Web
Cam At Wick Street Party
Happy New Year To Everyone From Caithness.org
Take a look and leave a message.
A Collie In Pets Corner
Trinkie Outdoor Pool, Wick On Last Day Of 2005 - No
Swimmers - Great Day
Glorious Weather On Last Day Of 2005 Sees Kite
Flying At Old Wick
30 December 2005
Wick
Hogmanay Web Cam - The link will go live on 31 Dec
Party Starts 10.00pm 31 December 2005 - 1.30pm 1 Jan 2006
Web Cam For Wick Hogmanay Street Party
We hope to have a web cam on the web site to bring you pictures from the
Wick Hogmanay Street Party. This year the Street parties at Wick and
Thurso look as if they will be better than ever - weather
permitting. Thanks go to various people for the set up - Doug
Mackay for setting the system up, Crown Bar for the space and Victor
Fraser Accountants for use of their phone line and Neil Fernie from Caithness.org for doing the link work on the web site and the server.
Don't Drink and Drive Message Once Again From Police
As Scottish police forces step up checks on motorists at the festive
season for drinking and driving it makes sense to take taxi if your are in
doubt. Print our
Taxi Telephone list and
keep it handy
Another Star For Pets Corner
This
is Maisie - the latest addition to Pets Corner. Maisie is a two year
old collie cross. If you would like your pet added to the growing
galleries send the photos by email to
[email protected]
28 December 2005
Roads & Weather Information - Emergency Telephone
Numbers For Winter Conditions Etc
If you want to check on the roads, weather or contact a council service in
an emergency check our
Emergency Numbers page.
The page also links to Weather information sites, Schools Winter Weather
page to check if schools are closed or other arrangements and much more.
The link to the Emergency Numbers page can be found in the left column on
this page anytime. A link is also on the page to the Traffic Scotland web
site from the Scottish Executive that replaces the NADICS web site.
27 December 2005
Pennyland 1984
Photo
supplied by Edward Redstone
Pennyland Schooldays Index
Schooldays Index
More Oil Related Photos From Caithness Men
These
latest photos are from Colin Campbell - Sunset Off the Mississippi River -
A T4000 Excavation Tool also Mississippi River and the Titan 2 off Mexico.
A link to the Rotech subsea sites on the page where you can view an
animation of how it works. The oil industry is huge worldwide and
viewing these photos from Caithness oil workers shows how deeply involved
Caithness folk are in many places. We hope you all had a happy
Christmas and have great New Year when it comes. Send any oil
related photos to
[email protected] for inclusion in the
section. If you have not seen the earlier Caithness Workers Oil
Related photos
Start Here
NEW HEAD TEACHER FOR THURSO HIGH SCHOOL
The new Head Teacher of the 992-pupil Thurso High School is Dr Fiona Grant
who is currently Depute Head Teacher at Thurso High School. She will take
up her post after the Christmas school holidays. She succeeds John
Inkster, who retired at Christmas after 16 years as Head Teacher. Dr
Grant began her career as teacher of Biology, Chemistry and Science at
Thurso High School in 1992. She then became Principal Teacher of Biology
in 1995 and then Depute Rector in 2001 all at Thurso High. Dr Grant said
"I am looking forward to taking up post as Head Teacher in Thurso High,
and I wish Mr Inkster all the best in his retirement."
Dounreay Employees Donated �500 Of Toys To The
Caithness FM Toy Appeal
For
the third year Dounreay Employees Charity Fund have supported Caithness
FM's Christmas Toy Appeal, with �500 of toys supplied by Alacam. All toys
collected by the community radio station stay in the county and are
distributed to the most appropriate homes by the Social Work Department.
Pictured from left to right: Mark Deighan, Jackie Johnson of Caithness FM;
John Deighan, Chairman of Dounreay Employees Charity Fund and Alan Cameron
of Alacam.
Dunbeath Castle Lit Up For Christmas
Thanks
to Phil Rawlins for this spectacular view of Dunbeath Castle taken on
'Christmas Eve. If anyone is passing through Dunbeath take look over
to the castle or look back down the coast if travelling north to see the
castle lit up on the cliffs.
Dunbeath Castle Index
Christmas 2005 Pages
Nathan Warmack's Kilt Petition Past 11,000
Signatures
The pace of sign up has slowed but still ticking away.
25 December 2005
Early Caithness Cricket Photos
These
two early Caithness cricket photos were sent in by Murdo F Tait who used
to be known as Murray Tait in his younger days in Wick. Many of the
faces are familiar to Murdo but it is hard to remember that far back.
If anyone else has information about these two photos we will add it to
the section. Murdo says he is regular visitor to Caithness.org and
says perhaps folk in their eighties might remember him. Lets us know
if you do and we will add to this section. Thanks to Murdo Tait for
sending in these excellent photos.
HIGHLAND MSP CALLS FOR
MORE SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILIES OF MIGRANT WORKERS
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Maureen Macmillan has spoken of the need
for language support for the children of migrant workers settling in the
Highlands as a part of the Fresh Talent Initiative. Mrs Macmillan
commented," I have been concerned for some time about the lack of support
for the children of migrant workers coming to the Highlands. Many of those
coming to the area are from former eastern block countries, but we are
also receiving workers from many other parts of the world. It is an
absolute necessity for the children of these incoming workers to learn
English as soon as possible to help them integrate into the community.
Gibson Backs Chef Rick
Stein's Message On Local Produce
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has lodged a motion in parliament
calling on the Scottish Executive to give wholehearted support for
production and consumption of high quality, locally produced food. Mr
Gibson believes that due to changes in lifestyles, local food production
will become more important in future and believes that the current deal
for small scale local producers and the lack of locally based processing
facilities hinders the amount that a communities can produce.
Nathan Warmack's Kilt Petition Nudges Towards 11,000
Signatures
Sign ups at Nathan Warmack's kilt petition set going by clan Gunn USA has
slowed slightly as folk get tucked into their Christmas Dinner but are
likely to increase as folk begin to get back to looking in on the web.
Have a Green New Year
As the festivities draw to a close, many Scots are beginning to think
about making New Year resolutions. While these usually take the form of
dieting, giving up smoking or getting fit, this year why not consider
improving your environment as well as your health?
Wishing everyone a Green New Year, Scotland's environment watchdog, the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has tips to
help you become more environmentally friendly in 2006.
HIGHLAND COUNCIL ON
COURSE TO HIT RECYCLING TARGET
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the
everyone living in the region The Highland
Council is on course to reach it's recycling
target of 17.6% by April 2006. Councillor
Bill Fulton, the Council's spokesperson for
Waste Management said: "Over the last year
there have been major investment in the
recycling infrastructure and to date the
support from the public has been terrific.
However, as the amount of waste we produce
steadily increases there is no room for
complacency if the current success is to be
continued.
Bathing Water Quality
Report Out Now
Bathing water quality in Scotland continues
to improve with 57 out of 60 designated
beaches passing tough European standards.
Dunnet Beach
one of the beaches in the monitoring
programme continues to show the water is of
excellent quality in most samples takes in
2005 The full results are published in
a report by the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA) out on 23 Dec 2005.
It reveals that of the 60 sites monitored,
23 were of good quality meeting EC
'mandatory' standards for the season with 33
achieving the stricter 'guideline' standards
and being of excellent quality. Not
too many swimmers about in Caithness at this
time of year we think. But if you know
different.....................
Diageo Distilling Ltd
Fined �10,000
Drinks giant Diageo Distilling Limited
has been fined �10,000 for polluting a
tributary of a popular salmon fishing river
in Ross-shire.
25 December 2005
Happy Christmas From
Max At Caithness.org
Happy
Christmas From Max and all of us at
Caithness.org. Max is in Caithness
with Harley from Cumbernauld and no doubt
you will be seeing more of the mischievous
rascal over the holidays.
24 December 2005
1st CVA - Do You
Know More about This Photo?
Taken
at Dunrobin, Golspie in about 1890 of
volunteers. The picture is said to be of
Caithness volunteers and the small caption
on the pint says '8TH. 1ST, C V A GOLSPIE'.
This may refer to a camp held there - this
was quite common - or may have been a group
raised in the area.
In
George Watson's
article he describes those
Caithness Artillery Volunteers though does
not list this particular group. See Also
William Adams
More Christmas Lights
Around Caithness
Tracking Santa
Hogmanay Street
Parties In Wick and Thurso
So
far we only have the poster for the Thurso
Hogmanay street party that kicks off the
evening on the 31st at 9.30pm. Wick
usually starts about 10.00 but we will keep
you all posted when we get the full
details.. If anyone in Thurso has the
ability to set up a web cam overlooking the
street party get in touch and we will tell
you how to send us the pictures and beam
them out over the web for you. You
need to have a broadband connection,
computer, web cam and a telephone link as
near to and preferably over the action.
In Wick it takes plenty of co-operation from
the Crown bar with line from accountants
Victor Fraser set up by Doug Mackay with
Niall here at the web site setting up the
link to get pictures from Market
23 December 2005
Nathan Warmack Kilt
Petition Breaks Through 10,000 Signatures
The kilt campaign for Nathan Warmack to be
allowed to wear his kilt to school functions
at Jackson High Missouri shows every sign of
keeping going. A bid to change school
policy is still likely to be made in the
near future and the campaigners are
gathering support from a growing range of
people from around the globe. See
below for more information and links.
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
FROM THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL
Highland Councillors are focusing on
four main campaigning priorities for 2006.
They want to improve transport, develop
communications, enhance investment in
infrastructure and win a fairer allocation
of Government funding. Convener Alison
Magee said real progress had been made on
many campaigning fronts in 2005, most
notably the decision by NHS Highland to
reinstate 24 x 7 consultant maternity
services in Caithness and North Sutherland.
She said: "The Council has been actively
engaged in promoting campaign priorities at
all levels of the political process and been
working closely with our partners to deliver
real benefits to the people of the
Highlands. We can be pleased with the
progress we are making but must maintain the
momentum and react to changing
circumstances."
Earlier Years With The TA In Caithness
A
new gallery in the TA section. If anyone has old Caithness TA photos
they would like to add to this new section just email them to
[email protected]
TA Index
Guest Musician for Mid-night Carol Service In Wick
People attending the popular mid-night �Carols by Candlelight� service in
Pulteneytown Parish Church on Christmas Eve will not only enjoy singing
the well loved carols but will also hear special music and drama from the
church�s Youth Group. In addition they will have the added treat of
hearing one of the most outstanding musicians Caithness has produced in
recent years, viola player Carol Ella. After an outstanding student
career Carol has played at concerts across Europe and the United States
and is now a permanent member of the prestigious BBC Symphony Orchestra.
She was invited to join the orchestra in the summer in time to take part
in �Last night of the Proms�. She is home for a brief holiday before
flying off to play in Seville. The Minister of the church, Rev. Bill
Wallace, said � we are delighted that Carol has agreed so willingly to
take part in the Service.� The Service starts at 11.30p.m. and all
are welcome.
Carol Concert In Wick
Two
hundred people at last night's Carol Concert in the Parish Church Wick
joined Wick Choral and the Caithness Orchestra to join in a number of
traditional Christmas carols. The choral performed carols from
around the world and the orchestra entertained the audience with two
pieces by Benjamin Britten which were met with enthusiastic applause.
This annual concert is, for many people, a feature of the Christmas season
and the audience participation is always of a high quality. Once again
this year, audience members were invited to join Choral for the Hallelujah
Chorus from Handel's Messiah and about 10 brave souls sat in with the
choir for this much-loved anthem.
Petition For Nathan Warmack and His Kilt Breaks 9000
signatures At 1.15am UK Time
CNN
NBC
But Another 120 Sources worldwide
Here
as story goes truly global on the web
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Ely Times
Electric New Paper
(photo of Nathan here)
abc News
Los Angeles Times
Guardian
MLive Newsflash
Scotsman
Daily Record
Sydney Morning Herald
Ireland Online
Kansas City Star
Evening Times
Heartland News
On Google Groups
A Few Blogs -
Ones and Zeros
Monsters and Critics
Lucianne
EGONS
Topix.net
22 December 2005
7.45pm UK Time and the Kilt Petition Is Flying As it
passes the 8000 Mark
If you have not seen it take look and links below for more information on
how this Kilt story about the young Nathan Warmack and the order to remove
his kilt for high school dance has gone global. And it is not just Scots
and their ancestors from all over the world now rallying to this petition
site but many others seeing a fundamental injustice that could easily
apply to almost anyone who appreciates the heritage of the country they
originate from. More and more non Scots are signing the petition
started by Clan Gunn in the USA.
Mary Scanlon MSP Hopes
Lesson On Ferry Across Pentland Firth Will Be Learned
Following the release of the Audit Scotland report today on the Ferry
Service from Scrabster To Orkney which has had �71 million of subsidies in
three years to enable it to keep going Mary Scanlon MSP hopes lessons will
be learned
Commenting on the Auditor General's report on the Northlink Ferry
services contract, Mary Scanlon MSP commented; 'People and businesses in
Orkney have been fully aware of the problems relating to the tendering
process, and leading up to the appointment of Northlink in December 2000.
"I hope that the Transport Minister will now take the necessary time to
take on board the points raised in the Auditor' General's report.
Ceilidh and Lady - In Pets Corner
Mother Goose Panto Photos Now On The Wick Players
Web Site
Lots
of photos of this years Mother Goose panto in Wick and an offer of even
more at higher quality to anyone handing in a blank CD to the Wick Players
web master in Wick.
COUNCIL WARNS ABOUT UNPASTEURISED FRENCH CHEESE
AND BUTTER IN THE HIGHLANDS
The
Highland Council�s Environmental Health Officers are warning catering
business and members of the public in the Highlands to be on the lookout
for certain French cheese and butter products that have been identified as
possibly being contaminated with harmful bacteria. The products are being
withdrawn from sale because of concerns about possible contamination with
E. coli O26. Some strains of E. coli O26 can cause severe food poisoning
and people should not eat this cheese or butter. Yesterday, the Food Standards Agency issued a warning
about cheeses made in France by Laiterie Fromagerie du Val
d�Ay-Etablissement REAUX. Only a small amount has been sold in
Highland.
Trading Standards
Tighten Up On Underage Cigarette Sales From
Vending Machines
Highland pub landlords are being warned they
may face prosecution if they don't do more
to stop children buying cigarettes from
vending machines. A recent survey by Trading
Standards Officers with The Highland Council
has revealed pub vending machines could be
seriously undermining efforts to prevent
underage tobacco sales. Officers found 38%
of pubs and hotels visited had cigarette
vending machines located in unsupervised
areas such as corridors, vestibules and
toilets, places so far from the bar that
busy staff cannot properly supervise them,
and could result in underage children easily
obtaining cigarette without challenge.
Fines could be up to �2500.
Miller Academy Choir About
1956
Photo
sent by Fiona Cameron
Names from Fiona Cameron & Barbara Farmer (nee Cowan)
The Miller Academy Photos Index
Main Schooldays Photos Index
for other Caithness Schooldays photos.
Other Early Caithness Photos
Caithness.org now has huge and growing collection of photos in many
section from the
FPB
(Front Page Bulletins Archive) to the growing
collections in our
A - Z Of Caithness
There are also many photos in other sections
Castletown Santa's Grotto Raises �362
The
photos are still coming in for the Christmas Gallery. This latest
one is from Castletown where the Drill Hall committee organised a Santa's
Grotto to help raise funds. if anyone wants to add Christmas
photos to the gallery email them to
[email protected]
21 December 2005
240 Attended Wick High School Prom
Tonight - Here Are A Few
As
always a big turnout from the 4th 5th and 6th year pupils for the wick
High School Prom. All the men were in Highland dress and the ladies
in a stunning array of evening dresses. All the young ladies have
booked up hairdressers and make-up people months in advance. Earlier
this evening dinners at various hotels across Wick for a meal before they
all head to the school for the dance. The night was just beginning
to get going when we too these photos. If you were at the dance and
want to add your photos to the gallery just email them to
[email protected]
Thrumster Lads Off to Wick High Prom Tonight
Three Thrumster lads were
ready for the Wick High School prom tonight. Liam Miller Liam Sutherland
and Shaun Oman all from Thrumster were kitted out in the full Highland
dress and raring to go.
Meantime controversy over Nathan Warmack's kilt at the prom in Jackson
High continues to hit the headlines now around the world
Here on Caithness.org we highlighted the lad who was told he could not
wear the kilt to school dance and had to change.
The web site
petition
has caught the imagination of the newspapers and
Scots around the world are heading over to sign the petition. An
appeal for the other items to make up the full outfit are coming in and
headlines seem to be growing for the campaign.
Here are a few
Petition Reaches 2078 Signatures At Midnight
Kansas City Star
Scotsman
Daily Record
Sydney Morning Herald
Ireland Online
Thurso High
School 1978 Reunion
Were you part of the 1978 intake at Thurso High School ? We are planning a
reunion for the summer of 2006. Email the organisers at
[email protected] if you might be interested or want
to be kept posted on the details.
MV Youth Volunteering Award Ceremony
Five young people recently became the recipients of the prestigious Gold
MV Award for volunteering while participating in the Wick Players
production of Mother Goose. The Gold Award is achieved when a volunteer
accumulates 200 hours of volunteering which can take place over a two year
period. The five young people involved with the panto had been in
intensive rehearsals since August and fulfilled their required 200 hours
on the 18th December. This Award is a recognised award of excellence
endorsed by the Scottish Executive and the Gold award is signed by the
First Minister.
20 December 2005
Mount Pleasant School
- Latest Newsletter
Caithness And
Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) - Latest Grants
Approvals
UNDERAGE SALES OF
FIREWORKS
Firework test purchases at 23
firework retailers in the Highlands using a
number of young volunteers, aged 15 and 16,
have revealed a failure of three retailers
in Highland to restrict the sale of
fireworks to children and young people.
Nigel MacKenzie, Head of Trading Standards
with The Highland Council, said: "The
detection of this illegal activity would not
have been possible without the recent
authorisation by the Lord Advocate for us to
use the services of young people in this
way.
HIGHLAND COUNCIL SMOKING BAN
When members of the public visit any Highland Council office or property
in the New Year they will benefit from a totally smoke-free environment.
From Sunday 1st January, 2006 a complete smoking ban comes into effect in
all Council premises and vehicles. As the major employer in the
Highlands, the Council is demonstrating its clear commitment to public
health and to improving the health of its 12,800 employees by implementing
the ban, ahead of the Scottish-wide ban which takes effect from 26th
March, 2006. No smoking signs are being erected at entrances and
throughout all Council owned and leased premises including vehicles; where
appropriate. Smoking rooms will no longer be available. Employees and
visitors will not be permitted to smoke at entrance doorways and
approaches to Council premises.
Highland Council Smoking Policy From 1 January
2006
Cash To Stop Smoking Debate In The Forum
Christmas trees - a growth area -
Manchester Evening News
Article highlights Paul Haley Paul Haley who is for the first time
selling pines cultivated on his farm at Bradshaw, Bolton. He planted them
five years ago. Me Haley also owns an 800-acre farm in Caithness,
Scotland, where he grows tens of thousands of Nordmann, Fraser and Noble
firs along with Norway Spruce.
Christmas Lights At Henrietta Terrace, Wick
Thanks
to Colin Stewart for this batch of photos from Henrietta Terrace in Wick.
Send more Caithness lights to
[email protected] for inclusion in the
Christmas lights in Caithness gallery. If anyone in Sutherland wants
to send some in we will start a Sutherland Lights gallery.
National park says not on our land to wind farm
- Scotsman
Anyone with an interest in the wind farms issue will be interested to hear
that The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has come out
against a wind farm proposal very near to the boundary of the national
park. The development is at Glenkirk, Tomatin and is the third one CPNA
have objected to.
19 December 2005
Caithness Christmas Photo Gallery Biggest Yet With
Over 400 Photos So Far
As the years go by more and more of you are joining in by sending photos
of school parties, lunches pantos and more. There is no ways we
could get round all these events so thanks to everyone who takes the
trouble to send in photos for the Christmas pages and to everyone who has
sent items in for the rest of the site throughout the year.
Caithness probably now has one of the biggest collections of photos online
of any county in the Highlands and possibly in the UK. If you have
more Caithness Christmas photos you would like to share with everyone send
them in and we will add them to this years set.
Christmas Lunch Looks Scrumptious At Hillhead
School, Wick
Hillhead School, Wick - December Newsletter
Christmas Lights Around Caithness
A new Christmas Gallery to hold a few photos of Christmas lights around
Caithness. If anyone would like to add to the gallery take photo of
some Caithness Christmas lights in your area and send them in.
Milton Children's Christmas Party
Milton
Children had their Christmas Party at Staxigoe Hall where the recently
installed bouncy castle is proving to be great draw. Santa was on
hand to give out the presents although this year the number of children
was down due to the bug that has hit many of the county schools. A
few of the children could not make the party this year and presents will
be delivered to them at home. Anyone thinking about a party should
think about Staxigoe Hall as the hire is cheap and you can hire the bouncy
castle as well. Electricity is paid on meter and the folk from
Milton thought it was very good value for their party.
HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS - Recycling Arrangements In
Caithness Over The Holidays
Over the Christmas period it is estimated that we will produce
approximately 30% more waste than usual. In the UK,1 billion Christmas
cards will be sent, 10 million turkeys will be sold 83 square kilometres
of wrapping paper used, seven and a half million trees bought, an extra
750 million bottles, glass containers and 500 million drink cans used.
Most of these items are thrown in to people's bins and end up on landfill
sites. However, up to 60% of the waste that is thrown away can be recycled
or composted. The Highland Council's Spokesman for Waste Management,
Councillor Bill Fulton said: "This Christmas why not make a special effort
to try and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill by using
the improved recycling facilities in Caithness provided by The Highland
Council?" The Recycling Centres in Thurso and Wick will be open as
usual apart from closing all day of 25-27 December and the 1-4 January.
Apart from these dates, the Thurso Centre will be open seven days a week
from 11am-4.00pm over the holidays and Wick will be open Sundays from
11.00am ~ 5.00pm and then from Thursday to Saturday from 11.00am to
8.00pm. Both Centres will accept your extra cardboard packaging, old real
Christmas trees, Christmas cards, paper wrapping paper (plastic & foil
based paper cannot be recycled), tins, cans, glass bottles & jars for
recycling.
18 December 2005
Snow White Panto Played To Packed Houses - DVD &
Video Of The Show Out Soon
Missed the Snow White Panto by Thurso Players? Well here are lots of
photos from the show compliments of Thurso Players. Filming took place at
all the performances and an edited version will be available shortly for
sale. It will be priced at �12.00 + �1.00 delivery for addresses
outwith Thurso. Anyone wanting a copy can get one by contacting Neil
Macdonald at 5 Heathfield, Road, Thurso, KW14 7DT. Tel. 01847-896956 or
via email
[email protected]
Volunteer Drivers - Can You Spare Some
Time?
One of the major challenges the
local MS Branch has is transport. There is a limited availability locally
of vehicles suitable for transporting wheelchair users, especially when
they are trying to be in the same place at the same time. In particular,
they have problems getting to the Therapy Groups run by the branch, where
physiotherapy is offered, and the problem is worst for those who stand to
benefit most. We have been offered a loan of a minibus which will carry
four wheelchair users at the same time and urgently need volunteer drivers
in Wick and Thurso areas so that we can use it.
Tenth
Anniversary of the Opening of The Haven
Friday 16th December saw the 10th Anniversary of the official opening, by
Colin Campbell of 'swaingan' Radio Caithness fame, of Caithness Mental
Health Support Group's Drop In Centre, The Haven, in Bankhead Road, Wick. The initiative to set up the Group came from the Social
Work Dept. of Highland Regional Council which recognised the absence of
any social work provision for people with mental illness within Caithness.
Initially in December 1990 a Steering Committee was formed followed by the
Group in October 1991.
Lybster Senior Citizens Christmas Party
130
people attended the Lybster Senior Citizens Christmas Party this year were
entertained by various local musicians whilst tucking in to the festive fayre at
the Portland Hotel. Amongst donations to the treat this year was Moray Firth
Radio Charity Trust.
17 December 2005
Send Your Christmas Message FREE To Everyone On The
Message Board
All you need to do is register and await approval of your membership and then
post your message. Registration approval may take minutes or hours depending on
how busy we are. We ceased the automatic approval that took seconds to
deal with trouble makers abusing the system. Anyone can read the messages
in the forum including the classified ads that you can place items for sale free
of charge. The message board in an increasingly popular section of the web
site and there may be over 100 people looking at any one time.
New Sport Section
For Caithness.org
A
complete overhaul of the sport section has been completed and several new
features will make it easier to find items and keep it up to date. The
earlier version had become out of date. The new section includes features
such as the familiar submission for for news stories and new groups or to update
existing groups d information. New to the spot section is simple
submission form for your local spots news stories. You can submit an item
about a local badminton competition, results of a league game or anything you
think may be of interest. If you want photos included with the story just
email them to us and we will attach them to the story. If you are involved
with a sports group in Caithness please check the index and update any out of
date entries using
the form
In addition to over hauling the section Niall has been trawling the web site to
pull over sport stories from the main web site making it easier to find them in
their logical home. The section incorporates a number of features
including RSS Newsfeeds that can be used by any other web site wishing to carry
Caithness.org items directly into their web site. You require a suitable
newsfeed reader to make this happen. If a web master would like to have
Caithness news a free newsfeed script is available from the
Maxxblade web site.
More work on the new section will be ongoing but it really needs your items to
make it interesting.
16 December 2005
North School, Wick - Christmas Concert
Two Christmas Parties Fro Parent & Toddlers Groups At
Pulteneytown Parish Church
Toddlers Christmas Party At Baptist Church, Wick
Ormle Christmas Lights Switched On
the
Christmas Lights At Ormlie in Thurso were switched on by Caitlan Sutherland and
Euan MacGregor with Santa looking on for good measure.
15 December 2005
More Playbox Christmas Fun
Councillors To Agree Final Funding Package For Caithness
Horizons at Thurso Town Hall
After a lower than requested amount being offered from the European Regional
Development fund (ERDF) for the Thurso project and one in Nairn. Highland
councillors will today (Friday 15th December) be asked to agree a new set of funding to ensure
the project can begin in early in 2006. There is currently a shortfall of
�400,000 in the �3 million project. UKAEA and the NDA have agreed to put
in �100,000 each and the council will make up the rest from the sale of property
at Thor House and the pavilion over looking the beach. This together with
funds from community benefit on other developments will make up the �400,000
required to make up the full funds.
Caithness Horizons Web Site
14 December 2005
Rags - A Dog That will Not Walk Without A Push
Latest
addition to Pets Corner is Rags a Jack Russell type with an aversion to going
for walks. If anyone has found away round this problem let us know and we
will pass it on.
Pulteneytown Academy School, Wick - Latest Newsletter
Instructions for collecting children for
Christmas shows parties etc.
Mount Pleasant School, Thurso - Latest Newsletter
Wick's Renaissance Continues With More Good News
Two More Business units at the Business Park, Lochshell, Wick
Highlands
And Islands Enterprise have applied for permission to put up two more units each
with two spaces that can be leased singly or together. The unit already
build at the business park has been leased to the Health Service for Dental
Training Unit and work will begin shortly to make it ready for equipment to be
used.
Pentarq in Thurso are the Architects and the contract for building
the units has been awarded to
Tulloch Construction. The new buildings will be similar
to the one already in place with some small design alterations.
Changing Wick
You Have Not Won a Big Prize In A Lottery Draw If Notified By
Email
Even if you receive emails telling you that you have won a prize after being
selected from x number of names or email addresses DO Not reply.
These are scams designed to get your basic personal information and you must not
give it out by email from unsolicited sources. To win any lottery you need
to have bought a ticket and you will know the place you bought it. Emails
from abroad about prizes in the lottery are just as bad as the scams telling you
to help them move money for fee. You may not stop them arriving in your
email but ignore and delete them. You can block email addresses so that
they are automatically deleted in the future. This is worth doing if you
begin to receive large numbers of unwanted emails. If you are new to the
Internet do not get caught out this Christmas. Remember they are all
scams. Make sure your children do not reply to any of them and any
relatives, neighbours or friends who might think they have been lucky.
Internet Scams
and our other pet hate
Telephone Sales Etc
Highland Council Service Arrangements for Caithness
Christmas and New Year Period
23 December 2005 - 4 January 2006 -
Find this again in the Community Index
More From The Watten
School Christmas Show
Santas Grotto - Castletown - Friday 16th
at 6.30 in the Drill Hall
Teas and mince pies - shortbread raffle and
bottle stall, tombola, Parcel Stall
Scottish Society For Protection Of
Cruelty To Animals (SSPCA) - Do Not Give
Pets For Christmas
The SSPCA are yet again asking people
not to give pets as Christmas presents.
Each year they see the results in unwanted
animals being dumped or hearing from people
who have problems with unwanted animals.
Remember pets will require care and
attention for many years - up to 20 for cats
and perhaps 15 for dogs. They cost
money to keep and the weekly bills may
include other expenses such as insurance,
vet bills and kennel fees if you go away on
holiday. Every year SSPCA get hundreds
of new pets handed in after Christmas and
the following weeks and months. Taking
on any animal needs to be discussed with all
concerned and not given as presents.
Children will generally not look after pets
without a lot of parental guidance.
SSPCA recommend you DO NOT GIVE PETS AS
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
MSP Expenses Published
At Scottish Parliament
- Pdf files
All the details for every MSP - the result
of the Freedom of Information Act. The
Highland ones are here -
Jamie Stone
Eleanor Scott
Jamie McGrigor
Mary Scanlon
Maureen MacMillan
Rob Gibson
James Mather
Peter Peacock
In case you missed it
and are wondering Highland Councillors
Expenses are
Here
Westminster MP Expenses are
Here
Distances make a huge difference as rural
representatives may have much higher travel
costs and may have other higher costs eg
accommodation.
Thurso Players
Pantomime 2005 Snow White - Still A Few
Seats Left But Be Quick
Thurso
Players take to the stage of Thurso High
School this evening with their production of
Snow White. The script, written by Stephen
Reade, differs somewhat from the traditional
version and is packed with subtle humour.
There�s Snow White of course and her aunt
and arch nemesis, the wicked Queen. Then
there�s the Huntsman, hired by the Queen to
dispose of Snow White before she turns 16
and inherits the castle and all the wealth
of the Kingdom. There�s love interest
in the form of Brad Hill (Glyn Jackson) and
a not so charming Prince Colin Pratt of
Burnside (Iain MacDonald). A couple of
strangely familiar brothers from Manchester,
Noel and Liam, make an appearance from time
to time intent on �splatting� a demented
Midge who continually invades the stage.
Then there�s the seven, or is it eight,
dwarves and ��well, for the rest you�ll just
have to come along and see for yourselves.
Snow White runs nightly at 7.30pm from
Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th December
with a Matinee performance at 2.00pm on
Saturday afternoon. Tickets are still
available from McBeath�s Jewellers, Traill
Street, Thurso but don�t leave it until the
last minute as they are going fast.
Mother Goose Started
Last Night In Wick - See Rehearsal Photos
13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 December
7.30 each night Tickets all reserved �8 &
�7. Tickets From Polteney News If any
Left. Worth checking as the Panto is
usually one of the highlights of the
Christmas season.
13 December 2005
Another Development For Wick
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR ALL WEATHER PITCH AT
WICK HIGH SCHOOL
Changing Wick
The contract for the construction of an All
Weather Pitch at Wick High School Playing
fields has been awarded to Malcolm
Construction Services Ltd. The floodlit
synthetic turf pitch is to be constructed on
the playing field of the school at a cost of
�584,000 met from The Highland Council's
Education, Culture and Sport Service.
The pitch will be developed as a
multi-sports use playing surface for use by
the school and the community by arrangement
through the school. The award of contract
means that work will start within the next
few weeks and completed by late summer 2006.
Notes to Editor: Malcolm Construction
Services Limited are part of the Malcolm
Group - for more details about the company
please see their website at:
http://www.malcolmgroup.co.uk/construction/contracts.html
Watten School's
Christmas Show 2005
Playbox Play Group
Wick - Christmas Party
Live Web Cam On
Traffic Scotland Web Site North Of Helmsdale
This
view is from a web cam on the Traffic
Scotland web site that recently took over
from NADICS. The camera is looking
north. Other Scottish web cams on the
roads for the web site can be seen
HERE
and no doubt others will be added
over time. We have added link to the
Helmsdale web cam on our
Helmsdale Index
Page
Council Launches Winter Adverse Weather
Web Site For Schools In Highland
Parents in Highland can now log on to their computer to check if their
child's local school is closed by bad weather.
The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service has developed
a new winter weather website,
www.winter.highlandschools.org.uk , which is now operational. Parents
just need to click on to the relevant geographical area for local school
closure information.
The website allows parents to access school closure information on the
internet, thus reducing pressure on the very heavily used school telephone
PIN number system. To help you find this when you need it put it in
your favourites. We are adding it to a
number of pages on Caithness.org such as the
Emergency Numbers
and
Schools Index
The Watten BB Football
Team That Won the Ellings Cup About 1964
Sent
In By Robert Thompson (Robby)
Watten Boys Brigade Who Won The Ellings Cup
sometime in the sixties about 1964.
Back row from left - Colin Campbell, Billy
Miller, Sid Thompson, Kenny,
Henderson, Robby Thompson, Ian Anderson.
Front row - Ian Jappy ,Sandy Anderson, Colin
Macdonald, Ian Macdonald, Peter Sinclair.
Early Years Photo
Index
If you have a
photo you think would be of interest email
it to
[email protected]
The Scottish
Co-investment Fund
- Does Your Business Need Development
Funding?
The Scottish Co-investment Fund (SCF)
recently benefited from a �500,000 approval
by the Highlands and Islands Partnership
Programme (HIPP), which administers European
funding in the Highlands and Islands.
Caithness
Home Start - Countries
Quiz Raised �220
For those of you who got stuck the answers
to the recent quiz are on the Home Start
page
More Pets In The
Corner
Dounreay in big
clean-up drive - Scotsman
12 December 2005
Mother & Toddlers
Christmas Party - Free Church Thurso
Dounreay Seeks Way
Forward On The Particles
The
largest consultation exercise ever
undertaken by Dounreay�s operator was
announced today to identify the Best
Practicable Environmental Option for
radioactive particles found in the seabed
and beaches near the former experimental
reactor establishment.
A newsletter is
being issued today
to more than a thousand registered
stakeholders, outlining the results of a �10
million research programme and inviting
members of the public to participate in a
preliminary phase of engagement.
Bill Fernie
Chairman Of The Public Consultation Steering
Group Wants To Hear All Opinions
UKAEA has commissioned
consultants
Entec UK
to facilitate the preliminary phase of public engagement and the
transparency of the process is being overseen by a stakeholder
consultation steering group chaired by Councillor Bill Fernie, who
represents Wick West on Highland Council. He said: �A considerable
amount of work has gone into looking at how we might present
information to the public that is clear and open. The Steering Group
is looking forward to assisting everyone involved in making the
choices that will decide the future of how we deal with the particles
in the environment. From early in 2006 we will be working to ensure
that anyone who wishes to can contribute their view and I encourage
anyone with an interest to participate.� Other independent
members of the steering group include John
Thurso MP and Iain Baikie a physicist who
runs KP Technology based in Wick.
And More Voluntary Groups Are Piling
Into Change Wick
Pulteneytown Family Centre
The voluntary group that runs a local nursery has
raised over �300,00 to redevelop the building behind Telford Street to
become a modern Family Centre offering high quality child care and creche
facilities. The development has taken longer than anticipated due to
problems acquiring the property initially but that was resolved last year
and the project has forged on to raise the necessary funding and building
is being carried out by Pentland Construction due to be ready early in
2006
The Changing Fortunes Of Wick
Over the Past Year
wick has seen a number of projects start and
complete that are helping to change the
fortunes of the area. However much
more is already on the ground building with
much more on the way. With more
shopping opportunities, more new homes being
built and office developments taking place
and more seriously being considered there is
after man years definite signs of a new day
dawning. The most ambitious of all
under the name Wick 21 has hugely ambitious
ideas on redevelopment of Wick Harbour.
We have listed a few of the things happening
inside. From roads, water, sewerage , new
houses, shops and a new heating scheme about
to start with a �3.5 million spend in 2006
Wick is going to be extremely busy and it
looks likely to continue well into 2007 with
what is already on the table.
Let us know of any we may have missed to add
to the list.
Caithness Tour -
Christmas Tours - A Minii - Bus Ready
To Take Groups Anywhere At Christmas
If
you need as mini-bus this festive season you
might not think about Caithness Tours but
they are available year round. Shopping
Party to Inverness, Falls of Shin,
elsewhere, give them a call. Christmas Party
night out, give them a shout.
The Lybster Players
Christmas Concert - Cancelled
Due To Illness
The
concert has been cancelled due to several
acts ill health. This will be re-scheduled
probably Mid-January.
11 December 2005
Dunnet Switches On Christmas Lights
The
Christmas Lights At Dunnet were switched on
this year by Lillian Oag. A smaller than
usual group turned out for the switch on
that has to be set for four o'clock to
coincide with the street lights coming on as
the decorations are attached to the
lampposts. A smaller turnout than
usual was caused by the fact that many
children were attending Christmas Party in
the Viewfirth club in Thurso. The
lights committee at Dunnet have for the past
few years been erecting and maintaining the
lights that now stretch to every lamppost in
the village. Santa was on hand for the
children.
10 December 2005
Pennyland School
Class 1963
Sent
by Hilary Wilson
This photos has a few names. If anyone
knows the other names please send them in
for inclusion.
More Than 35 Jobs
Currently On Offer In The Jobs Section
Caithness seems to be getting busier over
the past year and the the pace appears to be
going up. Check out the the jobs
section where we currently have the most
vacancies ever on Caithness.org at any one
time.
Wick Caravan Site Now
Being Offered For Lease
Highland Council is currently offering the
Wick Caravan site for lease to be run as a
caravan and camping site. The caravan
site closed last year after the Caravan Club
did not renew their lease saying they wished
to concentrate on the Dunnet Caravan Site.
9 December 2005
Maternity Issue Gets
Small Report On Socialist Worker Web Site
This item reflects the fact that North
Action Group from the start covered many
bases and whilst being non-political set out
to involve politicians at all levels and
managed to pull in support across the whole
spectrum from left to right.
Caithness Flu-like bug Still Hitting
The Headlines
Nearly 600 pupils off
school with mystery illness
- Herald
Hundreds of pupils hit
by illness - BBC
8 December 2005
Rainbow Guides County
Challenge
Rainbow
Guides gathered recently at wick Old Parish
church Hall from Wick, Thurso and Halkirk to
compete making a Christmas Fairy with a
wooden spoon as the base. Mrs Mary
Manson and Miss Eleanor Leishman judged the
entries and the winner was Thurso, who were
presented with the glass Rainbow trophy.
For Highland's
Children
A new web site setting out highland
information and policies on all aspects of
children's services and child protection.
Contact details, and links to other web
sites. You can find the link to
this web site and others in our
Children's Section
New Telephone Helpline
For
People With Housing Difficulties
A new telephone advice line aimed at people
in the Highlands who are having housing
difficulties, at risk of losing their home
or who are homeless is now available in the
Highlands.
The freephone number is 0808 801 0804.
The Highland Homeless Advice Line is
being run by Citizens Advice Direct, a
member of Scotland's Citizens Advice Bureau
network that has already pioneered telephone
advice in Glasgow with great success.
As well as help and information on housing
issues, the advice line will help callers on
related matters such as debt, benefits and
employment. Every year more people in
the Highlands have no where to live, last
year 2,050 households applied as homeless to
Highland Council.
Surge In Highland
Flying Continues
Investment at Inverness Airport to Expand
Aircraft Parking Stands
Work is set to start on the expansion of
aircraft parking space on Inverness
Airport's south apron. The capital
investment of circa �1.6 million has been
approved by the Board of Highlands and
Islands Airports Ltd.
Larger Aircraft Set
for Inverness to Manchester and Birmingham
Air Routes
Air services between Inverness and
Birmingham and Manchester are set for a
major enhancement when larger aircraft are
introduced on the routes in 2006. Highlands
and Islands Airports Limited welcomed the
decision by Eastern Airways to increase the
capacity on the routes with the introduction
of larger aircraft at the end of February -
providing almost 1,000 extra seats per week.
Poultry Keepers - SAC
Meetings About Avian Flu Protection
They are aimed at all keepers of poultry,
but in particular those from the smaller
companies, small-holdings and those keeping
'hobby' flocks. Background information on
avian influenza will be given and the
Government's contingency plans will be
explained.
Caithness Cows Supply
Milk For New Highland Blue Cheese
A
new soft blue cheese Highland Blue,
specially developed by Tain cheese-maker
Rory Stone for the North Highland
Initiative's Mey Selections brand, is set to
become a national festive favourite
following a Gold medal-winning launch at the
recent Cheltenham Cheese Festival. The
flavour and quality of the new soft blue
cheese, described as: 'Tangy and long; a
soft rich blue with creamy notes and a
mellow aftertaste', has now attracted the
attention of buyers from food retail giant
Sainsbury who have launched it on their
delicatessen counters in 23 Sainsbury stores
in time for the festive season.
Election hopeful swore
at Germans -
BBC
A
general election candidate who upset German
tourists by shouting "who won the war?" at
them has been fined �250. During the
outburst at Skibo Castle, Gordon Campbell,
68, also claimed he would "sort out Bush and
Blair".
NW Sutherland Food Link Set Up To Make Local
Food More Accessible
Crofters in North West Sutherland are
setting up a new system to make fresh and
locally grown food more widely available in
their area. The Highlands and Islands Local
Food Network (HILFN) - set up by Highlands
and Islands Enterprise (HIE) - and 16
growers in North West Sutherland have set up
the North West Sutherland Food Link. The new
producer-led community business will link
small-scale horticultural growers from
Lochinver to Durness and round to Melvich to
consumers looking for fresh local food.
Caithness has a growing project
Food For Thought
that is still in its early stages and
although not set up in the same way may
develop to make fresh local produce more
widely available.
Half of school's roll
hit by mystery virus
- Scotsman
Yesterday, 420 of the 992 pupils at Thurso
High School in Caithness were off with
flu-like symptoms. Another 155 youngsters
from the 850-pupil Wick High School and half
the roll at the 43-pupil Watten Primary have
also been hit by the bug.
7 December 2005
Its These Years Of
Being - Devised Theatre Performance By
Acting Students
North Highland College HNC Acting &
Performance students present a piece of
devised theatre called �Its these years of
being��� the material was inspired by the
work of American Poet Richard Brautigan
(1935-1984). Performances at
North Highland college on 13th and 15th
December and 14th December at Lyth Arts
Centre..................
Warning as campaigners
win maternity unit fight -
Scotsman
Culture clash as
American school bans kilt -
Scotsman
We ran an item picked up by Clan Gunn
members in the USA on 22 November -
Support for Nathan
Warmack's Right to Wear his Kilt
We thought some of our readers might be
interested in signing this online petition
from members of the Clan Gunn USA. Jackson
High School is in Jackson, Missouri, a
small city south of St. Louis. Now the
Scotsman has run the story with a photo of
Nathan Warmack as the online petition to get
the school policy on kilt wearing changed.
6 December 2005
NHS Highland Confirms Decision To
Employ Permanent consultants In Caithness
Maternity Unit
At their meeting today in Inverness the
board of NHS Highland confirmed that they
will employ three consultant obstetricians
at the maternity unit in Wick. North
Action Group have been asked to assist with
recruitment. George Bruce, Bill Fernie
and Mollie Baikie attended the meeting on
behalf of North Action Group. George
Bruce thanked the board for their decision.
Gibson congratulates Maternity
Campaigners
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has
lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament
to congratulate the North Action Group (NAG)
on their campaign to secure the Maternity
Unit for Caithness. Rob launched the
motion in the wake of the announcement from
NHS Highland that the maternity service in
Wick was to stay clinician led despite the
threat of downgrading. Mr Gibson who
initiated a debate on the issue in
parliament last year said...."It was a
campaign on all fronts and showed that by
high profile and well organised pressure
things in Scotland can be changed. This is a
victory for all Caithness, but in particular
for those pregnant mothers who should not
need to face daunting trips to Inverness as
well as the dedicated members of NAG who
managed to galvanize the population of the
County and surrounding areas to stand up and
say no to downgrading."
He continued..."I welcome the decision by
NHS Highland and hope that they manage to
fill the posts as quickly as possible. This
decision should act as a precedent in how to
boost life and services in remote and rural
areas. Downgrading in rural areas makes the
place less attractive for businesses to move
to, which in turn has an adverse effect on
the population. The government must make
sure that rural and remote areas do not
lose their life line services that
jeopardise a potentially bright future."
Wick Bay On Sunday
More dramatic photos of the sea on Sunday.
These from Marc Macdonald show Wick Bay once
again highlighting the power that hammers
into the east coast of Caithness from time
to time. Notice the seagulls flying in
and out of these waves. It pays to
watch the weather if heading out to the
light at the end of the pier in Wick.
5 December 2005
Caithness Quilters
Held Another Successful Exhibition And
Coffee Morning
Caithness Quilters held another successful
exhibition and coffee morning for charity on
Saturday morning. Raffle tickets will
shortly be on sale for a quilt (number 4
above). If you are interesting in
quilting or getting out to meet people for
an evening the group hold their meetings
alternately in Wick and Thurso.
COLLECTION AND
RECOVERY OF LOCAL TAXATION
Council Lobbying Scottish Executive To
Refuse Drinks Licences For Rate Payers In
Arrears
Highland Councillors have been advised
of the Council's continuing improvement in
collections of Council Tax and Non-Domestic
Rates. The collection rate of Council
Tax from all prior years since the Council
was established nine years ago is 96.89%.
The amount collected for 2004/5 by the end
of that year was 94.1%, and in the current
financial year the Council hopes to improve
on this rate.
Pulteneytown Academy School, Wick - Latest
Newsletter
South School, Wick -
Lastest Newsletter
Thrumster Nursery Group Keeping A Close Watch On
Child Numbers And Fund Raising
It may appear that things have gone quiet on the Nursery Campaigns front
but the Caithness groups are still keeping watchful eye on the situation.
Thrumster are having two members co-opted on to their local community
council. At the same time they are setting out to improve facilities
and fund raising to get a new fence erected. To this end they will
be having a coffee morning on Saturday 10 December and launching a Handy
Recipe book. In addition the group are watching child numbers in the
area like hawks and have noted that numbers are potentially higher than
ever with up to nine children after next Easter. Realising that
housing is a factor in having more young families they are also keeping a
close eye on how land becomes available for plots and the availability of
housing generally to people with young children.
Apprentices Walk For Charities Pays Off
Earlier this autumn, apprentices employed at Dounreay by UKAEA, RWE Nukem
and Johnson Controls embarked on a sponsored walk from the site to Thurso,
to raise funds for a number of local charities. In total, �2,500 was
raised, and at a recent presentation on site, cheques were handed over to
three recipients. The Elaine Sinclair Bed Appeal received �1,250, and the
Caithness branch of the Multiple Sclerosis and Caithness Rugby Football
Club each received �625.
Secretarial Trainees Raising Funds for Charities
Five local charities have shared almost �3000 raised by secretarial
trainees at Dounreay. Gail Steven, Lindsay Banks, Lynne McWilliam and
Claire Treasurer capped a series of fund-raising efforts with a sponsored
walk from Thurso to Wick. Their efforts raised �2,822.78 from
friends, family and the staff on the Dounreay site.
At a presentation, Gail Steven presented a cheque to Janice Falconer for
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland; Lindsay Banks presented a cheque to Liz
Macdonald for Caithness Asthma Society; Lynne McWilliam presented over a
cheque to Wendy Oag for Newton Wing Palliative Care Fund; and Claire
Treasurer presented a cheque to Lesley Bruce for Caithness Crohns and
Colitis Support Group and Jean Bain for Macmillan Cancer Relief.
John Gunn OBE - An Obituary - The
Herald
His ancestors came from Caithness and we thought this might be of interest
to Gunn's everywhere.
4 December 2005
Catching The Mood At Latheronwheel Today
Photographer
Martina Cross captured the mod of the day at Latheronwheel today.
See more of her work on
The Martina Cross Web site
Latest Pets and A
Missing Westie
Thurso Fun Day Takes The Town Into Christmas
Torrential rain in Thurso on Saturday did not dampen the spirits of
everyone who turned out to see the Christmas lights switched on. A
laser light show setting going before the lights were switched on by the
Gala queen. Lady Thurso introduced the laser show after thanking all
the organisers of the many events on during the day. In many of the
shops staff were dressed in a variety of costumes brightening the gloomy
day outside. Part of Princes street was cordoned off for the day
with stalls set up and donkey rides for younger children.
2 December 2005
RED FISH - LYTH ARTS CENTRE - Saturday 10th December
8pm
Grey Coast
Theatre Company�s latest project � entitled �RED FISH� - unites George
Gunn and Andy Thorburn in the development of new Caithness musical
theatre. The intrepid pair - who between them have created many characters
and songs that have filled theatres and village halls across the Highlands
and beyond - will spend a week at Lyth Arts Centre, developing the piece
with Helen Mackay and Iain Macdonald � two local actors who graduated in
2003 from the first year of the North Highland College Drama Course.
New
Plant Aids PFR Pond Clean-out
The decommissioning of Britain's
Prototype Fast Reactor has entered a new stage, with the start-up of a new
�500,000 plant for cleaning out a pond where fuel and other radioactive
components were stored. The first active run of the PFR ion exchange
plant has been successfully completed, proving the technology that will be
used to clean radioactive contamination from the water in the pond and
make it safe to discharge to sea.
North
School Choir At Somerfields Wick
The
choir from North School Wick were out singing at Somerfields store in Wick
to entertain the customers.
Initiative At The Edge
- South East Development Group Next Meeting
South East Caithness Development Group next
meeting will be held in Lybster Outdoor
Bowling Hall on Tuesday 6th December 2005 at
7.30pm - all welcome.
Campaigners win battle
over northern maternity unit
The Herald
CAMPAIGNERS have won a hard-fought battle to
save consultant-led maternity services in
the north of Scotland. The bitter two-year
dispute is expected to end next week when
NHS Highland's board agrees to appoint three
full-time consultant obstetrician/
gynaecologists to head maternity services at
Caithness General Hospital in Wick.
Caithness keeps maternity unit
consultants - Scotsman
JUBILANT campaigners
in the north of Scotland won their five-year
fight yesterday to prevent the downgrading
of the area's only maternity unit. NHS
Highland, which had proposed centralising
specialist services in Inverness, announced
that it was abandoning its radical plan to
scrap its consultant-led maternity service
at Caithness General Hospital in Wick in an
effort to end the controversy.....(Note from
NAG - The five years mentioned is not
quite correct as it is two years this time
round - it is correct if you add earlier
attempts to downgrade the unit - Bill Fernie
for North Action Group)
1 December 2005
Hospital retains
maternity services
- Scotsman
Maternity downgrade
plan scrapped - BBC
Report and Video
North Action Group
Delighted At NHS Highland Decision On
Maternity Services
After Two Years Of Campaigning NAG Members
Heard Last Night Of the Decision
Members
of the North Action Group at their meeting
on Wednesday evening were delighted to hear
of the recommendation to go before NHS
Highland's Board Meeting on 6th December
that authority be given to seek to appoint
three substantive obs. & gynae consultants
for Caithness General Hospital
The third review of the service at CGH
has taken some time but NAG are pleased that
at its conclusion attention has been paid to
the clearly expressed wishes of the local
community.
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