Forewick Holm#Forvik

The SS Highcliffe was wrecked on the island on 6 February 1940. It was carrying a cargo of iron ore from Narvik, bound for Immingham.{{cite web|title=Highcliffe: Forewick Holm, Papa Stour, Sound of Papa|publisher=Canmore|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/102918/highcliffe-forewick-holm-papa-stour-sound-of-papa|access-date=12 February 2024}}

File:Papa Stour 1890.jpg

Forvik's founder, Stuart Hill, is a native of Essex who was shipwrecked in Shetland in 2001 during a failed attempt to circumnavigate the British Isles, earning him the nickname "Captain Calamity".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1450230.stm |title='Captain Calamity' returns to sea |work=BBC News |date=21 July 2001}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1503308.stm |title=Lucky escape for 'Captain Calamity'|work=BBC News |date=22 August 2001}} He subsequently settled in Shetland and became an advocate for the islands' independence. Hill argues that Shetland was never formally ceded to Scotland or Great Britain, making the British government's exercise of sovereignty over the islands illegal. In order to draw attention to his cause, he acquired the islet of Forewick Holm and, on 21 June 2008, declared it to be an autonomous Crown dependency known as "Forvik". The declaration invited Shetlanders to add their own properties to the dependency in order to create a new federation "free of liars, thieves and tyrants in government".{{cite web|title=Declaration of Direct Dependence|publisher=Sovereign State of Forvik|access-date=12 February 2024|url=http://www.forvik.com/about/declarations/declaration-of-direct-dependence}} On 23 February 2011, Hill issued a further declaration stating that Forvik had severed its ties to the Crown and become a fully independent state known as the "Sovereign State of Forvik".{{cite web|title=Declaration of Independence|publisher=Sovereign State of Forvik|access-date=12 February 2024|url=http://www.forvik.com/about/declarations}}

Hill's right to Forewick Holm has been contested by Mark King, the island's original owner. Hill claims to have a signed, witnessed document confirming King's intention to donate the island to him, but King says that he signed this during a manic episode and that the land registry still lists him as the owner.{{cite news |url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2009/03/06/war-of-words-over-forvik-after-island-owner-reveals-it-was-gift/ |title=War of words over Forvik after island owner reveals it was gift |last=Riddell |first=Neil| work=The Shetland Times |date=6 March 2009}}

In 2008, Hill began working on an "official residence" on the island, its first permanent structure.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2157245/Captain-Calamity-to-create-new-state-in-Shetland-islands.html |title=Captain Calamity to create new state in Shetland islands |last=Khan |first=Urmee |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=19 June 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2008/07/18/hill-issues-invitation-to-oil-firms-over-rights-to-the-forvik-seabed/ |title=Hill issues invitation to oil firms over rights to the Forvik seabed |last=Riddell |first=Neil |work=The Shetland Times |date=18 July 2008}} He also laid claim to the surrounding seabed and invited companies to bid for oil exploration rights.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/07/19/island-owner-welcomes-oil-bids-86908-20654195/ |title=Island owner welcomes oil bids |work=The Daily Record |date=19 July 2008}} "Citizenships" were made available for purchase, costing between one and five Forvik guldens (i.e. £60 to £360).{{cite news |url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2008/07/25/forvik-wins-some-local-backing-as-trio-snap-up-plots-of-land-and-voting-rights/#more-511984 |title=Forvik wins some local backing as trio snap up plots of land and voting rights |last=Robertson |first=John |work=The Shetland Times |date=25 July 2008}} Membership was later set at £20 per annum, and in 2015 Hill claimed there were 218 members.{{cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/captain-calamity-and-the-quest-for-shetlands-independence-930/ |title=Meet 'Captain Calamity,' the Man Who Wants to Free Shetland from the UK's 'Imperial Ruling Class' |last=Nelson |first=George |work=Vice |date=29 April 2015}}

Hill travelled to and from the island on a flat-bottomed plywood boat of his own creation. In September 2008, he had to be rescued by a Coastguard helicopter and RNLI lifeboat after his vessel began to sink. His boat was described as "ramshackle" and a "floating wardrobe", and his rescuers criticised him for having no lifejacket or radio aboard.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/09/16/captain-calamity-rescued-for-8th-time-after-setting-sail-in-floating-wardrobe-86908-20738468/ |title='Captain Calamity' rescued for 8th time after setting sail in 'floating wardrobe' |last=Dow |first=Bob |work=The Daily Record |date=16 September 2008}}

Hill has refused to pay road tax or insurance to the British government, instead creating documents issued by Forvik. In 2011, he was found guilty of driving offences arising from this.{{cite news |url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2011/12/14/hills-independence-campaign-falls-flat |title=Hill accused of using 'Google law' |last=Bevington |first=Pete |work=Shetland News |date=14 December 2011}}

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{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.forvik.com Official website of the Sovereign State of Forvik]

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Category:Uninhabited islands of Shetland