2007: SUMMER FESTIVAL REACHES A MEMORABLE CONCLUSION

 

This year’s Johnsmas Foy concluded on Sunday 24 June with a flurry of activity which saw nostalgia and new initiatives come together to ensure that Shetland’s summer festival left a lasting impression on all those who took part in celebrating midsummer and this year’s theme, the islands’ fishing heritage.

 

From 21 to 24 June, Lerwick Harbour was a temporary haven for the Togo – a former side-winder that is now converted for cruises – the Lotos – a former Dutch herring lugger that used to visit Shetland almost 100 years ago – as well as the many participants taking part in the VisitShetland Bergen Races and the 1000-mile Double Handed Race.

 

Theatre goers were also able to enjoy a play “It wis hard wark but...” at the Garrison Theatre, which focused on the stories of three women who worked at the herring during the season of 1938.  The production was devised by Shetland Youth Theatre and directed by Jacqueline Clark.

 

Continuing the festival theme, presentations in Lerwick and Unst explored the fishing link between Shetland and the village of Mollosund located within the province of Bohuslän on the south west coast of Sweden.  Ann-Sofie Bernhardsson from Mollosund described, in fascinating detail, the trade based on the catching and drying of ling from around Shetland and Rockall.  In an illustrated talk that was by turns moving and amusing, she explained that the trade had ceased only after 1980 and that ling was still an essential part of Christmas and New Year celebrations in Sweden.  She presented gifts to both the museums concerned, including a sample of dried ling, and emphasised the value of maintaining these memories and links in the future. 

Johnsmas Foy Committee member, Alastair Hamilton, said: “In both Lerwick and Unst, the talk attracted enthusiastic audiences who asked many questions and offered some interesting reminiscences during and after the presentations.”

 

The Flavour of Shetland event on Victoria Pier drew large crowds throughout its four-day run, but the town centre was especially busy on Saturday evening, when a blast from the past arrived in the form of the summer carnival.  In a popular event last held in the 1990s, brightly decorated floats were laden with people in costume who, with foot collectors, collected pennies from crowds drawn from far and wide.  They were joined by Jarls’ squads from throughout Shetland who had taken part in a Viking parade earlier in the day.  The procession created a party spirit among all those involved in the spectacle.

 

On Saturday 23 June, the Northmavine mini foy involved a day of celebrations at Fethaland, once Shetland’s busiest Haaf fishing station.  There were also many visitors to the fishing vessel, Altaire.  Bringing the ten day celebrations to a dramatic close on Sunday 24 June, people were attracted to the impressive sight of boats being hauled across Mavis Grind, recreating how – in time past – fishermen used this narrow strip of land as a short cut to the fishing grounds.

 

Maureen Cumming, secretary of Interpretation North and part of the organising committee for the Fethaland Foy, said: “This started off as a very small pilot scheme to gauge if there would be any interest in such an event and its success has gone beyond our wildest dreams.  We attracted between 200 and 300 people to the event and, as a result, we certainly intend to repeat the mini foy next year.”

 

Maree Hay, who helped organise the North Sea/Atlantic Challenge, added: “It was an excellent day with around 400 people watching the challenge as participants quickly dragged their boats across the land.  Everyone had a great time and I believe it was a very fitting end to the Johnsmas Foy.”
Also on Sunday, a flotilla of boats, yachts and pleasure craft made for an impressive sight as they made their way from Gremista through Bressay Sound to Lerwick’s Small Boat Harbour, while a Christian service organised by the Lerwick Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen was held in Unst to remember all fishermen who have been lost over the years in and around Shetland waters.

 

Commenting on the Johnsmas Foy festival as a whole, committee member Alastair Hamilton said: “From what I hear, everyone involved is delighted with the success of this year’s festival; the feedback from all the individual organisers speaks for itself.  As well as being a celebration of midsummer – a very special time in Shetland - the Foy is also about developing the community’s confidence and strengthening Shetland’s reputation.  It offers opportunities for people with all kinds of interests, from craft workers to musicians and food producers to young designers, to display and hone their skills.  It shows, too, how our heritage should be cherished not only for its own sake – though that’s important – but also as a foundation for the future.  The organising committee is very grateful to everyone, in Shetland and beyond, who has contributed to this year’s event.”

 

Further information from:
Alastair Hamilton, Shetland Islands Council, tel 01595 744924 or email
Or Louise Rosie, Shaw Marketing and Design Ltd, tel 01595 692465 or email