mastodon 4.7.2Editor of The Orkney News community independent and free media. email us news@theorkneynews.scot
Locating Shakespeare’s Blackfriars House, London.
The exact location of William Shakespeare’s only London property can now be pinpointed to a quiet Blackfriars street, thanks to the discovery of a previously unknown floorplan. The discovery made by Shakespeare expert Professor Lucy Munro from King’s College London, not only identifies the exact place of the property Shakespeare bought in 1613 but also the layout and size. It also paints a different picture of where…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/24/locating-shakespeares-blackfriars-house-london/
A Visit to the Tomb of the Eagles
It's been a few years since I last visited the Tomb of the Eagles in South Ronaldsay. Would it live up to my lasting memories of an exceptional site? Here's the first thing to note before you read on. The Entrance Fee for Orkney islanders has a 20% discount. I'm highlighting this because some other historic sites in Orkney have become rather expensive (for everyone) to visit.
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/23/a-visit-to-the-tomb-of-the-eagles/
“The engineering activities of beavers leave a clear trail of evidence”
Evidence of how climate change is impacting wildlife in Canada is being provided by new research in the expansion of beaver populations into the Canadian Arctic. The research combines tree‑ring analysis (dendrochronology), with satellite imagery of surface water to pinpoint the spread of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) in a remote part of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Led by…
“It is beyond belief that the LibDems would consider installing a Labour Government” Election2026
Orkney voters must abandon their Liberal Democrat allegiance to avoid the threat of a Labour government by the back door. That is the call from SNP candidate Robert Leslie, after the spectre of a deal with Labour was raised last week by Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton. Mr Leslie said that the anti-democratic stance of the LibDems in Orkney was disappointing, but the…
Candidates Come Together to ‘Stop Reform’: Election 2026
Three candidates who are standing against one another for the Scottish Election on 7 May, stood together today sharing their reasons for 'Stopping Reform. Kristopher Leask, Scottish Green candidate Highlands and Islands Region; Robert Leslie, Scottish National Party, Orkney Constituency; and Mike Macleod, Labour, Orkney Constituency, were helping volunteers to hand out leaflets produced by Stand Up to Racism…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/05/05/candidates-come-together-to-stop-reform-election-2026/
From Drone Surveys of Buried Glacier Ice to Water on Mars
A team of researchers at the University of Arizona spent long days driving off-road, hiking rugged terrain and launching drones across Alaska and Wyoming in an attempt to understand how to explore hidden glaciers on Mars The team demonstrated that ground-penetrating radar mounted on drones can map the thickness of rocky debris covering glaciers on Earth. These results could help future astronauts locate…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/05/05/from-drone-surveys-of-buried-glacier-ice-to-water-on-mars/
#Orkney #Gaza Vigil - How has the world sat back ?
https://youtu.be/AcK-qP1Rl0g?si=ZyBSZ2yUe9EmGo_a
Election 2026: Tourism
Elections to the Scottish Parliament take place on Thursday 7 May. In this series we look at what decisions are made in our parliament which affect daily lives in Scotland. So far we’ve looked at Education, NHS Scotland, Transport, Migration, Energy, Housing, and Farming and Fishing. Tourism. Yesnaby, Orkney Scotland, with its beautiful, dramatic scenery, strong cultural identity, and fascinating history, is a place people wish to visit.
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/24/election-2026-tourism/
Election 2026 : Voting Today to Elect Members of The Scottish Parliament
Today, Thursday 7 May is polling day for elections to The Scottish Parliament. Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. Many voters in Orkney will already have voted using postal voting. Counting of the votes begins on Friday 8 May at The Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall. As Orkney is the smallest constituency in Scotland the result will be expected quite quickly.
Weather Forecast 27 April : Cloudy and damp morning, drier and brighter later.
Information from The Met Office. Today 27 April : A cloudy and damp start to the morning with light and patchy rain. Becoming drier through the day with some bright or sunnier spells developing. Maximum temperature 12 °C. Tonight: A fairly cloudy evening and night with occasional mist and fog patches, perhaps the odd spot of light drizzle. Winds will be light and variable.
UHI Award Associate Professorships
Associate Professorships have been awarded to four academics by the University of the Highlands and Islands: Antonia Thomas, UHI Archaeology Institute; Jen Harland, UHI Archaeology Institute; Michelle Beattie, UHI Centre for Rural Health Sciences; and Tom Wilding, Scottish Association for Marine Science, a partner of UHI. (clockwise from top left): Tom Wilding, Michelle Beattie, Antonia Thomas and Jen Harland. Professor Brian…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/25/uhi-award-associate-professorships/
Weather Forecast 25 April : Bright, sunny spells, light showers possible in the morning.
Information from The Met Office. Today 25 April : A cloudy start with a few light showers, brighter conditions reaching Shetland by mid morning and cloud breaking for Orkney soon after. Dry and bright with sunny spells during the afternoon, feeling cooler despite light winds. Maximum temperature 9 °C. Tonight: Dry with some evening sunshine, turning cloudier at times during the…
Weather Forecast 28 April : Dry and mostly cloudy Tuesday. Sunny spells for Orkney later.
Information from The Met Office. Image credit Rosie Hopkins. Today 28 April : It will be a dry and mostly cloudy day with misty patches possible, mainly around Shetland, and light winds. Sunny spells developing over Orkney through the afternoon but staying cloudy for Shetland. Maximum temperature 12 °C. Tonight: A dry night with late evening sunshine and largely clear skies for…
Election 2026 : Defence and National Security.
Elections to the Scottish Parliament take place on Thursday 7 May. In this series we look at what decisions are made in our parliament which affect daily lives in Scotland. So far we’ve looked at Education, NHS Scotland, Transport, Migration, Energy, Housing, Farming and Fishing, and Tourism. Defence and National Security. Powers over Defence and National Security are completely under the control of the UK Government.
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/27/election-2026-defence-and-national-security/
Light Dispels Darkness
Bernie Bell. In July 2023, I wrote of Evie Donaldson’s wonder-full circle of light in St. Magnus Cathedral “Sun-Circle in St. Magnus After visiting the Museum, we crossed the road to St. Magnus Cathedral to sit quietly and absorb what we’d just seen/experienced. And we saw….. ‘Annular’ by Evie Donaldson. I’ll quote from the information card 'An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, but when it is at or…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/27/light-dispels-darkness/
Voices from Scapa : Gathering the Stories
Throughout May 2026, Scapa Flow Museum, Lyness, Hoy is looking for contributions from the public to take part in 'Voices From Scapa Story Month' - a month-long initiative dedicated to gathering and celebrating the lived experiences of people connected to Scapa Flow and the wider Orkney islands. Ellen Pesci, Curator, explained: “As both a curator and an Orcadian, I’m constantly working with the stories that make up Orkney’s…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/26/voices-from-scapa-gathering-the-stories/
Weather Forecast 24 April : Dry and bright for Orkney. Cloudy Shetland, light showers later.
Information from The Met Office. Today 24 April : It will be mostly cloudy and rather cool over Shetland with a few light showers arriving from the north in the afternoon. Mainly dry and bright over Orkney. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Tonight: Dry start with some clear spells for Orkney. Otherwise cloudy through the evening and overnight with a few light showers.
Art At The Orkney Distillery
By Bernie Bell. I saw this on a friend’s FB page and thought it looked interesting. The list includes a few artists that I’m familiar with and like the work of, and the un-knowns could be …a revelation! I’ve previously written of the work of Robinson RR, Sam Gray and Evie Donaldson I’ve written of Sheila Fleet’s jewellery gallery and café
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/23/art-at-the-orkney-distillery/
Chernobyl #OnThisDay
On 26 April 1986 he world's worst nuclear disaster occurred when the fourth reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in the Soviet Union exploded, resulting in 31 deaths and radioactive contamination spreading to much of Western Europe. Following the explosion, which killed two engineers and severely burned two others, an emergency operation began to put out the fires and stabilize the reactor.
Being Aware
By Bernie Bell. At a recent Art exhibition we bought this piece by Jennifer Litts My observation was….. “ ‘How Fragile Is A Fragile Soul?’ will speak to all the fragile souls out there who know that some are more fragile than others, some in different ways, and that some can cope with it better than others.” I’m reminded of when I’d been very ill, was recovering and, because when they saw me out and about I looked my old robust self, folk thought that I…
Weather Forecast 26 April : Mostly cloudy, outbreaks of rain spreading north.
Information from The Met Office. Today 26 April : A bright start for Shetland but cloudier with a few spots of light rain at first for Orkney. Outbreaks of rain will become more frequent for Orkney in the afternoon, but Shetland will be mostly dry until evening. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Tonight: A cloudy evening with outbreaks of rain for Orkney which will spread across Shetland too.
The Deepdale Monster
By Fiona Grahame Images By Martin Laird It was a story that in the winter of 1942 would set the printing presses rolling from its beginnings in Orkney, south to Edinburgh and onwards to London. In the local newspapers amongst a plea from Tom Johnston, Secretary of State for Scotland on the importance of Domestic Science lessons in schools, an advert from Dr Carrot and numerous accounts of Burns Suppers was a ‘monster’ of a story.
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/24/the-deepdale-monster-3/
“Have you seen the parts of me scattered?”
Have you seen the smoke?Have you smelled the fire?Glimpsed my weakness?Seen my exhaustion?Have you seen the parts of me scattered? - Khartoun Salma, poet, killed, April 8 2026, by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon. 2,294 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israel since 2 March. 1.2million people have been forced to flee from their homes as Israel continues to do to Lebanon what it did (and still does) in Gaza - flattening…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2026/04/25/have-you-seen-the-parts-of-me-scattered/
