Celebrating the birth of a pioneer in Shapinsay

A special event to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Shapinsay laird, David Balfour, is to taking place at Balfour Castle tonight, Friday.

Balfour @ 200 is described as a musical evening celebrating the life of David Balfour, who commissioned David Bryce to build the castle in 1847.

David Balfour, fourth laird of Balfour, transformed the island of Shapinsay in the 19th century.

He was a man of immense wealth, and one of the greatest agricultural improvers of his time. He owned the island of Shapinsay, and the neat, chequered landscape, as laid out by him and his agent, still remains to this day.