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Hundreds join Dogs Against Drugs campaign

March 18, 2024 | 8.59am

More than 200 people have signed the Shetland Times petition in support of Dogs Against Drugs over the weekend.

Since the campaign launched on Friday morning, 230 people have signed the online petition, calling for the Scottish government to use the proceeds of crime to provide a better funding model for the charity.

Dogs Against Drugs requires £120,000 a year to protect communities from illegal drugs reaching the streets of the isles.

But it is short of its funding for the 2024/25 financial year by as much as a quarter.

Dogs Against Drugs was instrumental in the seizure of £750,000 worth of substances since the start of 2022. Last year alone drugs dogs prevented £360,000 of illegal substances from getting to the streets.

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Drama Festival winners announced

March 16, 2024 | 1.32pm

The winners of the Shetland Drama Festival were announced last night at a ceremony at the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick.

The complete list of winners are as follows:

Junior Section – Open Door Drama Juniors, Rachel versus the Bonecrusher The Mighty

Junior Individual Cup – Willow Duncan, A Queen’s Tale, Sound Primary School

Youth Section – Open Door Drama Youths, A Melodrama

Youth Individual Shield – Martha Robertson, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Open Door Drama

Shetland Section – Ronas Drama, Spice Up Your Sandwiches

Shetland Dialect Adult Individual Shield – Lorraine Peterson, Spice Up Your Sandwiches, Ronas Drama

Best Original Dialect Script – Willie Robertson, Spice Up Your Sandwiches, Ronas Drama

Best Original Non- Dialect Script – Kevin Briggs,

Adult Open Section – A Muse Amuses, Scalloway Players

Adult Individual Shield – John Haswell, A Muse Amuses, Scalloway Players

First Time Producer – Kirsty Budge, Never Fret, Nae Need Tae Spret, Brenna Players

Best Stage Presentation – Midsummer Nights Dream, Open Drama Drama

Most Merritorious – A Melodrama, Open Door Drama Youths

Best Entertainment – Spice Up Your Sandwiches, Ronas Drama

Overall Points Winner – A Muse Amuses, Scalloway Players in photo Kevin Briggs, SCD President awards the Minnie Wright Trophy to Izzy Swanson, John Haswell and Kari Williamson.

Report, reviews and more photos in next week’s Shetland Times.

Demonstration in support of UHI Shetland

March 16, 2024 | 12.29pm

Students and lecturers from UHI Shetland were today (Saturday)holding demonstration march in Lerwick today raising awareness over potential cuts to further and higher education courses.

Andrew Anderson, branch secretary of the union EIS-Fela, said the protest was intended to focus attention on the threat to courses at UHI Shetland.

The walk left from the Market Cross at noon and went along Commercial St, up through the Fort and onto the Town Hall.

Mr Anderson said the aim was for people to show their support to education in Shetland.

He added: “Further and Higher education courses and learning are under threat in Shetland.

“Show support for keeping a diverse range of local learning opportunities for Shetland, its communities, and its employers.

“Show support for further education – it plays a key role in closing the poverty-related achievement and attainment gap.

“Course cuts will affect Shetland residents from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds the most.” 

Demonstrators were going along to Islesburgh later to allow the public the opportunity to find out more about what the college offers – and what could be lost if the proposals go ahead. 

Mr Anderson added: “We are encouraging folk to speak up now before it’s too late.”

Speaking prior to the event, EIS-Fela President Marie Harley said: “Your college is under attack in terms of cuts to courses and provision, like all colleges in Scotland.

“However, there are particular issues for a geographically remote and island community like yourselves. The impact of these cuts will be devastating for your local community and once these cuts happen they will not be replaced. Staff won’t be there and courses won’t be there.

“This means cut in access for the most vulnerable learners. For learners who want to get back into learning or who are needing skills and want to get onto other courses that will change their lives. We know that education leads to getting people out of poverty.”

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UPDATE: Inter-county – Clean sweep for netball A and B teams

March 16, 2024 | 10.45am

The senior netball and badminton squads are taking on their Orkney rivals in inter-county clashes today – and the netball A and B team recorded victories.

The A team won 45-40 at Clickimin, with the B’s following up with a 45-36 victory.

Team Captains Emma Leask and Maisie Unsworth celebrate victories from both the A and B Shetland teams over Orkney at the Clickimin on Saturday Photo: Brian Gray

In the badminton being played in Orkney, its was losses for both teams, with the A’s going down 20-6 and the B team was defeated b 12 games to six.

Delting Up-Helly-A’ in pictures

March 16, 2024 | 9.45am

Crowds of hundreds turned up to watch the procession led by Guizer Jarl Daniel Johnson and the galley burning in Brae last night (Friday)

Photo: Sophie Whitehead

Photo: Sophie Whitehead

Delting Up-Helly-A’ gearing up for a big night

March 15, 2024 | 6.59pm

It’s now down to the big burn in Delting.

Guizer Jarl Daniel Johnson, who is Hakon Galinn for the day, will be preparing for the procession and burning of the galley.

Photo: Sophie Whitehead

Daniel, who was nominated onto the committee by his uncle Stuart Robertson, lives in Muckle Roe with his wife Karen and their two children, Mitchell, 8, and five-year-old Ada. His children joins him in a squad of 45.

Photo: Sophie Whitehead

Delting Up-Helly-A’ under way

March 15, 2024 | 8.45am

Delting Up-Helly-A’ is getting under way this morning (Friday).

Guizer Jarl Daniel Johnson is Hakon Galinn for the day.

Daniel, who was nominated onto the committee by his uncle Stuart Robertson, lives in Muckle Roe with his wife Karen and their two children, Mitchell, 8, and five-year-old Ada.

Daniel, who works at Garriock Bros in Brae as an engineer, said: “Well da waiting is finally ower!.

“Can’t believe we are here already. It doesn’t feel long ago since my uncle Stuart asked me to join the committee in 2009.

“It seemed only fitting for me to be Hakon Galinn, the nephew of Hakon Herdebreid who Stuart represented.”

He added: “I want to say it has been a privilege to be asked to take on such an important role in what is an amazing community event involving all age groups. Nothin else does dat lik Up-Helly-A’.”

The Jarl’s Squad mustered at the Northern Lights function room at 7.30am, with the toast to the jarl taking place just before 8am.

The squad then marches to the galley shed before visiting local schools in Lunnasting and Brae and Garriock Bros.

They will have lunch at Sullom Voe Terminal and then visit Mossbank Primary, Busta House Hotel and Northaven Care Centre and Mid Brae Ine.

The light up and procession from the Brae Hall to Delting Boating Club begins at 7.30pm and will end with the burning of the galley, called Rodahamar – the name of his house – which translates into Red Rock in old Norse.

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Sign Times petition in support of Dogs Against Drugs

March 15, 2024 | 7.10am

A massive Shetland Times campaign launches today [Friday] demanding the Scottish government channels cash it earns from the proceeds of crime to Dogs Against Drugs.

The crucial charity helps the police and private organisations detect illegal substances coming into the isles – preventing drugs from entering our communities, and bringing crooks to justice.

Last year alone the organisation’s specially trained dogs and their handlers helped seize more than £360,000 of illegal drugs, including potentially deadly heroin and cocaine.

But the charity has struggled to find the necessary funds to maintain its critical service in preventing the supply of drugs coming to Shetland.

Dogs Against Drugs needs around £120,000 to operate annually – but is currently falling short for the next financial year by as much as a quarter of that sum.

The Shetland Times has played a small part in helping the charity by donating £250 – but they need much, much more.

Join us in our campaign by signing our petition to get a better deal for the Dogs Against Drugs

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Kirkwall stopover on Aberdeen flights extended again

March 14, 2024 | 2.25pm

Flights between Aberdeen and Sumburgh will continue to stop in Kirkwall en-route until at least the end of March.

It is the second time that Loganair has announced the cyclical schedule will continue.

Loganair initially said the change would end on 3rd March, before extending that to 15th March.

The airline blamed “continued delays” with the delivery of its new ART-72 aircraft, and said global supply chain issues were also still having an effect.

Morning and evening flights between Aberdeen and Kirkwall, and Aberdeen and Sumburgh, will visit all three airports until at least 30th March.

“Regrettably, we are facing further delays with our new aircraft,” Loganair said.

“We appreciate schedule changes never come as welcomed news and we apologise for the slightly adjusted flight times that the circular route brings. “

It said any pre-booked customers who no longer wanted to travel on the routes could contact their customer service team.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience and thank affected customers for their patience at this time.”

Shetland Bus heroes remembered at memorial

March 14, 2024 | 1.04pm

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Shetland Bus Memorial at Scalloway today (Thursday).

Royal Norwegian Navy Cadets paid their respects to those who took part in the heroic Shetland Bus operation during the Second World War.

The cadets travelled to Shetland on the sail training ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, and were joined by other crew and passengers, as well as locals who gathered for the ceremony.

Photo: Dave Donaldson.

The hazardous Shetland Bus operation involved carrying refugees to Shetland as well as sending supplies and agents in the opposite direction

The service, based from Scalloway, has been increasingly acknowledged over time on both sides of the North Sea as having a significant impact on the progress and outcome of the Second World War.

The Shetland Bus played a crucial role during Germany’s occupation of Norway.

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Man charged with rape

March 13, 2024 | 2.24pm

A 43-year-old man has appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court charged with rape.

Colin Spall, whose address was given only as Shetland, was also charged with sexual assault.

He made no plea and was released on bail.

No date was given for his next appearance.

Is school year too short? Althing to decide

March 10, 2024 | 7.18pm

Do kids have too much free time outside of school term? Are parents driven to distraction? Or do school pupils need quality time away from the classroom?

These are just some of the points to be raised at this month’s Althing debate – “the school year is too short”.

Speaking for the motion is Caroline Henderson and Joe Smith. Against is Chris Horrix and Barbara Dinnage.

The debate is due to take place on 16th March at the Lerwick Town Hall.

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Shetland to the Stars success

March 2, 2024 | 3.41pm

UHI Shetland, in collaboration with Dynamic Earth, enjoyed an out-of-this-world jam-
packed activity day.

Shetland to the Stars Free Family Fun Day” was held today (Saturday) at the UHI Shetland Scalloway Campus.

The event, designed to engage and entertain families in all things space and science, saw an overwhelming response, with over 300 enthusiastic participants joining the festivities.

From captivating hands-on activities to awe-inspiring exhibits, the event showcased the wonders of science and astronomy in an accessible and engaging manner.

Families from all over Shetland flocked to Scalloway, turning the day into a memorable celebration of education, exploration, and community spirit.

Key highlights of the event included:

Interactive Exhibits: Attendees had the opportunity to explore a range of interactive
exhibits, providing a hands-on experience that brought the marvels of space and
science to life.

Educational Workshops: Engaging workshops, led by experienced educators and astronomers, captivated both young and old with insightful presentations and demonstrations.

Professor Jane Lewis, principal and chief executive of UHI Shetland, said: “We are thrilled to see the
incredible turnout for the ‘Shetland to the Stars Free Family Fun Day.’

“The event’s success is a testament to the community’s passion for science education and their
eagerness to participate in fun, educational activities together.”

WATCH: Bressay Up-Helly-A’ in video

March 2, 2024 | 1.14pm

Huge crowds turned out for the Bressay Up-Helly-A’ yesterday.

The fire festival was hailed a huge success as the weather helped Guizer Jarl Laurence Robertson and his Bressay squad enjoy his big day.

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Bressay Up-Helly-A’ procession

March 1, 2024 | 8.56pm

The Bressay Up-Helly-A’ procession enjoyed good weather for big crowds tonight (Friday).

And earlier today there was some good festivities.

Bressay Up-Helly-A’ under way

March 1, 2024 | 9.20am

Laurance Robertson and his Bressay Jarl’s Squad congregated at the Speldiburn cafe this morning (Friday) to start the islands big day.

The fire festival is taking place a week later this year, on the first official day of spring.

This years suits have a fetching green teal kirtle, axes and a wolf motif on the shields designed by Artmachine.

A black leather waistcoat is augmented by gauntlets of a similar material. On their backs are reindeer skins, black furry boots from New Zealand and a silver plain helmet finish off the suit.

There are 23 adult guizers and nine children, of which one is a princess.

After breakfasting at the cafe at the former school, later in the morning the squad will cross Bressay Sound to “invade” Lerwick and visit Bressay pupils at the Bell’s Brae and Sound schools.

The muster for the procession begins at 7.45pm. 

• A full report will appear in next Friday’s Shetland Times

WATCH: More from Cullivoe Up-Helly-A’a

February 23, 2024 | 8.46pm

The Guizer Jarl Brian Spence certainly enjoyed his night.

https://youtu.be/r6eWexjfOPY

WATCH: Cullivoe Up-Helly-A’ procession

February 23, 2024 | 8.36pm

The Cullivoe Up-Helly-A’ procession attracted huge crowds tonight.


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