Unst man tells sheriff he ‘should not even be in court’ – branding the charges ‘nonsense’
A 55-year-old driver accused of alarming his passengers has claimed the charge was a “nonsense”.
A 55-year-old driver accused of alarming his passengers has claimed the charge was a “nonsense”.
Space technicians visited SaxaVord to gather data ahead of their inaugural launch later this year.
A medical evacuation is underway from an offshore oil rig west of Shetland, according to the Coastguard.
Potentially toxic blue-green algae has been spotted in Sandy Loch, according to a notice from the council this morning (Tuesday).
Teams have decided in favour of creating a third league after a vote was held by the Shetland Football Association.
SFA president Jakob Eunson said he was delighted to see constructive change, which allowed for “a bit of flexibility” for referees.
It also means changes will be seen in the number of teams in the reserve league, and the number of fixtures each team will play.
Eunson told The Shetland Times he was happy to see an agreement made between all of the teams represented in the league during a vote last week.
“It should give referees a bit of flexibility,” Eunson said. “And take pressure off a small group of fantastic refs.”
“Now we can put the season’s fixtures in place and look forward to a great season.”
The Premier League will remain the same, with seven teams and the reserve league will include eight sides – seven B teams and Delting.
The DITT Reserve League had 12 teams last season, with four B teams dropping down to form the new unnamed third division.
Ness will field a C team in the third league, with a new team joining the set up.
Speaking last month, Eunson confirmed promotion and relegation was off the table.
This comes a year after the SFA voted against reconstruction and introducing a third division.
It was proposed to split the reserve league in two – with one-club teams such as Bressay and Banks in one league, and the reserve teams of premier league clubs such as Celtic and Spurs in another.
There would have been automatic promotion and relegation between the premier league and first division from the 2026 season, if approved.
But members opted instead to keep the leagues as they are for the 2024 season.
Hospital bosses have announced the Gilbert Bain is under “extreme pressure” forcing the cancellation of some appointments and procedures.
READ FULL STORYA flight leaving Sumburgh for Glasgow early this afternoon made an emergency diversion to Aberdeen, after a a passenger became ill.
READ FULL STORYThe Scottish Human Rights Commission has returned to the isles to share its findings from a report published last year as it tours around the Highlands and Islands.
Dr Luis Felipe Yanes, the author of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands, will present his findings to members of the public today (Monday) at the Shetland Museum and Archives.
He will also meet with representatives of the Shetland Islands Council and Hjaltland Housing Association to discuss the next stages of the report over the next few days before attending his next event in Kirkwall on Thursday.
Professor Angela O’Hagan, chairwoman of the commission, said her organisation was concerned about the “poor state” of economic, social and cultural rights in the region and it had a “general duty to take action” to promote human rights across the country.
“Too many people are hungry, homeless, without access to healthcare, and the basics for everyday life,” Prof O’Hagan said.
“With our report… we piloted a new way of monitoring, one that brings the commission closer to communities and is informed by their voices and experiences.”
The report, published in November, found people in the Highlands and Islands felt “abandoned and forgotten” by national government with a Central Belt focus.
Health, housing and hunger were the top priorities of where improvements could be made in the region, the study said.
The research was conducted by the commission, after visiting 20 communities and interviewing 146 people – including a short spell in the isles in 2023.
At the time, Dr Yanes said economic, social and cultural rights were an essential part of living a “dignified life,” however, people felt these had been infringed.
Read more in the next edition of The Shetland Times available in shops on Friday.
Visit here to subscribe to a digital or print edition.
Retired minister John B. Logan recalls his boyhood in Shetland where his father had the extensive Dunrossness parish between 1911 and 1922. A vivid portrayal in prose and poetry of …
Retired minister John B. Logan recalls his boyhood in Shetland where his father had the extensive Dunrossness parish between 1911 and 1922. A vivid portrayal in prose and poetry of …
FIND OUT MORELerwick-born author and respected local historian, Douglas M. Sinclair, in his own inimitable style, takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the streets of the Conservation Areas of …
Lerwick-born author and respected local historian, Douglas M. Sinclair, in his own inimitable style, takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the streets of the Conservation Areas of …
FIND OUT MORELaughton Johnston’s grandfather, like so many Shetland seamenof the 19th century, moved to Leith where his father’sgeneration was brought up. The Shetland family and seafaringconnections, however, proved strong and a …
Laughton Johnston’s grandfather, like so many Shetland seamenof the 19th century, moved to Leith where his father’sgeneration was brought up. The Shetland family and seafaringconnections, however, proved strong and a …
FIND OUT MOREEssays in Honour of Brian SmithEdited by Mark Smith and Ian Tait In 1976, Brian Smith became Shetland’s first archivist. Since hisappointment, however, he has been much more than a …
Essays in Honour of Brian SmithEdited by Mark Smith and Ian Tait In 1976, Brian Smith became Shetland’s first archivist. Since hisappointment, however, he has been much more than a …
FIND OUT MOREJoin a young brother and sister as they gaze through a telescope from their bedroom window. Telescope, Telescope brings you to the heart of a small community, and an island …
Join a young brother and sister as they gaze through a telescope from their bedroom window. Telescope, Telescope brings you to the heart of a small community, and an island …
FIND OUT MOREA visually stunning book showcasing Shetland’s natural history by one of the islands’ most renowned naturalists and photographers. Thomason’s passion for both the wildlife and the islands exude from every …
A visually stunning book showcasing Shetland’s natural history by one of the islands’ most renowned naturalists and photographers. Thomason’s passion for both the wildlife and the islands exude from every …
FIND OUT MOREAlec arrived on Britain’s most inaccessible inhabited island of Foula at a critical time, the last cattle had been sold, the shop was due to close and several young people …
Alec arrived on Britain’s most inaccessible inhabited island of Foula at a critical time, the last cattle had been sold, the shop was due to close and several young people …
FIND OUT MOREA Shetland Knitter’s Notebook is the companion volume to the bestselling A Shetland Pattern Book. First published in 1991, it contains more words and pictures from Mary Smith and photographs …
A Shetland Knitter’s Notebook is the companion volume to the bestselling A Shetland Pattern Book. First published in 1991, it contains more words and pictures from Mary Smith and photographs …
FIND OUT MOREFirst published in 1979, A Shetland Pattern Book became a global bestseller, with numerous reprints and revisions. Since the last edition went out of print in the early 1990s it …
First published in 1979, A Shetland Pattern Book became a global bestseller, with numerous reprints and revisions. Since the last edition went out of print in the early 1990s it …
FIND OUT MOREPAPERBACK EDITION Spanning decades as well as the seasons, thirty well known figures of the local bird scene share what Shetland’s birds mean to them and recount their best days. …
PAPERBACK EDITION Spanning decades as well as the seasons, thirty well known figures of the local bird scene share what Shetland’s birds mean to them and recount their best days. …
FIND OUT MOREThe popular view is that Shetland’s graceful double-ended boats are direct descendants of the Viking longship. This unbroken linking of the Shetland boat to the Norse era was fuelled by …
The popular view is that Shetland’s graceful double-ended boats are direct descendants of the Viking longship. This unbroken linking of the Shetland boat to the Norse era was fuelled by …
FIND OUT MOREIn the hungry 1840s, the town of Lerwick is struggling with massive social problems, and Kirstie Jamieson, widow, is trying to feed three children. Like the town she lives in, …
In the hungry 1840s, the town of Lerwick is struggling with massive social problems, and Kirstie Jamieson, widow, is trying to feed three children. Like the town she lives in, …
FIND OUT MOREA History of the Shetland Hand Knitting Industry 1600-1950 First published 1995. This facsimile edition first published 2021. This book traces the history of the Shetland hand knitting industry from …
A History of the Shetland Hand Knitting Industry 1600-1950 First published 1995. This facsimile edition first published 2021. This book traces the history of the Shetland hand knitting industry from …
FIND OUT MOREFollowing the huge success of Volume One, the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers are back with 12 new designs. Patterns range from peerie projects to full size …
Following the huge success of Volume One, the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers are back with 12 new designs. Patterns range from peerie projects to full size …
FIND OUT MOREOur bestseller now reprinted for a fifth time. A classic story of secret wartime missions across the North Sea. Dark winters provided the perfect cover for missions to occupied Norway …
Our bestseller now reprinted for a fifth time. A classic story of secret wartime missions across the North Sea. Dark winters provided the perfect cover for missions to occupied Norway …
FIND OUT MOREThe council has been urged to consider public opposition to massive windfarms when negotiating with developers.
READ FULL STORYNewly elected Shetland North councillor Andrew Hall has been appointed to a number of committees.
READ FULL STORYA Lerwick swimmer took home two medals for the isles – three months after almost losing her life.
Katie Bain, 24, earned two medals in the Silver City Blues Masters held in Aberdeen.
She claimed a silver medal in the 50 metre freestyle and a bronze in the 50 metre butterfly in the 25-29 age group, as she is set to turn 25 in June.
Her victory came just 15 weeks after she was discharged from hospital following a burst appendix which caused her to go into septic shock and suffer a number of life-threatening complications.
As a result, her medal victory at the Aberdeen tournament was even more special.
“I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I entered as a sort of motivator to get me back into fitness and give me something to aim for,” she told this newspaper.
“Going into it, I had no expectations so I was very happy [with the outcome].”
Read the full story in the latest edition of The Shetland Times. Visit here to subscribe to a digital or print edition.
Folk across the isles were treated to a vibrant sunset yesterday evening (Friday) including over Spiggie Beach.
The sun shone a fluorescent orange as it went down in the evening – a fitting end to a day filled with spells of sunshine.
Did you see the sunset? Send your pictures to [email protected]
Permanent We have an opportunity for a full-time experienced Master based in Cowal to serve on board our fleet of Class V passenger/vehicle ferries operating…
Job Vacancy Finance Assistant (Part-Time, Fixed Term) At UHI Shetland there is a vacancy for a Purchase Ledger Finance Assistant on a part-time (15 hours…
We have a number of vacancies for various hours at locations throughout Shetland. Jobs on offer this week include… You can also follow us on…
Bar Staff required Up to 30 hours per week. Wednesday to Saturday evenings Could be job share. Good rates of pay. Telephone: 07500 176677
Volunteer Trustee at The Swan Trust The Swan Trust SCIO is inviting applications for a new volunteer Trustee, with specific skills in accounting and budget…
Full-time HGV Drivers to join our team based in Lerwick. About the Role The successful candidates will be responsible for transporting chilled and ambient goods…
Girlsta and Nesting Up-Helly-A’ procession was a roaring success – as guizers’ torches lit up the tranquil night.
Were you at Girlsta and Nesting Up-Helly-A’? Send your photos and videos to [email protected]
Spirits were high this evening (Friday) without a breath of wind for Girlsta and Nesting’s epic Up-Helly-A’ procession.
The procession, led by Guizer Jarl Scott Johnson, was met with huge cheers from both the guizers and the masses of folk who came to watch the stunning spectacle.
Read the full coverage in next week’s Shetland Times.
The Nesting and Girlsta Up-Helly-A’ has already been a roaring success.
The Guizer Jarl’s Squad has been keeping folk entertained, and the day has remained calm and clear – all of which should make for a great atmosphere when the main procession takes place tonight.
The SNP was this week forced to deny it had any plan to ban or restrict domestic cats – after the suggestion was made in a Scottish government report.
READ FULL STORYThe Nesting and Girlsta Up-Helly-A’ has begun, with The Guizer Jarl and his Jarl’s Squad already on visitation around the area.
Bjorn “Ironside” Ragnarsson — Scott Johnson — and his band of Vikings have kick started their day at the South Nesting Hall for breakfast before trips to schools, stores and hostelries for refreshments and tea.
The jarl’s persona is that of the 1st King of Sweden (circa 830-910) and was the second son of the famous Ragnar Lodbrok and his second wife, Auslaug.
At tonight’s (Friday) procession, 19 squads will proceed to the burning site from the South Nesting Hall, with the Guizer Jarl, his squad and the galley — Kilmister.
In today’s (Friday, 7th February) edition of The Shetland Times:
Read more in this week’s edition of The Shetland Times out now in shops.
Visit here to subscribe to a digital or print edition.
A Shetland hat worn by Billie Eilish at the Grammy awards on Sunday was, in fact, a copycat made from imitation wool.
Yorkshire-based manufacturers Abraham Moon confirmed that its “Shetland-type wool” used in the baseball cap was shorn entirely from sheep in New Zealand, then milled in England.
The singer-songwriter was photographed wearing the “Shetland-quality” LA Dodgers hat and looking happier than ever, despite leaving the Los Angeles ceremony without any gongs this year.
Abraham Moon, which make luxury clothing and upholstery mostly to order, said the “Shetland” label was used as industry standard for products not made on the islands but which are “reminiscent” of “true Shetland” products.
“It’s become used as descriptor for a character of a cloth yarn type, rather than denoting a specific breed or origin,” Moon’s brand and product director, Joe McCann, told The Shetland Times.
“In Italy you can also find products being marketed as Shetland which probably have less to do with the UK than ours.”
Shetland’s wool-mongers were not convinced.
“Shetland wool has been hijacked,” said Oliver Henry, the director of Jamieson and Smith Shetland Wool Brokers.
“It’s like Cheddar cheese: producers in the Cheddar Gorge were imitated and now we’re imitated,” he said. “It’s very frustrating.”
With the help of local crofting unions Mr Henry, 76, has been attempting to strengthen a designation of origin protection for the islands’ knitwear since imitation Shetland wool first appeared in the 1970s.
“Shetland has the finest wool in the world,” said Mr Henry, running his hand through a matte of raw wool on Thursday morning.
“Feel this softness – you can see the peat and the heather. This was shorn last year and it’s still alive,” he added.
“Imitations from Australasia aren’t so good, but they are cashing in on our name: Shetland.”
Moon were celebrated in a Guardian article after the photo of Ms Eilish was published as a “thriving” success story and one of last surviving wool mills in the UK.
“Shetland wool is a lovely product,” said Mr McCann. “There isn’t much of it available, certainly in the kind of consistency and quality that a larger scale mill would require.”
“We’d love to do more with British wool, and we are working with the British Wool Marketing Board to bring back more onshore,” he added.
What was the hat made for? £130. Ms Eilish’s agents were also approached for comment.
• Read the full story in this week’s edition of The Shetland Times, out Friday, 7th February.
Two power outages hit Shetland this morning — one in Lerwick, the other stretching across all of Unst and north Yell.
Together at least 700 homes lost power.
Though pupils sitting exams in Anderson High today fall under one of the outage areas, the school was unaffected, according to SSE and the council.
Both failures were caused by “a fault in our underground network” according to the energy company’s power tracker.
“These are not related and are on different parts of the network,” however, SSE said.
The Lerwick outage was reported a little after 3.30am today (Wednesday) and an engineer is currently on site. Despite SSE initially aiming to restore power by 11am, the cut is still in force at time of writing.
The larger cut across Unst and Yell was reported at roughly 10.15am and power has now been restored.
The Lerwick cut stretches over Anderson High, where pupils are sitting preliminary examinations today, but the school did not experience any cuts.
“Anderson High School has been unaffected by any power outages this morning,” the council said. “Classes and school activities have been as normal.”
Centrally situated, spacious garden flat. Fully equipped with two bedrooms including a double and single. It is decorated and furnished to a very high standard with everything you need to…
Quality Scandinavian-style property in stunning coastal location. Sea views overlooking Aithsvoe and the island of Mousa. Ideal location for hill-walking, fishing, etc with varied wildlife visible from the property itself!…
Cosy chalet with beautiful views overlooking St Ninian’s Isle and beach. Lovely coastal walks, renowned wildlife sites, archaeological and historical attractions are nearby. The local shop, post office, playpark and…
Traditional crofthouse in a stunning location, completely renovated inside, with lovely views out south voe. Two double bedrooms, single room, one en-suite bathroom with shower over bath, separate shower room,…
A cosy, traditional crofthouse on the rugged and beautiful Westside of Shetland. Charming and full of character, situated only 200 metres from a quiet, shingly beach with beautiful sunset views…
A warm welcome awaits you at Winwick House which has been trading since 1974. Situated in the centre of Baltasound, the accommodation is near shops, post office, village hall and…
Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) has welcomed the announcement of a new, floating facility to restart oil production at a deep sea field north-east of Shetland.
The Penguins field had ceased production four years ago, but operators Shell announced today (Tuesday) that oil is flowing again — courtesy of new wells and a “modern” floating, production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO), co-owned by NEO Energy.
“Being the closest hub port, we will be expecting to see service and supply vessels using Lerwick for Shell’s operations at the field,” said LPA Harbourmaster Captain Alexander Simpson.
“It is difficult to predict numbers at this stage but hopefully we will see some regular visitors.”
The facility will, Shell said, produce roughly 45,000 barrels of oil a day, as well as enough gas to heat 700,000 homes. The oil and gas giant said it hopes to extract from Penguins for another two decades.
While that oil will be refined overseas, and Penguins’ gas piped directly to the north-east of Scotland the activity is expected to bring more oil support boats into the harbour.
The number of oil rig supply and standby vessels calling in Lerwick dropped more than ten per cent last year, according to the LPA’s annual report — though dive support boats more than doubled, netting the harbour an extra £400,000, compared to 2023.
Shell claim operating the new facility will produce a third less emissions than the previous, standing platform.
“Today, the UK relies on imports to meet much of its demand for oil and gas,” said Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s integrated gas and upstream director.
“The Penguins field is a source of the secure domestic energy production people need today, and the FPSO is a demonstration of our investment in competitive projects that create more value with less emissions.”
A drug referred to as “apples” is believed to be circulating in Shetland.
Shetland Alcohol and Drug Partnership warned on its Facebook page Orkney Alcohol & Drugs Partnership have reported the drug is being circulated and consumed in Orkney.
The partnership said it is believed the “extremely potent” drug is also circulating in Shetland. The drug “red apples” is believed to contain opioids.
The statement highlighted naloxone is a drug which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
More information of naloxone provision in Shetland can be found here.
Community councillors have united with residents in opposing temporary car park plans – branding the scheme “absolutely ludicrous”.
READ FULL STORYTwo local photographers have been shortlisted for a national award celebrating nature, wildlife and landscape photography.
Wild Shetland through the Seasons, by Brydon Thomason and published by The Shetland Times, has made the list, along with Shetland Travel Guide, by travel writer, tour guide and Shetland Times columnist, Laurie Goodlad.
The Scottish Nature Photography awards are held every other year, and organisers are now asking readers to cast their votes for their favourite of 18 candidates.
In the books highlighted, photographers cast their lenses from the Hebrides and Highlands to the Cairngorms and Shetland.
Some of the books are presented as guides, others as studies of particular photographers and photographic techniques. All of them focus on Scotland’s natural world.
“The shortlist reflects a prolific two years of publishing in this genre,” said the award’s organisers.
“Covering diverse subjects and approaches, these books feature stunning photography that portrays aspects of Scotland interwoven with its nature, wildlife and landscape.”
Voting opened on Friday and closes Monday, 3rd March.
You can cast your vote here, and find copies of both Shetland-inspired books in The Shetland Times bookshop or online.
Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.