Also in the news / Also in the news: Johnnie Notions film, poppy display and more…
A NEW film which brings to life the story of 18th century inoculation pioneer and Shetland crofter Johnnie Notions has been launched by the Shetland Museum and Archives.
Together with local film-makers JJ Jamieson and Liz Musser, the museum has created a short film to celebrate the life and pioneering work of Johnnie Williamson, otherwise known as Johnnie Notions, a fisherman and crofter from Northmavine.
Born in the 1740s and from humble circumstances he independently developed a method of inoculation for smallpox.
Shetland Museum was awarded funding by The Royal Society in 2022 to create the film through its ‘Places of Science’ scheme.
Shetland Amenity Trust’s cultural heritage manager Jacqui Birnie said: “The legacy of Johnnie Notions is hugely significant both locally and nationally and deserves to be celebrated and shared.
“JJ and Liz have done a really first-rate job for us. Working alongside our team at the museum they have pieced together and presented a fascinating and dynamic storyline that appeals to all ages.”
ROUGHLY 1,400 poppies have been knitted and crocheted to create a Armistice Week display at the Anderson High School.
The display covers the cairn at the front of the school, as a symbol of remembrance for those who died in the First World War and in conflicts since.
The poppies have been created by pupils and staff at the school, as well as parents and from knitters further afield.
Poppies are also on display on various windows of the school and lessons this week will cover Remembrance themes – such as ‘Why’ we should Remember, and pupils will write Remembrance messages.
There will be a small ceremony on Friday morning at the school’s war memorial, where the names are listed of all former pupils at the Anderson Educational Institute who died in the First and Second World Wars.
Lerwick Town Hall will also be lit red this weekend in support of the Scottish Poppy Appeal, which is led each year by the Scottish armed forces charity, Poppy Scotland. Wreaths will be laid at the County War Memorial in Lerwick at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.
AROUND £80,000 worth of drugs was seized in Shetland with the help of Dogs Against Drugs in August and September.
A police update report for the period said multiple drugs packages continue to be intercepted at the Lerwick post office sorting depot.
SHETLAND has been named as the happiest place in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The survey showed that the Western Isles came second.
LIVING Lerwick would have no budget to maintain the planters at Harrison Square in the town, a meeting has heard.
The organisation’s chair Steve Mathieson told a meeting of Lerwick Community Council said it was not under Living Lerwick’s remit as it is not its own project.
It came after ZetTrans – the organisation which led the Harrison Square seating project – asked Lerwick Community Council if it might be able to fund the plants in the long-term.
ZetTrans’ transport policy and projects officer Robina Barton suggested that if no solution is found regarding funding, then the planters could be turned into more seating.
COLIN Campbell has been reappointed as a member of the NHS Shetland board.
The reappointment will be for four years, from 1 March 2024 to 29 February 2028.
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