Hans J Marter

14 March, 2007

A SHETLAND fishing agent is to walk the length of the Great Wall of China to raise funds for the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (RNMDSF).

Stanley Manson will take his daughter Suzanne with him on the five day trek in late September. They are expected to walk between six and nine hours each day.

The 50 year old father of two, who has worked with Lerwick fish agent LHD for more than three decades, said the locally based fishermen's mission was an invaluable asset to the fishing community.

"The Lerwick Fishermen's Mission is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and I thought it would be a good idea to support them in this way," Mr Manson said.

"I have been here at LHD for almost 35 years now and I see what they have been doing over the years. I was sorry to see their main building being closed down, but the port missioner is still here doing an important job."

The former Up Helly Aa Guizer Jarl is already on course to raise between £5,000 and £6,000 for the mission nationally and the hopes is that some of the money will filter back to Shetland.

Lerwick Port Missioner Peter Dade said he was delighted to hear that Mr Manson was prepared to take on such a "daunting challenge" in the year the local mission was celebrating its centenary.

Superintendent Dade added: "The national mission and hopefully Lerwick will benefit from this and that is fantastic news."

Mr Manson said he was taking his 22 year old daughter on the trip to mark her graduation from Stirling University, later this summer. They are setting off for China on 22 September.

Anybody wishing to support the Mansons' fundraising effort should contact Stanley at LHD on 01595 69 3768 or e-mail: smanson@lhdshetland.co.uk