School Concert Christmas 2004 - an appreciative audience
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Windy day as ex-hurricane Karl passes
Sunday 26 September
A  deep depression that had started life more than a week ago as hurricane Karl brought gales and  'hurricane-force' gusts across Shetland as it tracked northeast across Faeroe.

Talk of winds reaching 'hurricane force' in Shetland on Sunday are somewhat exaggerated though as this was referring to the maximum gust of 66kt (76mph) recorded at Lerwick Observatory at around 8pm in the evening and not the highest mean speed (ten minute average) of 49kt (56mph) during the afternoon.

The Beaufort Scale was designed for describing wind conditions over a period of time and not extremely short duration (gusts) lasting only a matter of seconds.  Converting the gust speed to the Beaufort Scale arrives at Hurricane F12 - making the event sound rather more dramatic than it was while the mean speed

In the UK the mean wind speed for weather reports is measured over a period of ten minutes - so Lerwick experienced Storm F10 with gusts to hurricane force this weekend.  Perhaps an extreme event looking at it from the wider UK viewpoint, but something to be expected several times each winter across the north of Scotland.  On Fair Isle our highest mean wind speed was 44kt (Severe gale F9), with a gust to 63kt.

Though the gale was expected, of particular note was the suddenness of its onset Sunday afternoon - very soon after the departure of the last of two Loganair flights.  These had been delayed by strong cross winds on Saturday and, though even stronger by Sunday afternoon, winds were from a more favorable direction and so Loganair was able to make two flights into the Isle.  Almost immediately after the last flight departed at about 2.30pm, and in a matter of minutes, the wind swung round from a fresh SSW'ly to a gale force W'ly. 

The following three news items can be read in full on the The Shetland News website

Bumper cruise season ends today
27 September
LERWICK harbour will end its busiest cruise ship season ever with a final vessel today (Monday) adding to the record number of passengers at the port this year.  The German cruise liner Bremen will bring the final number of passengers to 20,750 this summer season, up from 16,008 last year.
More about this story on The Shetland News website

Air ambulance alarm unfounded
27 September
In reply to a letter sent by Shetland Islands Council the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) insists lives will not be put risk in the northern isles if the seven year air ambulance contract is given to Gama Aviation, from Hampshire.
Last month Gama were declared preferred bidder for the 40 million contract with two dedicated King Air fixed wing aeroplanes based in Glasgow and Aberdeen, and two Eurocopter helicopters based in Glasgow and Inverness.
This week rival bidder Loganair, who have held the air ambulance contract for more than 30 years, advised the SICs transport forum that a Super Puma helicopter based at Scatsta airport used to fly emergency patients from the outlying isles into Lerwick would not be contracted to fly patients out of the isles when the weather was too rough for the air ambulance to land in Shetland.
More about this story on The Shetland News website

Fight for isles-based air ambulance
24 September
SHETLAND and Orkney could be left without air ambulance cover in poor weather if current plans for the service go ahead.
Last month the Scottish Ambulance Service announced that English airline Gama Aviation were the preferred bidder for the 40 million air ambulance contract which begins in April 2006 and runs for seven years.
However rival airline Loganair, who currently provide the service, said that Gamas plans to have two fixed wing aircraft and two helicopters based on the Scottish mainland could leave the northern isles vulnerable.
More about this story on The Shetland News website

Fair Isle sunniest place in Scotland (and possibly in the UK) during August!
During the month we recorded 204.9 hours of sunshine, 40% more than normal, making this Fair Isles sunniest August on record (since 1976).  The previous highest total was 198.6 hours in August 1986.

While this summer has not been spectacularly good over the Northern Isles, it has for the most part been much better than the rest of Scotland, England and Wales.  Even though Shetland has not missed out on the occasional flash flood it has on the whole been dry.

Concerns over future of inter-island flights
Islander's on Shetlands remote outer isles are very concerned that the future of our regular and 'life-line' air transport links to mainland Shetland could be cut now Loganair looks set to lose the Scottish air ambulance contract.

Should the contract go to English airline Gama Aviation then Loganair may consider their Shetland (and Orkney) inter-island service no longer viable.  This would mean that we would have to rely on our ferry services only with Fair Isle and Foula - Britains most remote island communities - particularly hard hit as adverse weather conditions can prevent the ferry from sailing.

Shetland Islands Council says that its officials are aware of the problem and there was plenty of time to find a solution so we should have no undue concern.  But we do.
More about this story on The Shetland News website

'Autumnal' August Gale
An unseasonably deep low brings severe gale force winds

The vigorous low east of Shetland. Above image links to B J Burton's satellite imagery website

A deep low of 978mb moving east across Shetland on Friday 27th brought gale or severe gale force winds to the north coast of Scotland, Orkney and Fair Isle with somewhat lighter winds over mainland Shetland. Friday morning saw SW'ly winds of around F8 for a time over Fair Isle, gusting to 49kt.  After a slight easing of the wind during the day winds veered NW'ly during the evening and increased to gale force again as the low moved east of Shetland.  For a time around midnight winds increased to severe gale F9 with the Fair Isle weather station recording a maximum gust of 53kt. (the highest gust recorded in August is 71kt in 1992) Winds quickly eased Saturday morning and though the early flight from Tingwall was cancelled Loganair had an early afternoon flight from Sumburgh and the Good Shepherd also sailed for Grutness after lunch.

August 7th

	Merrybegotten A New Historical Novel by Fiona Williamson Pearson ISBN 1904999042 Paperback  312 pages UK Price 13.95
Order Merrybegotten from amazon.co.uk

Set on Fair Isle and Orkney in the latter half of the 19th century hard landscapes and hard work provide the background for this tapestry of life and death. Fatalism, joy and blind emotion play havoc with the harsh realities expected on these islands, sewn like diamonds across the waters north-east of mainland Scotland. Romance is chaperoned by economic necessity, constrained by the difficulties of travel, and released by the serendipitous accidents of mortality. Unremitting hope brightens the simple lives of three generations of island folk.

The persistent need to locate her family with a sense of time and place in a wider context led Fiona Pearson on a personal Odyssey. One result was a journal and sketchbook of the Northern Isles. An accomplished artist gradually became a novice script-writer, and subsequently a novelist. Fiona lives with her family in Yorkshire, England.

We will hopefully  have a review of this book shortly.

Foggy weather continues
The present foggy spell, though persisting for almost a fortnight has quite a way to go to be record-breaking.  Including today, Saturday, we have had fog on 12 consecutive days - a total of around about 200 hours with fog (an average of 17 hours a day).  In that time the Loganair pilots have only managed - and not for the want of trying - THREE flights into Fair Isle.  We should have had FOURTEEN!

But it's not all gloom and fog - this tranquil scene  looking towards Sheep Rock from close by the Bird Obs occurred during the foggy spell.

July and August are usually our foggiest months - due to a combination of relatively cool seas (sea temperatures reach their highest as autumn approaches) and warm moist air being carried across the North Sea which is around 19 or 20 Celsius off the Dutch/German coast (the air can pick up more moisture) but cools quickly in a northerly direction - down to around 14 or 15 Celsius around Fair Isle.  As a result the air is cooled, cannot hold all the moisture that it has picked up and so moisture condenses out as fog (an effect very like opening the bathroom door!)  Stick an object (Fair Isle) in the way and make the air rise and the effect is even more marked (not a recommendation for putting an airstrip 200ft above sea-level!).

There is one more twist to the tale however - the strong tidal currents around Fair Isle as the tides ebb and flow into and out of the North Sea.  This has the effect of moving warmer water from the southeast or cooler water from the northwest past Fair Isle twice a day - the slightly warmer water (sometimes) temporarily lifting or thinning the fog, the cooler water resulting in its return.  This effect is most noticeable late July/early August.  Earlier in the year the temperature variation (at most 1 to 2 Celsius) is less as the North Sea is still warming, and later in the year the seas around Fair Isle have warmed.

While sea temperatures around Fair Isle have shown an increase of between 1 and 2 Celsius over the past decades at the moment they are about 1 Celsius below the recent average.

Records from Field Met Station show that the dubious honour of foggiest month goes to May 1981 when fog occurred at sometime during the 24-hours on 23 days - a quite remarkable record as May is usually the sunniest months of the year!  Other foggy months were June 1979; July 1979, 1989 and 1991 with 21 days, and August 1975 with 18.

On average July is usually our foggiest month with 14.1 days with fog.  August comes second with 11.2, while the least foggiest month with a mere 1.9 days is November is bottom. 

August 2nd
Fair Isle Silver and Gold exhibiting in Denmark
UK Trade and Investment, the Government organisation that assists companies realize their international business potential, have selected Fair Isle Silver and Gold to represent Scotlands Fine Jewellery industry in the British Excellence Showcase at Scandinavias prestigious gift and design trade fair in Formland, Herning, Denmark.

The Company, which has its office and workshop in the South Lighthouse, Fair Isle, have been invited to represent the diversity of work currently available from the fine, design-led and costume jewellery industry and is one of only 50 UK producers participating in the showcase.

Company director Clare Scott commented, We are one of three Scottish companies to be chosen for inclusion in the Excellence Showcase and the only Scottish company representing Fine Jewellery.  We are very proud of the quality of the work we produce and are strongly committed to the continued depiction of contemporary and heritage Shetland themes in our designs.  The design-led Company has been exporting to Europe for over a year and this event is a great opportunity to promote our work to new international buyers.  We are grateful to UKT&I for the platform they are providing.

Operational since 1998, Fair Isle Silver and Gold originally produced jewellery in sterling silver and has previously won awards for both its innovative designs and business set-up.   Recently the ranges available have been extended to include 9ct and 18ct gold.

Work will be on view in Hall H, Stand No.0334 from the 13^th 16^th August 2004 or visit www.formland.dk for further information.

For more information about Fair Isle Silver and Gold, Clare Scott can be contacted on 01595 760214 or email at info@fairislesilver.co.uk

July 31st
Bigton row Fridarey back
After a foggy five-hour crossing from Grutness to Fair Isle last Saturday afternoon 31^st July nine weary but jubilant Bigton rowers pulled their yoal Fridarey - built on Fair Isle by boat builder Ian Best up on to the North Have beach.

The rowers receive a warm welcome as they make landfall on the North Haven beach.

As well as a challenge the row was also a fund-raising effort for Mental Health Shetland (for further information or to make a donation contact Helen Mouat of Braefield, Dunrossness).

That evening at Puffin the bunk-house accommodation by the South Harbour where most of the rowers were staying overnight - a barbeque was held with entertainment by both local and visiting musicians and at which the other Fridarey also sang.

The rowers returned back to the Shetland mainland on Sunday on the safety boat that had accompanied them on their crossing to Fair Isle, leaving their Fridarey to return on the Good Shepherds next sailing.

July 27th
Kayaker heads South
Sean Morley's final Shetland landfall

A safe arrival in the North Haven Fair Isle, Tuesday afternoon, after a five hour paddle from Grutness.  Everyone is amazed at the speed of his progress.  Today, leaving Grutness after a yacht, he still made landfall in Fair Isle well ahead of it - although as Sean said: "There was very little wind today!"

Sean, a 38 year old policeman from Cornwall has taken six months leave in which he hopes to complete the first ever circumnavigation of the British Isles by kayak - including Ireland, St Kilda, Shetland, and the Channel Islands.

Starting at Easter from Falmouth Sean is now more than half-way through the journey having completed over 3200 miles so far.  Sean is raising money for the RNLI and Marine Conservation Society.  Anyone who wants to sponsor him can download a form from his website at www.expeditionkayak.com  You can also read his online diary and keep an eye on his progress via the site.
 

EXPLORING THE COASTS & SHORES OF FAIR  ISLE by Elizabeth Riddiford	HANDWORK edited by Anne Sinclair
FAIR ISLE: ITS MARITIME RESOURCE DURING THE 20TH CENTURY  by Emma Perring	A TASTE OF THE NORTH edited by Emma Perring

50 years with the NTS

Fair Isle Weekend
Rock Salt & Nails plus Serpentine
Friday 9th - Sunday 11th July 2004
Pictures online
The Rock Salt and Nails concert and following dance in the Fair Isle Hall introduced a busy weekend with the newly formed Drama Group Serpentine giving their debut performance 'Walking Downhill' - written by Anne Dickie - the following night.

On Sunday evening the Fair Isle children, under the expert help and guidance of Serpentine, gave their own piratical piece.  Serpentine then presented 'Parting The Curtain', written and performed by Kathy Hubbard, followed by Jacqueline Clark's 'Lookin tae da staars'.

The weekend was rounded off by a barbecue and another dance.

Summary:

The total number of visits during the selected month is 23,794.

The average number of visits during a month is 11,118.50.

The smallest number of visits occurred on Tue, Jun 01st 2004 with 359 visits.

The largest number of visits occurred on Mon, Jun 28th 2004 with 1,190 visits.

On average the smallest number of visits occurs on Saturday with 611.70 visits.

On average the largest number of visits occurs on Monday with 679.00 visits.
 

During the month the most visited pages were - URL   Hits Average Forecasted % of Total 1. / (Default Page) 5,118 3,059.67 n/a   8.93% 2. /Latest/index.htm 883 550.00 n/a   1.54% 3. /abrief.htm 756 494.33 n/a   1.32% 4. /index.htm 671 408.33 n/a   1.17% 5. /Travel/accommod.htm 638 383.67 n/a   1.11% 6. /Crafts/arts_crafts.htm 597 380.00 n/a   1.04% 7. /Travel/time.htm 581 359.33 n/a   1.01% 8. /Travel/getting.htm 566 337.00 n/a   0.99% 9. /davewheelerimages/ 510 348.00 n/a   0.89% 10. /Travel/log_summer.htm 507 362.33 n/a   0.88%

Web stats for June 2004

JUNE 14th:
Fair Isle Primary School Concert 2004
On Monday all the children did a school concert.  Everyone was there.  We sang lots of songs like: Below da bullio kyuppan, Eetum peetum penni pi, Peerie dug and Boannie Tammie.  We went into two groups older ones and younger ones did a musical.  The younger ones did Shiggly Shair and the older ones did Quad.  Star, Duncan, Daniel and Max played the piano.  Lachlan played the flute, Hannah played the fiddle and Scott played the glockenspiel.  Hannah, Duncan, Daniel, Lachlan and Scott did a little play called De Muckle Adventure they wrote it them selves in 2000.  Neil read out the story and they acted it out.

We did a thing for Star and Duncan.  Star sang a song called wade in the water and Duncan did not know what was happening when Mrs Harrison called him up.  He had to pop balloons and it had a note inside and we had to read them out to everyone.  The words described him.  Not!
Amy (9), writing in the Fair Isle Times
More concert pictures

JUNE 12th: An Evening of Entertainment - Piano Recital by Brian Anderson and cameo The Bathroom Door directed by Stewart Wilson. The evening opened with an excellent and most enjoyable recital by Brian Anderson of popular classical piano pieces by Beethoven, Chopin and Grieg, interspersed with vocal contributions by a Thomson family quartet, Stewart Wilson, Lise Sinclair and the Fair Isle choir. The gentle comedy after the interval featured skirmishes between five guests for the use of a single bathroom in the hideously-decorated corridor of the Majestic Hotel in 1920s Eastbourne.

JUNE 5th: AND IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF FOG! During May 2004 the Fair Isle website had 17,433 visitors - an average of 562 visitors per day! The smallest number of visits occurred on Sat, May 08th 2004 with just 297 visits. The largest number of visits occurred on Mon, May 24th 2004 with 904 visits!

MAY 15th:
Fair Isle in the Independent
Get close to nature.
If you're looking for an activity holiday with a difference, try Fair Isle, says Peter Conchie in the Travel Section.

MAY 1st:
Ian's latest fourareen

A traditional Shetland fourareen, built by Fair Isle boat builder Ian Best, is loaded on to the Good Shepherd on the first stage of the journey to Morecambe.

APRIL 30th:
Shetland Folk Festival

Fair Isle venue photos online

APRIL 20th:
All change again - Saturday flights now to be flown from Tingwall!
Loganair and Shetland Islands Council have agreed the timetable for the operation of the Fair Isle air service this summer online here at www.fairisle.org.uk/Travel/log_summer.htm

The latest communication received from Loganair today (20th) states that the Saturday operation between Lerwick (Tingwall) and Fair Isle has been re-instated, and all reservations for flights will be controlled by Loganair Lerwick.  Passengers who were contacted and re-routed from a Fair Isle/Lerwick to a Fair Isle/Sumburgh flight will now be offered the option of Lerwick or Sumburgh as their preferred destination.  Loganair Lerwick will contact passengers to confirm their itinerary and rebook as required.

For all Shetland flight enquiries or to make a booking contact Loganair Lerwick on tel: 01595 840246 or by email to shetlandres@loganair.co.uk

Loganair apologises for the inconvenience of the schedule changes to the Fair Isle flights on a Saturday.  They point out that all other flight schedules remain as before and can be viewed online by visiting www.loganair.co.uk

APRIL 19th:
Support for the Fair Isle ranger service
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) confirmed yesterday (Monday) that more than 20,000 had been made available over the next three years to support the Fair Isle ranger service, which was established ten years ago.

Operating from May to October, the service helps visitors and residents find out more about the natural heritage of the island through guided walks, leaflets, illustrated talks, events and project work with the local school.
More about this story on The Shetland News website

APRIL 5th:
Visit by the Methodist President to Fair Isle
Rev. Dr. Neil Richardson and his wife Rhiannon, flew into Fair Isle for the day today (Monday).

Rev. Dr. Neil Richardson and his wife Rhiannon with Loganair pilot Capt. Noel Ingram and John Best Photograph John Best, Fair Isle

Neil served as a minister in Leeds, Oxford and Manchester.  He was NT Tutor and Principal at Wesley College, Chairman of the European Theological Commission and is currently the Secretary of the British Committee of the World Methodist Council.  He was also a member of the group proposing covenant between the church of England and the Methodists, now ratified.

Islanders, meeting Neil and Rhiannon over a cup of coffee at Utra, learned that Neil is in training for the London marathon later this month - not just a keep fit regime but also a way of raising money through sponsorship for Christian Aid work in Sierra Leone.

April 16th - May 29th 2004
In Lerwick an exhibition of the work of local artist Clare Scott and nature photographer Rebecca Nason at 'Another Cat-astrophe!', 11 Harbour Street, Lerwick

Clare Scott Drawings, paintings and woven tapestry work by local artist Clare Scott.	Rebecca Nason Nature photographer Rebecca Nason has an exhibition of her recent Fair Isle works.

MARCH 29th:
Saturday flights
Saturday flights to and from Fair Isle to Sumburgh will be operated from Kirkwall.  There will therefore be no link to Tingwall on a Saturday.  Timetable at www.fairisle.org.uk/Travel/log_summer.htm
or www.loganair.co.uk/

MARCH 26th:
Would-be travellers told 'No flights'
In recent years, when flights from the Shetland mainland to Fair Isle were operated by Loganair on behalf of British Airways, it was possible to book 'online' with BA.  This year, as was the case some years ago, Loganair has again taken over sole responsibility for operating the flights - and in the process offering a most welcome reduction in prices.  Unfortunately not all British Airways booking staff seem to be aware of this - and insist on informing would-be travellers that flights to Fair Isle no longer exist!  In fact people who booked flights some time ago have received letters from BA informing them that, as the airline no longer flies to Fair Isle, the company is returning their money!  They are not told that Loganair now operates the route!

Flights from the Shetland mainland to Fair Isle still operate as normal!
Bookings should be made through 01595 840246 or email shetlandres@loganair.co.uk
Timetables at www.fairisle.org.uk/Travel/log_summer.htm
or www.loganair.co.uk/

MARCH 23rd:
Fair Isle Primary presented with Eco School flag
Fair Isle Primary school was officially presented with its first Green Flag Eco School award yesterday (Monday) - the first school in Scotland serving an entire island to receive the award.

The children have been very much involved in running the project - coming up with many ideas.  Head teacher Gina Scanlan said that they had bought a shredder and a brick maker so that paper could be recycled.  Ink cartridges,  batteries are collected for recycling and the bottle bank is well used by the community.

MARCH 14th:

Photograph by Glen Tyler, Fair Isle

School kids home by 'chopper'
After a Drama Week in Shetland the eleven Fair Isle primary school pupils and two teachers found themselves stranded on Mainland Shetland when persistent strong cross-winds prevented Loganair flights to the Isle.   On Sunday the Lerwick coastguard 'came to the rescue' when they organised the SAR helicopter 'LIMA-CHARLIE' , based at Sumburgh, to airlift them home. 


 

MARCH 1st:
Parliamentary Motion congratulates Fair Isle on becoming UK's first Fair Trade Island

MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, will today (Monday) table a parliamentary motion congratulating Fair Isle on becoming the UKs first Fair-Trade Island. Fair Isle with a population of about 70 people was recently awarded the status of Fair-Trade Island by the Fairtrade Foundation. Fair Trade Fortnight starts today and marks 10 years of the FAIRTRADE mark. 

Mr Carmichael said:
The community on Fair Isle are to be congratulated for all the work they have done to support fair-trade products. The isles shop keeper, Fiona Mitchell, has done a first rate job promoting fairly traded goods. This award is well deserved recognition of the work that she and others have undertaken.

Remote island communities such as Fair Isle are among the most financially fragile and vulnerable in the United Kingdom. It is therefore particularly commendable that they look to the trading rules which work so badly for developing nations. 

More information on The Shetland News website

FEBRUARY 19th:
Fares to Fair Isle reduced
Following a meeting between Shetland Islands Council and representatives of Loganair, the SIC announced a reduction in fares to Fair Isle from April this year. A return journey from the mainland will now cost 56 and the islander discount fare will be reduced to 44.80.
Don't bother checking at Loganair's website www.loganair.co.uk for info on the Lerwick (Tingwall)<>Fair Isle or Fair Isle<>Sumburgh flights as the 'official' site is grossly out of date for the Shetland inter-island flights and prices.  With Loganair now the sole operators of the Shetland inter-island flights these no longer feature on the BA timetable.  Up to date Loganair Shetland flights (including Fair Isle) can be found under Fair Isle Travel

Problems over air freight charges between Tingwall and Fair Isle also appears to have been resolved after Loganair agreed to charge the same as the Good Shepherd ferry.  The difficulties had surfaced earlier this year when islanders in Foula were faced with excessive freight charges on the Islander aircraft at time their ferry wasnt running.

Loganair chairman Scott Grier said: Loganair recognises the lifeline nature of air services to the remote islands and we want to do what we can to ensure goods get into the islands, especially when there are delays with the ferry services.

FEBRUARY 6th:
Fair Isle wins Fairtrade status
Fair Isle has been awarded Fairtrade status.  A unique award for a unique Isle and the first island in the world to be named a Fairtrade island!

Islanders put a case to the Fairtrade Foundation who decided to bend the rules slightly and extend the scheme - meant for towns and cities - to also include islands.  The Foundation works to get better prices, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.  It has a huge range of products which have been fairly traded - with over 40 of them on sale through Stackhoull Stores on Fair Isle.

It is hoped that someone from the Foundation will be able to visit Fair Isle and present us with the certificate officially.

Photograph (above right) shows Nick Riddiford, Fiona and Robert Mitchell (Stackhoull Stores proprietors) and June Ross-Smith with the Award.

Quote from SocietyGuardian.co.uk -
"Even as Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury, tosses a Fairtrade pancake, London will announce its bid to join 80 British towns intending to commit themselves to selling and promoting it. To be accepted, as 12 towns already have been, Fairtrade food must not only be sold in a certain percentage of outlets but communities must undertake to increase sales each year. Meanwhile, Fair Isle in the Shetlands is hoping to become the world's first Fairtrade island."

JANUARY 8th:
Fair Trade - Fair Isle
Fair Isle applies for Fairtrade status.

For a long time islanders have been buying Traidcraft products through Stackhoull Stores and participating in different events and projects that support the ideals of Fairtrade.

In 2000 Traidcraft Chocolate Crisp Cookies were launched at Stackhoull stores, Fair Isle.

In 2002 Fiona Mitchell joined 12,000 people in the Trade Justice mass lobby of Parliament.

In 2003 'The Scale-Up for Trade Justice' campaign had everyone visiting Stackhoull stores and Post Office sending postcards with a fairtrade message to Alastair Carmichael MP who in turn handed them round Westminster.

With island enthusiasm and support from Dunrossness Community Council, Tavish Scott PSP, Alistair Carmichael MP and many others Fair Isle is hoping to become Britain's (if not the world's) first Fairtrade Island!