Also in the news 10 July 2026
- Lighthouse boat open days cancelled
- Pigeons in town ahead of race
- SSEN signs cable framework agreement
- More dates for MenB vaccination programme
- Carmichael’s US-Iran concern
- Tailor of Inverness show to head north
THE NORTHERN Lighthouse Board says the open days on board its new vessel Pole Star in Scalloway this weekend have been cancelled.
It said the ship’s buoy crane requires an urgent warranty repair by the manufacturer.
The hope is to reschedule the open days when the Pole Star next visits Shetland in the coming months.
MANY hundreds of pigeons are safely stored in a trailer in Lerwick ahead of a race to England.
The King George V Cup Race is being organised by the North Road Championship Club (NRCC), with the birds expected to be “liberated” this weekend depending on the weather.
It comes as the NRCC celebrates its 125th anniversary. Pigeon races beginning in Shetland has happened for a number of years.
SSEN Transmission has signed a long-term framework agreement with Sumitomo Electric Industries and Van Oord Offshore Wind for high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable systems, including the proposed second link between Shetland and the Scottish mainland.
The second Shetland HVDC link has been described as an anchor project behind Sumitomo Electric’s investment in its new cable manufacturing facility at Nigg in the Highlands.
Sandy Mactaggart, director of offshore delivery at SSEN Transmission, said the framework agreement “provides a strong foundation for long-term collaboration and supports our ambitions to deliver the critical subsea infrastructure needed across the north of Scotland in the years ahead”.
NHS Shetland has added additional clinic dates to its MenB vaccination programme.
People can find the full list of dates via this link.
The MenB vaccine is being offered to:
- Young people born between 1 March 2008 and 28 February 2009, and any others who were in S6 during the 2025-26 academic year, regardless of future education plans
- Undergraduate university entrants under the age of 25 who are starting for the first time in the academic year 2026-27, including international students.
- College entrants under 25 starting for the first time in the academic year 2026-27 while living away from home in shared student accommodation, including international students.
NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael called for the government to do more to “mitigate the worst effects” of renewed conflict around Iran on the UK economy, and particularly food producers.
He spoke during an urgent question on the conflict, which followed two days of escalating strikes by the US on Iran and by Iran on neighbouring countries and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“If there is one thing that we can be sure of following the renewed escalation around Iran in recent days, it is that one way or another there is going to be greater risk to energy supplies and trade through the Strait of Hormuz for the foreseeable future,” the MP said after the parliament debate.
“There is a limit to what we can do to change that fact but it is in the government’s hands to support food producers with rising input costs – before that turns into higher food costs for families.”
MATTHEW Zajac’s multi-award-winning The Tailor of Inverness play is coming to Mareel on 5 November as part of a Scottish tour.
Inspired by the life of Zajac’s father, The Tailor of Inverness is a story of a boy who grew up on a farm in Galicia (Eastern Poland, now Western Ukraine) and became a tailor in Inverness.
With a life that spanned most of the 20th century, his journey is one that is reminiscent of thousands of Poles during the Second World War: a “tale of forced migration, subject to the brutal vagaries of war”.
The play was said to be an “instant success” after premiering at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Since its debut, this stunning production has gone on to entrance over 4,000 people globally.
The Scotland tour coincides with the publication of a new edition of The Tailor of Inverness on paperback.
The play is written and performed by Dogstar Theatre artistic director Matthew Zajac, and directed by celebrated Scottish director Ben Harrion.
THE ORTHODOX Community of Saint Ninian will host an upcoming visit of His Grace, Bishop Raphael of Ilion along with Father Antonios Kakalis next weekend.
The event, at the Levenwick Hall on Sunday 19 July at 11am, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy.
Organisers said that on the mainland the Divine Liturgy is a weekly service within the Eastern Orthodox Church, but as there is no Orthodox priest in Shetland then is celebrated once or twice a year when possible.
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