Special Events 2023

… and meet a wizard, four cowboys, and a show that’s come direct from the Royal Institution in London. Dr Steven ‘Jake’ Jacobs, aka Wizard IV, former chief scientist for the Discovery Channel, has brought the four members of the legendary country group Riders in the Sky to help him tell stories of science.

Take the 6 pm ferry from Stromness for an islands evening, with John Goodlad’s story of the 19th-century Shetland cod fishing boats that sailed to Rockall and Faroe, and a look with Elaine Stewart and Monica MacLeod at the island of Barra, with its own fishing tradition.

It’s a great sight on Broad Street in front of the Cathedral, with an opportunity to see cars that can range in time from a Model T Ford from 1915 to a new electric vehicle of today – and with over a hundred years of vintage vehicles, classic cars and tractors in between, along with the sound of engines in action, and all beautifully restored.

Take a trip back to the 1950s, when Countrywoman was starting to write for the Orkney Herald – and audiences would enjoy a concert in the Harray Hall. Tonight there’s the West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society, Robin Nicolson with some classic George Corrigall and David Towers songs, Highland dancing from Josie Gibbon and a sketch by Birsay Drama Club. Emma Grieve provides some Countrywoman readings, and joined by her sister Sarah Jane sings two of Bessie's poems, and it's all ably compered by Harvey Johnston.

Conducted by Rev. Fraser Macnaughton, with the St Magnus Cathedral Choir.

100 years after Caithness author Neil M. Gunn became excise officer at the old Glen Mhor distillery in Inverness, we go further east along the road to Moray to hear the story of a distillery reborn - Benromach, from its manager Keith Cruickshank and production manager Murdo MacKenzie.