Summer 2009 Newsletter Produced by the Shetland Hamefarin 2010 Committee S H ETLA N D H A M EFARI N 2010 FLAVOUR OF S HETLAND INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Flavour of Shetland 1 Shetland Museum 2 Bobby Tulloch 3 Meanwhile... 3 Schedule of Events 4 Travel & Accomm. 4 Useful Contacts 4 Shetland in Stats • In 2008, 56,352 visitors were reported to have travelled to Lerwick’s historic Victoria Originally conceived in crafts on offer is always a Shetland. pier took on a festival 2005, Flavour of Shetland highlight of the event. atmosphere at the end of started life as an Cooking and craft • Shetland in the spring June as the annual Flavour accompaniment to the demonstrations are also a and summer months is of Shetland event was NatWest Island Games which big draw. Activities are laid a haven for staged. were held in Shetland that on for children in a birdwatchers from all Four days of wonderful year. With a huge number of dedicated children’s tent. over the world. Among music, gourmet food and athletes and officials The main attraction is the the rare species that distinctive crafts, travelling to Shetland for the entertainment tent, which cameras and accompanied by a beverage Games, it was decided that a features a well-stocked bar or two, also saw the very dedicated event should be and is where the musicians binoculars will be best of the Shetland staged which be both a perform through the day and trained on are the Red- summer. A capacity crowd of showcase for Shetland night. necked Phalarope locals and visitors relaxed music, food and crafts but The event is also tied in (90% of the UK and took in the sights and would also serve as a social to the annual Shetland- population breed in sounds while temperatures focal point. Bergen yacht race, and the Shetland) and the climbed and clouds stayed Since the success of the arrival of Scandinavian Great Skua, of which away. Local craft stalls sold Island Games, Flavour of sailors gives the event an there are 6,800 pairs textiles, jewellery, cards and Shetland has been the international feel which will in Shetland, 71% of the sweets. centrepiece of the Johnsmas be replicated when The music provided was Foy, Shetland’s themed Hamefarers arrive for next UK population. of the highest calibre; from summer festival. The festival year’s celebrations. old hands Hom Bru to young is held in the last two weeks turks The Revellers, and the of June, with events of all likes of Sheila Henderson, kinds held in different parts Fullsceilidh Spelemannslagg of Shetland. and Kolliforbolli in between, The overall format of the musicians soundtracked Flavour of Shetland has yet another successful remained the same showcase of Shetland throughout. Local craft and culture, and one that will be food suppliers are invited to repeated next year as take up stall sites which are visitors from across the set up around the perimeter globe arrive for the Shetland of the Victoria Pier. The Hamefarin 2010. varied selection of food and 1 Page 2 Summer 2009 Newsletter S H E T LA N D M U S E U M A N D A RCHIVES The Shetland Museum and Archives building at Hay’s Dock, Lerwick (Photo: www.phatsheep.co.uk) One of the main venues tell their story. Of particular pictures that show emigrants for activities during the interest are depictions of in their new life. This could Shetland Hamefarin 2010 islanders in their new lives—at be at work, outside their will be the Shetland Museum home, at work, with their home, on a ship, or just and Archives, located on the families, etc. sightseeing. The objects we historic Hay’s Dock in The Museum and Archives seek can be anything from Lerwick. have chosen to exhibit items the emigrant’s life - The new Museum and from first-generation household utensils, personal Archives building was opened Shetlanders, i.e. those who effects, or work implements on 31 May 2007 by Queen were born in Shetland and for example.” Sonja of Norway and the later emigrated. These can be In addition, the Museum Duke and Duchess of from recent emigrants or and Archives is also looking Rothesay (aka Prince Charles items which have been for photos of Shetland and Camilla), highlighting handed down through many places names in foreign Shetland Shetland’s historic links with generations. countries. Hamefarin 2010 Scandinavia and the UK. Ian Tait, Curator of So, if you are a Shetland The displays tell Collections at the Museum, emigrant, or a descendant of Shetland’s story from its said: “Emigration is a vital part one, or if you have images, Monday 14 geological beginnings to the of Shetland’s story which has artefacts or documents present day and the had little research and never related to Shetland June — comprehensive archive been highlighted in an emigrants that may be collection features records exhibition before. We’ve had a suitable for the exhibition from Shetland’s past and great response already, with please contact Helen Sunday 27 June present, including lots of fascinating pictures, Whitham at the Shetland newspapers and maps. artefacts and stories, and we Museum and Archives on 2010 Also on site is a renovated still have room for more. We +44 (0) 1595 69 5057 or at boat shed, hosting traditional are not looking for portrait info@shetlandmuseumand boat building and repair, a photos, but would prefer archives.org.uk . gallery hosting temporary exhibitions and a popular café restaurant. HamefaHamefarinrin Exhibition As part of the celebrations planned for the Shetland Hamefarin 2010, Shetland Museum and Archives is planning a special exhibition based around those who left their home on the isles for a new life elsewhere. The exhibition will focus on those who emigrated from Shetland as far back as the 16th century, right up to more modern emigrants, and the Museum is looking for artefacts such as photos, Jim Williamson on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. Jim was originally paintings and documents to from Whiteness and emigrated to Canada in 1929 2 Shetland Hamefarin 2010 Page 3 T R I B U T E TO B O B B Y T U L L O C H By the time you read this newsletter, the commencement of the Shetland Hamefarin 2010 will be less than a year away. As the event approaches, community groups and organisations are working hard to put together programmes of events to entertain and inform the Hamefarers they are looking forward to seeing. Bobby Tulloch at work One event which is taking and became popular as a during the Hamefarin shape is a tribute to one of guest lecturer and tour celebrations. Shetland’s best-loved figures: leader. A Russian cruise ship will the naturalist, writer and Travelling far and wide, be calling at Burravoe, Yell, on photographer Bobby Tulloch. from Spitzbergen in the 9 June—on board will be Hugh Born in Aywick, Yell in frozen north to sunnier climes Miles who filmed Track of the 1929, Bobby parlayed his in the Seychelles, his own Wild Otter , featuring Bobby, lifelong love of the natural abode in Mid Yell became a for the BBC, and John Busby environment into a career popular location for visiting who illustrated Bobby and which saw him gain great naturalists. Hugh Miles’ books. renown and home and The author of several The Old Haa Museum will abroad. books, including the be hosting photographic Bobby was already a keen celebrated and exhibitions of Bobby’s work, photographer, and the autobiographical Bobby and local halls will show BBC representative of the Royal Tulloch’s Shetland , Bobby natural history films featuring Society for the Protection of also wrote for various Bobby—Land of the Simmer Birds, when, in accompanying publications and appeared on Dim ; Bobby Tulloch, Shetland a party of tourists through television. In 1994 he was Naturalist and Track of the Fetlar in 1967, he noticed made a Member of the British Wild Otter. Hamefarin something strange about the Empire in the Queen’s Also to be organised is a behaviour of one of the Birthday Honours List for his commemoration of Bobby’s 2010 Snowy Owls they had spotted. efforts on behalf of wildlife skills as a songwriter and Investigating, Bobby found conservation. musician, with a Bobby a clutch of eggs, the first time Sadly, Bobby passed away Tulloch Tribute Concert and Monday 14 this species had been on 21 May 1996, at the age the re-release of his CDs. June — recorded breeding in Britain. of 67. The Trust intend to repeat The resulting publicity put This year marks the 80th this programme for the Fetlar, the Snowy Owl and anniversary of Bobby’s birth, Hamefarin fortnight, so that Sunday 27 June Bobby into the limelight. and the Old Haa Trust is Hamefarers can join in the Bobby was soon planning a range of events commemorations and find out presenting his slides at during 7-14 June in for themselves a bit about 2010 venues as auspicious as the commemoration, which will Bobby’s wonderful life and Royal Albert Hall in London form the basis for an event works. S HET L AN D ’ S S U M M E R E VEN T S Britain’s most northerly Shetland’s unique natural The Shetland Pony festival kicks off in July. heritage, from wildflowers Festival 2009 takes place in Unstfest runs from 9 July to and seabirds to geology and Shetland from 15 to 23 19 July 2009, and features the Shetland weather. Also August. This event will craft demonstrations, featured are guided walks, feature the first time the guided walks, Viking markets family days out and evening Shetland Pony Stud Book and, of course, the best of lectures.