A plea from the President of the Sandwick Community Association was answered by the Council’s gritter team at the weekend – meaning around 55 over 70s from the area were able to enjoy a hot, tasty, free Christmas lunch.

President Steven Sinclair said: “The wintry weather left the car park at the Sandwick Hall a sheet of ice and it would have been too dangerous for folk to have attended at the dinner on Sunday, or for the onward delivery of meals on wheels.

Pupils from Papdale Primary School are pictured being recorded for BBC Radio Orkney’s “Radio Church” carol service - to be broadcast at 6pm tonight, Monday, evening.  

The programme also includes music from pupils at Westray Junior High, as well as a re-telling of the Christmas story with Susan Kirkbride and John Butterfield, and contributions from well known voices from people from churches around the parishes and isles.  

The school kitchen team are Papdale are certainly in the festive spirit as they dished up a delicious Christmas lunch to the bairns and staff yesterday!

Well done team Papdale – sure to have brought a smile to the faces of many!

Our waste and recycling teams are out and about today trying to reach as many properties as possible despite the tricky conditions.

Please bear with them though as the roads are challenging in some areas and it simply may not be safe for them to try and manoeuvre – the last thing we want is for them to get stuck.

We are on the Christmas countdown now and wanted to give you the heads up of the closure period at the St Magnus Care in Kirkwall.

The facility will close at 15.00 on Friday 23 December, reopening at 09.30 on Wednesday 4 January 2023.

Staff would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.