Relay For Life Caithness - Biggest Fund-raiser Ever In The County - Heading
for �100,000
The Relay For Life Caithness At The Dammies, Thurso on Saturday 30th August
was a huge success with the funds raised for Cancer Research UK looking to
be one of the biggest fund-raisers ever in Caithness. the staggering
total was heading for �90,000 last night as hundreds of people in many teams
set out to walk in Relay for 12 hours from 6.00pm to 6.00am. the
organisers had done a fantastic job with tents and stalls surrounding the
track which itself was ringed by candles in bags in memory of a loved one
who had passed away from the effects of cancer. The public turned out
in droves enjoying something of a carnival atmosphere. Plenty of music
was provided throughout the evening.
More Relay photos in the ForumYet More photos at Angus Mackay's Web Site
Caithness Field
Club Winter Programme - 2008 - 2009
The programme starts on Monday afternoons with a visit to Girnigoe Castle.
Talks and walks, bus trip, club weekend. Plenty to keep you interested
until next summer. Walks and talks are open to non-members.
28 August 2008
Email Problems At Caithness.org We have had email problems here and any email sent since 22 November has
not arrived. We had hoped it might be stored and come down when the
problem was fixed but this has not happened. Therefor if anyone has
sent an email since 22 August to [email protected] can you resend it for action.
Bats Bats Bats In North Sutherland
�Simply Batty� in Borgie - Slide Presentation on Bats in North Sutherland. Tuesday 26th August. 7-8pm. - Borgie Forest Log Cabins.
Grid reference NC 663565. - Come along to the log cabins in Borgie Forest
and enjoy a digital presentation about the local bats. Learn how to help
conserve these fascinating flying mammals, the natural midge machines. Betty�s Bats - Thursday 28th August - 8.30pm - 10pm.
Join the local countryside ranger and use the bat detectors to locate the
local �midge munchers� around Bettyhill. Meet at the war memorial car park
in Bettyhill, grid reference NC 706618 at 8.30pm.
Please wear warm clothing and bring a torch. Weather dependent!
Home-Start
AGM 7.00pm Tuesday 26 August
Community Education Offices, Ackergill Street, Wick Home-Start
Caithness supports families who have at least one child under 5 years of age
offering practical, confidential and friendly support to families throughout
Caithness. Home-Start would like to encourage more people to join the
committee, the board of directors and volunteers to be trained to give
support. Find out more by coming along to the AGM.
Caithness Seal Workshop Caithness Countryside
Volunteers enjoyed a workshop on Seals last weekend (Sunday 17th
August) held at Waterlines Heritage Centre, Lybster. The event was organised by The Highland
Council Planning and Development Service Countryside Rangers as part of the
volunteer programme of events. Local volunteers meet once a month to
undertake a range of environmental projects around the county. This event,
funded through the Moray Firth Partnership Community Grant Scheme, was aimed
at raising the volunteer�s awareness of seals in the Moray Firth Area.
Council Workers Strike Action In Highland
Strike Action � Wednesday 20 August 2008
Thurso High School will be closed on 20/08/08 to 1,2,3rd year
pupils but open to 4,5 & 6th year pupils. Pulteneytown Academy: closed over lunch (all pupils to go home at
lunch) North primary: open as normal (but 1-2-1 support not available so
any students needing one to one to stay at home) Other Services
Services provided by The Highland Council will be disrupted on Wednesday
20 August as the result of industrial action, which is part of nationwide
action by Unite the Union, GMB and Unison members in respect of the
National Pay Award. The Council will endeavour to keep disruption to a
minimum. The Service Centre will be operational (Tel 01463 702000).
However, a number of Council services will be affected. The known
disruption is � Service Points: Closed: Church Street, Inverness; Hilton,
Inverness; Tain; Ullapool; Broadford, Kyle, Thurso, Bettyhill,
Brora, Dornoch, Lairg, Nairn, Grantown, Kingussie, Fort William. HQ Cash Office: Closed Registrars: Closed: Dingwall, Portree, Fort William, Thurso and
Wick. A limited service will be provided at Inverness. Refuse Collection/bulky uplifts: There will be no refuse
collection, kerbside recycling or bulky uplifts on Wednesday. Residents
should NOT put their bins out that day. Normal refuse collection will be
the following Wednesday. The public is urged to use recycling centres to
dispose of surplus waste when they reopen on Thursday 21 August. Recycling Centres: These will be closed. Burials/Cremations: There will be no burials or cremations on
Wednesday. Ferry: The Corran Ferry linking Nether Lochaber to Ardgour will not
operate on Wednesday. School Closures: Secondary Schools: (15): Charleston Academy, Inverness; Culloden
Academy, Inverness; Grantown Grammar; Kilchuimen Academy, Kinlochbervie
High; Fort Augustus; Kingussie High; Lochaber High; Millburn Academy,
Inverness; Nairn Academy; Plockton High; Portree High; Tain Royal Academy;
Thurso High S 1-3; Ullapool High; Wick High.
There will be no canteen facilities at Fortrose Academy. There will be no
Additional Support Needs pupils attending Gairloch High. The new
Kinlochleven High is not due to open until Friday. Primary Schools: (24) Aviemore; Beauly; Brora; Coulhill, Alness;
Cradlehall, Inverness; Dingwall; Dornoch; Golspie; Grantown, Halkirk;
Park, Invergordon; Kilchuimen, Fort Augustus; Knockbreck, Tain; Millbank,
Nairn; Miller Academy, Thurso; Mount Pleasant, Thurso; Obsdale,
Alness; Pennyland, Thurso; Rosebank, Nairn; Smithton, Inverness;
South Lodge, Invergordon; South, Wick; St Jospeh�s RC, Inverness;
Tarradale.
Ardersier Primary � closing at noon; Central, Inverness is open to P 4-7
only Nursery Schools (40):
Bunsgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis; Arisaig; Auldearn; Ballachulish; Banavie;
Bonar Bridge; Bridgend, Alness; Caol; Carbost; Cauldeen; Central; Conon
Bridge; Cradlehall; Deshar, Boat of Garten; Duncan Forbes, Inverness;
Elgol, Skye; Fort William RC; Gairloch; Gledfield, Ardgay; Helmsdale;
Hilton, Inverness; Hilton, East Ross; Inshes, Inverness; Inverlochy; Kyle;
Kyleakin; Macdiarmid, Skye; Mallaig; Marybank; Maryburgh; Newtonmore;
North Kessock; North, Wick; Poolewe; St Bride�s, Onich; Strathdearn;
Struan, Skye; Tomnacross; Ullapool; Upper Achintore, Fort William. Other ECS Facilities Closed: Libraries: Alness; Badenoch; Bettyhill; Glenurquhart; Housebound
Library; Invergordon Mobile Library; Inverness; Moray Firth Mobile
Library; Nairn; Thurso. Swimming Pools: Lochaber Leisure, Fort William; Nairn Leisure;
Thurso; Wick. Community Facilities: Charleston Community Complex, Inverness;
Culloden Community Complex, Inverness; Golspie Youth Centre; James Cameron
Community Complex, Inverness.
Limited service at Inverness Leisure. Social Work: Residential care will be maintained and home care will
be provided to the most vulnerable but it is likely that domestic home
care and domestic day care services will be affected on Wednesday. Some
offices normally open to the public may also be affected. Housing: Enquiries regarding emergency repairs to council houses
and emergency homelessness should be directed to 0845 700 2005. Highland Council
web site
Caithness Celtic Supporters' Club Bus Availability The next bus is available:- versus Rangers on 31/08/08 - 12:30pm
kick-off. Bus leaving Wick Safeways @ 03:30 and Thurso Tourist information
office @ 04:00. Senior = �30 and Junior = �20. Contact Stevie King
[email protected]
18 August 2008
Free school meal
for every Highland P1 pupil
To encourage the new intake of primary one pupils to eat healthy school
lunches, The Highland Council�s Education, Culture and Sport Catering
Service is repeating its offer of one free lunch voucher to every Primary
1 pupil in the region. In 2007, over 2000 pupils received a �Highland
School Meals Welcome Pack� to take home. Results showed that over 25% of
pupils used their free meal voucher resulting in over 50% of all Primary 1
pupils taking a regular school lunch. This was a 20% increase in P1 pupils
taking schools meals on 2006 figures.
Back to school with an Educational Maintenance
Allowance (EMA)
Young people in the Highlands who have decided to stay on at Secondary
school are being reminded by The Highland Council�s Education, Culture and
Sport Service that it�s not too late to apply for an Education Maintenance
Allowance (EMA).
This reminder for applications for the academic year 2008/09 is to ensure
that young people do not miss out on the EMA award which could be worth up
to �1,500 to each pupil if eligible.
An EMA is a weekly payment of up to �30, paid directly to eligible young
people who stay on in school after they reach statutory leaving age. Young
people may also be eligible for two bonuses of �150 if they remain on
their course and make the necessary progress with their learning.
Highland Council�s EMA Co-ordinator, Katie Moir said: "After getting their
exam results some young people may have decided to stay on at school. So
far, this year we are not getting as many students applying in the �30
weekly banding which is aimed at families on a household income of less
than �21,835. We want to ensure that anyone who is eligible for an EMA
takes advantage of the scheme.�
Application forms and further information are available throughout the
Highland Council area from Secondary Schools, Service Points and the
Council�s web site:
www.highland.gov.uk/ema
17 August 2008
John O�Groats to Lands End- And back again! Global Xchange volunteer Aneirin Wenner (18) is undertaking the John
O�Groats to Lands End charity trek with a difference; once he arrives
he�ll be coming all the way back again! Aneirin is taking part in
the Global Xchange programme which starts in Caithness in September and he
is so enthusiastic about the benefits of the VSO and British Council run
project that he aims to raise �600 on the epic cycle ride with his father
and brother before the exchange. After working for three months on
projects in Caithness, Aneirin and the team of 18 young volunteers will
travelling to Chittagong, Bangladesh in December to continue donating
their time to community projects.
Global Xchange
Volunteers In Caithness - Can You Help?
16 August 2008
Strathy Point Walk - Highland Ranger - Tuesday 19th August 2 �
5pm
Meet at Strathy Point (Totegan) car park NC 827687 at 2pm. Please do not
drive to the lighthouse. Enjoy a bracing high cliff top walk with the
ranger around this dramatic exposed rocky headland with caves, Scottish
primrose, sea birds and hopefully whales or dolphins. No Dogs!
Donations welcome. -Please wear walking boots and warm waterproof
clothing. Sorry but dogs are not welcome on guided walks/events. Further
details: Paul Castle. Highland Council North Sutherland Countryside
Ranger. 01641 521884.
Friends Of Newtonhill Woodland AGM
Thursday 21st August 2008 - MACKAYS HOTEL AT 7 pm
Despite the current site closure, the Friends will be meeting to discuss
the community woodland.
Caithness and North Sutherland Children's Choir Auditions
The Caithness and North Sutherland Children's Choir are holding their
annual auditions on Monday 25th August at 6pm in Thurso High School.
Boys and Girls from Primary 4 age up to Sixth Year are very welcome to
join us. We meet for one hour every week and sing throughout the region
at various venues, concerts and charity events. If you wish to book the
choir to sing at any event (including weddings) please email
[email protected] or
[email protected]
Caithness Big Band Helped Watten Church Celebrate Centenary
Saturday was a blustery wet day and the garden party planned to
celebrate the centenary of Watten Church of Scotland was hit by wind
that blew the marquee down hitting the minister on the head by one of
the tent poles. He survived the crack on the head and and managed
to continue to play second trombone with the band on Saturday.
Teas and cakes were served to the tunes made famous by Glen Miller.
Displays included were on second world war themes, a collection of
estate maps and floral. Watten Church The Caithness Big Band will be helping to raise funds for another
church on Friday 22nd august at the British Legion, Thurso from 8.00pm.
EVeryone is invited to go along and hear the Big Band and the jazz
sounds from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Glen Miller. Tickets
are �5 from Cards N' Things, Thurso or pay at the door. P{roceeds
go to the Thurso United Reform Church Project Fund.
Sandside Gardens - Last Open Day For 2008 On Sunday 10th August
Sandside House Gardens on the north coast with fine views across the
Pentland Firth to Orkney, 10 miles west of Thurso, are open tomorrow for
the last occasion this year with 100% proceeds going to Scottish Society
for the Protection of Animals. The beautiful and well stocked formal
walled gardens are only open to the public twice a year. There will also
be vintage cars and motorbikes, donkey rides, cheese and plant stalls.
Opening times 2.00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
5 August 2008
Wick Gala Dog Show Photos
sent by Barrie Cormack of her own and her sister's dogs winning prizes
at the Wick Gala dog show.
Territorial Army In Caithness Celebrated 100 Years With Prince
Charles
A memorial service celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Territorial
Army on Sunday at the Parish church, Wick. Prince Charles attended
the service at the start of his annual stay in Caithness. Prince
Charles, Duke of Rothesay received the Freedom Of Caithness on Monday
morning (4th August) at the Assembly Rooms in Wick. Amongst other
engagements today Prince Charles attended a masterclass of opera singers
from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama at the Mill Theatre
in Thurso as part of the launch of North Highland Connections another
newly created arm of the North Highland Initiative. Further
announcements for yet another project will be unveiled at the Castle of
Mey on Wednesday.
North Highland Connections Launched - Part Of The North Highland
Initiative
The latest arm of of the North Highland Initiative was launched today
under the name of the North Highland Connections. The Prince of
Wales, Duke of Rothesay, launched the North Highland Initiative (NHI) in
August 2005 to promote and develop the economy and to support the rural
communities of the North Highlands. North Highland
Connections is another arm of The Prince's Initiative. As with
the other parts of NHI, it is concerned to enhance the quality of life
for the scattered communities of the North Highlands, doing so through
the promotion of a wide range of arts ventures, as well as an integrated
programme of educational outreach. A number of events are already
underway. An test masterclass run last year was so successful that
another is being run on Tuesday (see below). Sign up on the new
web site to receive regular updates on events being organised by North
Highland Connections etc in North Highland.
North Highland
Connections - Free Singers Master Class At Millbank Theatre, Thurso
Tuesday 5th August 10.30am - 12.30pm Following the highly successful singing master class for members of
the general public, mounted a year ago as part of an earlier RSAMD
residency, there is a further opportunity for local singers to take part
in a similar class, directed by Patricia MacMahon, on Tuesday morning,
5th August, 10:30am to 12:30pm. Again, it will take place at the Mill
Theatre, Millbank, Thurso.
Council Takes Over Control Of Caithness Heat and Power
The Highland Council has agreed to assume control of Caithness Heat and
Power Ltd - an innovative wood-fired combined heat and power enterprise,
at Pulteneytown, Wick. The Council has been a major funder of the
company since it was set up in December 2004 and has stepped in with
decisive action in an attempt to ensure a sustainable future for the
pioneering operation. Six councillors will form the new board of the
company, which will be supported by senior officers of the Council. The
existing three directors of the company - representatives of the
Council, Inver House Distillers Ltd and the Pulteneytown People's
Project - have stood down and fully support the new management
arrangements.
Calling All Ex TA Members To
Celebrate 100 Years This Sunday On
Sunday 3rd of August, we are holding a church parade from the TA Centre
in Dempster Street to the Wick Old Parish Church for a service of
commemoration and thanksgiving. Following the service we will return to
the drill hall for a buffet lunch and refreshments.
The TA is a hundred years old and will be celebrating with a very
special church parade on Sunday 3rd of August. The parade to the Wick
Old Parish Church, will be followed by a buffet lunch and refreshments
in the TA Centre. Although quite a number of ex members have already
'signed up', we are looking for more to join us. We are looking for men
(and women) of all ages, no matter how long or short your service or
which unit you served in. You do not have to be a war hero. If you have
served in the TA and you wish to take part, you will be made welcome.
Bus will leave Royal British Legion, Thurso at 9.30am and parade to
assemble at Drill Hall, Wick at 10.00am at Dempster Street, Wick
