Today the 1st of February 2018 The Orkney News celebrates its first birthday. We were told it would not last. That there was not enough news. And yet here we are growing our readership by the day. Delivering, free to view, online the community alternative news about Orkney and all things of interest to the people of Orkney (and beyond).
So we thought you might like to know a little bit more about us. We are all volunteers: everyone who contributes to the Orkney News.
Nick Morrison
A veteran of the first Gulf war, Nick had 12 years in the military.
He is building his own house out of straw bales (you can read about it in our back pages).
He is a semi-retired environmental scientist and a small holder.
Martin Laird
Born and raised in Orkney.
Martin studied fine art and architecture in Aberdeen.
Currently a craftsman for Sheila Fleet Jewellery, cartoonist for iScot magazine, and occasional artist.
Logo design and IT support for the Orkney News.
Fiona Grahame
Fiona has been a school teacher, a child minder, care worker, tour guide and journalist.
All her working life she has been an active trade unionist.
As well as reporting she is the editor of The Orkney News.
Helen Armet
Born and brought up in Bonnyrigg Helen worked for the Inland Revenue in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. She came to Orkney in 1991 for a wedding and fell in love with the islands and stayed. She met Kenny in 1992 and married in 1993. They have two girls aged 24 and 18 and whilst they were young Helen worked the pubs and clubs in the evening for 17yrs so she was able to stay home during the day. She loves nothing more than walking and becoming the eyes of her wonderful collie Bandit over the last 8yrs which she thought was a full time job in itself until she got so fed up mumping at the reported news that she got together with some like minded souls in 2016 from which the Orkney News was born.
Helen is the sub editor of The Orkney News and writes amongst other things the very popular home cooking pages
Kenny Armet
Born in Renfrew, Kenny left school on his 15th birthday with no qualifications and made his own way in life in the early 70s.
He was an apprentice Electrician when he joined the Army(Royal Engineers).
He drove L.G.V. and L.P.C. vehicles for 32 years and the last 9 years in administration (likes the office to be warm).
Kenny has been with The Orkney News since its launch day (01/01/2017) and is very proud of the paper’s achievements.
The Orkney News would be nowhere without the many contributors who send us in their writing, photos and views.
Bernie Bell and a geologist
Alec Ross
Zara Pennington
Eamonn Keyes with his doppelgänger Peter B
Dream Angus
And there are many more: Isla, Valkyrie, Jeffrey,Monica, Carl , all the poets (alive and dead), letter writers, researchers and the politicians who have supported us by sending in their contributions.
Especially we thank the readers who enjoy the variety of what we have to offer. Follow the website ( you can also find us on Facebook and Twitter). The Orkney News will always remain free to view but there is a donate button if you want to contribute.
And if you want to send us in your views, images etc you can use our contact page or e:mail fiona@theorkneynews.scot.
