0:00:04 > 0:00:0694 miles north of the Scottish mainland,
0:00:06 > 0:00:11where the blustery Atlantic meets the North Sea, lies Shetland.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15An archipelago of some 100 islands, mostly uninhabited.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Until the late 15th century they belonged to Scandinavia.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22And being closer to Bergen than Edinburgh,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25the islanders remain proud of their Norse heritage.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Recently, new industries have swept in,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33supplementing the island's crofting and seafaring heritage.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37The most northerly island is Unst,
0:00:37 > 0:00:40where locals mix tradition with innovation
0:00:40 > 0:00:42to survive in a fast-changing world.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48At this time of year the days are long and the waters are calm.
0:00:48 > 0:00:5118 lb!
0:00:51 > 0:00:55So the anglers take to the sea for the annual fishing competition.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06And David Cooper joins forces with his friend,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Episcopal minister Neil Brice,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10in a unique island remembrance.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15Hear us as we pray for those who work at sea.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19'This wasn't a traditional church service.'
0:01:19 > 0:01:21It was very much a community event,
0:01:21 > 0:01:27and community and the sea just run deep.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Surrounded by the sea,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07boats have always played a big part in island life,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and fishing has been the lifeblood
0:02:09 > 0:02:13of island communities like Unst for generations.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Salted cod and herring provided much-needed protein
0:02:16 > 0:02:20for the crofters to get through the lean winter months.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Although the large herring fleets are a thing of the past,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26the annual Norwick Eela fishing competition
0:02:26 > 0:02:28is a chance to honour that heritage,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31bringing local fishermen and families together.
0:02:34 > 0:02:35Hi, here I am!
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Never worry, now I'm here.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43Desley Stickle, herself a keen angler, is lending a hand.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Just putting up the marquee
0:02:45 > 0:02:48ready for the Norwick Eela fishing competition tomorrow.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53They used to go fishing, off in their boats, in the olden days -
0:02:53 > 0:02:57that was where they got their food from, obviously.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01But they have just sort of started again,
0:03:01 > 0:03:02I think 10 or 15 years ago
0:03:02 > 0:03:05it started again, just a competition,
0:03:05 > 0:03:06just off the beach here.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11Master of Ceremonies and organiser of the event is Charlie Priest.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Charlie?
0:03:29 > 0:03:31LAUGHTER
0:03:36 > 0:03:39LAUGHTER
0:03:42 > 0:03:46All the boats have four hours to see who can catch the biggest fish,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50the most variety of species, and the largest catch by weight.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54And bragging rights are fiercely contested.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56There's a bit of a rush to the start.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00We try and get there before them, but it never really works like that!
0:04:01 > 0:04:04With 17 boats all armed with tackle and bait
0:04:04 > 0:04:06and some of them with the confidence
0:04:06 > 0:04:08that they know where the best cod beds lie,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10it is time to line up for the gun.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13GUN FIRES
0:04:13 > 0:04:15CHEERING
0:04:15 > 0:04:17C'mon, Charlie!
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Not long ago, small fishing boats like these
0:04:21 > 0:04:26would have also been used to travel and trade between the islands.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Today, the 11 car ferries that serve the Shetland Islands
0:04:29 > 0:04:32are the lifeblood of Unst, keeping the economy going
0:04:32 > 0:04:36through all the treacherous weather the Atlantic throws at them.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38What horsepower have we got?
0:04:38 > 0:04:42The two main engines is 600 horsepower each.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43Wow!
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Someone who relies heavily
0:04:45 > 0:04:47on the ferry timetables running smoothly
0:04:47 > 0:04:49is minister David Cooper,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51who is taking the nine o'clock ferry
0:04:51 > 0:04:55to his church service on Unst from the neighbouring island of Yell.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58I watch you every day from the window at the manse
0:04:58 > 0:05:05- and the route across here is never ruler straight, is it?- No, no.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08There's a lot of tide that runs here,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11especially in the winter when you've got a few gales blowing,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14and you get quite a lot of sea coming in here, so...
0:05:14 > 0:05:15Can I nip in this magic seat?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Yes, you can have a quick seat there, if you want.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25It really is a remarkable, a remarkable view.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Here we are, I'm touching nothing, and the boat is still going!
0:05:29 > 0:05:31We're on autopilot there, so...
0:05:31 > 0:05:35- Yes, you better say it, just so that it is the official view!- Yeah!
0:05:37 > 0:05:41The sea, of course, provides a living for so many people.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44And it's still the case
0:05:44 > 0:05:49that fish is the largest part of the local economy.
0:05:49 > 0:05:55And all of the related trades, like transport and the ferries
0:05:55 > 0:05:59and everything else, very important for us.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03To commemorate Unst's seafaring past,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06David is hatching a plan with the Episcopal minister
0:06:06 > 0:06:10on the capital of Mainland, Lerwick, the Reverend Neil Brice.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12PHONE RINGS
0:06:12 > 0:06:13Hello, this is Neil.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18Neil also has a small parish on the neighbouring island of Yell.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21That's fine, no problem at all, speak to you soon, goodbye.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Me and David are great friends with each other
0:06:24 > 0:06:29but we hardly ever share services.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32The proposed venue for the joint service event
0:06:32 > 0:06:34is the Boat Haven Museum in Haroldswick,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37a treasure trove of seafaring memorabilia,
0:06:37 > 0:06:39looked after by volunteer Freda Gray.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Hi, Freda, how are you?
0:06:41 > 0:06:43- Welcome to the Boat Haven. - Thanks very much.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46It's good to be here. This is a good space.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49It is more of an act of remembrance than a service,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51so this is ideal, it's perfect.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53At the turn of the 20th century,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Unst was home to one of the largest herring fleets in Europe.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Can you imagine? I mean, it looks pretty big in here,
0:07:00 > 0:07:01but out on the ocean...
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Six or seven men in here, miles out at sea...
0:07:05 > 0:07:08It still is, today, the most dangerous occupation.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12Here is a list of some of the names we shall be remembering.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14It's clear from this list
0:07:14 > 0:07:17there's whole families that die at any one time,
0:07:17 > 0:07:24leaving a widow and four children under 14, sons.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25And it still goes on,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28so I wanted to be able to have a time when the community
0:07:28 > 0:07:32can come together and just...remember them.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33What's this?
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Back in the day, during the herring season,
0:07:37 > 0:07:42the population swelled from 2,000 to a staggering 10,000 people.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44When you look at the bay today,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47you can't quite picture what it would have been like
0:07:47 > 0:07:51at the height of the herring industry here.
0:07:51 > 0:07:57700 boats going out of the bay to start fishing on the Monday morning.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01These were built for the gutter lasses
0:08:01 > 0:08:04when they came up for the herring and then there would be the farlin,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08the containers where the gutter girls would do the gutting,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12and they had to work really fast because they were paid per barrel.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17You had fish oil and scales on your skin and you basically fried.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22No suntan lotion or that kind of thing in those days,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26so quite harsh conditions sometimes for them.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30After World War I, the trade declined
0:08:30 > 0:08:34and by the 1930s, the industry had vanished.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36With Unst's chief source of income gone,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40islanders have continually had to find new ways to glean a living.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45It always amazes me that Unst keeps going.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50They are sturdy people, they get on with it through different seasons
0:08:50 > 0:08:54and different economic times, and they just make the best
0:08:54 > 0:08:57of whatever is going and get on with it.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02As well as a passion for recreational fishing,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Charlie Priest has a commercial interest too.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08He and his brother Bertie run a salmon hatchery
0:09:08 > 0:09:11at their croft in Skaw, Britain's most northerly house.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24It takes six months for each salmon to grow 8cm long,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27which they then sell on to the nearby salmon fishery.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Just another of the many enterprises
0:09:29 > 0:09:32that sustain their traditional crofting lifestyle.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35The twin brothers have come up with an ingenious way
0:09:35 > 0:09:39to supply a constant flow of fresh water to their farm of fish -
0:09:39 > 0:09:43they use the peaty burn running off their hill next to the house.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06Another business to rise from the ashes of the former fishing trade
0:10:06 > 0:10:10is the new gin distillery based at Saxa Vord hangar,
0:10:10 > 0:10:15the former RAF station that closed in 2006.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17I think gin is becoming more popular
0:10:17 > 0:10:20and I've heard that there is more gin produced in Scotland
0:10:20 > 0:10:23than anywhere else in the world, different gins.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Here's the gin still.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28It's probably a small still as things go,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31but you've got to start small to progress big.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Everything is done by hand - labelling is done by Luke, by hand,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38the tops are normally done by Luke, by hand.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40In the crowded gin market,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43swamped with new distilleries popping up every month,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46they are attempting to create a unique selling point.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Mark Turnbull, the chief distiller, has been working to conjure up
0:10:50 > 0:10:55a distinctive Shetland taste - locally-grown apple mint.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56The hardest thing is the apple mint.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00That's the key ingredient, that's what is locally grown in Unst
0:11:00 > 0:11:02and that's what gives it its unique taste.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05As you can see, it's very light, so to get 100g for a bottling,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07you need quite a lot.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09And it needs a bit of breeze and a bit of sunlight,
0:11:09 > 0:11:14but Sarah McBurney, she's the expert, she's the expert.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15We would start panicking
0:11:15 > 0:11:19if Sarah told us she couldn't get any more!
0:11:19 > 0:11:23Sarah McBurney, who supplies the local hotel with fresh produce,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26is hoping she can provide the distillery
0:11:26 > 0:11:29with the required amount of dried apple mint.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31I did actually harvest this the other day,
0:11:31 > 0:11:33although it's coming on again now.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35A couple of days of sunshine and it would just...
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It would just be so good if the sun would come and stay.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43Now, this is a key ingredient, so as demand grows for the gin,
0:11:43 > 0:11:44we need to actually be able
0:11:44 > 0:11:47to produce lots and lots and lots of apple mint,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51but it's having a hard time spreading this year, I'm afraid,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53and demand is growing.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Growing anything in the harsh Shetland environment means that
0:11:56 > 0:12:01most of Sarah's vegetables have to be grown in her polytunnel.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06The idea is that I try and produce fresh produce.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08This year has been pretty difficult
0:12:08 > 0:12:12because the weather has been so cold and wet and miserable and grey.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Nothing is doing as well as it should.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Normally, by June, this...
0:12:17 > 0:12:19There would just be greenery everywhere.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21The plants would be up here,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24the cucumbers would be up to the tops of these nets
0:12:24 > 0:12:27and it would just be a complete curtain of green,
0:12:27 > 0:12:32so the fact that it's completely visible right the way through...
0:12:32 > 0:12:36is quite amazing, it's probably the first year that this has happened.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39I've been growing things in this polytunnel now for...
0:12:39 > 0:12:40This is the fifth summer.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Poop!
0:12:42 > 0:12:46I'm...not very impressed with the weather this year.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49It's been really, really bad.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50Not growing weather.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55Another person who knows how unforgiving the Shetland climate is
0:12:55 > 0:12:59for any plant to thrive in is 82-year-old David Edmondston.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10Nearly.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Maybe it doesn't need choke, actually, it's a warm day.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21ENGINE STARTS
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I'm afraid I'm not a dedicated gardener.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Don't ask me about gardening cos I can't tell you anything
0:13:27 > 0:13:29other than a rose or a daisy.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35But David's great-great-grandfather did know his plants.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36There we are.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41This is Thomas, born in 1825.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Between the age of 8 and 12, he travelled round Shetland,
0:13:45 > 0:13:49staying with various people, and he completely categorised
0:13:49 > 0:13:52all the plants and he called it
0:13:52 > 0:13:57The Flora And Fauna - I think - Of Shetland.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Thomas the botanist made one floral discovery in particular.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04It's one of the rarest plants in Britain,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06known as Shetland's mouse-ear,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10or more affectionately, Edmondston's chickweed.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12There is the chickweed.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Can be confused with a daisy, I expect.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17It's a bit bigger than a daisy, quite startling when you see them.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21You know, they really stand out.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25The chickweed only grows here, it doesn't grow anywhere else.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27It only grows in Unst, on the Keen of Hamar.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31But the thing is, it does not like good soil.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33It's a pretty tenacious plant.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Thomas the botanist was obviously an infant prodigy.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40We share the same...
0:14:40 > 0:14:42great-great-grandfather.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44He was no fool, that man.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47And then next to Thomas, the tiger?
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Oh, the tiger, yeah.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51That's a man-eater.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54When small children come, "Oh, can I see the tiger?"
0:14:54 > 0:14:57And they climb up the stairs and then they see this
0:14:57 > 0:14:59and they are sort of cringing and you have to say,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02"It's all right, it's not going to hurt you."
0:15:02 > 0:15:04Yeah, it's rather fun, actually.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13Back at Saxa Vord, a much-awaited package has arrived for Sarah
0:15:13 > 0:15:16so she can progress with the mass production of apple mint
0:15:16 > 0:15:19required by the gin distillery.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22A-ha! At last!
0:15:22 > 0:15:24It certainly does look heavy.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Doing the heavy lifting is handyman Mark 'Sammy' Samuels.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Hi, Sarah, thanks for turning up.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Yeah.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36It is a delight when it finally arrives.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Should we take it out on the grass?
0:15:38 > 0:15:39What we really need...
0:15:39 > 0:15:44Yes, we really need to open it out because we need to concertina it.
0:15:46 > 0:15:51Now, it has an inside and outside, so if we open it right out...
0:15:54 > 0:15:55This is going to be fun!
0:15:55 > 0:16:01In order that we can grow more apple mint for the gin,
0:16:01 > 0:16:02we need a growing area.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06We have to withstand 100mph winds through the winter,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10so any polytunnels on Shetland have to be very, very well protected,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13reinforced, battened down to the nth degree.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- So, you want to take this over...? - Yeah, take the whole lot over
0:16:16 > 0:16:18and then we can batten that side...
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Right, got you. I like you, Sarah, that sounds really good.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24That's it.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26- Use your height, Sarah! - I haven't got any!
0:16:29 > 0:16:31As well as being a top handyman,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Sammy is a former national judo champion,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37but he's no match for Sarah.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Pull it this way, get that corner and pull it as tight as you can.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Yes, ma'am! I just do as I'm told!
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Good man.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48That's the sort of man I like!
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- Happy?- Yeah.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Oh, perfect. Couldn't be any better.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55This might be the best one ever.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58I'm going to have to sleep in here tonight, just in case,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00so you know it doesn't blow away.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09Back at Norwick Beach, the fishing boats are returning home.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10The four-hour competition is over
0:17:10 > 0:17:14and it's time for the all-important weigh-in.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16One, two, three...go. Heave!
0:17:47 > 0:17:52Small fish, a lot of small fish, but...five species, yeah,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and a haddock, so... But no, it didn't go very well.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Right, empty it out and see what they weigh.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Got a big one here, will we weigh this one up first?
0:18:08 > 0:18:10- Yeah, we'll put him in. - Get him weighed first.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11Whoops!
0:18:11 > 0:18:1517... 18 lb.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Empty it in.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Exactly 10 lb.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24I catch my limit.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29People that doesn't fish just comes up here and fishes this competition,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32people that have never fished in their life and, I mean,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34the people on the barbecue here,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38they come up from England every year just to do the barbecue.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44I came here, 18-month tour by myself and since leaving,
0:18:44 > 0:18:48we've been back every year for the last 21 years on holiday.
0:18:48 > 0:18:49Haven't missed a year.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Who's this?
0:18:52 > 0:18:53The burger?
0:18:53 > 0:18:55What brings me back?
0:18:55 > 0:18:57The peace and quiet,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00the friendliness of the people.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04They are so genuine, so nice.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Hello, Colin. How are you, sir? All right? Nice to see you again.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10How are you, mate?
0:19:10 > 0:19:11My hands are all covered in fish.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Oh, you're a gentleman.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16With the fish all weighed and gutted,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20it's time for the much-awaited prize-giving.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25Master of Ceremonies is competition organiser Charlie Priest.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36CHEERING
0:19:41 > 0:19:44CHEERING
0:20:00 > 0:20:02CHEERING
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Broke my leg and they all helped me get on board the boat,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54they all helped me take part and then when I got ashore,
0:20:54 > 0:20:59well, they've awarded me, so...I'm just happy for that.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07CHEERING
0:21:07 > 0:21:10The main prize of the day goes to
0:21:10 > 0:21:14none other then Charlie's older brother, Albert Priest.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16LAUGHTER
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Brilliant fun. You couldn't have this anywhere else!
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- HE LAUGHS - Brilliant!
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Three cheers for Charlie Priest. Hip-hip...
0:21:32 > 0:21:38CHEERING
0:21:50 > 0:21:53At the Shetland Reel distillery,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Sarah has a delivery for manager Mark.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01- Hi, Mark.- Hi, Sarah.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04Guess what?
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- Apple mint?- Yep, there you go.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09That's good, quite a lot there!
0:22:09 > 0:22:10It's not doing too badly.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17- That smells great, doesn't it? - I know.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18How is the gin coming along?
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- It's absolutely flying off the shelf, Sarah.- Good.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24It's... It's been brilliant, brilliant.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27It's doing that well we are actually thinking about
0:22:27 > 0:22:29getting another flavour on the go.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33We've not made up our mind yet, but we've been experimenting and...
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Oh, right, so I'm not allowed to know what it is, then?
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Not yet, but you'll be the first to know when we decide.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- Happy distilling!- Yep! - THEY LAUGH
0:22:43 > 0:22:46With demand for the Unst gin going well,
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Mark has come up with an idea to create another gin flavour
0:22:50 > 0:22:53using a different local ingredient.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57He's looking at something completely different.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59It did come as a surprise.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02The ingredient that he's asked for is a new one to me,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05it wasn't one that I would have thought of.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07He's asked for seaweed!
0:23:09 > 0:23:10Seaweed!
0:23:10 > 0:23:16I was expecting a different type of herb, but no - seaweed.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20It's quite ingenious, it's actually a really good idea.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Well, it just grows, doesn't it?
0:23:22 > 0:23:26It's not something that's got to grow because there's sunshine,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28it just grows in the sea.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31It will probably make it special to Unst,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33the fact that we're no more than
0:23:33 > 0:23:36a couple of miles from the sea in any direction.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Well, the next step would simply be to go and get
0:23:38 > 0:23:41some of the type of seaweed they are looking for
0:23:41 > 0:23:44and then they can do some trials. Because that has to happen first -
0:23:44 > 0:23:47they have to work out how much they need,
0:23:47 > 0:23:51how much they are going to have to add to give it that sea tang,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54because it's going to be a taste of the sea
0:23:54 > 0:23:56that he's going to add to the gin
0:23:56 > 0:23:59and that should be very interesting.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03New gin, new name, new product.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06So...better go and find some seaweed!
0:24:21 > 0:24:25In the heart of Haroldswick at the Boat Haven museum,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28it's the day of the Sea Sunday service.
0:24:28 > 0:24:29Welcome.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32With most families having a family member,
0:24:32 > 0:24:36colleague or neighbour lost at sea in the not-so-distant past,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38it's no surprise there is a strong turnout.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Far exceeded the expectations as far as numbers are concerned.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49I printed 50 sheets for people to have and we were well over 100.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51The marine industry here is one of the largest,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54whether they are going fishing or whether they are
0:24:54 > 0:24:57dealing with the boats, the engines and all those sorts of things,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00so it's very, very much the heart of what Shetland is about.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06Ecumenical services like these are common events in Shetland,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08as it brings people together from neighbouring islands
0:25:08 > 0:25:10and all the different churches.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Joining Neil Brice,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15the visiting Episcopal minister is David Cooper.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19It is marvellous to see you all here.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22We are in the most - if you'll pardon the expression -
0:25:22 > 0:25:26the most heavenly place for this commemoration.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31Our islands live with the daily reminder
0:25:31 > 0:25:36that the sea is often a dangerous and unpredictable place.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Hear us as we pray for those who work at sea.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46And give us thankful hearts for the risks they face
0:25:46 > 0:25:50for our wellbeing and sustenance.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54THEY SING IN HARMONY: Song Of The Papa Men
0:25:58 > 0:25:59James Williamson.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Thomas Williamson.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Martin Ramsay.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Karl Anderson.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Norman Gray.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Barry Sutherland.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14John Sutherland.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15William Williamson.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17John Henderson.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Peter Johnson.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Peter Matheson.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28Across the islands, there are memorials to men lost at sea.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33This community of Unst has had its share.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37They were families, fathers, sons, uncles, nephews,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41and the local community responded
0:26:41 > 0:26:47by caring for those who were left widowed and orphaned.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51And that's why the commemoration is still important today.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59THEY SING IN HARMONY: Song Of The Papa Men
0:26:59 > 0:27:05My two brothers-in-law were lost from their creel boat.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07It affects the whole community.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12Everybody here who is local knows the families affected,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15they know the men, we know the men who were lost.
0:27:15 > 0:27:16The reflection of their support
0:27:16 > 0:27:19was the number of people who were here today
0:27:19 > 0:27:21because they all knew these men too.
0:27:21 > 0:27:22It's a strong community anyway
0:27:22 > 0:27:26and that's why everybody supports each other and pulls together.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30This wasn't a traditional church service,
0:27:30 > 0:27:34it was very much a community event
0:27:34 > 0:27:39and community and the sea just run deep.
0:27:39 > 0:27:45# ..Rowin' Foula doon. #
0:27:46 > 0:27:48APPLAUSE
0:27:54 > 0:27:59In the days to come, the 140-year-old agricultural show
0:27:59 > 0:28:01gets the competitive juices going.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04My knitting is very amateurish,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07so I have to do quirky things like this.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10One of the amazing features of these older people
0:28:10 > 0:28:13is just how competitive they are.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18Frank and Jem spruce up filly foal Sula to compete for a rosette.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Do you what the problem with this kind of pony is?
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- Too much white? - Too much white!
0:28:23 > 0:28:28And at the gin distillery, there's great excitement over a new flavour.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34That's sugar kelp, that's good eating.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Make a Korean-style seaweed soup.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Don't think my other half would appreciate it
0:28:39 > 0:28:41if I offered him seaweed for tea!
0:28:41 > 0:28:43SHE LAUGHS