24/01/2025
Friday Diary of community events. For inclusion in the diary, please make sure you let us know the details before 4pm the previous day. Email [email protected] or phone 87 3939
Due to the poor weather forecast starting with the list of what's OFFS that we have been told about.
The Garden Birdwatch in Tankerness House Gardens is cancelled.
The Negatively Buoyant Workshop in Westray is cancelled for today.
Westray Parish Kirk Youth Group's meeting tonight has also been cancelled.
The Traditional Dancing in the Cromarty Hall in the Hope tonight has been cancelled.
The Salvation Army Friendship Club and Lunch Clubs are cancelled for today. Both will be held next weekend instead, at Kirkwall Baptist Church.
The Milestone Church coffee morning today is cancelled
There's no Karate class at KGS tonight
The Health and Safety CITB tests with Pearson at the Picky Centre today are cancelled.
There will be no Community Post Office in St Andrews today.
Orkney Island Games Volunteers Session on Saturday is cancelled.
The Farmers gathering due to be held at Swannay Brewery tonight is CANCELLED - a new date will be set shortly.
The East Mainland Agricultural Ploughing Match has changed from Saturday to Sunday. Be on the field for the draw at quarter to nine sharp.
Other events might have been cancelled but they have not told us - if you aren't sure do check ahead.
On Saturday, NFU Scotland Orkney is joining in the Stop The Family Farm Tax nationwide day of action. The planned Tractor Rally is gathering from 11am at the Mart to leave at half past eleven to head round Kirkwall, going along the Harbour Front, round Craigiefield, past the College, KGS and the Cathedral, before returning to the Mart. All NFUS members taking part should give names to John Laughton or Nicola Tait in advance.
There are Bookbugs in the Stromness Warehouse Building at eleven o’ clock this morning, with a session for Expectant Parents and Newborns on Saturday at half past two. And there’s a Saturday Bookbug in the Kirkwall Library at half past ten.
Graemsay, Hoy and Walls Community Council have a meeting at half past seven tonight in the North Walls School.
The Stitch Solidarity Project arrives at the Picky Centre this weekend. Its a patchwork Banner of peace being stiched on to hospital scrubs. To take part message Sheena at lotty otter @ outlook dot com or go along to the Picky Centre at eleven o’ clock on Saturday in the room next to the café.
What may be the last Silent Vigil for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza for a while is being held at one o’ clock on Saturday at the Cathedral.
Pride in Orkney and Luna tribe are having a Coffee Afternoon on Saturday from half past one till four in the St Magnus Centre, with taster sessions on Chair Yoga and a Mindfulness Circle. It’s free and suitable for all bodies and abilities.
The RSPB is hosting a Big Garden Birdwatch Bird Counting Event on Saturday in the Tankerness House Gardens between half past two and quarter to four.
Free Tai Chi for Arthritis classes start on Saturday in the St Magnus Centre. Folk with some experience should go for quarter past one, The ChiMe and Qigong class is at half past two and the Beginners session is at quarter to four. For details contact Jim on 850 963.
The Fiddle Academy meets on Saturday from two till half past five in the King Street Halls and online at Jennifer Wrigley dot com.
The exhibition “In Orcadia” opens at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh on Saturday until the 2nd of march. It includes artists with Orkney connections such as Anne Bevan, Victoria Crowe, Frances Pelly, Barbara Rae and Frances Walker and new work from Birsay artist Samantha Clark.
While here in Orkney, an Exhibition of Ba Paintings by Stuart Geddit is on display in the Highland Park Shop Gallery till the end of next week.
West Side Cinema is showing Francis Ford Coppolas ‘ONE FROM THE HEART' on Saturday nightat Stromness Town Hall
- doors at 7pm and there are only balcony seats left, costing £5.
Now this is Burns weekend with lots of events happening in the county – although we believe from FB that the Flotta event has been cancelled, for details ring Janet on 701 784.
Rousay Burns Supper is on Saturday night in the School – doors open at quarter to seven.
Also on Saturday night Stromness Pipe Band have a Burns doo in the Stenness Hall at seven with entry to the Ronald Anderson Band Dance part from nine o’ clock.
The Burray Burns Crew have a Supper and Dance in the Holm Hall on Saturday – the meal at six followed by the Dance at half past eight.
Orkney Sailing Club’s Burns Supper is in The Girnel at seven o’ clock on Saturday.
A Burns Concert with Colin & Pauline Black, Stoatfinger, and Stravaig will be held in Kirkwall Town Hall at eight o’ clock – book on Eventbrite at Orkney Music and Culture.
Onto Sunday and there’s hundreds of Spring Bulbs needing Planting at St Mary’s Kirkyard at Burwick in South Ronaldsay. Lots of volunteers are needed between two and four o’ clock. Wear warm klaize, and you’ll be rewarded with plenty of homebakes and hot drinks.
Orkney Ramblers will meet at Burray Play park at ten on Sunday for a circular walk of about 7 miles on road, tracks and beach. Contact Graham on 07791 411 861 for more details, and check email or Facebook on the day in case of last minute changes.
The Modern Jive classes in Kirkwall are taking new members on this Sunday only - after that it will be October for new folk. The absolute beginner class is at half past eleven in the Guide Hall, with Beginners at one and Improvers at two. To find out more contact Steve on 07840 090 038.
To the Kirk notices, and in Kirkwall there’s a service at St Olaf’s Church at ten o’ clock, while quarter past eleven is the time for worship at the East Kirk, the Peedie Kirk and the Cathedral.
Kirkwall Baptist Church also meets at quarter past eleven, and have a Café Church at seven o’ clock.
The Salvation Army morning service is at half past ten at KGS, with afternoon worship at half past four at the Life Centre.
Kirkwall Catholic Church has Sunday Mass at half past five, and the Mass on Monday will be at the earlier time of eleven o’ clock.
There are services in Westray this Sunday at half past eleven in both the Church of Scotland and Baptist Kirks, while the service in Papay is at two o’ clock in St Ann’s.
In Hoy the service at Kirkside, Longhope is at eleven o’ clock. And also at eleven is worship in the East Mainland Church, and at St Margaret’s in the ‘Hope.
In the West the service in the Milestone Kirk, Dounby is at eleven o’ clock, with soup and a snack afterwards.
Evie, Rendall and Firth have a Joint Service in Rendall at eleven o’ clock, and the service in Orphir and Stenness Kirk is also at eleven.
And in Stromness the service at St Mary’s is at half past ten, and the Baptist Church also meets at half ten in Stromness Town Hall. The service at Stromness Church is at quarter past eleven. And Grace Church Orkney meets at five o’ clock on Sunday in the John Street Hall.
SSEN Transmission will hold a public information meeting on Thursday the 30th from quarter to seven till eight o’ clock in Firth Community Centre. Anybody wanting to know more about the Orkney Caithness Link project is invited to this Community Q&A meeting with a short presentation and project update.
Kirkwall BID will be hosting an Information Event with Kirsty Talbot on the Island Games for BID businesses on the 19th of February from half past twelve till two in the Albert Hotel. centre. After a light lunch and the presentation, there’ll be a chance to ask questions and discuss how you can participate. You need to RSVP to Kirkwall BID by Friday 7th February.
Clan’s Fire Walk is happening on the evening of March 29th at the Rugby Club. Participants will walk barefoot over two metres of burning embers, to raise money or Clan. Registration is £30 and can be found online at clan cancer support dot org and look for Orkney Firewalk 2025.
Clan’s Drop In is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from ten till four when anyone affected by cancer can call past. One to One appointments and complimentary therapies are also available, book on 87 33 93 or email: orkney @ clancancersupport dot org.
An Exhibition of Ba Paintings by Stuart Geddit is open in the Highland Park Shop Gallery till the end of the month.
The Orkney Folklore and Storytelling Centre is offering a short digital event of George Mackay Brown’s “The Winter Solstice”. It’s free to listen to on the home page at orkney storytelling dot com and will be available till January 31st.
