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Case Study: Tess Leask

Tess Leask came to Shetland from the Philippines and has made her home in the islands; she has worked for the Council and, in her spare time, she sings and plays with her band, ‘Loveshack’. Here is her account of her experiences.

I arrived in Shetland on Up Helly Aa day, January 1976. The aircraft lands in a very rural area with only a few houses scattered on the hillside. Having just left Manila in the Philippines, I was worried that I had really come to the “back of beyond”. Little did I think that Shetland would become the place I now love.

In today’s terms, I suppose I was an “economic migrant”. Quite simply, Shetland could offer me a better life than I could expect in my home country. I suppose I always had a sense that my destiny required taking a risk and embracing adventure.

I believe acceptance into a community lies largely in the hands of the incomer. If you arrive with an open heart and mind, you can overcome most obstacles. No matter where you go in the world you will always find some prejudice. However, Shetland appears to have escaped the deep rooted prejudice encountered in larger communities, probably due to its classless society and well travelled population.

I really like the quality of life that Shetland offers and the strong feeling that one is part of a community. The things I dislike are the cost of travelling to and from the islands and the unpredictable weather.

It’s a good place to work. Having been in local government finance, I’d say that it’s nice to be able to see where your efforts fit into providing the services we all rely on. If you’re in private business, there are excellent financial incentives and support for those with initiative. It’s easier to quantify your competition and customer base than in some places.

I’d recommend Shetland for its quality of life, particularly if you have children. Education is second to none. The range of activities available, be it sports, arts or hobbies, is truly amazing, but most impressive of all is that it’s so easy to gain access to them and take part. For those lucky enough to live in Shetland, there is little need for any blank spaces in their leisure and social calendar.

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