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The cures of Hudson’s Bay
The Hudson’s Bay Company, which celebrated its 350th anniversary last year, had an immense economic impact on Orkney in a time of otherwise little opportunity, providing income and employment locally and to many hundreds of
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Painting the Shackleton story
Next year is the 100th anniversary of the death of the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose Antarctic journey of 1914-17 was the last major expedition of the great age of Antarctic exploration. His ship
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The clock, the fax, and the genius from Watten
Alexander Bain was one of the most prolific inventors of the 19th century, and is one of the least remembered. His inventions are all the more remarkable given his background. Born in 1810 near Watten
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The call of the mountains
At just 32 years old Tristan Cameron Harper is already known by a number of distinct identities – professional ice-hockey player, model, Mr Scotland 2016/17, and kilted yogi. Today, all those identities have merged into
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Sailing with Shackleton – an Orkney link
One of the great voyages of history was made by Commander Frank Worsley, going with Shackleton to South Georgia in a small boat to seek help for their fellow crew members, stranded on Elephant Island.
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80 years since the loss of HMS Hood
On May 21st it will be exactly 80 years since HMS sailed from Scapa Flow on her final voyage. Three days later she was sunk by the Bismarck in a sequence of events that led
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HMS Hood, Last of her kind
HMS Hood has a strong claim to being the most famous warship of the 20th century, a paragon of the might of British sea power between the wars yet ultimately a tragic symbol of loss
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Festival seeks Assistant Director
Orkney International Science Festival is looking for an Assistant Director. It’s a short-term post to the end of September, with the potential for continuation and development of the role into 2022 and beyond. The successful
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The mystery of the oaks
Here are two extracts from scientific papers of recent years. One of them must be wrong. The first one is a map showing how Quercus (oak) gradually reappeared across Britain and Ireland after the Ice
The Hudson’s Bay Company, which celebrated its 350th anniversary last year, had an immense economic impact on Orkney in a time of otherwise little opportunity, providing income and employment locally and to many hundreds of [...]
On May 21st it will be exactly 80 years since HMS sailed from Scapa Flow on her final voyage. Three days later she was sunk by the Bismarck in a sequence of events that led [...]
Alexander Bain was one of the most prolific inventors of the 19th century, and is one of the least remembered. His inventions are all the more remarkable given his background. Born in 1810 near Watten [...]
Next year is the 100th anniversary of the death of the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose Antarctic journey of 1914-17 was the last major expedition of the great age of Antarctic exploration. His ship [...]
TThis week the hay is already being baled. There has been no rain for almost five weeks, and the earth is full of cracks where the sun has dried it out. The grass is thin [...]
Nature could well be our anchor over the next few months. Such a special time of year… it just carries on ….” – 20 March 2020 Imagine your life as a front room with sofa, [...]
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