Edinburgh & District Shetland Association

The Edinburgh and District Shetland Association was established in 1928 to cater for the social needs of an extensive Shetland connected community in and around Edinburgh and Leith. In many ways it superseded the Leith Thule Club which thrived in the Victorian era  but disbanded during WW1 (see our Archives). 

While the size of this community has varied over the years and the style of social events has changed, the aims of the Association remain the same. Up until the Covod pandemic, with social distancing and lockdown measures to reduce spread of infection started in March 2020, the Association was a lively forward looking community running regular ceilidh dances during Winter months in the Thomas Morton Hall at Leith Town Hall and other events with a specifically Shetland flavour during the year. Now, Spring 2023, we are starting to try to recover some of that vitality. Unfortunately our regular venue, the Thomas Morton Hall, is unavailable in the forseeable future due to refurbishment and parent-organisation revision, so we are actively looking for alternative suitable venues (suggestions welcome). Members, their friends and visitors are very welcome to join us at all events. We are now organising resumption of collection of Membership Annual Subscriptions (see Membership)

We hope that existing members will renew membership and new members (full for Shetland-connected folk or associate for friends who enjoy our events) are always welcome. We are aware of Shetland folk and/or their families in and around Edinburgh (or further away) who are not current members and we are keen to get you involved to keep the society relevant and vibrant as generations change, but still want to enjoy a flavour of "hame and hamefolk". Volunteers to help at events, especially with catering, are particularly welcome if you want to get involved. Note that membership is free for Shetland students located in Edinburgh for their various courses. You don't have to be a member to come along to events, but your support through membership is appreciated, and you will be put on our mailing list for any information that is sent out, including the programme/syllabus.

Update:

Note: the 2024 AGM is on Tuesday April 16 at 7:30 pm in the Committee Room, 1st floor, Stockbridge Life Care Centre, 2 Cheyne Street, EH4 1JB.  

During the Coronavirus crisis, all events and meetings were cancelled until further notice. 

Now (Autumn 2023) we aim to restart some level of activity. 

See our Programme of Events for details so far

Reminder - you can get your tickets for the EDSA Up Helly Aa on Saturday 10th February 2024 on line via the Eventbrite bookings site (link) or contact Malcolm or Hugh (see our contacts page)

EDSA re-initiated the monthly pub lunches in the Conan Doyle (first Fridays of a month) after lockdowns ceased - if you aren't on Malcolm Linklater's email list for those, contact him. The Conan Doyle pub lunch is usually the first Friday of the month at 12 noon. The "Sheeksin" (Wednesday Afternoon Club - WAC) meet-ups will also restart in September but the venue has changed. Vaila Irvine has offered use of the Residents' Lounge in Homecairn House (where she now resides) at 2 Goldenacre Terrace (Buses to Inverleith Row – nos. 8, 9, 23 and 27). The first meeting will be at 2 to 4pm on Wednesday 6 September, then again on Wednesday 4 October.

Facebook: We have started a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/edinburghshetlanders/ and events and other news and photographs will appear there (probably before it appears here, or it may only be there). You should be able to access it even if you have not joined Facebook, and Facebook members should be able to post and comment as visitors. An archive of images will be built up.

Archive: we have added an archive page for copies of old photos and documents. If you have anything that might be of interest, please get in touch.

Last event -   Up-Helly-Aa Dance on Saturday 1st February. A selection of photos are on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/edinburghshetlanders/).

AGM - The details for the 2023 AGM can be found on the "Programme of Events" Page (click link or select in the heading above)

For any event there is usually a limit to the numbers the venue can accommodate, so tickets will be printed to match that number. To reserve tickets (which can be picked up and paid for at the door on the night) contact Hugh Halcrow by phone (0131 346 7702) or email (see contacts). Any spare tickets will be available at the door, but it is best to reserve them to avoid disappointment. It is planned to enable ticket purchase on line. Details will be provided when that is set up.

Check Events News for reports of recent and previous events and  "Dis an' Dat" for other news and information snippets. Contact Robin Barclay (email) with any news, information or comment to place on this website. Photos and stories are always welcome from any members.