Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has arrived in Shetland on a visit which will see him open the new Scalloway Museum tomorrow morning and help further cement the close historical ties which bind islanders and Norwegians together. 

Mr Stoltenberg flew in this afternoon and arrived in the village, where the Scalloway people are limbering up for three days of celebrations to mark the museum’s opening, shortly after 4pm.

Several buildings were bedecked in Norwegian and Shetland flags on a bright, blustery afternoon as the Prime Minister and his wife were taken on a short stroll and shown the Prince Olav slipway, which formed a major part of the Shetland Bus base during World War II.

Mr Stoltenberg and his entourage paid a visit to the Walter & Joan Gray care home, where he was introduced to family members of those involved in the heroic campaign of resistance against the Nazi occupation between 1941 and 1945.

Those included relatives of Kaare Emil Iversen, who made in excess of 50 trips across the North Sea before marrying a local girl, Cissie Slater, and living in Scalloway for the rest of his life. Also present was Sverre Syversen, 92, a surviving Shetland Bus veteran with whom Mr Stoltenberg had a lengthy discussion.

The clandestine special operations group’s activities form a focal point of the new museum’s exhibition, and Mr Stoltenberg said it was a “pleasure” and an “honour” to be invited to open the building.

He said: “I believe that it is very important that we are able to take care of the memories and the common history of Shetland and Norway. The museum is a way of expressing the very close ties between Shetland and Norway and everything that happened during the war.”

Mr Stoltenberg spoke of how those involved with the Shetland Bus had not only helped Norwegians to flee the German occupation, but transported people and equipment to contribute to sabotage and other resistance activities: “Shetland was really important for all the people that were fighting for freedom in Norway.”

Tomorrow is Norway’s constitution day, expected to be an especially poignant event this year as it is the first since the terrorist atrocities which took place on 22nd July last year. It comes in the middle of far-right extremist Anders Breivik’s trial for massacring 77 people in Oslo and in the island of Utöya.

“I think that the constitution day will be even more important this year than before because what happened on 22nd July last year reminds us of the importance of freedom, democracy, that we have the right to take part in political discussions without feeling afraid,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

On the day of the attacks, many Norwegians were in Shetland as part of the Tall Ships celebrations and Mr Stoltenberg spoke today of his nation’s gratitude for the support shown by Shetlanders during those trying and traumatic days.

“So many people expressed their support for the Norwegians that either were wounded or killed or lost their loved ones,” he told this newspaper. “It is in times of grief that we really need friends like the people of Shetland.”

Billy Moore, one of those involved in the latter stages of the project, told The Shetland Times he was “privileged” to meet Mr Stoltenberg and said it was “remarkable” that the committee had been able to attract such a major figure to open the village museum.

He feels young folk in Scalloway remain very conscious of the sacrifices made during World War II, both through school visits to wreath-laying at the village’s war memorial and through the inter-marriages between Norwegians and Shetlanders which have helped keep the history alive.

Mr Moore added: “Tomorrow’s going to be a very busy day, more of a celebratory day than anything else.”

Following a wreath-laying ceremony first thing, a visit to Scalloway School and a civic parade to the Shetland Bus Memorial, Mr Stoltenberg is due to open the museum at 10.45am. Following that a community party, including live music, will take place throughout the afternoon.

Karl Mortimer, 45, of the city’s Linksfield Court, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin at Holmsgarth, Lerwick, on 2nd August last year and to failing to appear at court in Lerwick on 21st March.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said that Mortimer, who had no connection with Shetland, brought two packs of heroin containing a total of 37.3 grammes into the isles concealed internally.

Police, acting on intelligence, were waiting for him when he got off the ferry. After this offence he was released on bail.

Defence solicitor Graeme Murray said Mortimer had had a severe drug problem in the 1990s but recently this had improved. However he had difficulty coping with the death of his mother last year and started using heroin again regularly.

He had run up a drug debt of £5,000 and told the “alarming” story that people he owed money to bundled him into the boot of a car, took him to a house, tied him to a chair, knocked some of his teeth out and gave him the “stark choice” of taking heroin to Shetland or being put in a 45 gallon drum and being dropped in a lake. Mortimer took the option offered by the dealers.

Mr Murray also said that Mortimer did not have funding to attend Lerwick Sheriff Court in March, but had since kept in touch. He said that Mortimer was now on a reducing methadone prescription and asked for leniency.

Sheriff Philip Mann said that those who deal in drugs must accept the consequences. He said: “Coercion is no excuse for peddling misery. I must send a message to anyone bringing misery to the people of Shetland: they will be dealt with severely.”

Sentencing Mortimer to 32 months in prison, the sheriff said: “You had no business trying to disrupt the lives of the good people of the isles.”

* A man who had £100 worth of heroin in his possession last year was fined £100 at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Ryan Inkster, 32, of Bridge-End, Burra, was found with the drug at a house in Grodians, Lerwick, on 26th April last year.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said Inkster had been on methadone since then and had put himself through courses in Aberdeen with a view to getting employment offshore.

Sheriff Philip Mann said it was time to draw a line under the matter and the fine reflected the fact Inkster was getting on well and has been of good behaviour.

Scottish Sea Farms and Grieg Seafood Hjaltland have been subject to surveillance and controls on movement of fish in the area of their 14 farm sites between Skeld, Weisdale and Burra.

Last year they became the only two operators in what has been Shetland’s most-intensively farmed area after Hjaltland bought up the local farms of Skelda Salmon and G Duncan.

Since the ISA outbreak, which affected six sites, the farmers have agreed to restrict farming to a single year class of salmon across all the sites, helping minimise the threat of problems such as disease and sea lice infestation.  

One generation of salmon has since been harvested from the zone and all 14 sites have now been restocked again. They will be fallowed after the fish are harvested late next year and early in 2014.

Announcing the end of restrictions, Scottish environment minister Stewart Stevenson welcomed it as “good news” for the reputation of Scotland’s aquaculture industry.

“Scotland is now recognised as being free of ISA. This makes a significant contribution to the sustainability of the Scottish salmon aquaculture industry and helps maintain the high health status of Scotland’s farmed fish.”

He warned that the industry and government needed to remain vigilant to try to ensure no repeat of the outbreak.

The companies affected by ISA received substantial EU grant support to ease the multi-million pound losses incurred in harvesting salmon early, selling it cheaply and restocking their farms.

Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation chief executive Scott Landsburgh also welcomed the ending of ISA restrictions and praised the government. He said: “The Scottish government’s pragmatic approach to handling the issue and working with the industry has been an excellent example of timely, efficient collaboration.”

The boat was trawling 27 miles south-south-east of Bressay when it caught the shell, which measures 201mm across and weighed in at just over a kilogramme.

Skipper Mark Anderson was very surprised to find an oyster in his nets and brought it to staff at the NAFC Marine Centre who confirmed its record-breaking potential. The previous record holder was reported in Cornwall in 2009 and measured 178mm across and weighed around 1.3kg.

Dr Beth Leslie from the NAFC Marine Centre said: “Native oysters are relatively rare in Shetland waters and for one to be caught in a trawl is very unusual. This oyster was also found at around 120m, which is much deeper than would be expected for this species. Although it is not possible to accurately age the shell it is possible that this individual could have been living for decades.”

The largest oyster ever recorded was in Chesapeake Bay in the USA and was over 300mm across.
 

Stewart Robertson, 48, of Willial, Levenwick, took £40 from a house in Virkie on 31st October last year.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said the nature of the offence and the previous convictions were “concerning”, adding “something’s going on”.

Mr Allan said Robertson would have a “huge bridge to build” to get people to trust him again and the latest offence was a step back. The sum of money involved was not big but Robertson would be punished by the community, and this would be more of a sentence than the sheriff could impose. The £40 was handed to the court clerk.

Sheriff Philip Mann said he did not believe Robertson’s explanation that the money had been found in a box which had fallen out of a drawer in the house, and said the offence “brings into prospect a custodial sentence”.

As an alternative to custody, however, the sheriff imposed the community payback order over a nine month period, and if it was not done satisfactorily Robertson would be brought back to court.

The sheriff warned him that if he offended in this way again he would not “have much hesitation in sending you to custody”.

Highlands and Islands parliamentarians including Orkney MSP Liam McArthur and SNP list MSP Jean Urquhart are due to meet Mr Brown this afternoon for a full briefing on the situation. The scheduled handover from NorthLink to Serco on 6^th July appears to be in some jeopardy.

Mr Brown said he was “disappointed” after learning that Streamline was challenging the outcome, but expressed “every confidence in the procurement process”. He said he looked forward to seeing a “speedy resolution” to the dispute.

He continued: “In the meantime, I can assure the people of Orkney and Shetland that contingency plans are being put in place to ensure there is no disruption to their ferry service.

“Building on the work of the current operator – NorthLink Ferries Ltd – over the past few years, we are taking the Northern Isles ferry service forward. The new contract will maintain a 90 minute service between Scrabster and Stromness, prevent any repetition of the extended dry dock periods experienced this year and improve the passenger experience.”

Notably, Mr Brown did not say that the existing level of freight service – with two vessels – would be maintained. Fishing and agriculture companies among others in Shetland have been seeking re-assurance on this.

The Streamline Group’s managing director Gareth Crichton, a former NorthLink employee, said earlier this week that feedback the company received suggested that the government had not compared “like with like” when awarding the contract to Serco. That prompted Streamline to lodge a legal challenge with the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

On Monday, Shetland MSP Tavish Scott – who is back in Shetland for tomorrow’s opening of the Scalloway Museum – urged the government to “sort out this mess”. He fears that if pen is not put to paper on the new six-year contract by the end of this week, it could create a “dangerous” situation for the ferry service’s future.

Wednesday, 16th May 2012 at 11:12

HEADLINES

TODAY: BRIGHT, SOME SHOWERS, COOL
TONIGHT: SCATTERED WINTRY SHOWERS, LOCAL FROST
TOMORROW: MOSTLY DRY AND BRIGHT
DAYS 3-5: LIGHT WINDS, CHANCE OF FROST
DAYS 6-10: MAINLY DRY, BRIGHT. COOL NIGHTS

SUMMARY

Cool and bright today with the chance of a wintry shower. A fresh NW’ly breeze. Clear spells and a few showers tonight. Easing NW’ly winds. The risk of a local grass frost.

Mostly dry and bright on Thursday with lighter NW’ly winds. Though rather cloudy during Friday and the weekend there will be some sunshine. With mainly light winds a touch of ground frost is likely overnight.

Next week perhaps mainly dry and settled but cool. Mostly light or moderate E to NE’ly winds at first, but then increasing fresh.

GENERAL SITUATION AND SYNOPSIS 06:00 UTC

Today a moderate to fresh NW to N’ly airflow over the Northern Isles will ease as a depression over the northern Norwegian Sea continues to fill and a ridge of high pressure builds across northeast Scotland from both the northwest.

While Shetland remains in the ‘col’ between two highs a slack low pressure centre developing to the west of Scotland will push a weak front north over Scotland bringing cloudier conditions to Orkney.

The front will be pushed away on Friday as the ridge develops into a small anticyclone over the Northern Isles by the weekend.

Present predictions suggest a broad ridge of high pressure over the area at the start of next week may move slightly further north, resulting in a freshening E to NE’ly airflow over both Orkney and Shetland.

FORECAST FOR NEXT THREE DAYS

Confidence level: Weather type – medium/high. Timing – medium.

Temperatures rising to around 7° or 8° Celsius by day, falling to between 1° and 3° Celsius overnight.

WEDNESDAY 16^th: A few showers around, wintry over the hills with hail possible at lower levels, more so in Shetland. Otherwise a cool, bright day with sunny spells. F4-5 N to NW’ly winds. Clear spells and a few showers overnight, these wintry down to lower levels. F4 NW’ly winds, falling F2-3 across Orkney. A touch of ground frost for sheltered inland places.

Sea State: Perhaps rough in the west and around Fair Isle, with a 3 to 4 metre NW’ly wind-swell. Mostly moderate in the east, with a 2 metre NW’ly wind-swell.

THURSDAY 17^th: Mostly dry and bright with variable amounts of cloud giving some sunny periods, the best of these across Shetland with Orkney starting the day rather cloudy but brightening later. Clearer skies and lighter NW’ly winds resulting in a touch of ground frost overnight.

Sea State: Moderate or rough, with a 2 to 3 metre N’ly wind-swell. Perhaps moderate to slight inshore to the east of Orkney, with a 1 to 2 metre N to NE’ly wind-swell.

FRIDAY 18^th: Though rather cloudy skies will become clearer at times to allow some sunshine. With mainly light winds there could be a touch of ground frost where skies remain clear long enough overnight.

Sea State: Moderate or slight, with a 1 to 2 metre N’ly wind-swell, but perhaps NE’ly around Orkney.

10-DAY OUTLOOK

Confidence level: Weather type – medium. Timing – medium/low.

Temperatures perhaps in the daily range around 9° Celsius down to about 4° Celsius.

SATURDAY 19^th: Dry and bright with sunny or clear periods. Cool by day, cold overnight with a grass frost away from coasts. Mainly light E or NE’ly winds.

Sea State: Perhaps mainly slight, with a 1 metre wind-swell, NW or N’ly in Shetland waters and NE’ly around Orkney.

SUNDAY 20^th: Dry and bright with variable amounts of cloud and little or no wind. Cool with the risk of an overnight frost.

Sea State: Perhaps moderate or slight, with a 1 to 2 metre N to NE’ly wind-swell.

MONDAY 21^st – SATURDAY 26^th: The week perhaps mainly dry and settled but cool with the risk of overnight frosts, more so early in the week. Mostly light or moderate E to NE’ly winds at first, but then increasing fresh.

Sea State on Monday: Possibly moderate, with a 2 metre NE’ly wind-swell.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

DISCLAIMER

Be aware that the weather over north-west Europe – and especially around the Northern Isles – is part of an ever-changing and dynamic system. Therefore regard the ’10-Day Outlook’ as a guide only – there are times when any outlook going beyond about 36 to 48 hours is likely to prove
unreliable.

Always check the latest forecast from the UK Met Office before undertaking any weather-dependent activity.

All forecasts are for planning purposes only.

Neither Dave Wheeler, nor any employee of Fair Isle Weather Services, accepts any liability for the accuracy of this forecast.

Dave Wheeler MBE FRMetS

Field

Fair Isle

Shetland, ZE2 9JU

Telephone: +44 (0)1595760224

Mobile: 07545822376

E-mail: dave@davewheelerphotography.com or dave.wheeler@fairisle.org.uk

Photography: www.davewheelerphotography.com

Weather: www.northisles-weather.co.uk

Fair Isle: www.fairisle.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dave.wheeler3

Twitter: twitter.com/dawadderman

Andrew has had the good grace to admit that Sustainable Shetland does not have a viable project plan to maintain the Shetland electricity grid, post oil, and therein lies its dilemma. It seems to support smaller individual or community enterprises supplying only Shetland’s electricity needs despite the inherent difficulties, if not impossibility, of balancing such a grid.

The NINES project will allow around 30 per cent of Shetland’s grid to be supplied by intermittent renewables, but not all, and not from everybody. Isn’t it ironic, therefore, that by denying the need for an interconnector to the national grid to absorb surplus generation, providing there is spare capacity, Sustainable Shetland’s stance could be denying some Shetlanders the opportunity of generating their own electricity?

I have taken the liberty of copying, below, a couple of lines from Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL) website which readers may find interesting:

“The Shetland High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connection is planned to provide a high capacity electricity connection between the GB transmission system and renewable energy projects on Shetland, most notably the proposed windfarm being promoted by the Viking Energy Partnership (the Viking windfarm project).

“Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL), as a holder of an electricity transmission licence, has statutory obligations under The Electricity Act 1989 that require it to develop this connection and deliver it if the windfarm is consented.”

Fortunately, SSE has indicated that, having gained consent, it will continue with the Viking windfarm project irrespective of the Shetland Charitable Trust remaining in partnership or not.

This means that the interconnector will come and thereby enable possible development of other sustainable energy projects throughout Shetland.

The only question that remains is if trustees have the vision to maintain their financial investment in the project and see it through to fruition. Their decision could mean the difference between the charitable trust benefiting from another industrial renaissance, as it did in the oil era, or making do with declining returns to the trust as demands on it increase.

Geordie Pottinger
Hamnavoe,
Burra.

The event will begin with a visit by Mr Stoltenberg to the Scalloway School at 9am, followed at 9.30am by a parade from the school to the Shetland Bus Memorial. The parade will be headed by members of the local pipe band followed by flag bearers from the school. It will also include Mr Stoltenberg, all children from the Scalloway School, playgroup and day care facility as well as children from the Anderson High school who previously attended Scalloway School. A number of other local groups including the Shetland Bus Friendship Society, Scalloway History Group and Scalloway Jarl’s Squad will parade as well with a large number of visiting Norwegians.

A service of remembrance for the men of the Shetland Bus will take place at 10am, including a wreath laying ceremony. The parade will then continue to the museum which Mr Stoltenberg will officially open in a ceremony commencing at 10.45am.

The community party at the Muckle Yard at the harbour will begin following the opening ceremony with a line up of live music including Jenna Reid, Maggie Adamson, Alison Ramsey, Hansel and Margaret Scollay, Sheila Henderson, Lewie Peterson and Jonny Polson, Stewart and Betty Pottinger, Colin Dewar, Claire Laurenson and Keiran Topp.

There will be a barbecue selling local fish and meat products, locally produced cakes, a bar, soft drinks, teas and coffees. There will also be a variety of side stalls and two kubb courts to provide some Viking style entertainment. Mr Stoltenberg will visit the party which will carry on until 5pm.

The Shetland Bus boats the Hitra and Heland, floating Norwegian museums Nybakk and Haugefisk, Norwegian Coastguard vessel Bergen and local vessels the Swan and Aith Lifeboat will be alongside the party at the harbour and will be open to the public. Some will also be selling Norwegian produce.

John Nicolson, secretary of the Shetland Bus Friendship Society which operates the Scalloway Museum, said: “This is a momentous occasion for both the society and the community of Scalloway. It has taken almost a decade of dedicated hard work to bring this project to life, and the museum truly is a wonderful asset for our community. We are absolutely thrilled that PM Stoltenberg is coming to the village to open the museum, a major part of which is dedicated to telling the story of the Shetland Bus, highlighting the bravery and sacrifice of all those involved. The opening day celebrations are open to everyone, so take the day off and come and join in the fun.”

The road into Scalloway will be closed from 9.15am until the parade is over, and the road to the harbour will be closed for the opening ceremony. Limited parking is available at the school and harbour, and a single file parking system will be operated in Castle Street. There will be no parking at the museum. Flags for the parade and other souvenirs will be available at the community party site from 8.30am.

A police spokesman said: “We would ask members of the community to consider the impact that these restrictions may have on their ability to get into and out of the village at these times and make appropriate alternative plans.

“Additionally, we would urge residents in the affected areas to ensure that their vehicles are removed from the road before the commencement of the closure ordrer, as police will have no option but to remove remaining vehicles at the owners’ expense.

“The police will work closely with Shetland Islands Council on the day to have roads opened at the earliest possible opportunity in order to minimise inconvenience to the community.”

Images of Tammie and Norie, the subjects of the RSPB PuffinCam at Sumburgh Head which streams live footage of the birds, were relayed via the Shetland Telecom fibre optic link.

Shetland Telecom was set up by Shetland Islands Council in 2011 to improve the isles’ links to the world through the Faroese SHEFA2 fibre optic cable. The infrastructure is enabling Shetland to take advantage of much faster and more resilient broadband connections.

Shetland Telecom project manager Marvin Smith said: “We needed a test customer for the network and the puffins are ideal. The bird laid her egg an hour after being connected to our network which was fantastic and proves that productivity increases when you have a good internet connection!”

Andy Steven of Promote Shetland said: “Copper based services have never been possible at Sumburgh Head. This new network allows us to develop PuffinCam to a new level.”

Shetland Telecom plans further networks to assist remote communities throughout the isles to get better broadband. Community broadband schemes already exist in Vidlin and Fetlar. The communities of West Burrafirth, Quarff and Sandwick are now developing local action plans.

Mr Smith added: “Establishing the fibre optic network and the connection to London has been an ambitious project. We are delighted that it is now up and running and providing Shetland with the high quality connections it needs.”