Also in the news / Dunter repairs, funeral held, film premiere, space camp and more…
EMERGENCY services were called out to a two vehicle road accident at the Brig o’ Fitch this afternoon.
The ambulance service and the police were in attendance, with the latter helping to control traffic.
DAMAGE caused to the SIC’s Port of Sullom Voe tug boat Dunter has resulted in a total bill of more than £500,000.
More than half of this relates to the cost of chartering a stand-in tug.
Figures released through freedom of information shows that the cost of permanent repairs reached nearly £140,000, with temporary repairs to the bow carried out at Sella Ness costing just under £40,000.
Dunter’s voyage to and from Leith for repair cost more than £15,000, with travel and hotel accommodation for staff reaching nearly £7,500.
She was taken out of service late last year after colliding with a mooring dolphin on 12 December, causing significant damage – a hole in her hull. Dunter returned to service in late January.
THE COUNCIL flag has been flying at half mast above the Lerwick Town Hall today (Friday) as a mark of respect to former councillor Florence Grains on the day of her funeral.
Tributes were paid to Florence, who was the council’s first female vice convener, following her death last week.
Florence was first elected to the council chamber in 1978, and after briefly losing her seat was re-elected in 1986.
She would remain on the council until 2012, serving as the chair of the planning board and later of the services committee too.
Shetland Islands Council said the former West Mainland councillor was “well known in her ward and across Shetland, and highly respected by all those who knew her”.
A LERWICK knitting, yarn and haberdashery shop says it has seen its turnover more than double after receiving support from Business Gateway.
Loose Ends, which is a mainstay in the town’s Commercial Street, offers craft supplies to textile makers, creative businesses and local crafters alike.
It sells everything from fabric to knitting patterns, wool, wool accessories, quilting fabric and Shetland gifts crafted locally.
Co-owner Dee Henderson-Haefner, who had worked in Loose Ends for five years under its previous owner, took over the business with son Daniel Hanstrom.
She reached out to Business Gateway in 2023 for support with the takeover, and has since overseen a complete revamp of her business.
Loose Ends has seen turnover more than double since accessing the support it said, helping them to take on its first employee and refurbish its storefront.
Henderson-Haefner said: “Business Gateway’s support has been instrumental in helping us secure the funding to take on the business and establish a strong foundation for our revamp.”
THE SCOTTISH premiere of a documentary about the making of cult classic The Wicker Man – directed by the son of the original film’s director – will be held at Mareel next month.
Children of the Wicker Man will also be followed by a Q&A from director Justin Hardy and producer Chris Nunn.
The pair will be in Shetland ahead of filming their upcoming feature An Ill Wind in the isles, which will also start next month.
The Wicker Man will also be screened at Mareel later this month ahead of the premiere of its documentary follow-up.
Children of the Wicker Man sees Justin and Dominic Hardy discover lost papers from their late father Robin Hardy, who directed the original film.
Fifty years after the release of that horror classic, starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee, the pair delve into the making of the film, its toll on their family and its enduring cult status.
It will be screened at Mareel on Wednesday 2 April, with tickets available from Shetland Arts.
WORKERS are set to go on strike at Scottish Water after a leading union accused the company of sabotaging pay talks.
Union GMB Scotland served noticed today (Friday) for a walkout later this month.
It said all members will take action on 28 March after accusing the company of reducing the terms of a pay offer already rejected by workers.
They had voted against an offer of 3.4 per cent, or £1,400, covering the last nine months.
At talks on Wednesday night, however, the publicly-owned utility company revealed the minimum backpay would only be £1,050, GMB Scotland claimed.
Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser in Scottish Water, said the company had sabotaged the talks without warning.
“While the actions of this company are impossible to predict or understand, the response of our members could not be clearer. Enough is enough.”
HJALTLAND Housing Association has bid farewell to director of finance Susan Gray after 22 years of service.
Chief executive Bryan Leask said her service and dedication to the association was “impressive”.
“I have been very fortunate to work alongside her,” he said.
“She has truly served our Shetland community, her knowledge is outstanding.
“It’s a big loss to the association after decades of dedicated work.”
She will be replaced by Janice Thomason as Hjaltland’s new director of finance, who moves across from Shetland Recreational Trust.
OVER 30 students from schools in Shetland have had the chance to take part in a ‘Space to Learn’ space camp this week.
Held over five days, the students have had the chance to engage in hands-on space science sessions, lead by expert teachers and thanks to funding from UK Space Agency.
Sessions have included experimenting with infra-red cameras and even a rocket building and launching workshop.
Bairns also visited the SaxaVord Spaceport, which had partnered with the National Space Academy to deliver sessions to students in the isles.
SaxaVord chief executive Debbie Strang said it was a “unique learning opportunity” for bairns in Shetland, and added it could open their eyes to the possibilities of a career in the space industry.
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