Council / Five historic vessels to visit Shetland to mark 80 years since end of World War Two
A FLOTILLA of five historic vessels will arrive in Shetland early next month to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
The ‘liberation convoy’ are expected to arrive in Lerwick Harbour from Norway on Tuesday 6 May.
It will be the first time some of the Norwegian vessels have crossed the North Sea since the end of World War Two in 1945.
The convoy will sail from Bergen on 4 May and will be open to the public to view in Shetland on Wednesday 7 May – including the largest ship in the convoy, the 60-metre S/S Hestmanden.
The cargo ship is known as the “Norwegian war sailor museum”.
All five ships will be open to the public from 11am to 5pm on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Crews from the vessels, veterans and guests will form a procession led by Lerwick Pipe Band from Lerwick Harbour to the town hall on Wednesday 7 May at 6.30pm.
Council convener Andrea Manson will then host an evening civic reception at the town hall for invited guests. On Thursday 8 May the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe (‘VE’) day will be marked with public commemorative events in Lerwick and Scalloway.
Lord Lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch and convener Manson will lead the laying of wreaths, with a memorial service in Lerwick taking place at the county war memorial at 11am.
In Scalloway a memorial service will take place at the Shetland Bus memorial at 3pm.
Shetland Islands Council said there would be road closures for traffic for a short period around the time of these events.
In the evening of 8 May musicians from the Norwegian Naval Band will perform a free concert in St Columba’s Kirk in Lerwick from 7.30pm, with donations to be split equally between veterans’ charities.
The vessels are expected to start to depart Lerwick on Saturday 11 May, with some returning to Norway and others visiting Shetland ports like Scalloway and Baltasound.
Lord Lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch said: “This will be the first time that some of these vessels have crossed the North Sea since the end of World War Two and the convoy will be an impressive sight in the harbour.
“I hope that the public will enjoy visiting the vessels, welcoming their crews and be able to attend some of the commemorative events to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe in 1945.”
S/S Hestmanden project manager Ragnhild Bie said they were “looking forward to welcoming people on board during our visit to Lerwick”.
“Norway remains truly grateful to the people of Shetland and the rest of the UK, and we’re pleased to have this opportunity to celebrate our strong relationship.”
More details on the liberation convoy, including information on the historic vessels, can be found here.
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