10/06/2026
Wednesday's Diary
(to get an item included in the morning round up on Around Orkney, send it in before 4pm the previous working day)
The Birsay Youth Drama team give their final performance of their play tonight in the Birsay Hall - before they head off to the Scottish finals at the weekend. It’s free with tea, coffee and homebakes starting at seven o’ clock.
Kirkwall Grammar School’s Drama Department will perform The Addams Family musical this week – the first show is tonight and runs through till Saturday night, with a matinee in the afternoon. Tickets can be booked on Ticketsource and at the door.
South Ronaldsay and Burray Community Council has a meeting at seven o’ clock in the Hope Community Centre, and Holm Community Council meets at half past seven in the Holm Hall.
Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club gets together in the Kirkwall Hotel at half past seven.
And Borealis Bells also practice at half seven tonight in the Sandwick Hall.
Improving the Cancer Journey will be at the Stromness Library this morning between ten o’ clock and twelve, offering support for non-medical needs for those affected by a cancer diagnosis or cardiac condition.
Stromness Social Walking Group meets at midday outside Stromness Surgery.
Dounby Surgery will be closed from one o’ clock 1pm for staff training. A GP will be available to deal with urgent matters only on the usual surgery number.
Burray Ball Group meets from two till four in the Burray Hall.
The Ladies Hub is on at Age Scotland Orkney from one o’ clock till half past two.
The Salvation Army Junction Café is open between half past eleven and two for free food and company.
There’s Traditional Dancing at half past ten in Kirkwall Town Hall.
A Bookbug will be held at half past ten in the Kirkwall Library – booking is required on the Library website.
Selbro at Hatston is open between two and four for anyone wanting to speak to someone from Care & Repair, the Telecare Team, the Rehab Officer for Sensory Impairment, or an Occupational Therapist.
The Digital Support Group is on today, then every fortnight at Kirkwall Library, in the McGillvray room from 2 pm until 3:30 pm. You can drop in with any problems or queries on Smartphones, Tablets or laptops. Contact Chrissie on 879200 for more details.
The Council Dumps at Hatston and Stromness are open later tonight – and every Wednesday till the end of August – staying open till quarter to seven.
Scottish & Southern Electricity Network – SSEN – is holding a couple of public drop in events to give details about the multi million pound investments to the electricity network, and upgrades to the infrastructure in Finstown, Hatston and St Mary’s. The work will involve new underground cabling, upgrading overhead lines, and a new substation. There’s an open event today in Holm Community Centre, and on Thursday in the Finstown Hall – both running between four o’ clock and seven.
The UHI Orkney Degree Art Show is open today between ten o’ clock and four – and again next week Monday to Wednesday.
Kirkwall BID is hosting a World Cup Fun Day on Saturday from half past ten on the Kirk Green with Face Painting, World Cup Crafts, Keepy Uppy and Football Target games – with a chance to win footballs donated by the SFA. Orkney Food & Drink will have their Market and there’s the Motorbike Display on Broad Street from one o’ clock.
Rousay’s Peedie Lap is this Sunday when you can cycle, run or walk the course of just under 5 miles. It’s a free fun event – open to all ages and abilities – and although you can enter on the day it’s hoped folk will register online at Event Entry and Rousay Peedie Lap, and book your ferry travel with Orkney Ferries.
Stromness Parish Church are having Coffee and Homebakes in the Kirk Hall this Saturday from half past ten till half past twelve, along with a Book and Bake sale, and a raffle. All proceeds will go to Christian Aid.
A Plant Sale & Strawberry Tea will be held this Sunday between two and four at the Marengo Community Garden in the ‘Hope.
St John’s Kirk Walls Heritage AGM is on Tuesday next week at St John’s at half past two. Everyone will be welcome to give input about the peedie oral history project funded by a grant from VAO, and to find out more about what is happening, and how to get involved. For details email: st johns kirk scio @ gmail dot com.
Evie Community Association have the Sandcastle Competition this Sunday at Aikerness Beach, gathering from half past two to start at three, with all welcome. The prize reading and pop up Café will be at the Evie School Hall afterwards. See Evie Community Association’s page for more details.
The Friends of St Ninian’s are asking anyone with an object that holds a special tale of the history of Deerness to get in touch by this Sunday the 14th. They’re looking for items for their summer exhibition of Deerness Treasures Past & Present. You can contact them by email to: Info @ Deerness Orkney dot co dot uk, or speak to one of the organisers – Drew, Anne, Ernie, Alison, Keith, Donna or Yvonne.
Kirkwall Lifeboat Shop opens Monday to Saturday between 12 and 3.
An Exhibition by Rhona Graham and Ruth Nay is showing at Northlight, Stromness till next Monday.
The June exhibition at the Loft Gallery in the ‘Hope is Bodyscapes and Tidelines by Patty Boonstra and Louise Scott. It’s running till the 27th, with the Gallery open Tuesday to Saturday from ten till five.
Tracing the Natural World is a project supported by the Connections Through Culture programme bringing together Orkney and Vietnam, and it’s on display at the Pier Arts Centre till the 13th of June. And their summer exhibition is Through Their Eyes – the Pier Arts Centre Collection and the unfolding Asprey Gift, and it runs till November.
The exhibition Sea Stories is on display at Stromness Museum -from Shipwrecks to Sea Magic, and Whale Strandings to the Stronsay Beast – it features an interesting range of stories and objects connected to the sea.
The Summer Exhibition at the Ship of Fools Gallery is showing contemporary art, textiles, sculpture, ceramics, glass and jewellery, from a large range of artists. The Gallery opens Wednesday to Saturday from half past ten till five.
Orkney Wireless Museum at Kiln Corner opens Monday to Saturday between ten o’ clock and four displaying the history of domestic radio and wartime communications in Orkney – entry is by donation.
Sanday Heritage Centre is now open Monday to Saturday from half past nine till five and on Sundays between ten o’ clock and five.
The exhibition Uncovering Crockness and Rinnigill is open daily at St John’s Kirk Walls Heritage – 3 miles from Lyness towards Longhope.
The Improving the Cancer Journey service in Orkney is expanding. Although the name remains the same, they now support people living with selected long term conditions, starting with cardiac health. They'll continue to offer the full range of non clinical support for anyone affected by cancer, and are now extending that same help to people with cardiac conditions. If you or someone you know could benefit from financial, emotional, or practical support, you can find out more or refer yourself through the ICJ page on the NHS Orkney website.
Clan’s Drop In is open Mondays to Thursdays from ten till four when anyone affected by cancer can call past. One to One appointments and complimentary therapies are also available, book on 87 33 93 or email: orkney @ clancancersupport dot org.
The Marengo Centre is holding a Photo Competition for the Four Seasons. Subjects can be local scenes, pets or topical - and should be in landscape format - with the winning photos from all four seasons to be included in a Calendar for next year to raise funds for the Marengo Centre. Entries can be emailed to: marengocentre @ btconnect dot com, or drop off quality prints to the Marengo Centre. It's £1 an entry, with an Honesty Box in Doulls.
The Odd Animals Rescue Charity Shop on Victoria Street in Kirkwall has a Pet Food Bank for dogs and cats. They’re open Tuesday to Saturday and say don’t be too embarrassed to ask for help.
