief snippets are listed right, the full context can be seen by clicking the banner link below.

22/7/41 "F/L M. Hood DFC obtained photographs of Aalesund from 27,000 ft. Owing to engine trouble he was forced to make a "belly" landing on Fair Isle - the aircraft was completely written off but the pilot escaped uninjured." His rank is given as F/L although I believe he wasn't promoted to F/L until 03Sep41 (probably acting F/L at time). Just a small note though, the Spitfire was only Cat B and dismantled, taken off the Isle by boat and flew again until written off in another crash at Rathin, Aberdeenshire on 22/1/43 while with 8 OTU pilot Sgt F.V.Mooney survived but was Injured. I can confirm that X4501 was indeed repaired, although I understand it was originally struck off charge. Following a wheels-up landing, it was repaired by Scottish Aviation Limited and I have a photo of the aircraft being lifted up using an 'A' frame. Very bent props, but no other major damage visible.   Thanks for your note .You are correct, from a witness on Fair Isle the aircraft suffered damage to underside and props, was originally thought to be beyond repair but on examination by the salvage team recatagorized Not much that I can add I'm afraid to what has already been posted here, other than a brief extract from 1PRU's ORB for 22Jul41 Form 540 which states:- "Spitfire V X.4501 Merlin XLV 37043 desp. To 43 Gp.Dep.Acct." The Form 541, shows no reference to this sortie by F/O Hood (which is the rank he is listed as for sorties earlier that month) though this is not uncommon in the early years even when there are successful sorties let alone those that came a cropper! Very frustrating when trying to ID pilots and a/c. I know there is a lot more detail that is available for the early war sorties, but as I only selectively copied material relevant to Channel Island's, so I do have data gaps, that hopefully someday can be filled. There is a possibility that the sortie code is N/236, but I would not like to go further on that without finding out more about the task assigned to F/O Hood. I presume Andrew's posting above has either come from a book or one of the PRU Flight appendices not available on microfilm.

31st October

2006 Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report now out Birds are obviously the main subject of this report and it has lots of excellent colour photographs and attractive line-drawings as well as articles about all aspects of ornithology on the Isle during 2006. However it also contains an interestingly wide range of topics for the non-birder who has a broader interest in Fair Isle. Island news; recent weather; moths and butterflies; an appreciation of Gordon Barnes, former resident, and his bird, flora, crofting and weather report for 1970; cetacean and seal sightings and an account of his busy fortnight on the Isle in July by a young birder. The report price 7 Including p&p (UK) or 8.50 can be purchased from Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Fair Isle, Shetland  ZE2 9JU Tel: 01595-760-258 E-mail: fairisle.birdobs@zetnet.co.uk

28th October Harvest Home Ann claims her raffle prize!

This year, with the Hall in the throes of a major refurbishment the Harvest Home was held at the Bird Observatory. Even with several families away taking an October break, it was very well attended - helped by a number of end-of-season visitors held 'captive' over the weekend when strong winds and low clouds resulted in no flights. The event began with a buffet-style tea, feasting from tables loaded with plates of delicious savouries and cakes. After tea a wonderful selection of items, made or sourced locally, were raffled. The proceedings ended with the sale of a sumptuous selection of home produce and the naming of the winner of 'guess-the-number-of-sweeties-in-the-jar' competition. Thanks to everyone who contributed towards the Harvest. A total of 804.62 has been raised so far. All funds raised will be going to 'Goodwill Children's Homes'  and Fair Isle School's chosen charity 'Breast Cancer Campaign'.

28th October
National Geographic magazine rates Shetland as one of the most unspoilt islands
in the world for tourists to visit.
Read coverage of this news item in The Shetland News
The original article in National Geographic, Destinations Rated Islands, is here

20th October
Beach rescue take-2
This time at Furse, where erosion of the lower section of the access path had trapped a number of sheep and lambs on the beach

Sheep trapped on the beach at Furse	The problem - eroded lower part of the track	Reconstructing the path
Finishing touches	Corner the sheep and grab the lambs	The sheep needed little encouragement to lravr the beach and we followed with the lambs

18th October
Auroral arch over Ward Hill

The view north towards Setter on Thursday night. This auroral arch - or glow - low to the north over Ward Hill
is not an uncommon sight during the long dark nights of winter. Unfortunately cloudless night skies like this
are much rarer!. The photographic exposure was nearly 3 minutes - hence the elongated track of the stars in the Plough, etc.

8th October
Hill gather and a 'scrabble' to allocate a fair share of hill lambs to each crofter. Once all lambs had been shared out, the ewes were counted and released back to the Hill. As each  ewe had a croft-specific ear-mark, owners were then aware of how near their individual tally was to the required 20..

Sheep and lambs in the cr		Selecting a lamb
Scrabble tile drawn and the lamb allocated to the crofter represented by the letter		Not Slogar Joe, swept up in the caa, but Brian with the large  fleece of a ewe that had escaped the summer clipping!
The rams are brought off the Hill until the beginning of December.		Counting the ewes
Some ear marks can be difficult to 'read'. Once counted they are free to go - until the next gather in about three weeks time.		The lambs are taken home.

7th October
They'll be back!

Loganair Islander in Highland Park colours. Captain Colin McAllister and Fair Isle firemen Iain and Rachel.
This Sunday saw the last scheduled flight from Orkney. However, Loganair have confirmed they will be operating a direct Kirkwall-Fair Isle service next year from 3rd May to 12th October.

6th October
Cliff-rescue exercise

Deryk descends into South Raeva. Neil is already on the beach with the 'casualty' - a lamb that had somehow reached the inaccessible beach, from which it could find no escape.

Deryk, and Neil with the 'casualty', are winched up from the beach by the remainder of the team on the cliff top. The 'casualty', which suffered no harm during its enforced stay on the beach, is passed to welcoming hands.

Neil with 'casualty'.

5th October
A new book about Fair Isle just published
Eight Acres and a Boat: 200 Years of Crofting in Fair Isle with the Eunsons, Irvines, Leslies, Stouts, Williamsons and Wilsons.
Compiled by Professor George Stout from original notes by the late Jerry Eunson. Published by Dundee City Council Printing Services at 14 (UKP).

Available from The Shetland Times Bookshop and Stackhoull Stores, Fair Isle

This review of the book, which first appeared in The Shetland Times, is reproduced here with the Editor's permission

IT WAS a pleasure to review this latest book on Fair Isle.
Descended from Stouts, who left the isle in the 1830s, Professor George Stout has compiled this diverse assortment of information regarding Fair Isle that the late Jerry Eunson had collected before his death in 1987.

Statistics feature prominently throughout the book. The acreage held by 40 crofters in 1851, the names and status of families who emigrated to New Brunswick in 1862 and the number of cows, horses and pigs kept by crofters in 1829 are just but a few.

Having read all the publications regarding Fair Isle, in this book there are many tales told that I had not encountered.

One such was that in 1711. Fair Isle was enjoying very fine weather and the sight from Ward Hill was of Captain Wood Rogers squadron lying becalmed off the north-west corner of the isle.

The squadron was returning from a voyage around the world which had begun in 1708. The most important man aboard was to be Alexander Selkirk of Largo in Fife who was to receive worldwide and lasting renown in Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe.

Much attention is focused on the many Fair Isle shipwrecks, and as with most shipwreck stories there is some humour.

A chapter is devoted to Fair Isles ornithology and its legendary knitwear.

Without doubt this is the most comprehensive book on Fair Isle that I have read, and containing 65 black and white photographs is indeed a worthy purchase.

David Strachan

30th September John displays his best artwork at hospital exhibition (links to review below) A couple of sunset pictures
Sunset from Buness 28th	West Side at sunset 30th

29th September A fair day's fishing!
	Mark from Burkle, with the big ling he caught while fishing off Sheep Rock with Stewart from Quoy. Tom, Liz and Henry also caught plenty to eat.   Photograph by Tommy Hyndman

22nd September
Fair Isle singer/songwriter given top supporting role
Malachy Tallack has been given a prestigious supporting slot with legendary Scottish folk rock group Runrig on their tour of England next month.
During October 17 gigs are scheduled in the space of three weeks with the Everything You See tour starting at the Grand Opera House in York on the 3rd October. Among others there will be appearances at Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol and Southampton, finishing at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire on 23rd October.
A full list of tour dates can be found on Malachy's web site www.malachytallack.com
Runrig is on the web at  www.runrig.co.uk

The Art of Crofting Fair Isle painter Tommy Hyndman and poet Lise Sinclair have been commissioned to work on 'The Art of Crofting' by running workshops and visiting schools. The project is run by the Shetland Crofting Farming Wildlife Advisory Group (SCFWAG) which has secured funding from the EU, the Crofters Commission and the local authority to highlight the role agriculture plays in maintaining the isles rich bio diversity. More on this story at - The Shetland News

Tommy and Lise at work Photo SCFWAG

13th September
Celebrations! Scotland 1, France 0

12th September Ariadne,  visits Fair Isle This DH87B Hornet Moth G-ADNE (cn 8089), built by the De Havilland Aircraft Co Ltd, first flew in 1936. It is owned by the G-ADNE Group and makes numerous appearances at air-shows and fly-ins around the UK and Europe. Just over seventy years after its first registration, this beautiful aeroplane is now resident at Oaksey Park.

9th September
A few pictures from the first week of September

Down with the old - up with the new. The old 8.5m anemometer tower at Field - a land mark for the past 26 years - is replaced by a new 10m mast. (a bit late to read the instructions now!)

Early start - loading lambs at Setter		Lambs on the Good Shepherd, North Haven
Paint mixers, North Haven		Bollard & buoys, North Haven

31st August
Exhibition of paintings

During September a selection of work by Fair Isle artist John Best is on display at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, Lerwick Subjects covered range from Fair Isle and Shetland to Madeira and Spain.

This review of John's paintings, which first appeared in The Shetland Times, is reproduced here with the Editor's permission

Well into his eighties, John decided that this year's Thistle camp would be his last one. He marked the occasion, sharing a chocolate cake  with his fellow volunteers. (Eileen, that cake was delicious - just like my Nan used to make. Dave) In John's words .

16th August
The unseasonable summer weather continues with rain and W'ly gales
Earlier today, accompanied by grey skies, mist and low cloud, W'ly winds reached gale F8 across parts of Shetland before easing F7 during the morning. At the Lerwick Observatory winds, averaging 37kt (43mph) at 8am gusted to a peak of 49kt (56mph) during the following hour.

On Fair Isle, with mean speeds of 30kt and gusts to 42kt, the Fair Isle fire-engine was used as a wind-break to provide additional security for a vintage (1967) Reims/Cessna F150h aircraft parked at the airstrip. Later, additional concrete blocks were added! Read Chris & John's account on the Letters Page. Rain, mist and strong W'ly winds continued throughout the day. Temperatures varied little from 11 Celsius.

29th July
Head Teacher Fair Isle Primary School

Shetland Islands Council is now advertising this post - see . www.shetland.gov.uk/jobs/detail.asp?ref=2199

26th July
Medevac

Rescue Bond 2 - the offshore support helicopter based at Sumburgh - was called to Fair Isle Thursday afternoon. A small child, having fallen downstairs, had suffered a cut on the head which required stitching. After a night in the Gilbert Bain Hospital the child and parents returned to Fair Isle the following day.
Read more about Amber's exciting trip at www.fairislefibres.blogspot.com/

22nd July
A weekend of Celebration!
Summer is a busy enough time on Fair Isle - what with shearing sheep; cutting, baling and wrapping silage; three sailings of the Good Shepherd, airfield duties for the dozen or so landings etc, etc, and there doesn't appear to be much time for anything else! But then Fair Isle Folk are a very adaptable lot so we also manage to fit in a most memorable weekend celebrating Jimmy and Florrie's Ruby Wedding!

Saturday night and a meal preceded an evening of dance which went on into the small hours of Sunday. Sunday evening and the Kirk was packed for an all to short evening of music, poetry and hymns.

Pictures at  www.davewheelerphotography.com/Ruby  Read more about the weekend's events - and life in general - on this remote Isle at Malachy Tallack's New Statesman blog

15th July
Fair Isle Wildlife Club - Arctic Alpines of Ward Hill
A dozen islanders and visitors set off on the long trek to Lower Station, arriving there shortly after 1530 h. The arctic skuas Stercorarius parasticus and bonxies S. skua had given us free passage, perhaps overwhelmed by our number.

29th June
Fair Isle Wildlife Club - Life at Golden Water
Seven stalwarts turned up on Saturday, June 23, for a Fair Isle Wildlife Club exploration in and around Golden Water, amongst them Leona from the Czech Republic, our first international participant.

26th June John Wood John Wood died on Monday 25th June. Since he first came to Fair Isle on NTS Thistle Camps many years ago, we have got to know and like John and his wife, Janet, well. After being diagnosed with serious cancer, John and Janet visited Fair Isle on several more occasions, and it was then that we got to know the real John - a man of fortitude, of strength and determination - and most of all, a man of humour and love. We shall all miss John, and we extend our condolences to all the family. JWS

When I think of the Fair Isle I not only think of the island and her people but also the group in the hut, especially John Wood. from tribute letter sent by Carol Hooper

'Fireman' John Fair Isle Thistle Camp 2000

9th June The Shetland Times, Friday 8th June 2007 Times Past 25 YEARS AGO (links to the page on the Shetland Times website) "Following the installation of the wind-driven generator in Fair Isle the 69 islanders now enjoy electric power 24 hours a day, weather permitting. The 55 kilowatt aerogenerator with three seven-and-ahalf metre blades was erected on a 15 metre steel mast. The distribution system is thought to be the first of its kind in the world. The aero-generator automatically distributes the surplus energy to heating units in the houses so that the total energy captured by the windmill is utilised. It is operated on a fully commercial basis providing electricity to a whole community independent of a mains supply. Until it was installed the high cost of fuel for diesel generators meant electricity was only available two hours in the morning and up to 11pm in the evening." 1st June Fair Isle's newest inhabitant, Arran, arrives home with parents Shonagh and Paul.   Welcome Home Arran! 1st June New York Family Finds Home on Scotland's Fair Isle Follow the link above to read the story on NPR (National Public Radio, USA). The writer, Rob Gifford, visited Fair Isle recently. 30th May Wings Around Britain Due to bad weather in Orkney on the 29th, Polly continued north and landed at several airfields in Shetland on  Tuesday. Night-stopping on Fair Isle as planned. A small reception and book-signing was held on Fair Isle during the evening. Polly departed Fair Isle on Wednesday morning as planned - but heading south to Kirkwall having completed the Shetland landings on Tuesday. However continuing bad weather in Orkney kept her at Kirkwall. She hopes to be on schedule again by Thursday as weather conditions improve. Images of Polly's Fair Isle stop-over can be viewed here. Polly on Fair Isle (Wings Around Britain) 26th May FIMETI Newsletter No 5 by Elizabeth Riddiford PDF format 661KB Flash format 542KB Right-click and select 'save target as' to download the file

21st May
National Public Radio (NPR) Reporter interviews the North Sea!
On September 27th 2005 it was the car radio broadcasting NPR's (National Public Radio) 'All Things Considered' - a story about Fair Isle, a house and a lifestyle that inspired Tommy Hyndman, Liz Musser with Henry to move from Saratoga Springs in upstate New York to Fair Isle..

The story was followed up by London based NPR reporter Rob Gifford who - after trying to get to Fair Isle to since January - finally made it to do a follow-up interview with Tommy, Liz and Henry

LEFT Rob Gifford, reporter, for the US National Public Radio program "All Things Considered"  interviews the North Sea.

RIGHT Rob Gifford in front of the Auld Haa - the new home for Tommy, Liz & Henry for the past 5 months. Rob Gifford photos by Tommy Hyndman

Further information about the Auld Haa Guest House is available here.
email tommyartgallery@yahoo.com   website www.tommyart.com

The Music preformed on the broadcast was by Lise Sinclair from Fair Isle who is both musician and Shetland dialect poet. Most recently she has performed at the Shetland and Orkney Folk festivals. Lise can be heard as family member in the acclaimed Fair Isle group Fridarey. Traditional folk songs on the Fridarey CD, Across the Water. Lise, who is about to release a solo collection of songs, can be contacted at lisesinclair@btinternet.com

20th May
Wings Around Britain
A flight by Polly Vacher around the UK, landing at all 206 airfields in the Jeppesen VFR Manual between 21 May and 31 July 2007 is now underway! The website is www.worldwings.org

Polly will be flying into Fair Isle on 29^th May via Flotta, Westray and Papa Westray on the same day. She hopes to arrive here about 15.30  and plans to stay overnight.  Hopefully there will be an opportunity for a small reception for her - including a book signing - when she flies in.

The aims are: To promote Flying Scholarships for the Disabled and Flying for the disabled in general. Also to promote sales of the book Wings Around the World the proceeds from which go to Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.

Polly will take a disabled person on each sector wherever possible.
Polly was the first woman to fly solo over the North Pole in a single engine aircraft. The first woman to fly solo in Antarctica in a single engine aircraft. The first person to fly solo around the world landing on all seven continents (60,000 nautical miles, 357 days. More information here.).

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Just Published!

The Coastal Names of Fair Isle A study of the coastal place names and dialect of Fair Isle by the late Jerry Eunson. Available from Stackhoull Stores and Fair Isle Bird Observatory 4.50 All proceeds from sales will go to Fair Isle Community Association, which helps with small, worthwhile projects on the Isle.

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17th May
BBC Radio 3 documentary - The impact the weather and seasons have on life on Fair Isle
BBC Radio 3 will be coming to the Fair Isle in June to make a radio feature documentary about crofters traditions and the impact the weather and seasons have on islanders life here. The producer of the documentary, Kate Bissell, is particularly interested to record interviews with crofters about the various cycles of island life and how these are influenced by the seasons.  How is the use of and attitudes towards land affected by the seasons?  Kate is also interested to hear from people who think the islands seasons are becoming even more unpredictable, whether a result of climate change or not.  She is also keen to speak to writers, poets, musicians or photographers who are inspired by the ever-changing weather on Fair Isle, or people who know of Shetland folklore referring to weather or the seasons. 

The documentary will be broadcast as an interval during Radio 3's Proms on the 24th July. It will follow the 14th Prom featuring Hayden's The Seasons.  Kate will be coming to Fair Isle during the week beginning the 11th June to record interviews.

Kate would be very interested to hear from any islanders interested in contributing to the programme. Her contact details will be in this week's Fair Isle Times.

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21st April
Fair Islanders thrilled to an evening of wonderfully seductive tango music: exciting, stimulating and provocative - altogether a fantastic performance by dazzling young musicians!

The CHROMA team for the Fair Isle Tangotastic project was
Stuart King (clarinet); Ian Watson (accordion); Anna Biggin (violin); Elena Hull (double bass)
Claire Shovelton (manager)

The Fair Isle concert programme included pieces from :
Astor Piazzolla - Adios Nonino
Piazzolla - Milonga del Angel
Piazzolla Contrabajeando
Graham Lynch - Milonga Azure

For more pictures click on the image above

Then followed a Fair Isle premiere whith Chroma playing two new Fair Isle tangos composed by Alice and Lowri Best, Henry Hyndman, Fyntan and Raven Shaw, Amy Stout:

The concert then concluded with:
Piazzolla Oblivion
Piazzolla Valsisimo
Piazzolla - Tanti Anni Prima
Graham Lynch Alba
Piazzolla - Muerte del Angel 
Piazzolla  Libertango

CHROMA plays the Garrison Theatre, Lerwick, Wednesday 25 April 7pm
featuring music from the godfather of Nuevo Tango, Astor Piazzolla

www.chromaensemble.co.uk/tango/concert.htm

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Lambing ... 'warts' and all
Cuddly young bottle-fed caddy-lambs are a feature of this time of the year - but perhaps not always a welcome one as they have the habit of growing rapidly into rowdy, demanding youngsters!
Though with extra feeding a 'milky' Shetland ewe can rear triplets - the biggest usually 'hogging' one teat with the remaining two sharing the other - it doesn't always work.
The obvious answer is to 'persuade' another sheep with just a single lamb - or one that has lost her lamb(s) - to accept one of the three. Unfortunately sheep appear to be able to count and - although some maternal sheep will take anything - the 'donated' lamb must also smell right.
In this case the skin of her dead lamb is used as a coat and the adoptee is quickly accepted and starts to feed.

Are you mine?	Confirmed ...	... and accepted!

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A few pictures from April

Rescue Bond 2 at Fair Isle airstrip 22nd April	Rescue Bond 2
A second set of Shetland triplets for Field. 21st April	A caring mum!
Old bath used as a cattle drinking trough	Spring sunrise
South Lighthouse, Fair Isle   This one was last November  - but I like it so moved it from the Home Page to here!	Sheep sunset

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17th April
WHY ARE two Shetland councillors going to Portugal seeking information on providing cheaper flights into Shetland under the Public Service Obligation system? Letter from Fair Isle in The Shetland News

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Easter

Good Friday again and we faced the prospect of a small congregation limited to the faithful few. Always this gathering has been a moving experience but only rarely have we attracted non-members.

This year, the service was cancelled and we invited any and everyone on the island to take part in producing a large painting 2.4m x 1.2 m telling part of the Crucifixion story. For those hesitant about their artistic ability there would be someone in attendance to offer assistance, and the challenge was for the youngest to oldest, to add his or her few brush strokes to the masterpiece! The schedule was to have been from 10 in the morning until 2.30 in the afternoon but such was the enthusiasm that we finally closed the door around 9pm.

Our total population is only 70 and some were away for the holiday. However, there were several visitors and we were delighted to have over thirty people taking part, ages ranging from two and a half to eighty six years. Questions throughout the day were challenging, questions that would not have been asked in church, and our theme Still making Crosses seemed to touch many of the participants. A large written poster telling the Easter Story was displayed beside the painting board.

The picture changed many times during production:  the shadow became a mountain, transposed into clouds and changed again as others added their own interpretations. Birds flew across the sky and prominent Israeli rabbits returned to their burrows.

On Easter Day, the painting was displayed in the Chapel and all the artists and others joyously attended the service of celebration.

JCB

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April

The first of this year's lambs at Field

- 000001 & 000002

DW & lambs photo Lucy Wheeler

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31st March
How their 'Talents' will aid children in Malawi ...
... or how someone could even own a genuine new 'Lowri'!

During a recent church service, while reading the story from the Bible about 'Talents', John had given to members of the congregation a sealed envelope containing a small sum of money (between 10 pence and one pound).  He suggested that all should use their 'Talents' wisely.

The children went off to Sunday School and, discussing what John had said, decided that they ought to use their 'Talents' to raise money and add it to the sum of over 200 they raised recently at a coffee morning held after Chapel.  The money  raised is for children in Malawi who have AIDS, HIV.
Lowri, aged 7 - almost 8 - (not yet a famous painter, just the 'Best' one) used his 'Talents' to buy the materials which he used at Granddad's Art Class to paint this picture. It is a water colour of Springfield old croft house on Fair Isle. A bid has been made for the picture - a genuine new Lowri unframed!

In response to the children's enthusiasm the adults are also showing their entrepreneurial skills, increasing their original 'Talents' in a variety of ways - selling home bakes, home made chutney, shop discount on some items, and poems written for occasion.

All money raised - including the starting capital - will all go to the children in Malawi.

Would you like to own a 'Lowri'? e-mail his 'agent' at johncbest@btinternet.com

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30th March

CHROMA tangos back to Shetland ,,,
,,, and to Fair Isle with a Concert in the Community Hall. Saturday 21 April

Wednesday 25 April 7pm: tango concert Garrison Theatre.
Islesburgh Box Office, King Harald Street, Lerwick
tel. 01595 692114. Tickets 12 & 9.

The Garrison concert programme will include, amongst other pieces:

Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion

Graham Lynch - Milonga Azure

Astor Piazzolla - Milona en re

Edward McGuire - prelude no12 for accordion Astor Piazzolla - Caf 1930 Jerzy Peterburshsky - El Sol Sueno Astor Piazzolla (arr. Ian Watson) -  Muerte del Angel, Milonga del Angel and Libertango

 

CHROMA musicians: Stuart King (clarinet); Ian Watson (accordion); Anna Biggin (violin); Elena Hull (double-bass and piano)
Contact Claire Shovelton, Manager, CHROMA. chroma.admin@mac.com http://www.chromaensemble.co.uk/tango

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16th March
Iain Morrison has recently updated www.heinzthurz.co.uk/ documenting the life of Lieutenant Karl Heinz Thurz  - Luftwaffe Weather Reconnaissance Pilot
Heinz Thurz's wartime career came to an end in 1941 when he was shot down but managed to crash land on Fair Isle. During the Battle of Britain and shortly afterwards he was one of the pilots who provided weather reports for Germany. This involved flying out over the North Sea and into the Atlantic usually via the far North of Scotland. These flights were known as Weather Willy to the British and data sent back was intercepted  unwittingly providing free weather forecast.
Heinz revisited Fair Isle on several occasions.

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3^rd March
Excellent viewing conditions to observe the lunar eclipse from Fair Isle



Theses are two separate images - no white space
between them for dramatic effect!

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21^st February

Freight plane, freight plane ....
With Good Shepherd sailing prevented from sailing since the 14th due to persistent and strong to gale SE'ly winds building very high seas, 'essential' supplies - milk, fruit and veg - were air-lifted into Fair Isle by one of the SIC's two 'Islander' aircraft operated by Directflight.

 

10^th February
Council's new aircraft still on Fair Isle

The brand new 600,000 Britten Norman 'Islander' aircraft G-SICA ("Charlie Alpha), recently purchased by Shetland Islands Council, remains stranded on Fair Isle after suffering a cracked exhaust last Wednesday (7th).

Engineers have flown into Fair Isle on several occasions during the last few days to carry out a few tests. It is hoped to have the replacement exhaust fitted and fly the plane out shortly.
 

The Council's second 'Islander' G-SICB ("Charlie Bravo") was used to collect the passengers left stranded as a result of the breakdown.