Events News & Reports

For other events reports look on our Facebook page (@edinburghshetlanders)

90th Anniversary dinner-dance (2018)

This has its own page - click here for link.

Up Helly A' January 2017

There was a great turn out for the 2017 EDSA Up Helly Aa dance on January 21 and it was good to see the hall crowded with guests of all ages. Four squads entertained us with lively acts, we were well fed, and folk danced to a great band. You can find a VIDEO on our Facebook page, and more PHOTOS.

(You can still see video of EDSA UHA 2016 or EDSA UHA 2015 at these links)

(Sorry - no video of 2018 or 2019 but some photos were put onFacebook)

The squads (2017):

A selection of photos from the night have been posted on our new Facebook page (click the link to see)

Charity donation December 2016

The funds raised (£750) at the two EDSA Autumn 2016 Charity Ceilidhs were presented in Lerwick by Danny Garrick, council member of EDSA, to Malcolm Johnson of Disability Shetland, this years chosen charity.

25 years and still going strong

At the first EDSA committee meeting of the 2016-17 season on October 11th the committee presented Margaret Tait with a surprise gift for 25 years of service on the committee, latterly as treasurer for a number of years, as well as a stalwart in the kitchen and catering and many, many other indispensable tasks for which we are all sincerely grateful.

The presentation of a specially commissioned Smirk (Stephen Gordon) cartoon was made by Margaret Simpson, EDSA president. Photograph: Malcolm Linklater (Secretary)

EDSA opening Charity Ceilidh Dance of the 2016-17 season (October 22)

The 2016-17 season kicked off with the first of two Charity Ceilidh Dances on Saturday October 22 in the usual venue of the Thomas Morton Hall in Leith Town Hall. This was the first function under the new management of the premises by Leith Theater Trust who have taken over from Edinburgh City Council, and all went well. Close to 100 folk came, some from a fair distance, to enjoy each other's company and dance to the excellent music of the Paul Capaldi Ceilidh Band. The ladies of the committee laid on a supper of stovies and home-baked oatcakes and teacake.

Folk enjoying their supper at the October Ceilidh Dance - unfortunately the lights were turned down during the dancing, which was not good for getting good photographs.

EDSA 2016 June bus trip

The EDSA bus trip in early June is usually the final event of the EDSA annual programme. This year it went to Scone Palace. It was well attended as usual, and folk had a great day out in good weather.

Some of the "happy shetlanders" on the 2016 EDSA bus trip to Scone Palace

EDSA 2016 Up Helly Aa dance

The 2016 Up Helly Aa Dance was held in Leith Town Hall on Saturday January 30. It was very well attended despite a night of sleet and gales, and folk thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the variety of squads of guizers, dancing to a good band, the usual good catering laid on by the ladies of the EDSA committee, and the company. Here is a random selection of photos from the night - more to be posted soon (send in your favorites). There is a video link (to YouTube) that gives a good impression of the night's activities (and a HD version that is better for viewing full screen).

I expect a more detailed report will be submitted by somebody who has all the details.

Click on any image to see it "full size" (i.e. as big as the one uploaded)

The dance was the usual great start to the festive season for many of the Shetland community in and around Edinburgh - with some traveling further - and was well attended despite the stormy night and the closure of the Forth Road Bridge. There was a good spread laid on by the expert catering crew to enjoy at the interval, and a number of excellent prizes donated for the raffle, which contributed to the fund raising. Click on any image below to see a larger representation.

EDSA 2015 Up-Helly-Aa Dance

The Up-Helly-Aa dance was held in the usual venue at Leith Town Hall on Saturday January 31. It was very well attended with a crowd ranging across the generations - it was good to see a lot of younger folk and bairns.

Below is a selection of photos I snapped informally (without a flash, so there's some movement blur) - to show some of the atmosphere. There may be more to come - a professional photographer was invited by Colin Stove to follow the Jarl squad and we hope that he will maybe give us a link to his website for folk to view and pick anything they may want copies of.

If anyone has anything they want to submit, send it to me.

I have also added some video (link to YouTube) which captures the atmosphere better than the photographs.

Robin Barclay (website editor)

EDSA 2014 Charity Support presentation

Ann Williamson, on behalf of the Shetland Branch of Alzheimer Scotland, was presented with a cheque for £650 at the Mercure Hotel in Edinburgh from the proceeds of our raffles at the recent EDSA Autumn and Christmas charity ceilidhs.

(L to R): Sandra Pottinger, Malcolm Linklater, Ann Williamson and Hugh Halcrow (EDSA president)

Summer Outing 2014

The annual "bus trip" this year was on Sunday June 1 and, after initial slow uptake, was eventually well attended. After pick-up at locations in Edinburgh the bus proceeded to the Park Hotel in Peebles for morning coffee, and then on to Abbotsford for lunch and a guided tour. After Abbotsford the bus returned via Carfrae Mill Hotel for supper, and then back to Edinburgh. Thanks to Malcolm Linklater for researching and organizing the route and venues.