NorthLink Ferries is one of the major sponsors of the Orkney Village at the Royal Bath & West show, to be held in Somerset from 1st - 4th June 2005.

The following article featured in the 19th May issue of the Orcadian newspaper:

With two weeks still to go until the Bath and West Show, Orkney¹s part in it has been featured more than a dozen times in newspapers and magazines south.

A feature over two pages in the Western Daily Press (circulation 50,000), with the tagline "Lure of the Orkneys' began: "One of the most remote communities in the British Isles will be packing its bags and descending on the West this summer for a surprise appearance at the region¹s biggest agricultural show."

Orkney The Brand is the largest single exhibitor booked for the show, which takes place at the Shepton Mallet showground, in Somerset, from June 1 to 4. The Orkney village being set up in the heart of the huge show will turn the spotlight on the county, with food, craft exhibitors, an art gallery and an entertainment stage.

The other publications which have carried stories include the Somerset County Gazette (circulation 31,000), Farming Life (28,700), the National Farmer (50,000), several editions of the Western Gazette (42,800), Somerset Life, the Bournemouth Echo (34,300), Festival Guide (11,000), Folio (42,000), NFU British Farmer and Grower (75,000), Prime Pursuits (30,000) and Parent Talk, a magazine circulated to parents throughout Somerset.
Many focused on the fact that Orkney¹s exhibitors would be travelling 700 miles to the show, and that Orkney was closer to Norway than to Somerset.

Fran Weelen, of the Royal Bath and West Show¹s marketing department, said there had been plenty of reaction to the news that there would be a combined Orkney exhibit at the show. "Mostly, people have been quite astonished," she said. "They ask 'Why Orkney?'."

The show's marketing department has issued a number of press releases mentioning the Orkney village and it was the main focus of one release sent out. John Clarke, of Orkney Marketing, said the press coverage was very pleasing. He expected even more once the show opened to the public on June 1. The Press Day at the show is Tuesday, May 31, and some 30 journalists from the press, radio and television will be served a lunch of Orkney produce.

Mr Clarke said the appeal for folk with Orkney connections to work as staff in the Orkney village had been very successful. "We've got nearly all we need," he said. Instead of hiring agency staff, which is usual at such shows and exhibitions, the organisers wanted to use as many Orcadians as possible. Mr Clarke said those who had come forward were a mix of folk who lived south and those who would be on holiday in the area and wanted to help.

Two articulated lorries would now be used to freight everything south for the show. The main sponsors of the Orkney village are The Orcadian, JBT and NorthLink. The Orcadian is producing a special newspaper for show-goers. The show is one of the biggest in the UK. Run by the Royal Bath and West of England Society, it attracted more than 160,000 visitors last year, easily outstripping the Royal Highland Show. The showground itself covers 200 acres and there are more than 1,000 exhibitors.

Apart from Orkney, this year's attractions include a military tattoo featuring members of the Household Cavalry, the Light Division, the Black Watch, the Royal Navy Raiders parachute display team, the US Navy 6th Fleet band, the band of the Royal Marines and the Royal Signals Motor Cycle Display Team; an exhibit of wolves; the UK's number-one chainsaw team and The Wurzels.

One person particularly interested in the Orkney contingent to visit the show is Elspeth Allum, of Highbridge, in west Somerset. "I was born in Kirkwall and christened in St Magnus Cathedral, as was my sister, Sandra," she said. Her mother was Georgina (Lena) Miller, daughter of George and Ina Miller of Olrig, Willow Road, Kirkwall. They ran a small shop. George was a lighthouse keeper and stonemason. "My aunt Ethel was a nurse in Kirkwall and my aunt Ann went to Edinburgh University, where she gained two degrees and became food executive officer of Orkney on April 16, 1940." Lena did her teacher training at Moray House, Edinburgh. She taught in Rendall, where her head teacher was Miss Hourie. Elspeth¹s mother met a Navy man, Jack Allum, and they married in the cathedral in 1937. The family moved to Somerset when Elspeth was about four. She has not been back since. "I am wondering if anyone knew my family, or if any relatives I have not met may be coming to Somerset," said Elspeth, who plans to visit the Orkney village at the show.