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I'm the only medic on the island – but I wish I'd brought some trousers

Alex Popein Bedford
Tammy Hine Tammy Hine, smiling and looking towards the camera, wearing a blue knitted hat, she has long dark hair, white houses are behind her, fields and a stone wall. Tammy Hine
Tammy Hine moved from Bedford to Fair Isle in February and has been settling into island life ever since

When Tammy Hine uprooted her entire life and moved to the UK's most remote inhabited island, she may have misjudged her wardrobe choices.

"I actually just bought my banjo, my guitar, my bed and my sofa and about 150 dresses, which you can't wear here because it's so windy – so I've got to buy new trousers," she said.

In February, Tammy left behind her life in Bedford and moved about 760 miles (1,220km) to Fair Isle, roughly midway between Shetland and Orkney.

About to turn 50, she decided there was "one more adventure to have".

After reading about a vacancy for a nurse, she applied, got the job and is now looks after its 45 residents and any visitors.

Tammy Hine Tammy Hine, standing in front of a plane, that is blue and white in colour. She has on a long coat, a pink cardigan, blue tights, a dress and a scarf. She is standing on tarmac and fields are behind her. Tammy Hine
Tammy flew to Shetland first, but it was three weeks before she was able to get to Fair Isle

Just three miles (5km) long by one and a half miles (2.5km) wide, Fair Isle is the southernmost of the Shetland Islands, and is famed for its knitwear, wildlife and bird observatory.

When its previous nurse decided to leave for a job for NHS Scotland, the position opened up.

"I thought, 'I'm going to apply' – I never thought for a minute I'd hear anything back," said Tammy.

"I have always wanted to live somewhere remote: my dream was to go to Alaska."

She has been in nursing for 23 years, working for the last 13 years as a palliative care specialist nurse, and before that as a district nurse.

At her interview she gave a PowerPoint presentation, covering everything from the things she loves, including Dolly Parton to her banjo, to how much she wanted to be with nature.

Tammy Hine Tammy standing in a road looking at the camera, with a band round her head. Her hair is tied back. She is wearing a green top, a road and fields are behind her, but blurred. Tammy Hine
Tammy said she could be called upon at almost any time to keep the islanders in good health

Tammy said she loved her previous job, describing it as "rewarding" and saying it was a privilege to look after patients at the end of their lives, and their families.

"But I'm turning 50 this year, so I guess I had one more adventure to have," she said.

"I wanted to stretch my brain and my eyes and open up different files in my head and just learn some new things.

"I'm really very sociable, but I'm also really good on my own: very independent, probably to a fault.

"I just felt like slowing down; having some peace and quiet; meeting a new community; getting to know everyone in an old-fashioned nursing way.

"Sometimes after all the fun and all that chaos, you just need to slow down a bit."

Tammy Hine A blue hut, with steps to it and a ramp. It is clad in panels, with a sign on it. It is surrounded by moss, grass and fields. The sea is in the distance. Tammy Hine
Tammy works from a small clinic in the centre of the island

Her journey to Scotland did not go to plan, however. She arrived in Shetland on 9 February but only made it to Fair Isle three weeks later due to bad weather.

Despite the setback, she has settled in quickly and now feels "like I've always been here."

She said: "I feel so much more peaceful, even though I'm so sociable. I'm loving it."

Tammy Hine A boat by a dock, with three people standing close to it. The boat is blue and white, with a man on it, and a crane moving a box off it. The dock is wet. Cliffs are to the left and a white van to the right. Tammy Hine
Tammy's possessions, including a banjo, guitar and "about 150 dresses", were brought to the island by boat

The full-time nursing role means she has to look after everyone, from children to adults and "whatever comes my way".

"I'm the only medic on the island," she said.

If an emergency happens, Tammy has the support of a GP practice in Shetland and can call upon an air ambulance or a coastguard helicopter to take anyone to hospital.

Tammy Hine The Northern Lights in the sky showing a green and red glow on a dark landscape. Tammy Hine
Tammy has been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights (aurora borealis)
Tammy Hine A large number of sheep in a field, with houses behind them, with lights on, at night. The sky is large and dark with stars in it. A fence is in front of the sheep. Tammy Hine
She said the scenery and the lights in the sky had been breathtaking

Named after country singing legend Tammy Wynette, she has music in her blood.

In Bedford, she was part of the music scene with her band, Duzzy Avocado.

"I absolutely love Bedford; the music and the community," she said.

"But here you kind of forget there's another world outside.

"Everyone's so welcoming, coming round, and I'm having cups of tea with everyone. I've been to a party, had a disco and even jammed with one man."

Tammy Hine A sea scene, with rocks and sea, showing a building on land to the right. Fields are also to the right. Tammy Hine
She loves birdwatching and said she could not wait to use the bird observatory as much as possible

She is making music in her spare time and is writing virtually with her friend Johnny, back home in Bedford.

"I've written some songs but they seem to be about the moon, the Northern Lights and the sea now," she said.

She spotted orcas on her second day on the island.

"You don't often get that on your lunch break at Bedford!"

She cannot wait to see the puffins that are due to return to the island as the end of this month.

"The bird watching is just phenomenal," she said.

"I'm just really lucky. The stars have aligned."

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