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

Thurso war memorial unveiled in 1922, music education boost in 1972 and maternity care fears in 1997

War memorial unveiled

From the Groat of September 8, 1922

An impressive ceremony heralded the unveiling of the war memorial in Thurso.

The ceremony took place "under favourable weather conditions and in presence of a very large gathering representative of town and county".

The report went on: "From one o'clock all places of business were closed for the day, and long before the unveiling ceremony many gathered at Sir John Square, the site on which the memorial stands, in order to obtain a good vantage point from which to see and hear."

The event began at the town hall where Major Manson acted as marshalling officer of a procession "which included the Pipes and Brass Bands, Territorials, ex-servicemen, Boys' Brigade, Girl Guides, public bodies and officers in uniform".

Before they set off, the company was inspected by Lord-Lieutenant of the county, Sir Archibald Sinclair, and his wife Lady Sinclair. Then, marching in slow time to the tune of the Flowers of the Forest, the procession made its way to Sir John's Square.

In a touching speech, Sir Archibald said the day brought back "poignantly the emotions of the war" and that "our thoughts and heartfelt sympathy go out to those whose wounds can never heal and who mourn afresh this day a loss beyond repair".

Music post filled after three years

From the Groat of September 8, 1972

By one vote, the Caithness Education Committee had taken a step forward in "the long trail towards consolidating the county efforts on behalf of music".

The question of appointing a music organiser or, alternatively, a music teacher had been before the committee for almost three years and when the matter was discussed the members were still split, with the final decision coming from the casting vote of the chairman, Provost T W Pollok, Thurso, who favoured a music adviser/organiser who would teach for half the time.

The move to have the matter finally dealt with came as a result of a letter written to Wick provost William G Mowat from Mr Watson Forbes, who had been an adjudicator at that year's music festival.

While Mr Forbes expressed praise for the standards achieved in certain classes, particularly in singing, he regretted the poor standard of the instrumental section which he said was "well below the standard in other parts of Scotland".

He added that the county was at a "grave disadvantage" by not having a music adviser.

Provost Mowat deplored the tendency to make the arts the Cinderella of the education system and said an inspector had recommended that Caithness have a youth and community services officer and a music adviser. The former was in place but not the latter.

Maternity unit threat fears

From the Groat of September 12, 1997

A local GP had called on the Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust to be "open and honest" about the threat to the county's maternity service.

Dr Iain Johnston spoke out after a confidential report had been leaked to the Caithness Courier.

The interim report from Highland Health Board to the local trust had identified "substantial concerns" with the service in Wick and "the viability of the unit was open to question".

The report had stated that the "major problem with maternity services in the Highland area outwith Inverness was the maintenance of skills in respect of small workloads... which meant that some of the services 'cannot be sustained for much longer'".

Caithness GPs had attacked the report and accused the board of a lack of consultation. They expressed serious concern for expectant mothers who would be faced with 100-mile trips to Inverness to have their babies if the unit was downgraded.

Dr Johnston said that, because the interim report had become public knowledge, there was no reason for the local trust to stay silent.

"The trust should have the courage of their convictions and come out and inform the public they have a duty to serve. I think what people would like to know is what the trust's intentions are regarding the service."

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