Also in the news 2 October 2026
- Coastguard talks
- Norwegian choir visit
- Bressay art exhibition
COASTGUARD members look set for union recognition after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) agreed to talks with union GMB.
The MCA wrote GMB this week to begin discussions over the introduction of a voluntary recognition agreement for coastguard rescue officers.
Previously, the MCA had turned down coastguard calls for recognition – claiming coastguards were employed by the UK Government’s department for business and rrade, rather than the MCA.
The MCA paused plans to stop coastguard volunteers from claiming money back for attending call-outs and training exercises after backlash earlier this year.
GMB national officer Nicola Savage said the MCA had come to the table “after a lot of kicking and screaming”.
“There’s still a process to follow, but it now looks likely GMB will secure official recognition, meaning we can fight on behalf of our hundreds of CRO members to get them better pay, terms and conditions.
“This is a huge win for these lifesaving heroes and their journey to get the respect they deserve.”
THE NORWEGIAN choir Gullgutane (The Golden Boys) are bringing a performance to Shetland this month.
Shetlander Mark Laurenson, who now lives in the Suldal region of Norway with his wife and daughters, is a choir member and has arranged the visit.
The choir is known for larger musical stage works, and their performance “Farvel du Moder Norge” (Farewell Mother Norway) tells the story of emigration to America in the mid-19th century through storytelling, shanties, traditional Norwegian folk songs and a few American songs.
The Gullgutane men’s choir is travelling together with a local women’s choir Osatrall and a few musicians.
Mark said: “Since I moved to Nesflaten in Suldal in 2010, I joined the choir and since then have been trying to find a way to bring us to Shetland.”
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Gullgutane will perform at St. Columba’s Church in Lerwick at 7.30pm on Saturday 17 October, with entry £10 cash on the door.
They will also then perform at Bigton’s Hymhus at 4pm on Sunday featuring the Bigton Singers. Entry is £10 for adults, with school bairns free.
ARTWORK inspired and Shetland’s wildlife and landscapes will go on display in Bressay this autumn.
The ‘Art in Nature’ exhibition will run at Speldiburn Café from 20 October to 21 November, and showcases work created at Species on the Edge workshops.
Participants were led on guided walks and encouraged to pay attention to the landscape and nature around them, before exploring the sights and sounds through different creative practices.
The exhibition is free to attend and some artworks will be available for sale.
Workshop and exhibition organiser Aimee Labourne said the project had been a “wonderful experience”.
“Developing ideas for my sessions, starting with a walk to Wadbister on the secluded east side of Bressay, gave so much insight into Shetland’s plant life and bee species, as well as the human story,” she said.
“It was amazing to see how participants had been inspired by Wadbister, and I enjoyed seeing everyone’s brilliantly creative drawings come to life.”
Visit the Speldiburn Café Facebook page for timings of the exhibition.
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