NHS Orkney is offering an opportunity to see how far the NHS has progressed since 1948, with an open day at the Balfour Hospital today, Saturday.

The open day, between 10am and 4pm, is part of the celebrations organised by the 60th Anniversary committee.

Staff wearing uniforms from the late 1940s will act as tour guides, taking visitors around the renal unit, audiology, x-ray, theatre, day surgery, MacMillan and outpatients.

A defeat in the swimming yesterday saw Orkney lose out to Shetland in the annual Stuart Cup inter-county competition.

Shetland's 48-36 swimming victory brought the final points tally to 226-167 to Shetland, earning them the cup.

Eday’s new Heritage and Visitor Centre officially opens today, Saaturday.

With the ribbon being cut at 2pm on Saturday, by Charlie Tulloch and Jack Thomson, the Eday Heritage Association are extremely pleased that the centre is finally ready for the public.

An excavation starts at the Ring of Brodgar on Monday - the first major archaeological examination of the monument in 35 years.

The month-long programme of investigations, which start next week, will be undertaken by a 15-strong team of archaeologists and scientists from Orkney College, the University of The Highlands and Islands, University of Manchester, Stirling University and The Scottish Universities Environment Reactor Centre. 

Their aim will be to gather information which will enable a much better understanding of the nature of the iconic site. During the excavation, an online blog will be maintained here.

Meanwhile, excavators return to the dig at the Ness of Brodgar later this month.

Anxious Orkney students can now register to receive their exam results by email or by text.

Students registering with MySQA will receive their exam results by email, or text message, between 8am and 9am on Tuesday, August 5, the same day that the paper certificates are received.

They must sign up to MySQA by 5pm on 17 July 2008 and activate their account by 5pm on 25 July 2008.   They’ll need their Scottish Candidate Number and an email address.  Pupils who got their grades through Results Online last year, need to register again with MySQA.