Shetland yarns

A SELECTION of woolly tales, appropriately titled Real Shetland Yarns, has been published by Shetland Amenity Trust.

The book, launched on Wednesday night during a special event at the Shetland Museum and Archives, is the result of a competition held at last October’s Shetland Wool Week.

Participants were asked to submit their ‘woolly memories’ in story form, along with an image or item to illustrate this.

The trust’s Emma Miller said the response was incredible, with over 100 entries received giving judges a hard job to choose the final 40 for inclusion in the book.

The winner was one Drew Ratter, formerly chairman of the Crofters Commission and this month re-elected to Shetland Islands Council, whose prize was a luxury Vi-Spring bed containing real Shetland wool upon which to recline.

Ms Miller said: “The majority of stories in this book are by people who are not professional writers; the stories are real memories and personal experiences and the emotions behind these really come through in the book.

“It’s a pleasure to dip in and out of the short pieces and see the photographs, jumpers, cloo baskets and other great things that folk associate with their memories.”

The book (paperback £15.00, hardback £20.00) is on sale from Thursday from Shetland Museum and Archives, Jamieson & Smith (Shetland Wool Brokers) Ltd and The Shetland Times Bookshop.

Copies will also be available online at http://shop.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk