DECEMBER
31st:
'Hurricane force' SSE'ly winds, averaging 75mph and gusting to 94mph, limit Hogmanay festivities.
For more information about the gales around Shetland see The Shetland News

Contraband - the crofters answer to broadband!!
You wouldn't believe this handsome group of guisers have just come in after helping board up a byre window blown in by the stormy conditions on New year's Eve!  Thanks 'lasses'!!

Anemogram of wind speed on Hogmanay

27th:
Christmas 2003 - Da 4 Hairy Grice

More pictures

18th:
Fair Isle Primary School win competition to name new Yell Ferries.
On 15.12.03 Councillor Gordon Mitchell informed Fair Isle Primary School that they had won the Shetland schools competition to name the two new Yell Ferries.

All the bairns had entered the competition and Kate Tylers names of Daggri and Dagalien (meaning dawn and dusk in Norn) were chosen.

It is hoped that several children from the school will be able to attend the naming ceremonies in Shetland in June and August 2004.

Photographs copyright Shetland Islands Council  For more information about the ferries see The Shetland News

AND receive Royal Society Award
At the end of November the school was awarded a Royal Society grant of 1050.  The money will be spent on equipment to undertake a scientific study of the freshwater invertebrates of the island. The bairns will write a report at the end of the project and make a presentation of their findings. All the data will be incorporated into the islands Biodiversity Action Plan. This work will be carried out in partnership with local ecologist Dr Glen Tyler.

11th:
Fair Isle School presents "Christmas Around The World"
Travelling around the globe guided by the contents of giant crackers the eleven bairns gave us a taste of Christmas in other countries.  We are always amazed at how such a small number of children - with ages right across the primary years - can give us a talented production year after year!  There's little doubt that while the performance was ably assisted by staff and helpers it was the children that stole the show.

10th:
Broadband registrations are now up to 11 - half the households on Fair Isle!

3rd:
Broadband coming to Fair Isle
With nearly a third of Fair Isle households having registered an intent to connect to the internet by broadband Hi-Wide will now be in touch with their contractors shortly regarding the mechanisms for implementing broadband installation on the Isle.  Hi-Wide is aiming to start designing the networks with a view to installing broadband on Fair Isle (weather permitting) in January/February of 2004.

NOVEMBER
19th:
Broadband for Fair Isle?
Fraser Mackenzie and Ross Murray from Hi-Wide, a the 'not-for-profit' company, visited Fair Isle today to initiate action on the Fair Isle broadband implementation.  With Roy Longmuir, e-business adviser at Shetland Enterprise also attending, they gave a presentation in the hall followed by a Q&A session.  Eleven users, including several who use the internet to  greater or lesser extent for their businesses were present.  Together with a small number of other internet users who were not able to attend the meeting - this represented about 50% of the Fair Isle households.

Unlikely to get broadband access by normal means the idea is to have a satellite link and a local wireless network to provide 'always on' broadband internet, possibly by January 2004 - if a sufficient number of the users expressing an interest 'sign-up'.
Related interest - 'BT dangle broadband carrot' The Shetland News18th November 2003 (item may be moved to archive).

18th:
First storm of winter
Not quite as foreseen  - but the first storm of winter hit Fair Isle during the afternoon and early evening as WSW to W'ly winds averaged 49kt (56mph) with gusts to 69kt (80mph)!

While the storm caused virtually no damage on Fair Isle (the 'Sky-dish' at Field is no-longer) there was, according to The Shetland News  'minor havoc'  in Shetland.  Flying debris (the first storm of winter always finds the lose bits!) short-circuited power cables and left many people without power for a short while.  An afternoon BA flight from Aberdeen was unable to land at Sumburgh airport and had to turn back - but was able to land later in the evening when the storm had abated.  Inter-island ferry sailings were also suspended.

6th:
Record-breaking month at Fair Isle Airstrip
October was the busiest month ever at Fair Isle Airstrip with a total of 114 aircraft movements (a 'movement' is a landing or take-off) and 539 passengers arriving, or departing, from the Isle.

The previous highest figure was way May 1990 when there were 100 aircraft movements and 528 passengers in transit.  These large figures were due to several flights using large helicopters carrying 20+ passengers chartered by a tour company to carry visitors to and from Fair Isle.

During the past 15 years or so Fair isle has seen a 50% increase in the number of visitors arriving by air - with aircraft movements rising by about 40% in the same time.  However there was a noticeable decline during 1995-97 when passenger figures fell back to that of the mid-1980s.

3rd:
Shetland Islands Council apologises to Fair Isle

Cover and map from the SIC's Information Supplement
Shetland Islands Council Website

Following a remarkable faux pas when they left Fair Isle from the map in the Information Supplement recently sent to all households, Shetland Islands Council has offered an apology to Fair Isle residents.

Fair Isle community councillor Fiona Mitchell said that that the Isle was cut off regularly - referring to weather conditions disrupting transport links - so being left out of a publication for the whole of Shetland was therefore all the more disappointing.  She added that she was delighted the council had publicly apologised for the error.

In an unusual step, the head of the councils organisational development service, John Smith, issued an apology emphasizing that Fair Isle was an integral part of Shetland.

He said: We continue to value the significant contribution the island and its community makes to Shetland on a wide range of economic, cultural and environmental issues.

He added that the error occurred when staff had to choose between a number of versions of the small map and decided for a map that had a bigger font size. Unfortunately Fair Isle was too much to the south to be able to fit on the page.

Mr Smith said the council decided to apologise after the oversight was picked up by the local commercial radio station SIBC.

SIC councillor for Dunrossness and Fair Isle, Captain Gordon Mitchell said: It is a shame that the SIC neglected Fair Isle on the original hand out. However, it is good that they have come clean and acknowledged their mistake. Fair Isle is back on the map.

Much of the above information courtesy of the Shetland News Agency
 

Mr Scott said the Fair Isle Committee was already several steps ahead with a pilot scheme to investigate the management of the seas around the Isle and the intention that this might lead to the creation of a Marine National Park.

He said that he would be "... contacting the minister to suggest that his officials should start their work by visiting Fair Isle to be briefed by the Islanders - and so avoid having to reinvent the wheel!"

One of the parts that most impressed Mr Tavish is that Fair Isle has worked hard to involve Shetland fishermen as they need to be part of any plan for a Fair Isle Marine National Park.  In his opinion this is a vital part of the Fair Isle Plan and is - on its own - a reason for officials seeking input and advice from the Fair Isle Committee.

Mr Scott also said he would encourage the minister to give his backing to the Fair Isle Committee's pilot scheme.
 

Further produce was sold from a stall following the auction.

In total a record 1550 was raised for Goodwill Children's Homes in India!

Over the past few days Fair Isle has been rivalling Sumburgh, Shetland's main airport for traffic numbers!  In fact on Saturday Fair Isle saw more movements in the day than Sumburgh did, and today (Sunday) they only just managed to beat Fair Isle when two of the aircraft also went into Sumburgh to refuel!

In the period 15-19th October during which the bird(s) have been on Fair Isle there have been 58 associated aircraft movements (not counting the Loganair schedules) with 246 birdwatchers travelling into/out of the Isle!

18th:
Another busy day on Fair Isle, with two rare migrant birds here today  -  a Siberian Rubythroat (fourth for Britain) as well as the Savannah Sparrow!

Five aircraft parked at the strip at one time was an all-time record, and 18 aircraft movements were recorded during the day.

16-17th:
A Savannah Sparrow brings busy days at the airstrip!

The Savannah Sparrow
(photograph Fair Isle Bird Observatory)

Fair Isle airstrip on 19th with a record
-breaking six aircraft on the ground!

Fair Isle airstrip on the 18th

A successful visit - birdwatchers about
to board the Piper Aztec for the return
flight to Blackpool.

Problems starting one of the Aztec's engines prevented the pilot of this plane making an extra run down to Wick to pick up another load of birdwatchers, the Cessna 310 making this extra return trip instead.

One of Fair Isle airstrip's busier days with a Cessna 310 and 172 (Skyhawk), a Piper Aztec and the Loganair 'Islander' all contributing to the 14 'movements'.

Together with a boat charter from the Shetland mainland, some 40 people were in for the day to see the bird.

(Photo Dave Wheeler)

It was also the warmest July on record here with a mean daily temperature of 13.9 Celsius, 2.5 above normal, easily beating the 12.8 Celsius of 1976.  The highest temperature for the month was 19.9 Celsius recorded on the 16th, which just failed to beat the all-time Fair Isle hottest of 20.1 Celsius of 1991.

Sunshine was well above average with a monthly total of 190.4 hours, 139.5% of average and also just failing to beat the Fair Isle July record of 191.1 hours of 1995.
 

23rd: Birthday Celebrations at Skerryholm!
A few of the many islanders and visitors helping celebrate Jimmy's birthday.	That cakes a real give-away!!

JUNE 27th: Fair Isle posts for Fair Trade! With World Trade rules effectively robbing poor countries of 1.3 billion daily (14 times what they get in aid) Stackhoull Stores - and Fair Isle - are making their voice heard in the 'Scale up for Trade Justice' campaign sending postcards to our MP, Alistair Carmichael, by each mailboat from now until the World Trade Organisation meeting in Mexico in September.
Fair Isle folk at the Stackhoull Stores 'Scale up for Trade Justice' stall	Jimmy Stout and Post Mistress Fiona Mitchell
26th: Fair Isle on the BBC Website - 'On This Day' for 3rd September 1954: National Trust buys remote island
National Trust for Scotland The National Trust for Scotland website updated . . . .  . . . . though unfortunately their map still leaves off Fair Isle and the remainder of Shetland - but we do get a link!

22nd: Stackhoull Garden Party Rain arriving shortly after the start of the Garden Party, which all Fair Isle Residents were 'commanded' by the Lord Stackhoull to attend, did little to dampen the spirits as everyone just moved indoors at the 'Palace' to continue the celebrations. In all their finery The Men in Grey   'Lord and Lady Stackhoull' 21st: Celebrating Midsummer with a Barbeque at the Hall

20th: Fair Isle Primary School Concert The latest issue (July/August) of Scottish Islands Explorer produced on Fair Isle by Linda Grieve and Philip Welch is now on sale. As always this bi-monthly magazine, as well as regular contributions, is packed with interesting articles about the islands around Scotland. This month, as well as featuring articles about travelling by bicycle around Coll, deer on Rum, island hopping around the Hebrides, a whalebone arch on Lewis, Orkney's Happy Valley, Way Out West on  Rona, and the first in a series on walking on Kerrera, there is an interesting - and often amusing - article by Times writer Jonathan Lennie who discovers that there's more to Fair Isle than a mention in the Shipping Forecast! As usual Scottish Islands Explorer contains many excellent photographs and illustrations. Further information about Scottish Islands Explorer can be found on their website at www.scottishislandsexplorer.com, or e-mail info@scottishislandsexplorer.com

4th: Ian Best, Fair Isle boatbuilder, at the prestigious Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC Ian has been commissioned by the prestigious Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC to complete the construction of a clinker-built 23' Ness Yoal, begun earlier on Fair Isle and shipped to America, on the National Mall during the 37th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival June 25-29 and July 2-6 2003. Further information can be found at the Smithsonian Institute Folklife Festival, Scotland at the Smithsonian (boatbuilding) webpage. Also at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival Anne Sinclair, master knitter Anne traces her Fair Isle roots back to at least 1690. She learned patterned knitting and other Fair Isle crafts from her mother; and presently four generations of her family are involved in indigenous craft production. Trained as a teacher, she has researched, lectured, and published material on Fair Isle history, folklore, culture, and dialect, and is also an excellent singer.  Here the link is - http://www.folklife.si.edu/CFCH/festival2003/scot_knitting.htm Anne's mother, Annie Thomson, hand-knitter

Visitors to the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will also be able to attend performances by many of Scotlands leading traditional artists. Featured performers include the Battlefield Band, Phil and Johnny Cunningham, Dougie MacLean, Brian McNeill, the Wrigley Sisters from Orkney, Fiddlers Bid from Shetland, the Edinburgh-based ceilidh band The Occasionals, and the famed childrens ensemble the Singing Kettle.

Scotland at the Smithsonian is produced in partnership with the Scottish Executive, with the collaboration of and a donation from the Scottish Arts Council, a donation from VisitScotland, contributions from William Grant & Sons, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and support from Shetland Island Council, Shetland Enterprise and the Shetland Arts Trust. Additional cooperative efforts come from the University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh, Lochcarron Mills, the Gaelic Arts Agency, the General Register Office for Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland. Major in-kind support is provided by William Grant & Sons and Lochcarron Mills.

Since 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has celebrated traditional cultures from across the United States and around the world. In addition to Scotland, the 2003 Festival will also feature Mali: From Timbuktu to Washington and Appalachia:  Harmony and Heritage. The Festival is produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and co-sponsored by the National Park Service. To learn more about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, visit www.folklife.si.edu.

MAY

31st: 'The 2003 Shetland Trek Tour' FRIDAY 30th MAY Fair Isle Hall ALLY  BAIN and PHIL CUNNINGHAM in Concert Wonderful music!  Certainly made up for missing the eclipse - after all, there'll be another one of those in 90 years!

30th: Young Islanders!
Fair Isle and Vatersay boast the highest percentages of younger islanders.  On Vatersay, 32% of the population is under the age of 16 and on Fair Isle the figure is almost 29%.

On Fair Isle, of the 16-74 year olds, approx. 8% declare there employment as 'Agriculture', 24% as 'Transport', 18% 'Manufacturing', 10% 'Construction' and 16% 'Business Activities'!

These are just a few snippets from the information that is now available on the SCOTLAND'S 2001 CENSUS RESULTS ONLINE website www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/  It is worth noting although there are 95 inhabited islands in Scotland, several of the smaller islands have been grouped together and the SCROL website only has details for 54 island areas (for example, the four Small Isles have all been grouped together as Eigg).

At the time of the census, there were 95 inhabited islands (there were 87 at the time of the 1991 census), with a total population of 99,660. Quite a healthy sounding figure, but this reveals that there are now 10,000 fewer people living on our islands then were in 1981, when the total figure stood at over 110,000.

For more general information about the 2001 census, visit the General Register Office for Scotland website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.

20th: Fair Isle business receives technology boost!

From the Highlands & Islands Enterprise Network website -

A Fair Isle businessman is using the latest in technology to boost sales of his traditional glass designs.

Photo:  Dave Wheeler

Patrick Ross-Smith's stained glass windows are made using techniques that can be traced back to medieval times, but the design and marketing side of his business will now benefit from cutting edge technology thanks to a grant from the local enterprise company.

With a client portfolio including Dornoch Cathedral, Iona Abbey and Standard Life as well as a steady stream of orders from the tourists who make the ferry or plane journey to the Fair Isle, Mr Ross-Smith's secluded island location hasn't hindered his sales to date. 

However, he was keen to build on this success and break into new markets so approached Shetland Enterprise for assistance.  He was awarded 3475 towards computer equipment and design software to help him expand his product range, and for a new website to help bridge the geographical gap between his island location and potential customers.

Commenting on the grant, Mr Ross-Smith said:  "This investment will have a real impact on my business.  The design software and image capture equipment will allow extremely detailed working and will greatly reduce the time it takes to prepare artwork for production.  I'm quite a distance from my suppliers and customers so any time saving that I can make will have a considerable impact on turnover and hopefully help me make the transition to a large volume producer.

"The website is being designed locally and should be ready in the next few months.  Entering the world of e-commerce is a big step but is the best way to showcase my designs and reach new audiences.  My work will remain traditional with all the products individually hand crafted, but I'm keen to take advantage of what technology has to offer my business."

Steven Guthrie, development manager at Shetland Enterprise, said:  "The internet is an effective way for Patrick to expand into new markets and we are pleased to offer our support.   The new equipment should make his business more efficient and hopefully allow him more time to concentrate his efforts on the artistic side of his enterprise."

16th: A mega-rare on Fair isle!

	A Thick-billed Warbler, trapped in Vaadal this morning - second for Fair Isle and fourth for Shetland & Britain (previous records from Whalsay and Out Skerries) Photo (left) courtesy Fair Isle Bird Observatory (link opens in new window)
	Just some of approximately 25 people who managed to charter transport onto the isle today to see the Thick-billed Warbler - this party making the return flight all the way from Yorkshire.  Loganair was also chartered from Tingwall via Sumburgh, while Jonathan Wills brought another party by sea from Lerwick.

11th: Adventure Canada/Fair Isle Evening of Entertainment
Sunday evening saw some 150 - Isle folk outnumbered by visitors off the cruise ship Polar Star - gathered together in the hall for a meal and evening of musical entertainment.  Half the food had been prepared by cooks and bakers on the Isle, the other half brought by the visitors and staff from the Polar Star.

 [PHOTOS]

After the meal guests and hosts were entertained by music and song from Fridarey and the Fair Isle band.  This was followed by superb and very varied performances by several groups from the ship's crew and passengers.

Earlier in the afternoon the passengers had been ashore for tea and home-bakes at the Hall and seen something of Fair Isle's varied craft industry.

7th: On Monday evening a number of children - together with some of their teachers - arrived at Fair Isle on the Swan.  The children, from the primary schools on Papa Westray and Eday in Orkney had been expecting to spend only a day or two on the Isle before continuing north to Shetland.  Unfortunately a poor weather forecast resulted in a changed itinerary and an extended stay on Fair Isle.  They plan to sail back to Orkney on Friday.  However, all are in full agreement that having the extra days on Fair Isle made up for missing the sail north.
 

APRIL

Rare annular solar eclipse It looks as though there could be a busy time ahead for Shetland as folk head north for a rare annular solar eclipse, taking place early on Saturday 31st May. Tourist Boards are hopeful that the eclipse will offer an ideal opportunity to offer special deals to coincide with the event, providing an early boost to the tourism economy. The Shetland Astronomical Society has organised two viewing sites for stargazers on the Shetland islands, Unst and Fetlar. Find out more about the event on the Shetland Tourist Board website - www.visitshetland.com/eclipsetour.html Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies otherwise stargazers will have to wait another 90 years for the next annular eclipse.
the image above  links  to the NASA website with information about the eclipse	But then who wants to go on a tour? Come and relax on Fair Isle - where late May usually has some of the sunniest days of the year - and hopefully enjoy a spectacular sunrise!
New Shetland Mainland Air Link A new weekend service between Sumburgh and Inverness has been introduced by Highland Airways. Passengers will now be able to travel on weekend newspaper delivery flights on Saturdays and Sundays. These new flights are in addition to the existing weekday morning flights that operate the same route Monday to Thursday. Ticket prices are 95 single and 190 return, including taxes. Highland Airways is also introducing a link between Shetland and Glasgow that leaves Sumburgh at 2.30pm every Sunday for 149 one way.

Easter Day
 

A special day for John Best too - marking 50 years since his first Sermon! The front of the Chapel, in Betty Best's words, had a TV-type make-over with a spectacular tapestry hanging for the pulpit lectern.  This has been made by John and Betty's niece Christine Goddard, based on a design - by daughter Fiona Mitchell - of a rocky island with rainbow, cross and hand holding the world.  Anne Sinclair has done a great job mounting it - as well as renewing the pulpit curtains and table cover to blend with the picture.

FRIDAREY's debut CD

'Across the Waters' is the first CD released by Fridarey, the Fair Isle family group comprising sisters and brothers Neil Thomson, Stewart Thomson and Anne Sinclair, with Anne's daughter Lise and Neil's daughter Eileen completing the line-up.

Suffice it to say that this CD - recorded in Castlesound Studios, Edinburgh and produced by Freeland Barbour, demonstrates well how the group has matured in the years  since they first released a tape of their music.

A local review of this excellent CD will follow shortly.

Available from - Fridarey Busta Fair Isle Shetland ZE2 9JU SCOTLAND e-mail:  anne.sinclair@virgin.net Tel/Fax:  01595 760244 Price - UK 12.99 + 1.00 p&p Europe 12.99 + 1.50 p&p Overseas 12.99 + 2.00 p&p please make cheques payable to Fridarey