Islanders jagged in a morning

Not only is Fair Isle one of the remotest places in the UK, it is also now one of the safest.

Last week, all 35 adults living on the island were given their second dose of the Covid vaccine. The vials of Astrazeneca were sent by NHS Shetland on a small plane and were administered to islanders by two nurses in a single morning.

The island, just three miles long and oneand-a-half miles wide, might already have been looked upon as one of the safest places to avoid the pandemic due to its remoteness, but some locals felt it was that detachment which also left them extremely vulnerable, as should one person catch the virus it would quickly spread around the tiny community.

Residents now hope that some of the factors for which Fair Isle is best known – being a sociable, friendly place and for its warm welcome to visitors – can soon be put into action again before too long.

Fair Isle sits between Shetland and Orkney