Norwegian visitors pay tribute to Shetland Bus operation

May 17th, 2011 by Jim Tait 

A crowd of Norwegian visitors celebrated their country’s independence day with a march through Lerwick town centre today.
The group arrived the previous day on a number of boats, including the Helandwhich is of special significance to Shetlanders, being a veteran of the Shetland Bus operation during World War II.
The parade began at 10am at Victoria Pier, headed through Commercial Street and the Esplanade and back to the pier where the Norwegian national anthem was sung. The event was recorded for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, to be shown on television in the country.
In the afternoon, the visitors laid a wreath at the Shetland Bus Memorial in Scalloway in memory of those who lost their lives during World War II. They then headed back to Lerwick were, accompanied by members of the Norwegian-Shetland Association, they laid flowers on the Norwegian war graves.