Also in the news 12 October 2026

John Johnston retirement

Shetland night at Celtic Connections

Leatherback turtle spotted

Children’s poppy competition

12 October 2026 18:00

Family and friends gather at the Sound Hall on Saturday evening to celebrate the retirement of BBC Radio Shetland’s John Johnston, marking the end of an era after his many years behind the microphone. Photo: Malcolm Younger

FRIENDS, colleagues and former interviewees were among those paying tribute to highly respected local journalist John Johnston at a retirement party on Saturday night.

His former BBC Radio Shetland co-workers Mary Blance and Caroline McKenzie gave speeches about their work and friendships with Johnston over his 33-year tenure with the local radio team.

BBC Radio Orkney’s David Delday also spoke of the close connections between the teams at the ‘rival’ radio stations, with many collaborations between the two counties over the years.

Johnston was presented with a number of gifts from the BBC Radio Shetland team he is departing, including a custom Smirk cartoon.

GLASGOW will host a special evening of music in tribute to Shetland’s musical heritage in January as part of the annual Celtic Connections festival.

Shetland fiddler Ross Couper.

Shetland Night will act as a showcase of the isles’ enduring musical traditions and the artists continuing to carry them forward.

Led by acclaimed fiddle players Jenna Reid and Ross Couper, the pair will be joined by a host of special guests for the event at the Barony Hall on Saturday 23 January 2027.

Names confirmed so far include Amy Laurenson, Bethany Reid, Catriona Macdonald and Bryan Gear.

Celtic Connections said the event would be a celebration of the “rich musical heritage that has made Shetland one of the most influential folk cultures in the world”.

Tickets for Celtic Connections are on sale now.

A LEATHERBACK turtle was spotted off Sumburgh Head in September, Shetland Amenity Trust has said.

The trust said the “very exciting wildlife sighting” was picked up by a visiting tour group on 26 September.

It added this was only the 20th recorded sighting of a leatherback turtle in Shetland, with the last sighting coming in Bluemull Sound in 2015.

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Leatherback turtles are the largest turtles in the world, reaching up to 2.4m in length and weighing as much as 900kg.

The amenity trust added that a sighting this far north was “unusual”, making an observation like this “particularly valuable”.

It encouraged people to get in touch with the amenity trust if they spot something unusual or worth sharing around the isles.

CHILDREN are being encouraged to design a Remembrance Day poppy poster for the Royal British Legion in Lerwick.

Remembrance Day is held on 11 November every year and allows the public to remember and honour those who have died in the line of duty while representing the armed forces.

The Lerwick Legion is this year inviting children aged 5-14 to design a poppy poster which will be displayed in the Legion for the full year.

The winner will also receive a voucher for a shop along the street in Lerwick.