2008
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
January
- 4th
Southeasterly storm caused disruption to both Northlink and inter island ferry services. See this Shetland News Article for more information.
The heavy seas associated with the storm caused some damage to the new runway extension at Sumburgh Airport. - 10th
First official day of service for the new coastguard Sikorsky S92 search and rescue helicopter. - 12th
Scalloway Fire Festival. - 15th
Loganair anounced the introduction of a twice weekly air service between Sumburgh and Bergen, from June to August. See this Shetland News Article for more information. - 21st
The new S92 Search and Rescue helicopter, G-CGOC ("Oscar Charlie") flew her first mission, to airlift a sick man from an oil platform. - 27th
Yell had a Viking invasion, when the Lerwick Up Helly-Aa Jarl Squad visited the Sands of Breckon for an official photo session. - 29th
Lerwick Up Helly-Aa. Roy Leask, as Guizer Jarl, portrayed Kol Kalison.
February
- 1st
- BP and Marathon announced another oil discovery near to the Foinaven field, west of Shetland.
- Northerly Gales disrupted shipping and forced the cancellation of Northlink Ferry services.
- All schools were closed due to forecast blizzards, which didn't materialize.
- 5th
8 candidates have been nominated for the Lerwick South by-election on February 28th - 8th
Nesting & Girlsta Up Helly-Aa. Jarl Peter Anderson representing Sjovald Sjovldson. - 10th
Two Humpback Whales spotted off Bressay. See this article from Shetland Marine News for full details. - 18th
Police confirmed that a human thigh recovered in a scallop dredge, off Unst last October, has been identified as belonging to missing Unst man Sandy Macaulay.
See Shetland News Article for full details. - 19th
Organic cod farming company 'No Catch' was placed in administration. - 20th
- Johnston's Motor Garage, in Aith, was destroyed by a fire.
- The Scottish Crofting Foundation issued a press release, "Crofters' Indigenous Status Report To Be Launched", which will explore whether the Highlanders and Islanders of Scotland should be granted recognition as a United Nations indigenous people and gain in rights of self-determination such a status would confer.
- 21st
The Shetland Museum and Archives confirmed that the St Ninian's Isle Treasure will return to Shetland for a 3 month exhibition, starting in July, to mark the 50th anniversary of its discovery. See Shetland News Article for details. - 27th
Shetland Triathlon Club formed. - 28th
The Lerwick South by-election was won by Jonathan Wills.
March
- 4th
It was announced that two post offices in Shetland, at Camb in Yell, and Levenwick, have been targeted for closure by Post Office Ltd. as part of a nationwide plan by the government to rationalise rural post office provision. - 8th
The Kiln Bar, in Scalloway, hosted a celebrity poker night as their prize for becoming the UK's top poker playing pub, coming 1st of the 500 pubs which took part in a national competition organised by Ladbrokes bookmakers. - 9th
The Gerda Saele, a well boat registered in Norway, ran aground in the North Mouth of Lerwick Harbour, but managed to float free on the rising tide without damage. - 10th
Consultants hired by the Shetland Community Planning Board announced that the population of Shetland is likely to drop below 20,000 by the year 2030. - 12th
14 cars were damaged and one passenger suffered an injured ankle on the Northlink ferry Hrossey, as a result of a heavy roll, while on the way to Lerwick. - 13th
The Shetland News celebrates it's 5th anniversary as an on-line newspaper, under the current editorial team of Hans Marter & Pete Bevington. - 26th
Bixter hall was packed by people attending a meeting hosted by Sustainable Shetland, a group formed in February to inspire debate in the windfarm project proposed by Viking Energy.
April
- 3rd
The contract to operate a freight service, with two vessels, between Lerwick and Kristiansund in Norway, was awarded to John White from West Burrafirth. One of the vessels will also sail to Rosyth in Scotland, and Zeebrugge in Belguim. The service is expected to start in November. - 12th
New Shetland fishing boat Prolific LK986, launched at Whitby, Yorkshire. - 19th
Da Voar Redd Up starts. - 22nd
Shetland Folklore, and Trows in particular, took a step towards world recognition, with the prospect of Burnt Candle Productions producing a series of short animated films.
May
- 1st - 4th
28th Shetland Folk Festival. - 14th
Shetland Catch announced a return to profit, for financial year 2007/8, following 2 years of losses incurred because of smaller landings of herring and mackerel, as a result of the fish quota payback scheme which was enforced in the wake of investigations into 'Black Fish' landings between 2001 and 2005.
June
- 6th
Loganair started a, summer only, twice weekly service to Bergen. - 7th - 8th
Shetland Classic Motor Show at Clickimin Leisure Centre. - 15th
The former Shetland Bus boat "Andholmen", (the boat that was the model for the "Shetland Bus Memorial"), arrived in Scalloway for the first time in more than 60 years. - 18th
The Sjøassistanse Bergen to Shetland race starts at Marstein outside Bergen. - 19th
Johnsmas Foy starts. - 19th - 22nd
Flavour of Shetland on Victoria pier. - Yachts taking part in the 22nd Bergen to Shetland race, in Lerwick.
- 20th
One of the yachts taking part in the Bergen to Shetland race, the 21ft Paradis, sparked a search by rescue services when it was overdue in Lerwick Harbour, and had failed to make radio contact for 30 hours. See this Shetland Marine News article for the full story. - 21st
Launch of new Shetland Museum Sixareen, Vaila Mae. - A "Declaration of Dependence" was made by Stuart Hill concerning Forewick Holm, of which he claims to be owner, and which he has re-named Forvik Island.
- 24th
Per Øverås from Vestnes, (Molde SF), with the boat "Tia Maria" became the overall winner of the Shetland - Bergen Races this year. - 25th
A full meeting of the Shetland Islands Council voted in favour of building Mareel, the new cinema & music venue.
July
- 5th
Exhibition of St Ninian's Isle Treasure opens at Shetland Museum. - 7th
MSP Tavish Scott launches his bid to become the leader of the Liberal Democrats. - 14th
Tesco opened their Lerwick supermarket, in the premises previously occupied by Somerfield. - 17th
80th Anniversary of the first cruise ship visit to Lerwick, on 17th July 1928 - 19th
The first modern age Hnefatafl championship was organized by Peter Kelly and played in Fetlar. The winner and new Grand Master of this Norse Saga era board game was Wendy Sutherland of East Riding, Yorkshire. - 28th
Campaign launched to raise money for a new CLAN (Cancer Link Aberdeen and North) centre in Aberdeen.
August
- 3rd
Round Spiggie Fun Run and Walk. 440 people took part in the annual fund raising event for Mind Your Head Charity. - 10th
Record rainfall of 101.2mm recorded in a 24 hour period on Fair Isle. - 13th
Cunningsburgh Show. - 26th
Tavish Scott won the election for leadership of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, with 59% of the vote.
October
- 3rd
The Shetland Food Festival, the first event of its kind, starts. - 26th
Flybe take over operation of scheduled air services into Sumburgh Airport.
November
- 3rd
James W. Irvine was presented the Norwegian St Olav's medal by honorary Norwegian consul John Smith at a ceremony in Lerwick Town Hall. - 22nd
A Bank of Scotland study concluded Shetland enjoyed the highest quality of life in Scotland.See BBC News article for the full story.
