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Meet the Englishman Stuart Hill, who now owns Forwick Holm, one of the Shetland Isles.

Hill - known as "Captain Calamity" - as declared the island an independent state, and renamed it the kingdom of Forvik. He says he has withdrawn it from the UK and from the EU.

Hill admits that all thisis just tongue-in-cheek, and e does it to highlight something more serious - Hill believe the Shetlands should become independent from Scotland.

Hill mentions that Scotland should have paid money to Norway, from whom its acquired the islands, in the 15th Century but, to this day, Scotland hasn't yet even paid Norway that money.

It's time for an independent Shetland Islands, says Hill.....

Captain Calamity’s hectic first week
as King of Forvik

The Sunday Post
By Laurie Watson

An Englishman who washed up on Scotland’s shores seven years ago completed his first week as self-proclaimed king of a small island off the coast of Shetland yesterday.

Stuart “Captain Calamity” Hill acquired Forwick Holm, a 2.5-acre island just south of Papa Stour in Shetland, as a gift from Papa resident Mark King in April.

And from the official residence of his tiny island off the west coast of Shetland — a two-man tent — Hill has pronounced that the renamed state of Forvik has broken away from the United Kingdom, quit the EU and become a Crown dependency.

Rescued

The pensioner, from Claydon, East Anglia, came to Shetland when he was rescued from his home-made boat, Maximum Exposure.

Mr Hill was attempting to circumnavigate the British Isles and received the nickname “Captain Calamity” after lifeboat crews were called out eight times on his behalf.

Locals on the island adopted him as one of their own and after six years of intensive research he wants to provoke all 22,000 inhabitants of Shetland to declare independence from the UK.

Reflecting on an intense first week as ruler, ferrying himself on the 10-minute journey from the mainland on his hand-made boat, the 65-year-old said he had been flabbergasted by the response.

“I’ve been interviewed by journalists from Columbia, New York, Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

“There have been 50,000 hits on the website in four days. I’ve had to take the weekend off working on Forvik just to respond to some of the emails and letters.

Hectic

“It’s been a very hectic first week in Forvik’s history, perhaps not as physically productive as I’d hoped but a good week nonetheless.”

While his day to day chores as king have involved a heavy dose of intrusion from foreign media, Mr Hill has been continuing to work on the island’s first and only permanent building — a 25-square-metre dwelling built with polythene sheets, laminated wood, hardboard and turf.

“Planning permission was passed without any complications,” he joked.

He also erected Forvik’s flag for the first time on Friday night, describing the sight of its white cross, blue background and Norwegian lion as a proud moment.

“I took a few people over to the island with me to unfurl the flag,” he said.

“I checked their passports before they came onshore and we unfurled the flag next to my tent. It was a very poignant feeling and made it feel more real.”

Not included in his visiting party were Government officials from Whitehall, who insist Forvik remains an integral part of the UK. Mr Hill insists neighbouring authorities will always have an open invitation.

Challenge

“I want them to come and visit me and challenge what I’m doing here,” he stressed. “But if they do come they better make sure they’ve got their passports or I might not let them in!”

Some sceptics have laughed off Mr Hill’s campaign, which centres on Shetland boasting a shaky constitution over an unpaid loan between Denmark and Scotland in the 15th Century.

However, he insists it’s no laughing matter and refuted any suggestion that it was a stunt by an eccentric Englishman.

“This is not about me, I don’t want to be a king or a ruler,” he stressed.

“When I say on the website people can call me ‘Your Excellency’ it’s just tongue in cheek. I really just want to right a historical wrong and use Forvik as a model for the people of Shetland.”

So far 50 people appear to back the Forvik dream, signing up for honorary citizenship, paying one Forvik gulde, a gold-backed currency that equates to £60.

However, the second citizenship option, landowning, has proved less popular.

Open only to Shetland residents, no one has been tempted by the prospect of owning one of 8000 plots for the sum of two guldes.

Mr Hill remains undeterred, insisting Forvik is here for the long-term.

“If I can get the ball rolling with the people of Shetland, Forvik can be a great success and send an important message to the world.”

sundaypost.com

William_Cleland · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:12 am Post subject:

Noteworthy that not a single native Shetlander is ever quoted in these stories. Probably all muttering to themselves about "unken folk fae sooth" and "soothmoothers" if things are still much the same as they were 20 or 30 years ago. Smile

Lewis · No Longer a Wean Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 81

I run a small country in Scotland and we didn't get on the news. What he's done isn't unusual, he just happened to be famous.

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Hammish Independence