Over the six years that the Second World War lasted my father used to say there was never such a thing as a good day, only days that were less bad than others. Victory over the Axis powers and Japan eventually came to bring days of rejoicing, although it did not take long before there dawned the recognition of victory’s awful cost in human suffering and lost lives.

Last week CHARLIE SIMPSON began recalling the history of the family business J & M Shearer, which at one time employed many people in the herring curing industry. Here, he concludes his story with details of what went on after the Second World War.

The final year of the decade began with much opposition to plans to turn a former fish factory at Blydoit near Scalloway into a slaughterhouse.

2008 There was good news at the beginning of the year when a Burmese family were finally granted leave to stay in Shetland after a five-year battle against deportation.

The year got off to a tragic start when the bodies of a couple from Burra were discovered at their home.

If a decade of reviewing can allow one puff of our own trumpet, we will begin with the news in January that The Shetland Times had been named Newspaper of the Year for 2005 in the Highlands and Islands Media Awards.

Last week Jim Tait delved into The Shetland Times archives to look at the first five years of the noughties. Here, he brings things right up to date with a backward glance at events in Shetland since 2005.

It is more than 30 years since the family business J & M Shearer cured herring. But once upon a time it was at the centre of a colossal Shetland enterprise that employed thousands, as CHARLIE SIMPSON narrates in the first of a two-part series.

Loggerheads between SIC and LPA over Bressay brig

2004

There was little surprise at the first big talking point of 2004 – Lerwick Port Authority’s decision to object to the council’s planning application for the Bressay bridge. The authority felt the bridge would have an impact on businesses in the area, would cause navigational difficulties and possibly restrict future dredging in the harbour.

Landslides rip apart South Mainland hills

2003

A fairly high-profile figure made a pretty low-key visit to the isles at the beginning of the year. When Scalloway Mus­eum curator Robert Johnson was asked if he could open the building specially for visitors he had no idea that one of them was going to be Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of New Zealand!

Specially-built modules which will form the bulk of the new Mid Yell Junior High School will be shipped to the isle this week.

WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SHETLAND

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 at 11:14

HEADLINES

TODAY: MOSTLY DRY THOUGH CLOUDY
TONIGHT: RAIN SPREADING NORTH
TOMORROW: BRIGHTER AFTER RAIN, BREEZY
DAYS 2-5: RAIN, SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF GALES
DAYS 6-10: MOSTLY DRY, COOL E’LY WINDS

Shetland MSP Tavish Scott will meet the transport minister tomorrow to discuss the impact the Scottish Government order for NorthLink to save fuel by lengthening its journey times without prior consultation will have on the isles.