Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Championing the communities of the North Isles, both the ferry-only-linked and the air-linked. Issue 143 — December 2024 There has been a lot going on at Orkney Islands Council in the run-up to Christmas.  Since my last Letter, I have attended members’ briefings with the OIC Chief Executive, a…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Reporting back on the exploits of your councillor both at home and abroad. Issue 142 — November 2024 The SNP Scottish Government’s former Business Ambassador for Scotland, erstwhile member of the GlobalScot business network, and recipient of an honorary doctorate from Robert Gordon University has won a second term…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place —reaching out to North Isles’ residents of all ages. Issue 141 — October 2024 Since my last Letter, I’ve been present at both ends of Orkney’s educational spectrum, from attending the UHI Orkney Graduation & Celebration of Achievement at St Magnus’ Cathedral as a member of the UHI Orkney…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place —connecting with constituents of the North Isles ward. Issue 140 — September 2024 A ferry cancellation on account of bad weather meant I had to attend our Education, Leisure & Housing meeting “virtually”, which is not my preferred method of attending meetings.  Papay School had a very good Education…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place —connecting with constituents of the North Isles Ward . Issue 139 — August 2024 The 31st July marked the actual 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Orkney County Council Act 1974  (on which Howie Firth gave a talk back in February, see Issue 134).  Curiously, it came into force…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Fulfilling since 2012 my promise to keep the folk of the North Isles updated on what I am doing. Issue 138 — July 2024 There has just been the first change in the ruling political party at Westminster since I became a councillor, and Larry, the 10 Downing Street cat…

A reader enquiry prompts me to make an addendum to the paragraph in last month’s Letter about the 50th anniversary of the first election to Orkney Islands Council, namely that the “Westray” ward included Papa Westray.  Likewise, the “Rousay” ward included Egilsay and Wyre, however at this point I need to make a corrigendum to…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A report from your councillor, fifty years after the first Orkney Islands Council election.  Issue 136 — May 2024 The 7th May marked 50 years since the first election to the new Orkney Islands Council.  (The election was held on a Tuesday.)  Twenty-three seats corresponded to 23 wards (no…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Orkney’s only regular councillor newsletter—reporting back to the folk of the North Isles since 2012. Issue 135 — April 2024 The winter is past and the flow’rets are springing,They are freed from the grasp of a hard, icy hand;Sweetly warble the birds, ‘tis the time of their singing;And the…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Orkney’s only regular councillor newsletter—reporting back to North Isles Ward constituents since 2012. Issue 134 — March 2024 Like the whole of Orkney, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of long-standing BBC Radio Orkney presenter, Dave Gray.  In the days immediately following his death,…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A monthly report from your councillor, who’s been working to improve road safety for our island children. Issue 133 — February 2024 20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph The first 20mph speed-limit signs are appearing in the Isles!  It is satisfying to see my Notice of Motion of 7th Dec 2021, and the desire…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Orkney’s only regular councillor newsletter. Issue 132 — January 2024 James Stockan MBE is stepping down as Leader of Orkney Islands Council and retiring as councillor for the Stromness & South Isles Ward.  We’ve had our differences over the years, but we’ve also had our agreements, and, on the…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A monthly report from your councillor, who’s been working to improve road safety for our island children. Issue 131 — December 2023 20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph Work is now underway to install the new 20mph speed limits at Sanday School.  Gradually, my long struggle for road safety for our island children is…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A monthly report from your councillor—the grit in the Orkney Islands Council oyster. Issue 130 — November 2023 20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph I am pleased to be able to report that contracts have now been awarded for the installation of the 20mph speed limit signs around all of the schools in the…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A report from your councillor in the month of the 84th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak. Issue 129 — October 2023 I spent a couple of days in Shetland (see photo at end) attending meetings of the Orkney & Shetland Valuation Joint Board of which I…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A report from your councillor in the month the MV Golden Mariana retires after 50 years of service. Issue 128 — September 2023 20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph—20mph I was invited to attend the meeting of the Development & Infrastructure Committee (of which I am not a member) for the item on 20mph…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A regular report from your councillor, who supports 20mph speed limits for our schoolchildren’s safety. Issue 126 — July 2023 As I step out of my front door at this time of year, I am reminded of The Garden of Flowers, the second of the Sanday Revival Hymns, published…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A monthly report on the exploits of your councillor in Kirkwall, the North Isles, and beyond … Issue 125 — June 2023 This month started with a trip to the recently-opened Life Sciences Innovation Centre in Inverness to attend a meeting of the University of the Highlands & Islands…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A report from your councillor in the month of the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III    Issue 124 — May 2023 In late April, we experienced what seemed to be an early coo-quak, and then rain fell on the reign during the Coronation Weekend in early May.  Nevertheless,…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place The first report from your councillor in the golden jubilee year of the MV Golden Mariana Issue 120 — January 2023 Welcome to AD 2023 !  I wonder what this year will bring us—the promise of new ferries?  I am not optimistic.  The only promise the Scottish Government has…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Regularly reporting on the exploits of your councillor in Kirkwall, the North Isles, and beyond Issue 119 — December 2022 A combined effort by North Isles’ & South Isles’ community councillors, North Isles’ & South Isles’ OIC councillors, and local people with medical training has succeeded in convincing Orkney…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A regular report from your councillor on what he is doing on behalf of the folk of the North Isles Issue 118 — November 2022 We have, at last, chosen a new Council Chief Executive.  His name is Oliver Reid, and he is currently Head of Communities and Public…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place A report from your councillor at a time of great uncertainty for our nation. Issue 117 — October 2022 Clearly, I spoke too soon in my last Letter, quoting those words of Alexander Pope (1688-1744), “For sense survived, when merry jests were past”.  Far from sense surviving, lunacy and…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Regularly reporting on the exploits of your councillor in Kirkwall, the North Isles, and beyond. Issue 115 — August 2022 Sadly, the risk of spreading avian influenza scuppered there being a poultry section at this year’s Sanday Show—the section the Clackson Family usually does fairly well in.  Undaunted, by…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Regularly reporting on the exploits of your councillor in Kirkwall, the North Isles, and beyond. Issue 114 — July 2022 I have now succumbed to Covid-19, having avoided becoming infected since the beginning of The Pandemic.  It was on a trip to accompany my younger son, Dunstan to the…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Regularly reporting on the exploits of your councillor in Kirkwall, the North Isles, and beyond. Issue 113 — June 2022 The big event of this month was, of course, Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.  I was given the honour of reading out The Proclamation at Sanday’s Beacon Lighting.  A big…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Experienced – Established – Effective – Engaged – Enthusiastic – and ELECTED Issue 112 — May 2022 I am indebted to the 256 voters who placed me 1st on their ballot paper, beholden to the 212 people who put me 2nd, obliged to the 142 individuals who made me…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Experienced – Established – Effective – Engaged – Enthusiastic Issue 111 — April 2022 On 21st March, many Covid restrictions were eased in Scotland, and then the legal requirement to wear masks in indoor public spaces and on public transport was lifted on the 18th April.  (Unfortunately, so too…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place Experienced – Established – Effective – Engaged – Enthusiastic Issue 110 — March 2022 As if the world’s woes weren’t bad enough already with the Covid-19 Pandemic (cases in Scotland soaring, and Orkney’s the worst!), Vladimir Putin decides to launch another global crisis with his invasion of Ukraine.  After…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (actually from West Manse) Keeping the folk of the North Isles ward informed — with Orkney’s only councillor newsletter Issue 109 — February 2022 The Seven Principles of Public Life, otherwise known as the Nolan Principles (after Lord Nolan, the founding chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (actually from West Manse) Keeping the folk of the North Isles ward informed — with Orkney’s only councillor newsletter Issue 107 — December 2021 Success!  Albeit I had to concede a year’s extension to my deadline, but at the General Meeting on the 7th December, my Notice of Motion,…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (“blended” from West Manse) Keeping the folk of the North Isles ward informed — with Orkney’s only councillor newsletter Issue 105 — October 2021 At our last Monitoring & Audit Committee meeting, we scrutinised the latest Council internal audit report.  It contained the illuminating paragraph:  “Data published by the…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (currently from School Road) Keeping the folk of the North Isles ward informed — with Orkney’s only councillor newsletter Issue 103 — August 2021 You will note in the title, that I say “currently from School Road”.  I’ve only recently discovered that I live in School Road.  It came…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (still from West Manse) Keeping the folk of the North Isles ward informed — with Orkney’s only councillor newsletter Issue 101 — June 2021 On 5th June, Orkney moved to COVID-19 Level 0.  Despite its misleading name, Level 0 does not mean ZERO LEVEL!  There are still restrictions, see: …

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place 100th Issue Supplement A review of your councillor’s first nine years in office May 2021 Orkney Islands Council has done a number of notable things since I was elected in May 2012.  As our decisions are made collectively, for most of them I can take only a share of…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (currently West Manse) Keeping the folk of the North Isles ward informed — with Orkney’s only councillor newsletter Issue 99 — April 2021 The anniversary of our first going into “lockdown” was on the 23rd March.  On that day in 2020, we councillors held our last meeting in person…

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (currently West Manse) Keeping the folk of the North Isles ward informed — with Orkney’s only councillor newsletter Issue 98 — March 2021 Useful sources of information and contact details for these unprecedented times Orkney Islands Council website:  https://www.orkney.gov.uk/    Orkney Islands Council central telephone number:  01856-873535 Orkney Ferries:  http://www.orkneyferries.co.uk/ …

Stephen Clackson’s Letter from School Place (currently West Manse) Reporting on what your councillor is doing on your behalf as the weather adds to our existing woes Issue 97 — February 2021 Useful sources of information and contact details during this Covid-19 crisis Orkney Islands Council website:  https://www.orkney.gov.uk/    Orkney Islands Council central telephone number:  01856-873535…