Latest News

 31 July 2014

Wick Gala Programme

Treasure Hunt For Wick Gala 2014


Caithness Quliters Exhibition For Wick Gala Week
Caithness Quilters Exhibition was well attended today to see the amazing sewing skills of its members in Assembly rooms, Wick.  A range of their work was on show with tea and cakes thrown in.  the group are always looking fro new mebers and can provide all the help and advice to get started when you go along to their monthly meetings. Caithness Quilters Web Site


Wick & District Summer Pool League Champions
Suzanne Carter's Camps Bar "1" team have won the 2014 Wick & District Summer Pool League Championship after defeating last years winners Queens Hotel 8-7 in the final. After four extremely close frames the finalists were tied at 2-2 in the early stages, but Shane Honeyman defeated Scott Risbridger 2-0 to give Camps "1" a 4-2 lead.



Wick Gala 2014 - Children's Cycle Races


Financial boost for start-up ventures in Highland and Moray
Entrepreneurs in Highland and Moray are now able to access personal loans to help start their own business thanks to the new government-funded Start-Up Loans scheme which is locally delivered by Business Gateway and Highland Opportunity. Loans are available to fund businesses that have not yet started trading, or have been trading for less than 12 months, and that cannot get finance through a bank. There is no arrangement fee for the loan, and the interest rate is fixed at 6%. Applicants must be UK residents, based in the UK, and over 18. Loans will be available through Business Gateway - a lead partner in this new initiative from the Start Up Loans Company (SULCo). Highland Opportunity will be assessing applications and recommending the loans.

Wick Set To Become Beatrice Operation and Maintenance Base
Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL), a joint venture partnership formed between SSE Renewables (75%) and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK (25%), has announced that Wick Harbour is likely to become the future location of the Beatrice offshore wind farm Operation and Maintenance base (O&M). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been finalised with Wick Harbour Authority and BOWL this week.   There may be up to 5000 jobs around the Moray Firth during construction and 500 jobs in maintenance in future years.

 30 July 2014

Politicians Join Thurso People To Condemn Tesco Over Mart Site
Rhoda Grant MSP, Roger Saxon Thurso Councillor and John Erskine candidate in next years election for Westminster have joined local people and petiioners to berate Tesco for their failure to develop the old mart site in Thurso.  The site has become an eyesore of neglect covered in weeds and looking like an old bomb site.  Tesco have recently announced that they will try to develop housing on many of their sites that they are no longer looking to open new stores on.  


Tesco Looks To Abandon Store Building In Favour Of Houses In Suitable Areas
Is this the end of plans for new Tesco supermarket in Thurso?

And are the rumours about a new ALDI store for Wick true as per ads appearing for staff online.  Are ALDI and LIDL carving up the bigger stores territories? LIDL is building extensions in Wick and Thurso and ALDI is opening more and more new stores all over UK and seem to be moving north with stores in Perth, Nairn and other places.

.New Tile Shop To Be Opened In Wick By the Gala Queen
Another new shop opens in Wick at the weekend.  JB tiles is opening a shop to show customers what is available and after 15 years in business the shop will provide a place to go and see what can be done with tiles in any home.  The gala queen qwill do the honours and declare the shop open and customers can try their luck in a free cometition.


Another Batch From The Chidlren's Fancy Dress Now Added
Noel Donaldson has sent in some close-ups from last night's Fancy Dress at Braehead and they are now in the gallery





Fit's in 'e Courier 'e Day

29 July 2014

Wick Gala 2014 - Chidren's Fancy Dress At Braehead
 

Wick Gala Week Gymkhana
A nice dry evening meant the gymkhana avoided the rainy night seen by the floats parade on Saturday.





A Few Photos From Latheron Show 2014


Wickers praised for standing by their gala night in the rain
WICK gala committee chair, Donna Plowman has praised townsfolk for literally standing by the biggest event of the festival in the heavy rain - the crowning of the gala queen and the procession of floats and fancy dress collectors through the street.  Mrs Plowman gave her her introductory speech at the crowning of gala Queen Katie Dunnett, on Saturday night. during which, she remarked that Wickers had a reputation of pulling together for the gala, year-on-year.
  Wick Gala Photos

28 July 2014

If You Missed Events In July See All The Photos At The Album Index HERE

Lybster Gala 2014


Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain at Assembly Rooms, Wick
Two of Scotland's foremost traditional musicians, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain will be taking their Scotland 2014 tour to Wick's Assembly Rooms on Thursday 7th August. The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets costing £18 and £16 for age concessions will be available at the door or in advance on 01955 603080. Aly Bain is Scotland's supreme traditional style fiddler. His playing is unique - driving, impassioned and pure - with vibrant, unmistakable tone that has earned him a following of ardent fans throughout the world. Born in Lerwick, Shetland in 1946 Aly began playing the fiddle at the age of eleven. In his early twenties, Aly headed to mainland Scotland. His dramatic playing, with great tone and technical ability brought early recognition as an outstanding musician of the folk music revival, and almost overnight, raised the level of expectation for music lovers throughout the country.

Police appeal for information following thefts from Wick Harbour
Between Friday 25 July 2014 and Sunday 27 July 2014 a number of local Wick fishing boats have had their Lobster Keepers, which were stored within Wick Harbour tampered with and the contents stolen.

Radioactivity Found In A Drainage System Near Dounreay
The Environmental Closure & Demolition department at Dounreay have found elevated levels of radioactivity in a manhole in a redundant offsite drainage system.

"Undecided moving towards ‘Yes', but not enough to win referendum vote"
New data released by the British Election Study (BES) shows that previously undecided voters are more likely to say Yes on September 18, but are not enough in numbers to catch up with No voters.

27 July 2014

Wick Gala Parade Collects £6819

Wick Gala Night Floats & Walkers Winners
SUPREME AWARD - GAME OF THRONES

Short Films Of Dancing At Halkirk Highland Games
Jig                                Another Jig


Twister Near Wick Caught On Camera
A few shoppers at Tesco Wick car park got a great view of a twister moving across the county on Saturday afternoon. A few people managed to watch it for 5 minutes before it disappeared.





Views Of Halkirk Highland Games From The High Cam
Take look around the field at Halkirk Highland Games with the High Camera.

Halkirk Highland Games Photo Gallery from the start HERE




WICKERS refused to allow the rain to put a damper on their gala curtain-raiser
Report by Noel Donaldson and more photos added to the gallery
They turned out in force for the crowning ceremony and lined the streets in the unrelenting downpour as Queen Katie Dunnett led the traditional procession. Katie and her court, also equipped with umbrellas did their royal status proud, smiling and waving to the crowds and the young baton twirlers, the floats personnel and the pipe band who didn't have cover, deserve a special mention for weathering the weather.
Noel Donaldson's Wick Gala Photos Start HERE

More Wick Gala Photos - Start HERE 


To see them all from the start go HERE

26 July 2014

Wick Gala 2014 Photos - Over 300 Photos Now in


Halkirk Highland Games 2014 - Over 300 Photos now in

25 July 2014

Banana didn't get seal of approval
What's this...a seal going bananas? Sammy thought it would make a welcome change form all that fishy stuff. But it didn't take him long to discover things aren't always what they seem, especially at sea...there was no banana, just the skin. The prank was played by two fishers in a bid to persuade Sammy to move away from their fishing grounds at the north river pier at Wick. He didn't, and decided to do what many others were doing today - soaking up the sun. Photo Gallery


Atlantis Resources Closing In On Turbine Deal For Pentland Firth
Atlantis Resources has signed a turbine supply contract with Andritz Hydro Hammerfest for its Scottish tidal current energy project, MeyGen. Andritz will supply three 1.5Mw tidal power turbines for Phase 1A of the project in the Pentland Firth while Atlantis will also use one of its own 1.5MW turbines.

24 July 2014

Bicentenary of the Strathnaver Clearances
This year Strathnaver Museum, with the help of the local community, are staging a programme of events to mark the bicentenary of the Strathnaver Clearances. The Bicentenary Festival will commemorate the tragic events of the Clearances but also celebrate the heritage and culture of the north Highlands. The festival will start at the Durness Highland Gathering on Friday 25 July where copies of the Bicentenary Festival programme will be available from the Strathnaver Museum stand. The festival programme is packed with events to suit every taste including music, Gaelic, family history, heritage walks and talks, children's event and much more.

Are you game for the "Commonwick Games"?
Noel Donaldson Looks At Wick's Gala Programme.
IT might not attract quite the same attention as Glasgow's Commonwealth Games but a forthcoming event at this end of Scotland is being keenly anticipated. It's the "Commonwick Games" which has its own royal connection, Wick being a royal burgh, and is being held as part of the town's annual gala.

PHOTO GALLERY

23 July 2014

Good progress with new school provision in Wick
The main construction contract for the new £15.4M Noss Primary School in Wick has been signed. The site, on the existing North Primary School campus, is already cleared and ready for the foundation work to begin. The main contractor is Miller Construction. The new 387 pupil school, with nursery provision and community facilities, is due to be completed in July 2015 and opened to pupils in August 2015. Thereafter the existing North Primary School building will be demolished to make way for a multi-use games area, netball area and car park. When open, Noss Primary school will replace the existing North and Hillhead Primary Schools.

Bushcrafts Skills With The Rangers - Booking Required
Bushcraft pioneer on July 24
Bushcraft cook on 31 July
Bushcraft volcano on the 14 Aug

Wick & District Summer Pool League Semi-finals
Camps Bar "1" and The Queens Hotel booked their place in the 2014 Wick & District Summer Pool League final, after both sides recored 8-7 deciding frame victories over Retro "1" and Camps Bar "2" respectively. Both semi final matches ended in 7-7 draws, so a one frame shootout would decide this seasons finalists. WIns from Shane Honeyman and Mark Alexander would help the Camps "1" side take an early lead, but Retro's James Ross (total clearance) and Bobby Gunn would level the match at 4-4 after the first set of singles. Camps "1" then won three frames in a row to lead 7-4 but Retro showed great determination to claw their way back to tie the match at 7-7.

22 July 2014

The nursery rhyme trail in Dunnet 29th July  - Fully Booked Now
This event has limited spaces and is now fully booked at 11.00am.  Unfortunately the ad did not say it had to be booked. As it has proved very piopular the Rangers wil run the event again in the afternoon of the same day.  To book this additional session contact the rangers as per the ad.

Wick Harbour Very Busy In July
Stroupster Wind Turbines Being Delivered


Big Towhead                Wee Towhead              Wood Shipments     Atlantica                   Marina
 

21 July 2014

Barluath - Pipe Band Hall, Wick - Tuesday 22nd July
A critically acclaimed debut album, a host of sell out concerts across Scotland as well as performances alongside some of the best acts on today's folk scene signals only the start of things to come for Barluath. "One of life's great pleasures is witnessing the creation of something new. So has it been with Barluath. I've had the pleasure of watching these talented players coming together as a band and sharing their individual fortes to create this unique ensemble. They breathe new life into old songs and tunes and bring new compositions to the table with great flair and passion. " Phil Cunningham

North Highland Harriers and Wick Triathlon Club - Competitions To Enter
Are you seriously fit or just looking for a fun run.  Then take look at the latest competitions being organised by North Highland Harriers and Wick Triathlon Club In Caithness.

Ground breaking road recycling trials get underway in Sutherland
Trials of a new method of repairing roads have got underway in Sutherland. The technique, known as road recycling, involves re-using the existing road surface materials to create a new road surface, rather than importing large quantities of new materials. In the first of a series of trials, The Highland Council's road team have been carrying out recycling on the Cassley Bridge to Duchally Road near Rosehall. Further trials are planned across the Highlands over the coming months.


Latest Jobs/Vacancies Added at 4.25pm today
Part-time Porter - Caithness General Hospital
Graduate Research Assistant - K P Technology, Wick - Scotgrad Placement
Bar/Waiting Staff - Northern Sands Hotel, Dunnet

Scotch - A 6 Piece Folk Rock Band From Netherlands Plays At Ynot, Thurso On Wednesday Night
6 Piece Folk Rock band from The Netherlands. Various musical elements merge in a special live show that leaves the boundaries of reality far behind. With their cheerful Folkloric melodies and driving rhythms Scotch guarantees a big feast in every occasion! The cynical lyrics combined with the frank voice of La Smellitia gets the tension on the stage sky high. Scotch has always had its unique sound and obstinate theatrical interpretations. Some may describe the style of Scotch as Folk Rock, Theatrical Punk, Balkan Ska or Celtic Baroque Rock. In the end, all will agree that you have to see a live show to meet the Scotch experience. Scotch produces cheerful melodies on saxophone and fiddle, alternated with polyphonous singing, on a driving base of drums, bass and guitar. Scotch’s party folk is equally danceable, whether they play acoustic or fully amplified. www.scotchtheband.com   YES It is Wednesday night to brighten up the usually quiet midweek so why not pop along to hear some great talented musicians.

20 July 2014

Academy 'eight' their opposition and sampled some tasty goals
Friendly Game - Wick Academy 8 Orkney AFA 0 - Reporter Noel Donaldson
THERE can be no more demoralising predicament for a football team that being a couple of goals down and trying to come to terms with the likelihood that the ball was going to hit the back of their net a few more times. That must have been what the Orkney players were dreading when they encountered an on-form, free-scoring Wick Academy side, on the crest of a wave having beaten the first two teams on their friendlies list, one of them Scottish Premier outfit Ross County, at that. To be fair, the score perhaps flattered the Scorries for whom netting appeared to be easy, easy! Meeting Academy when they are on their mettle is an formidable task for any quality side, and a team which has amateur status is destined to find themselves out of their depth. The islanders, give them credit, never gave up and came out after the break looking a little brighter, and as with any side two goals down, hopeful of wanting to keep the final score respectable, at least. It was not to be.

19 July 2014

Caithness County Show 2014 - Saturday - Over 300 Photos Now On and Another 100 on the way shortly


See the Scottish Cabinet Meeting Held On Monday 14th July At Wick

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update

John Swinney Officially Opens New PSS Wick Facility Set To Create 40 Jobs
Aberdeen-based Process Safety Solutions, the systems life-cycle management specialist supporting the oil and gas sector in the UK and overseas, officially opened its new Wick facility on 15th July 2014 at Wick Business Park in Caithness. The team welcomed John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth. The new base, which currently employs five staff, will look to further employ 5 people within 6 months and look to increase to a team of 30 - 40 staff within two years.

18 July 2014

Caithness County Show 2014 - Friday Evening Preview - See You There On Saturday


Reid's Of Caithness Bakers Will Showcase At Pre Commonwealth Games Food Event
Thurso based Reids of Caithness has recently experienced success at home and in exports around the world. They will join other Highland and Islands Food and Drink Producers at a pre commonwealth games business showcase event.


Funny Faces At Seadrift
As part of The Highland Council Caithness Countryside Ranger summer activities sixteen children spent a morning at the Seadrift Visitor Centre in Dunnet Bay creating their very own masks using everyday household items. Batman, butterflies, elephants a mermaid and many others were all carefully designed, cut out and painted by the children. Countryside Ranger Paul Castle said: "It was great to see the children having fun enthusiastically painting, colouring and cutting out, not to mention the sterling efforts of many of the accompanying adults. Sometimes I'm not sure who has more fun with this kind of event, the kids or the adults."

ENGINEERS SECURE ‘POLE POSITION' AHEAD OF CAITHNESS COUNTY SHOW
A team of engineers from Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) has completed work to replace a section of overhead line with underground cable at Thurso East, where the Caithness County Show is due to be held this weekend. The move follows a request by the Show's Committee to SHEPD to make access to the site easier. Four spans of overhead line and three wooden poles have now been replaced with underground cable.

Snippets From 'e Groat an 'e Courier

Thurso Gala 2014

Many thanks to Melanie Roger of M B Roger Photography for supplying gala photos this year as Bill was away at his sister's wedding in Stornoway.

13 July 2014

Place Your Bid In The Silent Auction To Get A Picture
Can't choose?? Why not go for lucky dip?? See section at end of bid form on the blog or in the exhibition!! http://www.postcardsea.blogspot.com 204 SEA inspired artworks were donated to our fundraiser by artists of all ages (youngest 2yrs I think). Even a minimum bid with an added few pence (seems to be an auction tac-tic) could bag you a bargain or three and add more to our fundraiser.
Gallery

Lybster 5 Pentland United 3

13 July 2014

Another Visit To Portskerra


Nice and easy does it for tricky towhead transfer
INCH by inch, the multi-wheeled trailer is backed across the metal bridge onto the barge that delivered it to Scalesburn on Wick's north shore. The trailer is slid under the massive 200 tonnes towhead and secured. It then makes the return trip back across the bridge at a snail's pace. The team handling this phase of the latest towhead delivery to Subsea 7's fabrication yard at Wester, have got the operation down to a fine art.
PHOTO GALLERY

12 July 2014

Highland Dancers Hit Perfection At Baton Relay At Wick


Thurso Gala Opening Today - Full Weeks Programme

11 July 2014

Jobs
Rolls-Royce Repair and Overhaul Department at Vulcan are looking for five Mechanical Technicians

More Wick Baton Photos Just In

What's On At Caithness Horizons - July 2014

Baton Relay At John O'Groats


More Wick Baton Relay Photos Added HERE

Baton Relay At Wick


A Bright Day At New Wick Council Offices
Fluffy clouds make an attractive backdrop to these views of the council offices under construction at Wick.  Work goes on iunder the covers around the building to get ready for opeing in 2015.

                      Photos from the start


Police With The Queen's Baton At Thurso
Just before the queen's baton for the commonwealth games 2014 left Thurso the police on duty joined hundreds of others to hold the baton that day.  The baton arrives at John O'Groats today and then heads on to Wick before hading to Helmsdale.  Baton Timetable




Floral Clock At Wick Looking Great
SAYING it with flowers is extra special when you get a blooming lovely display like this and the correct time into the bargain. Wick's council gardeners have done us proud again with this year's floral clock.  The floral clock sits beside the Wick Town Hall where refurbishment continues.




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