Articles by Shetland Times

Health

TIMES PAST: Council considers sale of Sullom Voe; fire at Safeway store; explosion at gas depot; prison for taxi fare dodger

10 YEARS AGO Councillors were divided this week over whether the potential sale of the port of Sullom Voe should remain on the table. Harbour board chairwoman Andrea Manson argued at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday that the port’s sale should not be considered as it could be perceived as lack of commitment on the council’s part. However, council leader Gary Robinson, who is also chairman of the policy and resources committee, wanted all options for the future of the port to be considered, and moved a motion to that effect. A pelagic fisherman has accused Marine Scotland of failing to take appropriate action following claims a Faroese fishing vessel crossed the UK’s 12-mile limit off the isles. Antarctic fisherman, Colin Leask, claims Scotland’s fisheries protection vessels turned “a blind eye” to Faroese trawlers being given “a free run” to carry out illegal fishing for mackerel. He has described fishery protection vessels as “living up to their Dad’s Army” reputation. 25 YEARS AGO A fire at the Safeway superstore in the early hours of Tuesday destroyed the roof of the outer lobby. Firefighters were called out at 2.15am following a phone call from a member of the public. Three fire engines were sent to deal with the incident. Firefighters reported flames rising 20 to 30 feet above the roof of the store when they arrived. 50 YEARS AGO A giant cheque - in more ways than one - was presented by Shetland Islands Council to the Shetland Trust last Thursday. The specially-prepared cheque, measuring about 3 ft. by 2 ft., was for £10,000, and it was handed over by the convener, Mr A. I. Tulloch, to the Trust’s chairman, Mr R.H.W. Bruce, Lord Lieutenant. The money was allocated to the Trust from the county’s oil disturbance fund. Two men were injured in the second explosion in recent months at the Lerwick Calor Gas depot of Mr James Mercer, Reawick, on Monday, and fire gutted the room in which the explosion took place before firemen arrived to bring it under control. The men who were injured were treated at the Gilbert Bain Hospital as outpatients, and were able to return home after treatment. 75 YEARS AGO It is likely that an attempt will be made to re-start the county agricultural show in Shetland. The last time such a show was held was in 1924, when Gilbertson Park was the venue; entries on that occasion were poor, although the quality of the stock was good. From then until last Thursday night, little has been heard of the sponsoring Shetland Agricultural Society. But on that night a dozen members of the society met in the office of the interim-secretary, Mr R. J. Blois-Brooke, solicitor, to consider the Society’s position. 100 YEARS AGO Shetlander in Trouble – Six Months’ Imprisonment – The young Lunnasting man Laurence Jamieson, who has had previous sentences for similar offences, was sent to prison for six months on Wednesday of last week at Banff for fraud, the nature of which was hiring a taxi-cab without paying or intending to pay for it, borrowing money from a taxi-cab driver without repaying or intending to repay it, appropriated four wads of cloth samples to his own use, and attempting to hire a motor car. Jamieson, who is described as a “well-dressed young man,” pleaded guilty and admitted four previous convictions of dishonest appropriation. The defending solicitor said that accused came of a seafaring family. When 13 years of age he went to sea, and for a time lived a decent life until his first offence in Lerwick in 1923, when he was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment for fraud. Accused stated that that was the beginning of his downfall, and was caused through drink. His people renounced him and he was left to his own resources, and anything he had done since then had been in the nature of these stupid frauds and mad-like acts. He received 12 months’ imprisonment in Dunfermline in 1924, which he served in Edinburgh, and when he came out of there he had no one to go to, and took it in his head that he would like to go home. He was unable to do so, however, and these frauds were perpetrated with the idea of getting to Lerwick. Accused said he would certainly steady up now, and when he came out of prison he would rather drown himself than commit the same sort of thing again. Thule Model Yacht Club – Inaugural Regatta – The Thule Model Yacht Club is an organisation of very recent growth – or perhaps regrowth is the better word, for there was another such body in existence some years ago – but it is full of vitality and has a very energetic and enthusiastic backing. This was evidenced very markedly on Thursday of last week, when a regatta was held under its auspices at Clickimin Loch, the number of entries not only surpassing the expectations of the enthusiasts who, on the inspiration of Mr W. Bruce, inaugurated the Club, but showing conclusively that there is a demand for the kind of sport they can provide. And the reason for this is not far to seek, for there is no hobby that appeals like the sailing of a boat, while the boat itself need not be a costly vessel to sail well. It is one of the sports in which the boy can meet his elders on level terms, and in which all classes can participate economically, and gain considerable experience, of more than sailing a boat too, in doing so. The regatta which took place on Thursday was to consist of five races, but one – that for boats of five feet and over – did not take place for a variety of reasons. The course was a beat from the west side of the Loch to the north-east side and back again, the boats having to pass to the windward of a flag at the west side, with a run before the wind to the dyke-end below Hayfield. There was a light breeze from south-west and five second’s handicap was allowed for each inch in length above the scratch boat. Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

Technology

LETTER: Travelling in NorthLink pods was a ‘horrible experience’ - freezing cold, a labyrinth of bodies, and not enough information

We hear so many complaints about the sleeping pods on NorthLink ferries, yet nothing is done to improve matters for those of us who have to use them. Matthew Laurenson’s letter in last week’s Shetland Times made so many salient points which I trust our SIC councillors, our MP and our MSP will take on board and instigate a change in NorthLink’s policies. After my recent experience using a pod I made some notes. First of all, there was no information given as to what to expect - no directions on how to find lounge one, for a start - just a pointed finger from a crew member in the general direction, which I followed, to find a maze within a labyrinth, stepping over bodies of people already settled for the night in the bar area outside the lounge. I entered a room with a low ceiling, lots of reclining seats in rows, about 30 in all. I wondered why they are called pods, as a “pod” suggests some kind of exclusive covered area. Wrong! They are big loungers. Most loungers were occupied, but clearly numbered. Luckily, I was allocated no 22, located by a window, with no one occupying seats next to me. Again, there was no information for passengers that I could see. Nothing to suggest where I could leave my suitcase or bags - the nearest floor area of any size was occupied by a gent in a sleeping bag behind me, he was probably more comfortable there anyway. Worryingly, there were no signs that I saw in the lounge showing what to do in case of alarm or emergency, no fire exit sign, no emergency phone. Given the route I had taken to get there and the amount of bodies occupying the lounge and the bar floor outside the lounge, I have a feeling that not many of us would escape a real emergency at sea, at night, cold and dark. Where were life jackets? Lifeboats? I do remember hearing the emergency signal information over the tannoy, just not what/where to go, how to get there. It was claustrophobic in the “pod”. With the low ceiling and no apparent air circulation, a constant hacking and coughing from a fellow traveller behind me, it was little wonder I too fell foul of that same hacking cough which was passed on to me - no face masks were offered in the lounge that I was aware of. There were a couple of showers and toilets that another passenger had made me aware of - how many, exactly, I don’t know, but not enough for all those people in the lounge and bar area to use. The same fellow passenger advised me to go back down to reception where I was given a towel and a couple of tokens to use for the shower. A leaflet explaining all this when I boarded would have been useful. The towel came in handy during the night as an additional covering for me, as it was absolutely freezing - not only that, but I was seasick. At 4am trying to be sick quietly, so as not to disturb 20+ others in the room was not easy. It was too choppy for me to walk as far as the toilets. The coughing man was still hacking away, obviously not wearing a mask/face covering. So much for the “pod”. It was a horrible experience. NorthLink should have the health, safety and security for passengers on their “lifeline” services vessels at the very top of their agenda. Not just how much profit they can make. Kathy Greaves Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.