Fresh on the heels of the news that there is a proposed artificial ski slope in the planning for Hoy comes another potential bonanza for the island. Local man Glen G Dogut has announced his amazing discoveries whilst out gold panning in the Rackwick Burn.

Glen normally has to travel to mainland Scotland to secret locations in the Highlands to employ his hand at panning for the gold stuff in the burns and rivers. It was whilst he was back home staying at his mother’s house on Hoy when he decided to try his luck at Rackwick.

Geologists have long known that the rocks on Hoy are considerably different from the other islands of Orkney and a few had suspected that there may be precious and semi precious minerals lurking within them. No one dared to believe,however, that there would be considerable deposits of gold now being washed downstream due to the heavy rainfall we have had recently.

It was rumoured that in World War Two four Royal Engineers putting up telegraph poles on the island came across a rich seam of gold but kept it secret. Unfortunately three were killed in a freak ballooning accident to celebrate the end of the war in 1945. The fourth one, who cannot be named for legal reasons, often returned to Hoy but eventually set up home in  Barbados where he now has extensive lands.

The Orkney News caught up with Glen knee deep in the cold waters of the Rackwick burn.  Glen said:

“It was a surprise to me when I was just out practising my panning skills to actually find several gold nuggets in me pan. I sent them off to Edinburgh to be valued and they are gold alright. Mother is very happy.”

Glen has chucked in his job at a local fish farm and has decided to spend all his remaining hours in Rackwick burn. We say good luck to you Glen G Dogut.

Reporter: Fergus Graemsay

Hoy ( F Grahame)