Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear

Licences renewed despite temperance vote

From the Groat of May 13, 1921

The town hall in Wick was "crowded to the door" to find out if the Wick Burgh Licensing Court would grant or reject applications for renewal of licences in the town following the vote at the end of the previous year to go "dry".

The sitting had previously been adjourned to allow the members to consider the implications of an interim interdict granted by the Court of Session which had effectively stalled the move towards temperance in the area.

At their latest meeting, members were told that the court was in exactly the same position as it had been in April 1920, when they renewed all the licences.

Mr G Green, solicitor for the licensees, said that if the court refused to grant the licences, it would be in breach of the interdict and members did so "at their own peril". The only discretion the court had was to consider each application on its merits and disregard the No-Licence vote.

Granting the licences, Provost McEwen said: "I must say that the decision which we have arrived at is not one which will appeal to the greater number of you here. We are very much annoyed indeed that we cannot give effect to the wishes of the majority of the community who desire No-Licence."

Stately sycamore could be saved

From the Groat of May 14, 1971

A fine sycamore at 9 High Street in Wick looked likely to be saved from destruction in the redevelopment work that was taking place in that part of the town.

The tree was thought to be at least 200 years old and Caithness County Council's administration committee confirmed that it was in favour of preserving it if it was possible to do so, but that would depend on examination of the roots to determine if they lay under the footpath area of the plan.

The ultimate decision would be made by the engineers working on the redevelopment, which involved the demolition of buildings in High Street and adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, Caithness Education Committee voted to discontinue a bus service which had operated free of charge to pupils during the lunch hour at Wick's Hillhead school.

The matter arose after parents in Haster called for the service to be extended for their children, but councillors opted instead to dispense with it and end a "glaring anomaly".

Some councillors considered it would not be a hardship for the children affected to take a packed lunch to school, while one said that "this driving home for meals should not be carried on".

Caithness brand in Bahrain

From the Groat of May 17, 1996

A successful Caithness firm had extended its international links by establishing a presence in another Middle Eastern state.

Beauty Through Herbs (BTH), which had been set up by Pat Grant of Norfrost, had opened premises in Bahrain to complement its existing business in Saudi Arabia.

It was expected that two stores would then open in Kuwait while interest in BTH products was also being expressed in Egypt.

The company had gone from strength to strength since opening in Thurso several years before, and also operated in Cyprus and Italy.

Elsewhere, residents at Pulteney House in Wick had breathed a sigh of relief after learning that plans to consider closing the residential home to save money had been put on hold.

Highland Council's chief executive, Arthur McCourt, recommended that the working party which had proposed the closure look at "all the alternative ways of achieving the savings".

Residents were said to be "on cloud nine" as a result.

However, local councillor Anderson Murray said that while the announcement was good news in the short term, the campaign to save the home should continue as a new strategy for care of the elderly being developed by the social work department meant that the issue would not go away.

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