News Archive - March 2003
31st March 2003
Dust
Storm At Golspie
Yesterday the dust from fields near Golspie was being blown in
great clouds over the surrounding countryside. Every time the wind
was gusting great clouds of dust obliterated the main road.
the north is experiencing one of the longest dry spells for a number of
years in springtime. See Martin
Duffy's weather
Wings Over Wick - Hudson P5132 269 Squadron
Photos
of Jack Sharvin and other crew members of Husdon p5132,of 269 Squadron
RAF, Coastal Command, Wick have been sent in by Tina Watters asking if
anyone has information on any of them.
MSP WINS BREAKTHROUGH IN CAMPAIGN FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
On the final day of the Scottish Parliament's first term, Far North
MSP Jamie Stone's campaign for more money for home improvement grants has
taken a major step forward.
Weather Information Dec 2002 - Feb
2003 From Martin Duffy
Many folk have commented on the recent dry weather but Martin checks his
facts and has listed the dry days in the period for the last few years.
Three More Labour Candidates Ready
For Elections On 1 May
With
the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament we now take a look at three
former Labour MSP's hoping to be re-elected. They are
Maureen Macmillan,
Peter Peacock and
Rhoda Grant. With two
votes you all have plenty of candidates to think about and second votes
could be crucial this time round.
The Strathspey King
Saturday 19 April 2003 8.00pm 2 hours At The Ross Institute ,
Halkirk.
Thurso FC Through
To Second Cup Final
Thurso F.C have won through to their 2nd cup final of the season by
defeating Golspie Sutherland 3-2 after extra time in The Football Times
Cup Semi-Final this afternoon. The goals came from Brian Gray
(pen), Nigel MacKenzie and Phillip Makhouli scoring the winner in extra
time. This sets Thurso up for a historic treble for this season.
They now meet Halkirk United in The Football Times Cup Final plus the
winners of The Alness United V Bonar Bridge in The Morris Newton Cup
Final to be played at Ross County's Victoria Park in Dingwall.
BOGUS HOLIDAY CLUBS: DONT
BE PRESSURED INTO SIGNING UP
The Highland Council is supporting a national campaign, sprearheaded by
television personality, Esther Rantzen, to warn consumers about the
dangers of bogus holiday clubs. The campaign, promoted by
the Office of Fair Trading, aims to draw attention to unscrupulous
holiday clubs that deliberately deceive consumers and pressurise them
into membership.
30th Particle Find At Sandside Beach
JAMIE STONE WELCOMES 'RED ROUTE'
DECISION
AS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD FOR A9 UPGRADE.
Far North MSP Jamie Stone has welcomed the news that work on upgrading
the Ord of Caithness section of the A9 is set to move ahead.
Following a recent
public consultation, the Scottish Executive today
announced that the lower floor valley (red route) option has been
selected as the best option for the improvement work between Navidale
and Allt Briste North.
28th March 2003
Castlehill Flagstone
Trail Upgrade Going Well
Castlehill
Flagstone Trail is undergoing an upgrade to the paths to make it easier to
walk round the site showing where a large part of the flagstone industry
took place in Caithness. The work is being carried out by Moray
Paths and Conservation who also have contracts at Dunnet, John O'Groats
and wick to follow on from this one. The work at Castlehill should
be completed in about two weeks.
No Mistaking The New Police Station Is Open For Business
Caithness Field Club - New Season Of Events
Starts with the AGM on Tuesday 8 April 7.30pm in the Brown Trout
Hotel. Check out the list of outings and take a few light walks
whilst exploring parts of Caithness and Sutherland. Car sharing
encouraged for outings usually leaving from Wick and Thurso stations.
27th March 2003
Caithness Orchestra Concerts
Tuesday 1 April 7.30pm Wick High School - Wednesday 2 April 7.30pm
Thurso High School
Tickets at the door £4 children £1
Thurso Accordion And Fiddle Club
Monday 7 April 8.00pm - Musical Evening - Pentland Hotel, Thurso -
Members and Non Members
Alastair Hunter Trio
Wick Junior
Badminton Championships
Wick Junior Badminton club held their annual club championships in
February and trophies were presented at their open night on 19th March 03
by Sam Campbell, who plays for the County team and is also the club coach.
Thrumster School - Winners Of Enterprise
Challenge
On Tuesday the 25th March 2003 Thrumster Primary Schools P7s as well as
fifteen other schools took part in the Enterprise Challenge in Thursos
Weigh Inn Hotel. Thrumster
came up with the idea of an underground water- park, and called it
Octavias Tropical Waters.
Author Visits Hillhead
School
Julia Donaldson the award
winning author of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom visited Hillhead
Primary School on Friday March 21st and Monday March 24th 2003. Julia
Donaldson was joined by her husband as they entertained the all the pupils
and teachers from Nursery to Primary 7 with songs and stories from her
books. The staff and pupils had the opportunity to participate in acting
our her stories which they enjoyed very much.
Miller
Academy 1962 (Picture U)
Another picture in this growing series for 1962 from Miller
Academy. Still a few names to find if anyone can help.
Miller Academy Picture Index,
Main School days Picture Index
Launch Of
Highland Waste Plan Will Bring In Doorstep Separation
Today sees the launch of the Highland Waste Plan by the Scottish
Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).
All households will be asked to separate their waste into three types -
recyclables, compostables and residuals - which will be collected directly
from the doorstep.
Caithness.Org Message Board Users May Move To Scottish Hydro Broadband
Campaign
Folk waiting on broadband in Caithness may begin to move their
registrations to Hydro Board if the area is to be left without a trigger
for upgrading. Some folk may play safe and register with both.
Scottish Hydro sounds like it will be having lots of Caithness
registrations. Registering in a few places may get them all moving.
25th March 2003
Flying Bull Clocks Up A Million Miles
Local
"A I" man Willie (the flying bull) Mackay has been serving Cows & heifers
for farmers & crofters in Caithness & north Sutherland For 33 Years.
Working single handed 7 days a week he averages over 35,000 miles a year
which now means he must have done a MILLION miles. The van in the
picture was bought new from Mowats garage in Wick and now has over 375,000
miles on the clock and is still going strong.
Child Tax
Credits And Working Tax Credits Starts 6 April - Apply Now
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit are part of the Government's
programme for tackling poverty and making work pay. Find Out what Child
Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit are and how you can get them by hopping
over to the New Inland Revenue web site Tax Credits Online. Child
Tax Credit will from now on be paid wherever possible to the mother - a
major shift from the past and mothers need to apply. A simple list
of questions lets you know if you qualify.
Forss Young Farmers Get New Rugby Shirts
The
presentation of rugby shirts to Forss Young Farmers which were sponsored
by UKAEA Dounreay. The shirts were presented by Marie Mackay from
Dounreay Communications. Forss Young Farmers is a local youth
organisation which enters into a variety of competitions and events both
locally and at national level. The rugby shirts will provide the
organisation with an identity at such events.
PENTLAND FIRTH SERVICE - SUNDAY 6 APRIL
NorthLinks Pentland Firth service will be suspended on Sunday 6
April, to allow essential work to be carried out on the existing
pier at Scrabster that will facilitate the use of NorthLink
vessel, MV Hamnavoe, on the Scrabster - Stromness route.
Bower
School Music Workshop
Local musician Della Hickey visited Bower School for a
music workshop. The children enjoyed a variety of styles of
music played on Violin, Viola and Cello. They also had the
opportunity to try out the instruments first hand. The visit was
organised by Katrina Gordon, the recently appointed cultural
co-ordinator for Caithness schools.
HIGHLANDS CAN
HAVE LEADING EDGE IN DECOMMISSIONING SKILLS SECTOR
A conference in Inverness today
heard how the growth of new skills in nuclear
decommissioning at Dounreay can become an important
asset in the sustainable development of the Highland economy.
Many of the skills being developed in
and around Dounreay in support of Britain's most complex
nuclear site restoration project to date will be in growing
demand as more former nuclear facilities are decommissioned,
giving the Highland economy a leading edge, according to the
site's director.
DOUBLE BOOST FOR SPORTING ACTIVITIES IN HIGHLAND
The Highland Council has warmly welcomed two national
initiatives which will promote a
healthier lifestyle for young people and a £1.244 million grant
from the New Opportunities Fund, the biggest of the National
Lottery good cause distributors, which will support out-of-hours
sports, including dance, outdoor education, adventure and other
challenging activities for 5-16 year olds. Meanwhile, the
Council has also greeted with enthusiasm an announcement by
Deputy Sports Minister, Dr Elaine Murray, that an additional £50
million will be made available over the next three years to
promote sport in Scotland.
Labour Candidate For Scottish Parliament Visits Dounreay
Deirdre
Steven, the Labour Prospective Scottish Parliamentary Candidate
visited UKAEA Dounreay on Wednesday 19th March 2003. She is
pictured here with Kirsty Gray, a Chemical Engineering graduate
during her tour of the plants in the Waste Management Complex.
Election Pages
Wick
Police Move To New Headquarters
The new police station got its force in place today as
the police left their old station behind in Bridge Street.
The new police station has top range communications equipment
and brand new everything. With more suitable car
parking and a modern building ready for any emergency. The
phone number remains the same Wick 603551 but you will need to
head round to the Railway station where it is located to make
enquiries or complaints. The new police station cost
around £2million and was built by D M Geddes & Son.
Doureay Staff Lose Weight For Dialysis
Group
The
floors of D1200 at Dounreay are taking less of a pounding these days
thanks to the efforts of fifteen members of staff who agreed to shed some
excess weight, and at the same time raise money for a good cause. The
Caithness Dialysis Support Group is £1055 richer thanks to them getting a
'weight off their minds'.
New Left Handed Range Of Products
We do not often put a business out of Caithness on our
front page but we are happy to highlight one that stocks
products for left handers. Anything Left-Handed are
delighted to add a host of new products, including the first
ever left-handed camera, garden & DIY equipment and children's
developmental games to the huge range of household and
stationery products. They even have a left handed
camera now.........
Thurso FC
Hoping To Put more Gloss On The Season
Thurso F.C will be aiming for a second cup final appearance this
weekend when they play The Football Times Cup Semi-Final away at
Golspie Sutherland this weekend. They are already in the
Morris Newton Cup Final to be played at Ross County's, Victoria
Park in Dingwall, awaiting the winners of The Alness United V
Bonar Bridge semi-Final. Plus if they win this weekend, it will
set up an interesting match with local rivals Halkirk United in
The Final of The Football Times Cup. The club is aiming
for a historic treble having won The MSIS North Caledonian
League Championship a few weeks ago. Since formation in
1998, Thurso F.C won The League championship in 1999/2000,
league runners-up the following season in 2000/01 and last
season won The PCT Cup.
25th March 2003
A Tale Of Two Towns - Housing In Caithness
Whilst house prices in Thurso have shown a substantial increase
over the last few years, Wick and the outlying areas have shown
increases too, though to a lesser degree. There is, for example,
a significant difference between the home prices facing first
time buyers in Wick and Thurso. Whereas a two bedroom council
house in Thurso might cost around £50,000, an equivalent
property in Wick might cost around £35-£40,000.
Karen Hanna From
Park Hotel Heads For The Rockies
Representatives from 12 Highland-based tourism businesses
departed for the Canadian Rockies at the weekend for a five-day
intensive programme, where they will meet with industry peers
and explore practical approaches and best practice models for
delivering tourism products and services. The trip is part
of an eight-month practical-based International Learning Journey
programme aimed at improving the competitiveness of both the
Highlands and Islands region and its individual tourism
operators.
CALUM THE CROFTER
ENCOURAGES YOUNG PEOPLE INTO CROFTING
A
cartoon mascot enlisted by the Scottish Crofting Foundation to
attract young people into crofting will make his debut on the
organisation's revamped website today. Cartoon character
Calum the Crofter will have a starring role on the Foundation's
new-look site -
www.crofting.org
- which has been developed to generate more interest in
crofting.
'KILL YOUR SPEED' CAMPAIGN - THE LATEST DRIVE TO REDUCE ROAD
ACCIDENTS
The latest drive to reduce road accidents in Northern
Constabulary. The Force wide initiative known as 'Speed Kills'
is aimed at all drivers in the Highlands and Islands and is part
of the National No Speeding campaign. The campaign
to raise awareness of the dangers associated with drivers who
speed will culminate with a crack down on speeding drivers
across the Force from Glencoe to Lerwick on 1st April which is
National No Speeding Day. A list of places police will be
checking speeds is included and remember unmarked police cars
are in operation.
Detailed Results
From 2001 Census
Further detailed results from Scotland's Census 2001 are
released today in two new publications. The first of
these, Scotland's Census 2001 - Reference Volume, sets out for
Scotland-level only details of statistical tables and provides a
reference guide to the Area Statistics available in electronic
format for smaller geographical areas. Free
downloads available
Tartan Day Web
Site Highlights Henry Sinclair
Tartan Day 6 April 2003 One of the stories being
highlighted on the
Tartan Day web site is the story of Henry Sinclair and
his voyage to America. Predating Columbus takes nothing
away from that voyagers trip but may explain many of the
findings in both Scotland and the USA. The evidence
has been argued over for years and no doubt will continue to be
but nevertheless it opens up some fascinating possibilities
about the connections between the two countries.
JAMIE STONE MSP RAISES EU
FUNDING ISSUES FOR NORTHERN TOWNS
Parliamentarians from across the UK and Ireland were today urged to
work together to help attract more European funding to our remote and
rural areas including the Far North of Scotland. Jamie Stone
highlighted the problems of Wick, Helmsdale and Kinlochbervie.
First
Building At Wick Business Park
The new business park on the outskirts of Wick has its
first building under construction. The work is being carried out by M M Miller (Wick) Ltd.
£2million
Pound Research Centre In Orkney
Ministers have adopted a 40 per cent target for Scotland's
energy requirements to be generated from a mix of renewable
sources by 2020, it was confirmed today.
Consultation on the 40 per cent level began last August and
today Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie
said that the potential to achieve a diverse mix of renewable
technologies had persuaded Ministers to accept the target.
Highlighting the need to promote a range of renewables, Mr
Finnie also announced a £2 million investment in a new Marine
Energy Research Centre in Orkney and the creation of a group to
address possible barriers that might stand in the way of
achieving the target.
Wick Play Leaders Gain Qualifications
Our play leaders Louise Burt and Marjory Miller have been
awarded their Scottish Vocational Qualification Level III
certificates in Childcare and Education. They are the
first Play Leaders to be awarded this in the Wick area.
They have worked hard over the last two years to achieve this
qualification. Well done ladies.
Pentland Ferries -
The Easyjet of the Pentland Firth
From 1 April the hugely successful cheap fares operation between
Gills Pier and St Margaret's Hope in Orkney gets back into the
summer schedule able to take 250 passengers and 47 cars.
Single fare is £10 passenger £25 Car. Child 5 - 16 £5.
With Northlink sailing from Scrabster and the short crossing
from John O'Groats throughout the summer linking to tours of the
islands means there have never been so many opportunities for
anyone to see the north of Scotland and spend a single day or
several in the islands.
Ferry Pages,
Pentland Firth
24th March 2003
Another Caithness Band - Ticket To The Island
PUPILS
WEIGH IN FOR ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE IN THURSO
Pupils from 16 Caithness and Sutherland primary schools will
converge at the Weigh Inn Hotel in Thurso on Tuesday 25 March
2003 to take part in a schools enterprise challenge. The
pupils - all from P4 to P7 - will be given just four hours to
come up with an original business idea, then design and make
their product and devise a marketing plan.
Scottish Executive Throws
£300,000 Lifeline To Scrabster To Get New Ferry Started
NorthLink has welcomed the Scottish Executive initiative and cash
injection, announced today by the deputy minister for enterprise,
transport and lifelong learning, Lewis Macdonald MSP, which will
facilitate use of MV Hamnavoe on the Pentland Firth route.
Science Week Has Plenty For Everyone
This Week 24 28th March
The Science Week Team are keen to let everyone know that the
science lectures are aimed at everyone. Adults will find some of
them especially interesting. Included in what will prove to be fun
and exciting lectures are "Death Drugs and Dynamite" by Prof Alan Jamieson
and "How To Get 9000 Tons Of Steel To Fly" by Willie Watt.
Tickets are only £1 for adults and accompanied children will get in FREE
so that families can easily afford it. So get out and See
Science In Action this week.
Jack Infected Jill Playing In Wick
Local Band "Estrella" At Redwood
Carson From Fort William At Redwood
"Actual Size" From Bristol Played Thurso On Saturday
"Acid Inc" At Blue Monday Gig In Wick
Deputy Transport Minister At Scrabster Today
Lewis MacDonald Deputy Transport Minister will be in Scrabster on
Monday 24 March 2003 to see for himself the progress of lack of it.
The minister will be meeting Northlink management and is likely to
announce the latest funding package for Scrabster Harbour Trust.
New Epilepsy Group Meeting Tonight
Monday 24 March at 7pm A new section of the
Neurological Group is to be formally set up tonight.
Anyone wishing to attend the meeting will be welcome. The
meeting will be held in the Nerve Centre premises above the
Cancer Research Shop - entrance from the rear.
23rd March 2003
Mey And District Gardening Club 2003 Bulb Show
Cancer Victim Sets Out From John O'Groats To Raise Huge Sums For
Charity
Jane
Tomlinson is terminally ill with cancer. She set out on Friday
21 March 2003 from John O' Groats on a tandem with her brother
Luke Goward, heading for Lands End. She hopes to raise
£100,000 for charity as well as raising awareness of the
disease. Last year she raised £120,000 by running the
London marathon. She is 39 years old and is married with
three children.
Caithness Rugby Football Club Win Takes them To Next Division
Caithness
Rugby Football Club who won their game against Garioch in the
Division Five (North) championship on Saturday afternoon Garioch.
This also promotes them to Division 4 (North) and several
interesting re-matches with Orkney RFC. Match report
coming soon on the Caithness RFC web site. The team are
having a great year and go through to The Quarter Finals of The
BT Shield against Ardrossan Accs away to be played 29th March
2003 having defeated some teams in higher positions in the
leagues. Well done and good luck next Saturday.
22nd March 2003
Hillhead Pottery Project Becomes "Faces Of A School" Exhibition
An
exhibition of pottery work carried out by pupils at Hillhead
Primary School with the potter Jenny Mackenzie Ross. A
self-portrait on a clay tile, completed by each of the pupils is
a central feature of the display.
St Fergus Gallery, Sinclair Terrace, Wick - March 21st April
11th.
Hillhead School Main Index
"Danio"
Delivering Fertilizer At Wick
The annual round at Wick Harbour can be seen from the
arrival of the fertilizer boats showing the huge amounts of
fertilizer applied by farms in the north of Scotland.
Dance And Drama Tests - Beverley Sarstedt Classes
21st March 2003
STUDY AIMS TO
UPGRADE LIFELINE SINGLE TRACK ROAD NETWORK
Independent consultants are to be appointed soon to
objectively examine the single track network in the Highlands,
Argyll and Western Isles with a view to making an economic case
for upgrading and improving these routes over the next 20 years.
Disability Rights Commission March Newsletter
Each month we publish the newsletter as a means of helping to
publicise the the information available from the commission. The
newsletter is available to anyone via email just by signing up at the DRC
web site.
20th March 2003
Uemployment
Shows Rise In February In The North
Overall, the number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from
916 last month to 1,002. The revised unemployment rates in the Sutherland,
Wick and Thurso Travel to Work Areas respectively are as follows
(corresponding figures for last month are shown in brackets) 7.6% (7.3%),
6.1% (5.4%) and 3.5% (3.0%).
FINANCE FOR BUSINESS FROM CASE
Scrabster Seafoods Ltd was awarded
approval of assistance of up to £507,400 towards the construction of a new
fish grading, processing and packing plant at Scrabster, while Ashley Anne
Ltd were awarded assistance of up to £40,688 towards the expansion and
upgrading of their Thurso factory. Ramscraig Kennels at Dunbeath was
awarded £11,900. A ranges of smaller grants have also been
made........
New Store Opens With Surge Of Customers From all Over Caithness
Wick's newest supermarket was doing great business on its opening day as
folk flocked in for a look from all over the county. Check-out
assistants had to keep moving to deal with the steady flow of customers
coming through the store. Customers seemed generally pleased
with the low cost of many items on offer from food lines to hardware
items.
COUNCIL WELCOMES
RELOCATION OF SNH HQ TO THE HIGHLANDS
The Highland Council Convener David Green
and the Provost of Inverness Bill Smith have warmly welcomed the decision
by the Scottish Executive to relocate the Scottish Natural Heritages
national headquarters in its natural home in the Highlands - from 2005.
SNH will relocate from Edinburgh to Inverness bringing 300 jobs to the city.
Do
You Want To Run the Loch Ness Marathon?
The Loch Ness Marathon will take place on Sunday 28th September 2003 and
is one of the UKs most picturesque marathons, hoping to attract 2000
runners worldwide. This year Marie Curie is one of 5 nominated charities
and we have 50 guaranteed places for our supporters. In addition to the
26.2 mile marathon there is also a 5K Fun Run over a flatter faster course
along the banks of the river Ness.
South School World War Two Project Day
On Wednesday Primary Seven, South School, Wick who had been studying many
aspects of WW2 had an open day inviting a few WW2 veterans to speak to
them and show them what they had been doing over the last few weeks.
The day had a more than unexpected reminder of war coinciding as it did
with the outbreak of war in Iraq. The kids had a chance to ask their
guests about their memories of those days.
19th March 2003
New Supermarket Ready For Thursday Opening In Wick
The battle for the grocery trade jumps another notch when Lidl's famous
for its low prices opens another new store at Wick at 9.00am on Thursday
20 March. Lots of tidying up was going on today as plants were put
in place, car park cleaned and final touches all round. More choice
for the penny in your purse and with two new pubs and a big regeneration
project in Pulteneytown getting ready to start Wick's fortunes may be on
the way up.
DIVE CENTRE ON THE CARDS FOR
WICK
Divers in Caithness have taken the first step towards realising
plans to build a Dive Centre in Wick thanks to Caithness and Sutherland
Enterprise (CASE). CASE has awarded the Far North Sub Aqua Club a
funding package totalling £3,147 - which includes over £1,500 from the
European-funded Community Economic Development (CED) programme - towards
phase one of the project.
Castletown
Children Meet "Katie Morag" Author
Children from Castletown primary School had the privilege of
meeting top Scottish childrens author, Mairi Hedderwick, in Thurso
library. Mairi Hedderwick, creator of the much-loved Katie Morag
stories, spoke to the pupils from Classes Five and Six about the
development of a book, from the first ideas in an authors head, through
to publication.
Latest Mart Report
Caithness Livestock Centre - Aberdeen and Northern
Marts sold 316 store cattle at their March show and sale at Quoybrae.
REPORT
PROVIDES REASSURANCE ON "NEGLIGIBLE" RISK FROM PARTICLES
An independent report published today concludes that the risk of a
person coming into contact with a particle at Sandside "is so minute that
it could reasonably be considered negligible".
The 2nd Interim Report of the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group - an
expert group set up to advise the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency
Fire Death
About 4.25.pm on Tuesday 18th March 2003, police at Thurso received a
report of an area of grassland on fire close to the
Old Post Office, Westerdale, where the remains of a female had been
discovered by members of the public.
Faces Of A School
An
exhibition of pottery work carried out by pupils at Hillhead Primary
School with the potter Jenny Mackenzie Ross. A self-portrait on a clay
tile, completed by each of the pupils is a central feature of the display.
St Fergus Gallery, Sinclair Terrace, Wick. March 21st April
11th
Picture Gallery Showing Work In Progress
18th March 2003
Miller Academy Raises Truly Amazing Amount From Last Fridays Antics
Miller
Academy on Friday collected an amazing total of £834 for the Comic
Relief Charity. Well done to everyone.
SCRABSTER WORK WILL ALLOW HAMNAVOE TO ENTER SERVICE
Work is due to begin soon on the existing pier at Scrabster
which will allow NorthLink to bring MV Hamnavoe into service on the
Pentland Firth route. NorthLink
have been unable to use Hamnavoe on the route because of problems
experienced by the Scrabster Harbour Trust in constructing a new pier that
will accommodate the vessel.
Profile
Of Deirdre Steven - Labour Candidate
Deirdre Steven the councillor for Wick West who is to run as the
Labour candidate for the Scottish Parliament in Caithness, Sutherland and
East Ross and give up her council representation for the ward of Wick West
she has carried out since the last elections. Working as manager for
for the Highlands and Islands MSPs, Peter Peacock (deputy finance
minister), Maureen Macmillan and Rhoda Grant has given her frontline
experience in the day to day working of an MSP. A member of a
variety of locally based organisations and a mother of two have kept her
extremely busy over the last few years.
STONE
WELCOMES NEWS OF WICK FACTORY TAKE-OVER
Far North MSP Jamie Stone has welcomed the news that part of the
former Grampian Records factory in Wick has been taken over by a new
company. The new firm - Gloucester based James Yorke Ltd - moved
into the premises on Monday and has taken over the CD production line.
Currently, seven people are employed in Wick, with this figure expected to
rise to ten in the coming weeks.
PARTICLE FIND ON SANDSIDE BEACH
A suspected 28th radioactive particle resulting from
historical operations at Dounreay was found during routine monitoring of
Sandside Beach today.
MEALS AT HOME PROVES A WINNER
A new Meals at Home service is to be introduced for older, and other
vulnerable people throughout the Highlands following a successful pilot
carried out in the Inverness and Tain and Seaboard Villages. The
benefits will see a standard service of nutritious and affordable meals
provided throughout the Highlands to a wider range of people and for the
first time available 7 days per week, 52 weeks a year.
FUNDING
SUPPORT FOR PULTENEYTOWN
The Pultenenytown People's Project (PPP) has been given a funding
boost with a financial package from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise
(CASE) towards the cost of employing two staff. CASE has awarded the
organisation a grant totalling £66,163, which includes over £33,000 from
the European-funded Community Economic Development (CED) programme. CED
is a partnership initiative that seeks to target funds for sustainable
development activities undertaken by communities most in need of support.
In addition to backing from CASE, support has also come from The Highland
Council.
Caithness Gymnasts
Success At
Scottish Rhythmic Gymnastics Novice Championships
Last Saturday three Rhythmic Gymnasts
from Caithness took part in the Scottish Novice Championships for Rhythmic
Gymnastics, held at the Craigwillow Centre, Livingston, West Lothian. Natalia Hodgson and Anna Cassidy both
aged 13 competed in the Under 14 Category. They both performed their
routines very well, with Natalia taking the title of Scottish Novice
Champion for her age group and Anna taking the Silver Medal. Gemma Wares
aged 15 competed in the over 14 age group, she gave a solid performance
and also took the silver medal in her age group.
DOUNREAY LAUNCHES FIRST APPRENTICESHIPS IN DECOMMISSIONING
Young people are to be offered apprenticeships in nuclear
decommissioning for the first time at
Dounreay as part of the £4 billion programme to dismantle the
experimental reactor establishment. The UK Atomic
Energy Authority today announced it is setting up a pilot scheme
with the aim of creating the first Modern Apprenticeship in Nuclear
Operations and Decommissioning in the UK. An initial four young people
will be recruited over the next few months
to begin their apprenticeship in August.
Crafts, Childrens Competition And Cakes From The SWRI Bulb Show
History Of Caithness -
More Appendix Pages Added
Valuation of the County in 1760 and 1798,
Earls of Caithness of the Sinclair Family after separate Earldom,
Armorial Bearings of the Earls of Caithness,
Pedigree of the Mey Family Nearly 100 pages still to
come.
17th March 2003
To The Drum Of The Sea'
The eagerly awaited DEBUT album by Donald Lindsay To The Drum Of The Sea' was released Monday 17th MARCH 2003.
After a superb gig with the New Scottish Choir & Orchestra on
Friday night to a full house in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall,
and after a wee bit of airplay on Radio Scotland (Celtic
Connections & Radio nan Gaidheal so far) the album is finally
'out'! The album is a collection of tunes by the Rev Alex
Muir. Alex was minister of Canisbay in Caithness from
1982-1991, and composed many of the tunes on the album during
this time.
North Highland Archive To Close for Stock Check
The archive in Wick will close for three weeks on 28TH MARCH
2003 AT 5.30pm REOPENING ON 22ND APRIL 2003 AT 10.00am.
For those members of the public wishing to consult microform
records of census returns etc., during this period, provision
will be made for facilities to be available in the Wick Library
LAUNCH OF
COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE LOAN FUND
Highland Opportunity Limited (HOL), the Enterprise Trust for the
Highland Area, is launching a new investment project aimed at
the social sector of the Highland economy. Examples
of possible beneficiaries are remote community lifeline
services, business spin-offs from community land purchases,
community centres, care groups, cultural and heritage societies,
voluntary organisations and local charitable trusts.
HOUSEHOLDERS WARNED
ABOUT ROGUE TRADESMEN
Householders in the Inverness area are being warned to be on
their guard against traders who are targeting elderly and
vulnerable residents in offering to carry out work on home
repairs and garden maintenance. Everyone in all
areas should be aware of this type of trader and be wary when
approached by dealers of any sort approaching you or elderly
relatives at home if they have not been asked to call.
TIMETABLE FOR SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT AND THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL -
ELECTIONS ON 1 MAY
The elections for the Scottish Parliament and The Highland
Council elections, being held on Thursday 1 May 2003, will be
called by the Returning Officer, Arthur McCourt, Chief Executive
of The Highland Council, on Thursday 20 March 2003. This is the
day from which nomination papers are available for candidates.
Rob Gibson SNP Candidate Welcomes Jobs At Forss
SNP welcomes new opportunity for HQ of UKAEA
'environmental restoration division' in Caithness The SNP
welcomes the announcement that Forss Business and Technology
Park will host a new centre for nuclear decommissioning
expertise. With 140 staff already in office space at Dounreay
moving to the new site, this new UKAEA Division could become the
international centre of excellence in a much-in-demand
technology.
Frank Ward And
Socialists Pledge Civil Disobedience
Frank Ward candidate for the Scottish Socialist Party in
Caithness, Sutherland and East Ross is ready for action as The Scottish Socialist Party has said it will organise,
support and participate in acts of mass civil disobedience when
the UK government participates in war on Iraq.
Iraq War Debate On Message Board
Jamie Stone
CAMPAIGNS FOR BROADBAND IN CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND
Jamie Stone MSP is leading the campaign for broadband technology to be
rolled out in the Far North.
Caithness.Org Broadband Pages,
Broadband Debate On the Message Board
Miller Academy Red Nose Day And Competition Pictures
Plaids and Bandanas: from Highland Drover
to Wild West Cowboy
A new book by Rob Gibson was launched in Caithness at Scotia
Review on Thursday. Rob Gibson is a busy man as he also
the SNP candidate for the Scottish Parliament. His book
takes a close look at the links between the Cattle Drovers in
Scotland and the Cowboys of the American West. Yet again
he uncovers the facts and tells some of the stories of the Scots
who were heavily involved in the cattle trade in both countries.
The links are many and show yet again why so many Scottish names
are part of America.
Still Standing
Mike Clark tidying up in the garden takes a look at what
greens are still to be gleaned from his patch. Mike
keeps the greens coming all year round and says there is no
reason for it all to disappear in winter.
MAJOR PROJECTS TEAM TO SET UP HQ ON NEW DECOMMISSIONING BUSINESS
PARK
A new division of the UK Atomic Energy Authority set up to help
deliver the environmental restoration of
former nuclear research facilities such as Dounreay
is to be based on a business park being developed in Caithness
by the private sector. Approximately 140
members of staff of currently based at
Dounreay are expected to take up occupancy at Forss in the
summer.
History Of Caithness _ Appendix 3
Extracts From Old Inventories Of the Titles Of the Estate Of
Malcolm Groat Of Warse
the publication of the History has fallen a bit behind schedule.
Not a very exciting part of the history so far but contains some
interesting items and shows the details of record keeping in use
hundreds of years ago.
History Of
Caithness Main Index,
Caithness.Org
History Section
CAMPAIGNS FOR
BROADBAND IN CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND
Jamie Stone MSP is leading the campaign for broadband
technology to be rolled out in the Far North. Scotland's First
Minister, Jack McConnell, spoke about the Executive's plans to
increase access to broadband across the country during First
Minister's Questions this week. This follows his announcement
at the Highlands and Islands convention on Monday that six
telephone exchanges in the Highlands - Forres, Nairn, Dingwall,
Buckie, Oban and Fort William - will be upgraded for broadband.
"Songs" By Norma Sinclair & Alison
Mackenzie
Norma and Alison have been singing and playing together for many
years, but this is their first CD. Initially the CD was
produced for themselves and a few friends, but it has now been
issued by Harp Recordings. The selection of songs ranges
from Handel to present-day composers, with a variety of styles,
including classical songs, Lieder, and sacred songs.
15th March 2003
Thurso
FC Won the North Caledonian League Cup
Thurso Fc were presented
with the North Caledonian League trophy after their 6-0 win over
Bunilidh this afternoon.
John Thurso M.P. Opening SWRI Bulb Show On Saturday In Wick
Halkirk
Youth Club Red Nose Day
The kids from Halkirk Youth Club got Red Nose Day mood to
raise £73.10 for the charity
Wick
High School About 1947
This picture is in the new Wick High School section set
up to receive later pictures. As the section is growing
new section indexes for each of the schools is being created but
they will remain linked to the existing Schooldays index.
14th March 2003
Borrowston Windfarm Proposal Hits The Message Board
Opinion on both sides. Put your comments in or read what
others are saying.
Herring
Queen 1950
As Pulteneytown stands on the brink of a revival of its
fortunes with the Heritage lottery announcement to invest in
upgrading the area here is another Herring Queen picture from
1950. This was one of the later ones as the Herring Queen
ceremony was stopped and overtaken by the Gala Queen in Wick.
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS
Without a significant increase in quality affordable social
rented housing to provide permanent, temporary and emergency
accommodation, The Highland Council and its housing partners
will not be able to eliminate homelessness in the area. It
states there is a need to provide at least an additional 285 new
affordable homes per year, requiring an additional £13 million
per year in the housing association development programme. to
meet the need for affordable housing in Highland. Reported
homelessness has almost doubled since 1983. There are almost
8,000 households on the list for Council housing and in
2002-2003, the total number of households presenting themselves
to the Council as homeless increased by 14% to 1,100.
Scottish Community Drama Association
Highland Divisional Final of ONE ACT PLAYS Wick Assembly Rooms
Thursday 27 , Friday 28 and Saturday 29 March 2003 Curtain Up
7.00pm
Lidl Racing To Opening Thursday 20 March
Wick and the east of Caithness will
suddenly find itself with three supermarkets with the opening of Lidl's
newest store. After many years of grocery domination by the Coop and
Safeways (formerly Presto's) there will now be three big stores. Many
folk already know what to expect from their visits to Lidl's in Thurso.
The site is a scene of frenetic activity as the days tick by. Roads,
pavements, electrics, phones and many other jobs are in the final stages
in the count-down to next Thursday.
Bulb Show - East Of Caithness SWRI
Saturday 15 March 2.30pm (doors open 1.45pm) Assembly Rooms,
Wick.
Admission £1 children 50p - Raffle, Sales Table, Tea and
Coffee.
To be opened by John Thurso MP.
SWRI Page
13th March 2003
Galas, Shows,
Games and Other Events For 2003
We are gathering the dates for Caithness events in 2003. If you
are organising any events let us know the dates as we are being asked by
email for dates of the events for folk to plan trips. Send us the
dates first and later the programmes of events for inclusion in our
Galas, Games and shows section where we will be putting pictures of any
we get to as in previous years. Get your dates in to us soon.
Lyth School
Reunion
Lyth school (or its official name, as written in the prize books,
Barrock Public School) reunion is to take place on 23 August 2003.
Venue will be dependant on numbers etc. Help the organisers by
getting in touch early and letting other folk know.
County Flower - Final Two
In
2002 Plantlife ran a campaign to get a county flower for each county. In 2003 they have narrowed it down to two for each county. You have
until 31 October to make your choice for Caithness or any other county. The choice is between
Scottish primrose and
Bog asphodel. Its too late to pick for the
county flower them but you might like to take a look at
Ken Butlers plant list to see what to look out for in coming
months in Caithness. The list is just a small selection of the
flowering plants to be found in the county.
12th March 2003
HIGHLAND - AT THE FOREFRONT OF ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
The Highland Council is to introduce new technology that will take the
Highlands to the forefront of electronic service delivery within Scotland.
The new Customer Relationship Management System will enable seamless
service delivery, across all access channels, between the frontline and
back office operations of the Council.
Countryside Volunteers Geared Up For Summer. Do You Want To Come
Along?
The Caithness Countryside Volunteers is growing in strength and
this year has set out a number of small projects to improve the local
environment. With help from the Rangers they plan and tackle
improvements in various parts of Caithness. Why not have a few hours
out with them and some light exercise improving the area.
BIRD
RAFT FENCE ERECTION - First Countryside Volunteer Project of 2003
Saturday 15 March 9.30am
Last
year, rafts for St.John's Pool were built to help the breeding success of
waders & terns. To further reduce the risk from predators, an electric
fence will be erected. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers. If you
are interested in helping, please contact Mary Legg on 01847 821531 for
further details.
Caithness Critters 2003 Programme Now Out
The group for children aged 8 - 14 run by the Rangers has its
programme for 2003 out now. A great chance for young people to learn
about the countryside on outings and participating in small projects.
Ranger Pages
COMMUNITY
WASTE INITIATIVES
At a meeting of The Highland Council's Sustainable Development Select
Committee, Members were given a progress report on the community waste
initiatives currently supported by the Council and agreed to endorse the
principle of continued support of such initiatives within the framework of
the Highland Area Waste Plan. 4% of waste in Highland going to
landfill is nappies.
Pulteneytown Ready For
Revival As Lotter Funds Increased to £2.4 Million
Wick High School was the venue for some entertainment for Telford's
Pulteneytown Bicentennial and the surprise announcement
that the Heritage Lottery Fund was increasing the funds previously thought
to be £1.9million to £2.4million. Other funders will be adding to
this total. The project to revive the area will last for five years.
A representative from The Heritage Lottery said this was now their
furthest north project.
11th March 2003
Caithness Junr Badminton Highland Restricted Tournament
Caithness Badminton Association - Junior Section were hosts for the
Highland Restricted Tournament. There were competitors from Shetland,
Orkney, Lochaber, Forres, Tain, Nairn, Dufftown, Dingwall, Beauly.
SEERAD
Visit Dounreay
Members of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs
Department (SEERAD) visited Dounreay last Thursday during their
two day visit to Caithness. The group enjoyed a tour of the
Dounreay site and a tour of the Dounreay Visitor Centre, before
heading back to their various locations across Scotland. SEERAD
are also represented on the Dounreay Local Liaison Committee.
Body Found West Murkle
Beach
Police
have today made a further appeal for information from the public
in relation to the body of the man found at West Murkle on the
Caithness Coast on Sunday. Similar clothing to that worn by the
man was put on display at Police Headquarters this afternoon.
The mans original clothing consisted of items from various
outfitters. DNA profiling may be carried out and extensive
enquiries including checking shipping lists and foreign fishing
boats at Scrabster.
Caithness
Biodiversity Projects
A growing list of projects has been started with help
from the biodiversity group. They cover a diverse range of
topics and include a photographic project to assist other groups
and businesses on a not-for-profit basis.
Biodiversity Index
Bower
Primary Beetle Drive
Children and parents from Bower School held a beetle
drive last Friday in Bower Community Hall. The event raised
funds for the school's PTA. Children were also enjoyed a tombola
and sweetie stall. The winners' prize went to Mrs. Dianne
Hornidge and Mrs. Sara Young with 137 points, while the booby
prize was won by Chris Sandison (p7) and Ryan Mackay (p5) with
90 points. Sonia Brims (p7) won the prize for most artistic
beetle.
Caithness
Badminton Association Mixed Doubles
Winners of the Mixed Doubles at the CBA (Caithness
Badminton Association) Invitation Tournament sponsored by UKAEA
Dounreay - which took place on 28 February and 1 March 2003, in
Thurso Games Hall.
Winners - Mark Mackay & Carole Mowat (both Caithness)
Runners-Up - James Henderson (Caithness) & Carolyn Young
(Edinburgh)
Annular Eclipse Likely To Be Best Viewed In The Far North
If you are planning to be in Caithness on 31 May and need a
place to stay then you might want to think about booking now.
An annular eclipse will happen on 31 May and the northern
Highlands are one of the best places to see it. One or two
Bed and Breakfasts are already fully booked especially those out
in the country where light contamination will be least.
Star gazing has become harder near large towns and cites but the
Highlands still has a low population and the skies are
relatively clear at night always assuming no clouds.
So get booking and even if the weather is overcast that night
there is still plenty to see.
More Rural
Transport Funding Announced
A multi-million pound investment package for rural transport
networks across the country has been announced. At the
Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Elgin, Deputy First
Minister Jim Wallace pledged a further £11.9 million for schemes
which support rural services mainly bus but also ferry and
community transport services. Highland gets £958,000
in 2004/5 and £1,006,000 in 2005/6. Sounds great but some
might think the coming election has something to do with
announcing money so far ahead.
10th March 2003
POLICE APPEAL AFTER BODY FOUND AT WEST MURKLE, CAITHNESS
COAST
Police at Thurso have this afternoon made a further appeal for
information following the discovery of a man's body yesterday at
West Murkle near Thurso. In particular, the officer in charge of
the enquiry is seeking assistance from the public who may have
been in the Clarndon Haven area on the coast between Thurso and
Castletown over the weekend. The area is popular with walkers
and fishermen and Police are asking those members of the public
who were in the area on Friday, Saturday or Sunday to contact
them. No cause of death has as yet been established and
police are likely to make a further appeal tomorrow following the
Post Mortem. Anyone who has any information is asked to
contact Police at Thurso on 01847 893222.
This incident is not connected with the loss of William Taylor
from the boat Boy Ritchie a couple of days ago off Noss Head.
Ming
- Not Sporty But Arty
Ming says, "Did Someone say sport?" No Way.
Leaving that sort of thing to Chivers Ming prefers the arty life
but cannot make up which colours would look best and decides it
takes more time to ponder the matter.
SCRAP Heads Over 1000 Compost Bins - Get One Now
Sutherland & Caithness
Recycling Action Partnership (SCRAP)
Another consignment of 120
compost bins available, still only £5, limit of 2 per household.
SCRAP have currently distributed nearly 900 bins and this new
batch will take us above the 1000. This is all biodegradable
waste which is now no longer going to landfill, producing free
compost as well - great for the environment and great for your
pocket!
Caithness Rugby Team Wins To Go To Quarter Finals Of BT Shield
Caithness
of Division 5 pulled off a shock win in the BT Shield at the
weekend, defeating 2nd division Hillfoots 19-12. Caithness now
play Ardrossan away in the quarter finals.
BE ON YOUR GUARD
AGAINST CHARGES FOR ENTRIES INTO BUSINESS DIRECTORIES
The Highland Council Trading Standards are warning local
businesses to be wary of firms contacting them regarding entries
into directories. Under the Unsolicited Goods and Services
Act 1971, you cannot be charged for a directory entry unless you
have signed an order form.
Wick High School Reunion 1950 - 55 Sends In Pictures
Alex
Thain, John Campbell and Don Sinclair are working together to
send in a few pictures from their schooldays as the weeks tick
by to the
reunion in Mackays hotel on 2 August 2003. This
picture is of the class at Pulteneytown Academy they think from
1946/47. Perhaps someone can pinpoint it exactly from
another copy of the picture.
CAITHNESS RIDERS ACCESS GROUP
Public Meeting For Walkers, Cyclists and Horse Riders
The group are holding a public meeting on 7th April in the
Brown Trout Hotel, Watten at 7.30 every one interested in
access, and horse riders, cyclists, walkers in particular would
be welcome.
Highland Young
Folk Full Of Technology Ideas
Competing young innovators to develop prototypes in Alness
Young people from across the Highlands and Islands, taking
part in a major technology and innovation competition, will
gather in Alness, Easter Ross next Tuesday (18th March 2003) to
further develop their project ideas at the PICT Forum. The
ICT Youth Challenge Programme is being run on behalf of
Highlands and Islands Enterprise by PICT Innovation Ltd, a
partnership company established to commercialise the results of
ICT research in the Highlands and Islands.
The Ultimate Flat Pack - A Canadian House At Staxigoe
This house has been built at Staxigoe from high quality
materials that come over in crates from Canada. Using lots
of wood it also has high insulation standards for a house that
can stand the Caithness wintry days.
Chivers
And The Sporting Life
Chivers mum always told him that to get on in life
fitness was important. Somehow Chivers always manages to
find the kit and even the bag to carry it in but in the end it
seems all that searching for trainers, rackets, balls,
shuttlecocks and other paraphanal1ia just tires him out.
So at least the sports bag comes in handy - its dry, warm and
draft free and it's environmentally friendly recycling of the
best kind. How many of you curl up rather than finding
those trainers?
Ackergill
Tower Guests Visit Scrabster
Skipper of the fishing boat Boy Andrew, Andrew Bremner
showed guests from Ackergill Tower round his boat on Saturday
when they visited Scrabster. Accompanying them was TV chef
Paul Rankin who has been demonstrating many of the techniques
and recipes used by top chefs to the guests before dinner.
New Supermarket Racing To Early Completion At Wick
Caithness Gaelic Choir Win
St Aubyn's Challenge Trophy
The ladies section of the Caithness Gaelic
Choir travelled south on Saturday 8 March 2003 to participate in
the Inverness Music Festival. Under conductor Norma
Sinclair and with accompanist Barbara Nicol, they returned home
the proud winners of the St. Aubyn's Challenge Trophy for Adult
Female Choirs, having gained a distinction mark in their class.
The choir hopes to compete next in the
Caithness Music
Festival
Caithness Biodiversity Action Plan
9th March 2003
Bothy Night At Thrumster
Thrumster village Hall had a smash hit night right from the
outset. Full to overflowing - standing room only and
people turned away. The group of villagers had not
reckoned on so many people wanting to see their old fashioned
Caithness Bothy entertainment. The night's entertainment
set out to do it the way crofters had entertained themselves in
the days before television. The audience loved it and the
laugh a minute delivery of jokes and local references kept the
night rolling along peppered with music and dancing as well as
communal singing. The tiny stage became the front room of
any croft with acts arriving as old friends of the crofter with
something to say joke, poem or look at life. In between
the constant banter between the crofter and his friend washing
his feet in the bath, playing the spoons and telling jokes kept
the pace up for the evening. They could fill a few village
halls with this one.
8th March 2003
County Rinks Bowls Competition Has Good Turn Out Today
Fund Raiser At Ackergill Tower Today With TV Chef Paul Rankin
Paul Rankiin the well-known TV Chef has been at Ackergill Tower this week
for a series of dinners demonstrations. He and Kevin Dalgleish the
resident chef have been showing catering students from North Highland
college the ropes. Funds raised today will be divided between Wick
Hanging Baskets and the group raising funds for a new Highland Maggie Centre
to be built in Inverness. Maggie Centres offer help and counselling
to people diagnosed with cancer. Bill had hot footed it from
The Marie Curie fund raiser in Wick in time to catch Paul before
he gave his demonstration.
Scouts Help Marie Curie Cancer Care Raise Funds In Wick
Wick
Scouts were out to help Bill from Caithness.Org do some fund
raising for Marie Curie Cancer Care at Safeways supermarket in
Wick. A couple of the boys hare old hands having
helped last year. So thanks to all the boys and their
leaders for helping out once again.
George's
Circle of Friends Is International - Enter Laddie From Germany
Proving
that George could take on the United Nations any day. Here
is Laddie from Germany a regular visitor to Caithness.Org.
Maybe this international and growing grouping can sort a few
things out more sensibly than some of our great leaders.
No titles for this group just common sense. Eat, sleep and
make hay while the sun shines.
7th March 2003
JAMES ROSS &
YEHUDI MENUHIN'S LIVE MUSIC NOW! TOURS TO
WICK AND THURSO
Live
Music Now, a charitable scheme founded by the late Lord Menuhin
in 1977, will present ten performances in various Wick
and Thurso community venues between 10 and 13 March. Wick
born accordionist and pianist, James Ross, will perform for
children with special educational needs, adults with learning
disabilities, primary school children and elderly people.
COUNCILLORS BACK STRATEGY TO TACKLE DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THE
HIGHLANDS
Councillors have given their full backing to the draft
Wellbeing Alliance Highland Domestic Abuse Strategy aimed at
tackling the problem of abuse against women in the Highlands and
at developing local measures for prevention, protection and
provision. The strategy, developed by the Highland
Domestic Abuse Strategy Group, is aimed at politicians,
policymakers, practitioners, service providers and the community
in the Highlands, all of whom have a role in eliminating
domestic abuse and in supporting women or children who
experience this.
Science O3 Week In Caithness 24
28th March 2003
Science O3 is a festival of workshops, hand-on demonstrations,
competitions and lectures organised by a local committee of scientist and
engineers, together with the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The organisers
aim on getting over 1000 primary and secondary school pupils and members
of the public to either try out science based activities or participate in
the public lecture series.
6th March 2003
Broadband Sign-ups
Surge After Our Call On Tuesday
Wick now 144 Thurso now 239. Its going up and the last few
days saw a great jump. If you have not signed up and want Broadband
for faster Internet access and always on then get your name on the BT
site. Better still tell a friend or relative to join in so we
can get the numbers up.
JAMIE STONE MSP CALLS FOR
CIVIL SERVICE JOBS IN FAR NORTH
Far North MSP Jamie Stone has pressed the Scottish Executive to devolve
more civil service jobs north of Inverness. Speaking in the Scottish
Parliament during the weekly question time session, Mr Stone urged Finance
Minister Andy Kerr to give greater consideration to the Far North when
decisions are being taken over the dispersal of public service bodies.
He highlighted Wick and Thurso as good locations for pensions and IT based
jobs.
Art At Hillhead Gets That Professional Touch
Jenny Mackenzie Ross who runs
Northshore Pottery at Forse has been helping the pupils at Hillhead
Primary prepare items linked to each of their classroom projects but
aiming towards a whole school exhibition to be shown in St Fergus Gallery
, Wick from 21st March. Nearly 200 children have made tiles with
faces on and made other items from clay all of which are being glazed and
fired.
Chivers
Loves To Snooze
Here is another moggie who loves life to the full dozing on his
favourite box seat.
World Book Day At Keiss School
On world Book Day the children at Keiss Primary school dressed up as
characters from some of their favourite books.
Orkney Company Plans Community
Benefit for Wind Profits At Westfield
An Orkney-based renewable energy company is looking to the other side of
the Pentland Firth to build a three-generator wind farm.
Scotrenewables Ltd is planning to erect the turbines near Westfield in
Caithness. The Stromness company says it has a different outlook to
big multi-national wind power businesses.
5th March 2003
Pulteneytown
Parish Church Young Folk Get Around
Pulteneytown Parish Church has a wide range of groups for children
and young folk. Here is the first of a series of pictures to come
showing some of what they all get up to in wick and when they go away on
one of their trips. This picture shows some of a group at
Altnacriche.
1978
Wick High Reunion
Details of Venue Date, Price now in.
Chairs, Chairs, Chairs At Pulteneytown Parish Church
The removal of the down-stairs pews will make the church much more
flexible for the variety of services and activities of a progressive
congregation. They will also add to the comfort of the congregation! The
congregation are inviting donations towards the cost of the 270 chairs
which will be purchased. A donation of £80 will roughly cover the cost of
a chair. A person donating £80 will be entitled to have, if they wish, a
small plaque on the chair in memory of a loved one.
Whitbread Young Achievers Awards - Entry Deadline Extended
The awards have had their entry deadline extended for another week
to Friday 14 March. You still have time to get an entry in.
Stop The War Protest Grows In
The North
The anti-war coalition is spreading faster than ever and has geared up
to a whole series of public meetings and demonstrations in the next couple
of weeks. Meetings And demonstrations are being held throughout the
Highlands and in Orkney and Shetland. In Thurso there is to be a
street Stall on Saturday 8th March and a public meeting on Wednesday
12th March Thurso in the St Clair Hotel 7.30pm.
4thMarch 2003
Meteor
Seen Over Caithness
Julie Ross a staff nurse at Caithness General saw a strange bright
light travelling at speed across the sky on Sunday night about 9.00pm.
She was standing at the front door of the Caithness General in Wick and
saw the light clearly beyond the town but could not say what distance it
was....
Broadband Sign Ups In Caithness Begin
To Show Significant Rise
Broadband Sign Ups In Caithness At BT Site are Thurso 195 Wick 121.
On 21 January the numbers were Thurso 123 and Wick 89. This is
a significant jump. If you are interested in getting Broadband for
faster Internet connections and more just sign up at the BT site linked on
the page. BT are promising to look at areas where there are enough
people interested.
Conservative Candidate Comes
Out Fighting for Scottish Fishing
NO MORE EXCUSES -
Scotlands Fleet Must Be Saved. Alan McLeod the conservative
candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and East Ross today said:- It
it is incumbent upon all of us who can, including our local MSP and MP, to
stand up for our indigenous fishing industry.
Jamie Stone MSP Gets Ambulance
Debate
A powerful case for upgrading the Wick ambulance service from on-call to
full-time has been presented in the Scottish Parliament by Far North MSP
Jamie Stone. Mr Stone secured a private members debate on the issue
in a bid to move the campaign to change the current working practices
forward. Addressing MSPs in the chamber he made the point that the
Scottish Ambulance Service was given £22million by the Scottish Executive
yet none of that funding has been used to upgrade Wick to a 24-hour
service.
North
Highland College Students Visit Dounreay
Students and staff of the North Highland College Community and Health
Section visited Dounreay recently. The students are currently studying a
Learning for Work Course and were given a tour of the Dounreay Training
Centre by Bryan Dods, a Training Projects Co-ordinator on site, followed
by a visit to the Apprentice Training Department by Jim Swan, Apprentice
Training Manager.
West Church, Thurso - New Gates
Willie Reid of E & M Engineering kindly donated the new gates to the West
Church in Thurso in memory of William Cameron 17/9/59 -- 10/5/01
Countryside Party Wants
Second Votes
James
Crawford of The Countryside Party is asking the electorate to use the
second vote in their favour. Branding the current government
as the "Laberals" the Countryside Party are making a plea to
voters to examine the record on a range of issues.
3rd March 2003
Major Hunt For Missing Couple Goes On
At Kyle Of Tongue
The emergency services were out in force today in the search for the
missing Worcester couple whose car was found semi submerged on the beach
at the Kyle of Tongue. The police are appealing for anyone who was
in the area to get in touch.
Maximising Community Benefit
From Renewable Energy Projects
Eager to ensure that communities
gain the maximum benefit from the development of wind farms and
hydro-electric schemes, The Highland Council is to develop a
Highland-wide policy on community benefit and at the same time
ensure it continues to influence a national policy on the benefits
for local communities from renewable energy.
COUNCIL
EXPRESS CONCERN ON FUTURE OF PHARMACY SERVICES IN THE HIGHLANDS
The proposed deregulation of pharmacy services, which will allow
businesses, such as supermarkets, to dispense NHS prescriptions, is seen
as a threat to the viability of some of the 44 community pharmacies in the
Highlands. Highland Councillors are to write to the Scottish Executive
highlighting the potential impact on community pharmacies of competition,
which is being consulted upon by the Office of Fair Trading.
"Lady"
Lives In Wick
This wee dog lives in Wick and gets around and even met the late Queen
Mother a few years ago. Despite being blind she manages to
find her way round the house and is often to be seen out an about for
walks.
2nd March 2003
Forss Turbines From
Start To Finish
A series
of pictures of the building of the wind turbines at Forss showing the
process from start to finish.
Hypothetically
Murdered
Thursday 6 March 2003 8.00pm Thurso High School
Lyth Arts and Tartan Chameleon presents Shostakovich's virtually unknown
and long-buried score Hypothetically Murdered. Described as
hyper-kinetic, visually extreme, musically dynamic, a black comedy.
Have you got your tickets yet.
Landing
Herring At Wick - Mid 1940's
Taken in the mid 1940s by Mr Johnstone. The boat is from Yarmouth,
landing fish in Wick Harbour. The three little boys in the centre
picture, under the fisherman's arm are Cameron Bain, Billy Sutherland and
Murdo MacLeod. Plenty other wee lads here to be named - can anyone
help?
Thrumster Station Getting A Makeover
Volunteers
are getting down to work to put Thrumster Station into order before it
crumbles away. It was part of the old Wick Lybster Railway.
Wick
Lybster Railway Index
Caithness Arts
A new group aiming to get a new Arts Centre
for Caithness. They are looking for members to support their work
and long term aims. If you would like to support their drive you can
join for just £10 individuals or £50 for organisations.
1st March 2003
The Road To Yarrows
An area steeped in history spanning thousands
of years. At first glance this quiet landscape today with its sheep farms
and crofts may look the idyllic life and indeed it has been at times over
the last few thousand years. Along this quiet back road of Caithness lies
the recent past with its old thatched buildings and croft houses,
abandoned steadings and modern bungalows leading to the Yarrows Broch.
Kite Experts
Lining Up For April Kite Week In Caithness
Yes they are flying kites although these high fliers are amongst the best
in the UK. And some of them are coming to Caithness in April when a
week of kite flying and Kite Buggy courses takes place. If you are
in the vicinity of Dunnet Beach 7 - 13 April then take a look and see for
yourself. If you are interested in learning how to handle Kite
Buggies then check out the course being run by Grant Golding a qualified
Kite Buggy instructor. What these guys are doing takes a huge amount
of practice.
If you are into kites, buggying or other forms power kiting why not head
for Caithness that week. Get in touch and let us know you are
coming.
Early
Swimming Club Picture But where Was It Taken?
Shelagh Moir has sent in a picture of swimmers many years ago.
It appears to have been a club meeting as some folk have Wick Swimming
Club Costumes on. Do you know where the picture was taken.
There are some clues as it looks like the start of a small pier that might
have been near an open air sea swimming pool that our grandparents were
not afraid to swim in.
Argyll And Sutherland Highlanders 1912
Another early picture from Shelagh Moir. The pictures is
captioned "Trophies Won By Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Malta Command
Meeting" Judging by the number of trophies these guys were excellent
marksmen. The legacy of those days remains in the shooting clubs
that remain in all over Caithness and the Highlands. Unfortunately
many of these men probably died in World War One. We have no names
to go with this picture.
Early Pictures
Index
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