View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Sunday 19 July 2009

Sunday 19 July

This video captures the moment that our ferry, the MV Isle of Lewis, pulls away from the quayside at Stornoway this afternoon. It is Sunday, incidentally, and it's the first scheduled sailing to mainland Scotland in history. The cheer at the start of the video lasts for a full minute, and is held by some to be in relief of the lifting of an oppression. Spirits were not dampened by the persistent rain. In contrast, a group of a dozen church-goers held up a placard, saying "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy". They also sang psalm 46.




The first Sunday ferry sets sail


Lines of traffic waiting to board


Church protest


Some of the crowd outside the ferry terminal