LOOKING BACK: Wick gala bonanza, railway centenary and Thurso row over Lidl plan

Organisers bid for gala bonanza

From the Groat of July 25, 1924

Wick Riverside and Town Improvements Committee was hoping that the town’s 1924 gala would be “the most successful that has ever been held”.

Described as “the premier annual sporting event of the north”, the gala the previous year had welcomed 6000 people to enjoy a programme of athletic and horse sports, Highland dancing and various novelty attractions.

After expenses the committee had made £220, which, when added to outstanding profit from other years, left a balance of £400.

This money had been put to good use. It was reported that “last winter and spring unemployment was very severe in Wick and the committee, acting in conjunction with the Town Council, applied for and obtained a Government relief or unemployment grant of £540 which could not have been obtained unless the committee had placed its funds at the disposal of the unemployment scheme”.

This had meant that a work party of up to 30 men had been employed until the end of June on riverside improvements.

The committee had exhausted all its funds and had found itself in the red by £60, and, with unemployment expected to be severe in the coming winter, members were determined to raise even more money this time round.

In particular they had appealed to local ladies to organise refreshments on the day as the previous year this alone had raised £70.

Caithness railway centenary

From the Groat of July 26, 1974

A special train journey had been arranged to celebrate 100 years of the railway in Caithness.

The rail link between Caithness and the south had been hailed as “an important milestone on the road to prosperity for the fishing and agriculture” in the county.

The line had come as far north as Helmsdale by 1871 but it had taken another three years for engineers to overcome the barrier of the Ord and negotiate a route through the peatbogs of Altnabreac.

The special train to mark the anniversary was to leave Inverness in the morning and stop at Dunrobin station, which had been closed to traffic for many years. A short ceremony was to be performed at Helmsdale and a “birthday cake of substantial proportions” cut, with a piece for every passenger.

Also being staged was an exhibition in the Assembly Rooms in Wick featuring “interesting historical material covering the period from the first proposals for a railway for Wick to Thurso via Castletown in 1865” and “a number of exhibits relating to the Duke of Sutherland’s private locomotive and saloons now running at Fort Steele in British Columbia”.

The Wick and Lybster Railway was to be featured plus a “fine display of locomotive photographs” loaned by the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, and the National Transport Museum.

Civic leaders back Lidl

From the Groat of July 30, 1999

Thurso Community Council had come out in favour of plans by discount supermarket chain Lidl to open a store in the town.

Members said they believed most townsfolk would welcome the prospect of cheaper goods and competition for other supermarkets.

Their decision was a blow for local traders who had raised a petition against the development at Scapa House, claiming it would suck shoppers away from the town centre and would lower retail standards.

Their arguments were dismissed by community councillors who said the popularity of Lidl’s cut-price policy had made it Europe’s fastest-growing retailer.

Vice-chairman Arthur Yates said: “The overwhelming majority of people in Thurso who I have spoken to are in favour of the development.

“Scapa House, as it stands, is a disaster zone. The grass isn’t even getting cut and the owners have said they won’t spend another penny on it. It’s just going to sink deeper into decay.”

He maintained the Lidl proposal was the only hope of redevelopment for the site and he dismissed attempts to smear the company as a “cardboard-box merchant”.

Meanwhile, the Caithness Motor Show, held in Thurso, had been hailed a great success.

About 1200 people had turned out to see a wide range of cars and a selection of boats at the former furniture showroom owned by Graham Begg.

The event had been organised by Thurso Rotary Club and had attracted motor dealers from all over the Highlands.

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