Lewis hosts its first gay wedding

Published on Sunday 19 July 2009 01:25

LEWIS is set to see its first gay wedding tomorrow – a day after its first Sabbath ferry sets sail for the mainland.

It was reported last night that Children's TV presenter Andrew Robertson will tie the knot with long-term partner Craig Atkins in a ceremony already branded as a "sin" by the island's Free Church of Scotland.

The couple are expected to seal a civil partnership, the first to be carried out in the Western Isles since they were introduced under a 2003 law.

They will do so after ferry giant Caledonian MacBrayne has carried out its first Sabbath-busting sailings between the islands' capital Stornoway and Ullapool on the Scottish mainland.

The ferry has already divided strict Sabbatarians and liberals on the islands and will only set sail after its operator faced a legal challenge from those who believed they should have the right to travel on any day of the week.

The MV Isle of Lewis was expected to complete the journey for the first time today – despite engine trouble some called an "act of God".

Robertson, who presents children's shows on Gaelic channel BBC Alba, was reported as saying: "Everything has gone smoothly, no hitches at all." The 35-year-old lives with Atkins, 38, manager of Stornoway arts centre.