‘Big shoes to fill’ – Radio Shetland editor John Johnston retires after more than three decades with the Beeb
Local journalists pay tribute to an extraordinary colleague
IT IS easy to overuse the term ‘end of an era’, but on this occasion it is the most appropriate phrase that comes to mind.
After more than 30 years at Radio Shetland, and almost 35 years with the BBC, the station’s editor and senior producer John Johnston is switching off the microphones in the Pitt Lane studios for the last time this Friday evening.
Still a relative spring chicken at the tender age of 59 when compared to those who are contributing words in this tribute, JJ has had a big impact on the local media scene as one of those old school journalists, constantly working the phone and cultivating on and off the record contacts and often – but not always (!) – being the first with a breaking story.
Doing journalism in a rural and island community is no easy task, but John has proved to be a master. With the right balance of empathy and professionalism as well as understanding the psyche of a small community which is also your home, John has over the years managed to tell stories others have not.
He rightly describes the story about disgraced former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell describing himself as the “man with the money” when buying a pendant for his then wife, first minister Nicola Sturgeon, from Shetland Jewellery in 2019. Murrell was sentenced to five years and three months in jail for embezzling more than £400,000 in SNP party funds between 2010 and 2022.
But John did not just report the big stories from Shetland to the world, be it Glasgow, London, and beyond – he also was instrumental in building a community radio station he rightly can be proud of.
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Born in Armagh in Northern Ireland, JJ read politics at the University of York and undertook a post-graduate degree in broadcast journalism at Falmouth University before getting his first BBC placement in 1992 at Radio Solway in Dumfries.
A year later he was sent to Shetland for just three months to help cover the aftermath of the Braer oil spill – and never left.
Working initially from the confined space in the Market Street office it was Mary Blance who took him under her wings and helped develop his broadcasting and interviewing skills and, importantly, understanding the local tongue.
Photo: Shetland News (October 2024)
We all came to know each other well over the following years, often chasing the same story, spending many hours in the middle night in the quest for the latest coastguard rescue story, or comparing notes and ‘top lines’ following a convoluted council meeting.
For the last 30 years this has always been done in the ‘island way’ – good humoured and in the spirit of friendly competition, and by bartering news, contacts and tip-offs always ensuring that we all got what we needed.
It was real partnership working and that is also reflected in the way John has run BBC Radio Shetland over the years.
He was leading by example, putting in far too many hours, and very often it were his younger colleagues advising him to take a break or at least to slow down.
It was never a problem for one of us to set up camp at Pitt Lane to write our stories, including the court coverage which Shetland News has been providing for Radio Shetland for at least 10 years; another example of partnership working and using limited resources efficiently.
There was always a cup of tea and a friendly chat while surreptitiously fishing for news – John was good and very successful at that.
While the media landscape nationally has changed almost beyond recognition over the last 20 years with many areas losing their local news outlets and becoming news deserts, Shetland can call itself lucky to still have a vibrant local news scene.
This is in no small part thanks to John’s style of working with others in the spirit of cooperation and as equals. It is the only way we all can succeed.
But let’s hear from three former colleagues who have all been close to the action over the years.
Jane Moncrieff worked as producer and presenter at Radio Shetland for 15 years plus many more years as a freelancer for the isles’ BBC radio station.
“JJ is probably the most dedicated person I have ever worked with,” she says.
“He wid always go above and beyond to get the story. The amount of hours he racked up wis truly amazing.
“No matter whit the bosses doon sooth demanded, John wid miraculously deliver. If you pricked him wi a pin he wid bleed BBC.
“He wid encourage any new ideas to programmes and somehow managed to make wir meagre budgets stretch a lang wye.
“He has covered all the big stories and events and Shetland is much da better for hivin him here. I wish him a very happy retirement.”
Local cameramen and photographer Malcolm Younger was one of those who spent many a nighttime out on a job together with JJ, myself and the late John Waters.
“Radio Shetland’s John Johnston or JJ arrived to cover the Braer grounding in 1993 – and never left. Shetland has been all the better for it,” he says.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside John over the years, as both a photographer and an STV cameraman, covering everything from the Klondykers to countless stories week after week.
“We shared great times, often with our dear friend John Waters, whose place in the pack will never be forgotten.
“John was always looking for ‘a little clip’, and his Irish charm usually ensured he got one! I’ll miss working with him, but I’m sure our regular chats over a cup of tea will continue.
“I must also take a little credit for him meeting his wife Sarah – it was at an ABBA tribute night I promoted at Clickimin that their paths crossed.
“Wishing you a long and happy retirement, John. Here’s to plenty more tea and laughter – and finally, no more middle-of-the-night phone calls!”
And finally, a word from Pete Bevington, a former partner in Shetland News and who has recently re-entered the local media scene as one of the presenters of the Sheeks Aboot Shetland podcast.
“I met JJ when I joined Radio Shetland in 1994. Back then there were just three of us, including Mary Blance, making programmes with Ivy Cluness on reception.
“It was relentless putting together a half hour news programme five days a week plus evening shows and I only lasted nine months.
“John kept going and going for another 30-plus years and thanks to his dedication and sheer bloody hard work he is leaving the station in a much stronger, healthier state than he found it.
“Shetland has been extremely fortunate to have John here running the show all these years and he leaves big shoes to fill.”
Big shoes indeed. We all wish him a great leaving do followed by a much-deserved holiday, and a very happy retirement with plenty of quality time with his wife Sarah and their son Patrick.
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