Meet the Hymhus Team
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Jonathan Ritch
OPERATIONS LEAD
Jonathan Ritch is a well-known Shetland musician, sound engineer and facilities manager with many years' experience at Shetland Arts as the Production & Facilities Lead at Mareel.
He is also a busy father, closet poet, lapsed gardener and avid record collector.
jonathan@bigtoncollective.org -
Alice Ritch
COMMUNITY MUSIC THERAPIST
Alice’s belief in the power of music to change people’s lives is at the heart of the Hymhus project. With strong family ties to the building she has a deep connection and commitment to the development of Hymhus as a community hub.
Alice loves writing, doodling, exploring new places and being with her bairns.
alice@bigtoncollective.org -
Sian Wild
OUTREACH & SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER
Sian has worked in the voluntary sector for over 30 years with the last decade spent working with care experienced young people in Shetland.
Rooted in creative, relational practice, her work encourages people to explore and express thoughts, feelings, stories and ideas and to share those with others.
sian@bigtoncollective.org -
Vaila Irvine
PIANO TUTOR
We are so grateful to have Vaila working alongside Alice teaching piano at Hymhus on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons.She brings an infectious enthusiasm for all things musical - including Hymhus bell ringing!
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Samantha Dennis
STRAW MAKERS GROUP TUTOR
An archaeologist by profession, Dr Samantha Dennis was posted to St. Kilda in the early 2000s, and has subsequently made her life in Shetland. Sam learned the particular techniques of Shetland coiled straw basket-making directly from Jimmy Work, the last semi-professional basket maker in Shetland, using only Shetland oats.
Sam’s experimental work incorporates sea plastic from nearby beaches in her baskets. -
Annalie Irvine
BIGTON BAND TUTOR
Multi-instrumentalist Annalie inspires and teaches all our young string players. She runs the Shetland Youth Orchestra and is a regular soloist with the Shetland Community Orchestra.
Annalie leads local Gypsy/Klezmer folk band Odesa on vocals, accordion and violin.
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Jenny Sturgeon
SONGWRITERS GROUP TUTOR
Jenny is a Shetland-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist. Regularly writing and performing with a range of acclaimed bands and projects including Salt House, Birdvox and Herkja.
When she's not busy touring or recording she may be spotted cycling ower the hill to join the Straw Makers.
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Ruby Dow
PROJECT WORKER
After many years of service as a trusty volunteer at Bigton Band, Ruby has graduated to Freelance Project Worker on Fridays helping with Friday Friends and Bigton Band.
Ruby loves travelling, learning languages, shopping, going to gigs and is a creative cook and baker. -
Milly Anderson
PROJECT WORKER
If you come to the Listening Party on a Friday evening you will have the pleasure of sampling Milly’s tasty tab nabs!
Millie likes science, music and gardening. She may also be found sketching as we listen, always bringing a sense of style and youthful energy to our events. -
Gus Dow
SAMBA BAND LEADER
Gus served his time in the Edinburgh Samba Band and has brought his love of infectious rhythms to Bigton. As a talented craftsman and joiner he also built all his own drums.
When he's not baking the best bread in Shetland at the Bigton Weekend Bakery, he plays percussion in the Gypsy/Klezmer folk band Odesa.
Bigton Collective Trustees
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Yvonne Tait - Trustee
TREASURER
Yvonne is a crofter, poet, visual artist and award- winning short story writer (Scots Writer o’ the Year 2025) with a knack of capturing beautiful moments and finding just the right words for all our ups and downs.
Yvonne leads our Friday Friends craft and felting activities, sings alto in the Bigton Singers and plays a mean game of hockey.
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Merran Adamson - Trustee
CHAIR
Merran returned to Bigton with her young family and is an active participant in Bigton community life. As an experienced Speech and Language Therapist, she brings vital skills in clear, inclusive communication and relational, person-centred practice.
She also sings a beautiful song with the Bigton Singers when she has time! -
Deepa Shah - Trustee
ENVIRONMENT CHAMPION
Basket-weaver extraordonaire, Deepa is a highly skilled craftswoman who is passionate about the continuation of traditional crafts.
She is also a keen Samba Drummer and works as a local GP supporting social prescriptions and a holistic approach to health care that is embedded in the community.
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Laura Whittall - Trustee
EDI CHAMPION
Laura is one of Bigton’s most dedicated and inspirational community volunteers. She is a former nurse and Alzheimer Scotland co-ordinator and runs the Soothend Walkers group.
Laura’s scrumptious home bakes are often enjoyed at Friday Friends and she is a key member of the soprano section of the Bigton Singers.
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Alex Armitage - Trustee
TRUSTEE
As a passionate environmental activist, Alex brings boundless energy for making the world a greener, fairer and more hopeful place. His creative sign painting skills make arrival at Hymhus more welcoming and stylish.
Alex regularly cycles to Lerwick where he works as a Consultant Paediatrician and inspires us all with his commitment to active travel. Alex also volunteers at Bigton Band.
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Sarah Green - Trustee
SECRETARY
Sarah has recently moved back to Bigton after studying and living in England. She works as an Environmental Project Manager and is also passionate about the Bigton community and developing the perfect Café experience.
Sarah also sings a beautiful descant.
Amazing Volunteers
Amazing Volunteers
Bigton has a strong tradition of volunteering and Bigton Collective supported over 50 volunteers in the past year.
We are so grateful to everyone who contributes and supports Hymhus.
Volunteer Event
Young Volunteers
We are very proud of the young volunteers who support us at Bigton Band and in the Proil Shop. We are members of the Saltire Scheme which is a great way to recognise their dedication.
Governance
Bigton Collective is governed by a diverse board of six directors. Our legal status is a Company Limited by Guarantee, and we are also a registered charity. We currently employ five members of staff and support a number of freelance projects and part-time project workers.
Bigton Collective is a place-based organisation and members of the board must reside in the area of Bigton which is home to around 300 people. This ensures that the emphasis on the local area is led by the people who have the deepest stake in the future of the area and who call it home. It also means that the people guiding the organisation are more likely to continue to support the long-term viability and continuation of the Hymhus vision.
Full membership of our organisation is open to anyone who resides in Bigton and associate membership is available to anyone, anywhere in the world. An annual report is presented each year at the AGM.
Youth Membership is also encouraged and our Youth Forum offers an opportunity for young voices to be heard.
AGM & Music Quiz 2024
Advisors
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Michael Zane
ADVISOR - FINANCE
Michael is an experienced chartered accountant based in London and is currently Head of Financial Planning and Business Partnering with the medical research charity LifeArc.
Michael is a big fan of the Hymhus acoustics having performed the Bach double with Annalie and Alice at the Sunday Star! -
Douglas Westwater
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SUPPORT
Douglas and his team at Community Enterprise have provided invaluable advice and encouragement throughout the Hymhus project.
He has worked with a number of Shetland organisations and has supported many successful community projects across the whole of Scotland.
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Belynda Smith
ADVISOR - FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Belynda is a manager with Meerlinga Parenting Services in Perth, Australia.
She has followed the Hymhus project from it’s conception and has offered support, resources and helped to facilitate partnership projects between Bigton and Perth.
She brings a huge wealth of experience and wisdom around thoughtful, caring and impactful group facilitation and support for families in a community setting.
Since the conception of the Hymhus project we are very grateful to have benefitted from the wisdom, help and encouragement of many people. In particular, the opportunity to be part of the Launch Me enterprise scheme was hugely helpful and our Community Development Officers Ana Arnett and Frances Browne and the SIC Economic Development department continue to provide valuable guidance.
We have also been hugely inspired and our organisation continues to benefit greatly from advice and connections with many of our fellow charities and social enterprises in Shetland, all of whom have paved the way for new initiatives and have been immutably kind and encouraging: Bigton Community Hall, Bigton Community Enterprise, Shetland Arts, Ability Shetland, The Bop Shop, Voluntary Action Shetland, Unst Partnership, GAADA, COPE, Bressay Development, CDCN, NCDC, NYDC, Scalloway Youth and Community Centre to name a few. Their generosity, hard work and commitment is of such great value to the Shetland community.
We are also fortunate to have the expertise of Orkney-based accountants Scholes Chartered Accountants overseeing our finances.
Thanks to former trustees & staff
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Shona Main
FORMER BC TRUSTEE
Dr Shona Main (1970 - 2025) was a filmmaker based in Bigton. A founding director of Bigton Collective, she was also a founding member of Dundee Contemporary Arts. Shona was the leading force behind the Bigton Writers’ group who hope to carry forward her sense of fun and playful way with words.
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Theresa Tate
FORMER BC PROJECT OFFICER
Growing up in Bigton, Theresa has had a strong connection to the kirk building her whole life. She is an experienced primary school teacher, seasoned traveller and was our first member of staff at Hymhus. She was instrumental in co-ordinating and building the Hymhus Polycrub.
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Alex Green
FORMER BC PROJECT OFFICER
After leaving the armed forces, Alex covered maternity leave at Hymhus before moving on to establish his own cafe and coffee roastery in Bigton - Stakkadale.You will still meet him here on Saturdays at the Bigton Weekend Bakery serving delicious hot drinks.