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

School memorial unveiled

From the Groat of September 30, 1921

The library of Thurso's Miller Academy was the scene of "a touching and impressive ceremony" when a brass tablet, bearing the names of 82 former pupils of the school who fell in the war, was unveiled.

The plaque had been placed over the mantelpiece and was flanked by smaller tablets on either side bearing the figure of a sailor and a kilted soldier.

As well as the friends and relatives of those who had fallen, the ceremony was attended by the school staff, members of the management committee and the education authority, and senior pupils, along with members of the public.

Lord-Lieutenant Sir Archibald Sinclair performed the unveiling ceremony and told those present that the men named on the memorial had acquired their "moral strength" at Miller Academy. He added that a quarter of those named had been either commissioned or non-commissioned ranks and many had won distinctions for their actions in the field.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Dunnet had gathered for the "brief and impressive" unveiling of the village war memorial, which had been designed in the shape of a Celtic cross.

It was reported that considering "the favourable day for harvesting, the assemblage of people was remarkably good and representative".

Tourist office to be in Wick

From the Groat of October 1, 1971

The site of the Caithness area tourist office, embracing the administration and public information activities, was to be in Wick between High Street and the riverside car park area.

Situated in the heart of the town centre redevelopment, the new office was to be served by a link road running from High Street to the riverside.

The provision of the new office was set to "assist the business of tourists calling for information" as they could not park their cars near to the existing office, which was situated at the junction of Cliff Road, Thurso Road, Francis Street and Dempster Street.

A similar improvement was expected at Thurso where a riverside site had been chosen for the new office, moving it from Sir John's Square.

Meanwhile, a decision not to include the Long Shore Road in Wick on a list of schemes to be put forward for government funding had been overturned by Wick Town Council.

Deciding to amend the decision of the administration committee, the Shore Road project was included on the final list after councillors had been contacted by members of the public unhappy about the exclusion.

Concern about the condition of the retaining wall at the roadway had been expressed and also the fact that three Wick projects had originally been listed but none in Pulteneytown.

Assurance given on Wick flights

From the Groat of October 4, 1996

Gill Airways had no plans to reinstate its early morning and late evening flights, axed during the summer, but this should not be viewed as a lack of commitment to Wick, its commercial director Colin Pollard said.

The airline operated services to and from Wick, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Belfast and Dusseldorf, and in its winter timetable was to offer two daily services to Aberdeen, at 10.30am and 4pm, and a return from Aberdeen arriving in Wick at 3.40pm.

David Richard-Jones, secretary of the Wick Airport Consultative Committee, said the new timetable did not cater for the Caithness business community or oil workers and he revealed that talks were ongoing in a bid to find an alternative operator to provide early morning and late evening flights to and from Wick.

Mr Pollard said the airline was committed to Wick and had no intention of abandoning its links with the area.

Elsewhere, a local charity had been left strapped for cash after moving to new premises.

ARMS Wick had moved its hyperbaric oxygen chamber out of the Riverside nursing home in Bridge Street and into the former Braehead day centre in Smith Terrace.

A call had been made for fundraisers and volunteers, and an application for funding had been made to the National Lottery's charities board.

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