What's On At Noss Drama Production
"Writing On The Wall" involving local youngsters. The play will move from
Noss enacting four scenes on the way to Girnigoe Castle. Tours of
the Castle to see what stage they have reached. Pig on a spit.
Battle Scar Renenactment Group playing out scenes of medieval
skulduggery. Period Games ongoing all afternoon, face painting,
stalls and much more. Learn about some Caithness history in this
fun afternoon at Noss and Girnigoe.
Tonight At Mackays Hotel - A chance To See A Production Before It Hits
The Edinburgh Festival
North Highland Connections Presents A Variety of Music And Drama The Deep at Wick
and Tain - 8.00pm North
Highland Connections presents "The Deep" at Wick and Tain
July 31st at Wick and August 1st at Tain - Both at 8.00pm Mackay's Hotel
in Wick on the 31st July and at the Collegiate Church in Tain on 1st
August.
One of Scotland's most outstanding Shakespearean actors is returning to
the North at the end of July. Liam Brennan, who has played Macbeth in nine
different productions from the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh to the Nottingham
Playhouse and has toured America with the Globe Theatre, is coming to Wick
and Tain at the end of July in 'The Deep' by Icelandic writer Jon Atli
Jonasson.
Surprise Judge Simon Cowell Brings House Down At Wick Gala Camps Bar
Karaoke Night
Camps Bar in Wick was packed out last night for the first ever wick Gala
Karaoke Competition. David Steven had offered prize money of �100 to
the winner, �50 second and �30 third. A big entry kept the judges
busy all evening weeding them out until they had final with finalists.
the winner was ecstatic as were his many supporters as the place exploded
with cheers at around midnight. Plenty of laughs were had when it
was announced that Simon Cowell was to present the prizes along with David
Steven. The night was so successful that the bar have announced the
competition will be run at every gala from now on.
Caithness Loyal Rangers Supporters Club: Next Bus
Saturday 15th August to Falkirk at Ibrox. Bus leaves Wick 0430;
Castletown 0450; Thurso 0500 and Halkirk 0510. Cost for Bus and Ticket:
Non Member - Adult �60, U16 �45; Members - Adult �55, U16 �40
Contact Alan Mowat on 01847 821059 or
[email protected]
to book seat or for further details.
Wick Gala
2009 - Pairs Bowls Competition The
Wick Gala 2009 Pairs Bowling competition was held at the Rosebank
Bowling Green and sponsored by the Francis Street Club. Francis Street
Club chairman, John Malcolm (second left) is seen congratulating the
winning team from St Fergus of Alex Thomson (third left) and Colin
Macintosh (second right) along with runners up Jim McWhirr (left) and
Frank Ross (right) of Rosebank.
WICK GALA WEEK - TEENAGE KICKS LIVE BAND NIGHT
WATERFRONT FRIDAY 31st JULY 8:00 -11:00pm
13 years upwards ENTRY �3:50
Bands Polarus Ultraviolet Pilot, the Chicken Pickers, Private
Investigations
Highland Dragonfly Is Top Of The Ponds A
dragonfly in Highland has reached new heights as it was discovered
breeding in a pond at 830 metres above sea level, a UK record, below the
summit of Tom a�Choinich just north of Loch Affric. A female of the
dragonfly in question, a Common Hawker, was seen egg laying at the pond
and on further investigation a larva was found along with an adult that
had just emerged that morning. The previous highest recorded dragonfly
breeding in Scotland was at 650 metres.
A Jig At Halkirk Highland Games Last Saturday
The Highlanders Pipes and Drums At Halkirk Highland Games 2009
Get Your Team
Entered For Its A Knockout In Thurso Thurso
Town Improvements are once again running their popular Its A Knockout
competition as part of Gala Week on Sunday 2nd August. Adults and
Kids teams can enter so get your friends of work colleagues together and
enter a team. Its all very safe with an inflatable course and sumo suits
to bounce around in - great fun for participants and spectators. You
might even win �100 for your favourite charity.
Work Begins On Sensory Garden At Thor House, Thurso Members
and Friends of Thor House in Thurso have started work to create a new
sensory garden that can be enjoyed by both respite and day care visitors
to the centre. In the first stage of work climbers and creepers have been
planted around the wooden fenced border that encloses the garden. Care has
been taken to select wildlife friendly plants which, when established,
will both look and smell good and provide cover for nesting birds. It is
hoped that the plants will also attract bees, butterflies and moths for
people to watch and enjoy. There are further plans to build raised beds,
provide seating and grow many more herbs and plants. The project is being
grant aided by CSV Action Earth and supported by Morrison's Supermarkets.
Help in kind is been given by The Highland Council's Countryside Rangers.
Halkirk Highland Games 2009 Around 4000 people attended the games on Saturday. 1
- 12
13 - 24
25 - 36
Wick Lifeboat Now A New Pontoon
Wick Lifeboat - Roy Barker11 now has a much easier and safer way to
get on and off the boat now that a new pontoon has been installed at Wick
Harbour. This pontoon is separate from the
recently installed marina further along in the main harbour.
It certainly adds to the modernisation that is now underway in Wick
Harbour.
Scottish
Country Dancing Group - The Place To Get Fit And Learn the Dances
Every Wednesday Evening from 16th September
Dates for the coming season are now in the What's On so why not think
about getting fitter, having fun and a night out for only �2. Members of
the Thurso Scottish Country Dance Club meet to dance reels, jigs and
strathspeys, some old, some new. The emphasis is on friendly informality.
You don't have to know the dances, since each dance is walked through
beforehand. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Contact Alan
Wilcock for more details - tel 01847-821341
EXPERT TRAINING OFFERED TO HELP PRESERVE THE RURAL HERITAGE OF CAITHNESS A team of highly experienced archaeologists from the Royal Commission on
the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) are coming to
Caithness in September to run a free archaeological training course as
part of the Scotland's Rural Past nationwide project. They are calling for
local people to sign up and get involved...............the SRP team are
working with local people to develop new initiatives to record and
preserve the unique rural heritage of Caithness. On 4 and 5 September
2009, SRP is offering a two-day training course near Thurso focusing on
archaeological survey and recording techniques. The course is free and
open to anyone interested in researching rural history. No experience is
necessary,........
New Caithness Broch Centre OPEN DAY - SAT 25 JULY ~ 10.30 am to 4.30pm Come and see the magnificent new displays and National Museum artefacts in
the newly opened centre.
Activities (Approx times)
10.30am Introduction to the exhibits by Dr Andy Heald
11.15am Guided tour to Nybster Broch with Andy
All day Children�s Activities
All day Treasure Hunt
2 to 4pm Ranger Activities
ADMISSION FREE (Donations Welcome)
www.highland.gov.uk/caithnessbrochcentre
Location: Auckengill, 2 kms. N of Keiss, en route to John O� Groats -
See Map
Open Mon to Sat 10.30am to 4.30pm
23 July 2009
A Sinclair Odyssey 27th-31st July, daily, 10.30-12.30pm, Caithness
Horizons (Thurso) - A few places left Iain MacDonald of Eden Court will be running these drama workshops for
children aged 9 and above to create a piece of theatre for the
Gathering on August 1st. The workshops will be free but places are
strictly limited, so early booking is recommended. Bookings will be taken
at Lyth Arts Centre by telephone or email, and at Caithness Horizons front
desk.
The Gathering - An Cruinneachadh Saturday 1st August, 12-4pm, Noss Head Lighthouse, Wick Step back in time and discover life in the 1600's. What did
people wear and eat? Find out about the battles, brawls and brighter days.
Have a go at catching your dinner with a bow and arrow and see a criminal
caught in the stocks. Take a tour of the spectacular Sinclair Girnigoe
Castle and discover its secrets. A day for all the family with plenty to
see, hear and do.
North Highland Connections Presents A Variety of Music And Drama The Deep at Wick
and Tain North
Highland Connections presents "The Deep" at Wick and Tain
July 31st at Wick and August 1st at Tain - Both at 8.00pm Mackay's Hotel
in Wick on the 31st July and at the Collegiate Church in Tain on 1st
August.
One of Scotland's most outstanding Shakespearean actors is returning to
the North at the end of July. Liam Brennan, who has played Macbeth in nine
different productions from the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh to the Nottingham
Playhouse and has toured America with the Globe Theatre, is coming to Wick
and Tain at the end of July in 'The Deep' by Icelandic writer Jon Atli
Jonasson.
Traditional
Scottish Music At the New Mey Hall North
Highland Connections presents Traditional Scottish Music at the New Mey
Hall - Monday, 3rd August, at the Mey Village Hall
Following the formal opening of the fine new Village Hall at Mey by HRH
The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, on Sunday, 2nd August, the first
public concert will take place on the following day. Scottish Traditional
Music will be performed by three gifted young musicians, all alumni of the
Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama. The concert is presented by North
Highland Connections, the cultural arm of Prince Charles's North Highland
Initiative.
Develop Music
Skills With "Variations" At Ullapool "Variations"
at Ullapool
At the Macphail Centre, Ullapool
1st - 8th August, at the Macphail Centre, Ullapool, the established
VARIATIONS Summer school for amateur chamber musicians. North Highland
Connections will this year be partners in this venture. Participants may
play, learn and develop skills under the guidance of professional
musicians, Edinburgh Quartet and Joanna Shaw(flute). All ages and levels
welcome. The concerts will take place at 7:30pm. Since Dornoch Cathedral
has no public performance license we are unable to charge for admission.
We invite generous donations! For consistency we will also have admission
by donation at Thurso.
Young Artistes
Series At Dornoch And Thurso Young
Artistes Series at Dornoch and Thurso
Saturday29th August at Dornoch Cathedral and Sunday, 30th August, at the
High School, Thurso Starts 7.30pm
On Saturday, 29th August, at Dornoch Cathedral, and Sunday, 30th August,
at the High School, Thurso, we present a further concert in our 'Young
Artistes' series. Matthew Fields (violin) will perform with his father,
Robert Fields (piano). Matthew is a student at the St Mary's Music School
in Edinburgh. His home is at Brough, near Dunnet.
Oxford Schola
Cantorum At Tain North
Highland Connections presents Oxford Schola Cantorum at Tain Friday, 18th
September at the Collegiate Church (St. Duthus) in Tain
On Friday, 18th September there will be a performance by the celebrated
Oxford chamber choir, Schola Cantorum, in the appropriate and inspiring
setting of the Collegiate Church (St Duthus) in Tain. The visit is part of
a 50th Anniversary UK tour by the choir. Do not miss the only appearance
in the Highlands! Music by composers with links to Oxford, including
Taverner, Sheppard, Parry, Walton and more recent works by Francis Grier,
Roderick Williams and Tarik O'Regan, as well as music with connections to
the areas they visit.
One
Week Course - A Great Chance To Gain Training In A Number Of Areas Pulteneytown
People's Project are offering the chance to gain experience in a range of
topics in a one week course covering Health and Safety at Work Level 1
Certificate, Manual Handling and Hand and Power Tool Safety. Contact
Tracey or Julie on 01955 606950 for more details and to book. There
are a limited number of spaces on the course.
UK debt �will lead to drastic cuts� - Press & Journal
Liberal Democrat business spokesman John Thurso said: �It is now clear
that there will have to be savage cuts in spending and further increases
in tax whoever wins the next election.�......
Goodman launches space base at Harwell - Property Week.com
Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Science and Innovation, has today
unveiled plans to establish a European Space Agency (ESA) facility at
Goodman�s Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, in Oxfordshire. The
facility which Goodman is developing in a joint venture with the UK Atomic
Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council
(STFC) will be a first for the UK......
22 July 2009
Community Energy Conference 2009 The
first Community Energy Conference in Scotland takes place in Stirling
University on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th August. For more
information about
Community Energy Scotland check out their web site. More and more
groups running halls and facilities are getting grants to help install new
heating systems and using alternative energy to reduce their running
costs.
Halkirk Highland Games - Saturday 25th July
- March Begins at 12.00 Noon
On Saturday the biggest Highland Games in the far north takes place once
again.
Halkirk Games started in 1886 and attracts some of the best heavy
athletes. Prize Money is also one of the best of any of the games.
For most folk it is a day out relaxing while the athletes - heavies,
runners, cyclists and also Highland dancers do their stuff. A piping
competition and Pipe band provide entertainment at various points in the
afternoon and a variety of stalls sell their wares. Children's races
let the young ones join in and the baby show always attracts a high entry.
Photos of earlier games -
20082007200620052004
Calling All
Football Coaches - Scottish Football Association In-Service - Saturday 25
July
SFA North Regional Manager Graeme Sutherland and Football Development
Officer for the Highlands & Islands Peter Budge will be delivering
coaching theme's with Caithness Utd U -15's.
This is an opportunity for all coaches at any level of the game to come
along and hopefully pick up a few new coaching drills or practices. This
session will be available to managers, coaches� helpers, parents and
anyone else who is involved in the game. You may not even actually be
working with a team or club but you are more than welcome to come along.
The SFA see it as an important part of developing coaches and the game
across the North of Scotland. To register your name please contact Gail,
HFA on 01349863399 or if its at late notice please just turn up on the
day.
We look forward to seeing there.
21 July 2009
Highland Independent Museums Meet National Standards Months
of hard work have paid off for seven Highland independent museums.
Dunbeath
Heritage Centre, Timespan (Helmsdale), Groam House Museum (Rosemarkie),
Ullapool Museum, Grantown Museum, Gairloch Heritage Museum and the Museum
of the Isles on Skye have all achieved museum accreditation, meeting the
set of national standards for UK museums. Gaining accreditation ensures
that the museums are well managed and working to the highest standards.
This includes behind the scenes work in caring and documenting objects and
exhibitions, visitor services and working with schools and community
groups. To achieve accreditation, museums must meet published requirements
in how they care for and document their collections; how they are governed
and managed, and on the information and services they offer to their
users.
Top Of
Dunnet Head Lighthouse
This link takes you to a nice photo of the top of Dunnet Head Lighthouse.
From there you can find links to lots of lighthouse photos from all over
the UK.
Another Blogger With A Caithness Connection The Green Isle of the Great
Deep
In addition to an interesting and regular blog by Calum Davidson check out
the great photos at his
Flickr site
DUNCAN ANGUS MacLEOD, INTERNATIONAL BANKER - Died 30 June 2009
LAST RESIDENT PROPRIETOR JOHN O�GROATS HOUSE HOTEL; COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
When the hearse carrying Duncan MacLeod on his final journey from Wick to
historic Canisbay Kirk made a detour via the roundabout now marking the
�End of the Road�, in front of the derelict shell of the now-closed John
O�Groats House Hotel, this was entirely appropriate. For genial Hebridean
Duncan, who passed away after a short illness in Caithness General
Hospital at the age of 73 on June 30th, 2009, knew it in happier times. He
had a substantial impact on the John O�Groats community during and after
his decade-long spell as �mine host� in the House Hotel with its famous
octagonal tower; then an iconic building for Caithnessians
world-wide...........
Note change of DATE
The game was originally scheduled for Sat 25th July but due to the Halkirk
Highland games being on that day has been switched to Wick on Friday 24th
8pm
NATIONAL WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCH WEEK 2009 Want to
take part? Then grab your binoculars and head for the coast! Local Sea
Watch site: Strathy Point - Saturday 25th July. 10am.
Meet at Strathy Point car park. Grid reference NC 827687
Very weather dependent! Contact: Paul Castle. Highland Council
Countryside Ranger 01641 521884
[email protected]
For more details and a species guide:
www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk
20 July 2009
Rare Mole
Cricket Found In Wick The
Caithness.org forum members in the biodiversity section did not take long
to discover that what was at first thought to be an earwig turns out to be
a rare Mole Cricket. On of the forum members contacted the Natural
History museum in London and it has been confirmed that it is Mole Cricket
although there are no known colonies in the UK. Specimens are often
thought to come in on pot plants. So keep your eyes peeled and post
any photos if you find one lurking in your garden. That earwig may
just be a Mole Cricket.
MS
Therapy Centre At Wick Offers Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Did
you know that Wick has for many years had a Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber
available to sufferers of MS and a range of other conditions that in many
cases might benefit from its use. The MS Therapy Centre also known
as the Friends of ARMS based at the Braehead has the unit. It is
available on weekdays for sessions and many folk say they benefit from
sessions in the chamber. The group are a registered charity, fully
insured and
raise funds to pay for the service and running costs are around �9000 per
annum. Usage has fallen off in recent years and the present members
wonder if there has been a lack of publicity that fewer younger people may
not be aware of the centre and what it does. If you suffer from MS
or certain other conditions and are interested and want to find out more
then contact the group - phone numbers are on the page inside. If
you would like to join the committee to help them also get in touch.
A meeting room is available for hire to groups or businesses - rates are
cheap and the view is great and it helps the funds to run the centre.
Latest Paper
Boats At Joanne Kaar's Mary Ann's Cottage Paper Boat Blog
Joanne Kaar's Blog aims to raise funds for
Mary Ann's Cottage and in the process is becoming something of
an international phenomena. With boats coming in from all over the
world from artists, schools and members of the public. The latest
two from Tatiana Serrano - Ecuador and
Judy Wise -
USA. You have until 10th August to send in your paper boat.
All boats will be displayed at
Caithness
Horizons where a silent auction for all of the boats will raise
funds for the cottage. On Wednesday 22 the project may get
a mention
on TV in New Zealand when Lynn Taylor who has been co-operating
with Joanne is interviewed about her work as an artist.
Ormlie's Got
Talent Earlier
this month the Ormlie Drama Group along with some members of Thurso Junior
Players staged a very professional show at The Mill Theatre which included
elements of comedy, dance, singing and storytelling. The Ormlie group is
led by Donna Swanson assisted by Jacqueline Keith who is the Young Peoples
Worker for Ormlie Community Association. The young people were also
involved in the production and put in a tremendous amount of effort to get
the show on the road! Donna has been working with the Ormlie Drama Group
for some time now and has built up an excellent rapport with the young
people encouraging them to use their imagination and creativity in ways
that has increased their self confidence and performing skills.
Royal Mail Services Running Normally In the North Of Scotland Today
Strikes in some parts of the country by Royal Mail staff do not affect
most places outside London and Edinburgh A few other parts of Scotland are
affected and the places can be found on the web site - linked above.
there is no indication of any disruption to services in Highland.
Postal workers went on strike in some areas on 19th June with other
sporadic action on other days in different areas and it looks as if there
will be further industrial action in the sector even though the government
has shelved plans for privatisation. Postal staff
stage 24 hour strike - BBC Post strike over job and pay cuts - BBC Scotland
16 July 2009
Wide ranging children�s Summer Holiday Programme taking place in North
Sutherland
Alongside Gala weekend, the young people of North Sutherland are set to
benefit from a great deal of activity during their summer holidays. Free
swimming sessions are taking place at North Coast Leisure Centre every
Tuesday throughout the holidays (for those aged 8 years upwards from
10am-12 noon), additionally a variety of outdoor activities courtesy of
Highland Ranger Services for all ages; and Highland Libraries are running
a Bookstart Rhyme-time for babies and toddlers on 7th Aug and this is just
for starters! From Monday 3rd to Friday 7th August the Active
Schools Programme kicks off involving a variety of exciting activities
taking place all over the north Sutherland area. Not only this, but when
you find that most events are free or are run at a minimal charge to
participants � this is positively wonderful news! Activities that your
children can get involved in this summer (age-dependent) range from Rugby,
Football, Basketball and Hockey sessions, plus trips to the horse-riding
centre at Torrisdale and golf coaching at Reay Golf Club. Arts and Crafts
activities include T-shirt printing, drama sessions and creating your very
own puppet. For the full programme and a booking form go to
www.highlandactivities.org.uk and click on Farr. Booking forms
also available from the Telecentre in Bettyhill. Completed forms to Farr
High School or the Telecentre for the attention of Sean Wyllie, Active
Schools Co-ordinator.
What To Do and Where To Go In Caithness InJuly
& August
There is plenty to choose from for children and adults this summer in
Caithness so mark your calendar and head for a few activities this summer.
If you are running an event whether in the voluntary sector or a business
add it to the Whats On HERE - It's easy, effective and FREE. Items
entered in the main calendar for today's date automatically appear on this
page daily just after midnight in the left column.
Strawbs And Spuds - Beating The Recession In the Caithness.org Garden
A Few Thoughts On Growing Your Own Fruit And Veg
The main crops in the Caithness.org garden are strawberries and potatoes.
Bill left off gardening for a few years due to pressures of time but last
year began to dig over bits of the garden to get some badly need exercise
and save a few pounds on the food bill as energy costs in the house began
to soar - especially the heating oil price. Cutting the grass was
usually the only exercise but that supplies nothing for the table so
getting the tattie patch back to work last year has paid off. This
year at least 50 kilos of spuds should easily be lifted over the coming
months - perhaps more with a few strays left here and there from last
year. Even using some of the pink fir apples from last year in a
short row will probably produce a few for the table. A few spuds and
strawberries in pots and tubs will provide more. Other veg such as
swedes, peas, carrots and lettuces will save a few additional pounds.
Possibly a few less miles of travel to the table will help the carbon
targets but mainly it will keep money in your pocket to grow some of your
own food. Why nip to Tesco or the Co-op when you can step out with a
fork and a bowl for strawbs and spuds. If you do not already get
digging for next year and save money - tastes better too. Then you can get
back to cutting that grass or sit back and watch the weeds add to your
biodiversity garden...... Bill's wife Maggie takes care of all the
strawbs while Bill does the tatties......Thought For The Day..."How many
weeds are edible? And for north gardeners Strawberries and Potatoes
do really well in Caithness. Bill wanders off humming "Gotta Pick A
Strawb Or Two For Tea"......
Caithness Broch Centre Opens Saturday 25th July 150
Items Returned On Loan From National Museum of Scotland In Edinburgh The
Caithness Broch Centre opens to the public on Saturday 25 July with a day
of activities and talks. The centre, based in Auckengill Old School, takes
over where the Northlands Viking Centre left off some three years ago. The
new facility, collaboration between Caithness Archaeological Trust,
National Museums Scotland and The Highland Council, will celebrate the
extraordinarily rich archaeology landscape of Caithness. The Caithness
Broch Centre, Ionad Bhroch Ghallaibh is home to an ambitious and
innovative display that presents a new story of the prehistory of the
north coast of Caithness during the time of the brochs. It has three main
narratives: the nineteenth century community who first excavated the
brochs; the community who lived in the area two thousand years ago; and
the community who now work and live with the brochs..........
Halkirk V Thurso Swifts - James Gunn Photography Blogspot Halkirk
beat Thurso Swifts 1 - 0. Michael Bremner scored the only goal
late in the game (see above). With half of his team missing, Neillie
MacKay had to use his full squad to muster a scratch team against the
unbeaten league leaders. The result blows the league wide open and gives
the "Wildcats" a great boost for their Highland Amateur cup replay against
former HA Cup winners Avoch, this Saturday (3pm in Halkirk). Castletown
await the winners for a place in the final.
Paper Boats Still
Sailing In To Mary Ann's Cottage This
unique Caithness fund-raiser continues to flourish with new boats arriving
regularly. The latest on show is not paper but a knitted boat based
on a Caithness Gansey pattern. All the boats sent in will be on show at
Caithness Horizons in Thurso 5th - 24th September. You still
have time to send in a boat but they should all be in by 10 August 2009.
All money from sale of boats will go to the Caithness Heritage Trust to
help keep
Mary-Ann's cottage open for future generations. So if you
would like to add to this amazing collection of paper boats and get it
exhibited get folding, painting, colouring your ideas. Other Bloggers
joining in are Home in the
Highlands with a sneak preview before she send her boats to
Joanne Kaar who
set the project going.
Caithness.org Forum/Message
Boards Breaking Records
Just over a week ago on 7th July at 5.32pm the largest number of forum
users online at the same time reached 892. Between 1st and 13th July
there were 80,262 visits to the forum and these visitors looked at
over one million pages - 1,005,073 pages to be exact. Over 28
million page views have been recorded in the forum in the past 12 months
up to 13th July ( hit rate for the forum of 145,406,871 in 12 months).
New items are added almost every hour of the day and night with currently
Threads: 40,776, Posts: 472,774 as at 11.30pm today. The classified ads,
car sales are very busy and the job ads (free to employers) continue to
grow with record numbers of jobs now showing.
Have You Taken
Up the Zip Slide Challenge? - 25th July Over The Wick River -
Spectacular!!! Remember
the 2009 Wick Gala Week For Your Flight Over Wick River and Raise
Vital Funds For the Children's Cancer Charity "CLIC Sargent" CLIC Sargent the children's cancer charity are gearing up to run
an exciting adrenalin event to help raise funds. Johnson
Controls based at Dounreay have agreed to help with the construction
of a 3- 40 foot tower on ground near Wick Police Station. From
the platform a 160 foot slide will be put in place for an amazing
"adrenalin rush" as participant whiz 160 metres to another
receiving platform between
the boating shed and the Coghill footbridge over the river. As part
of Gala Week other events on at the same time will include many stalls and the fair in the afternoon,
horse and donkey rides. Joy from Shelligoe Archery will be giving
archery lessons and we hope to have musicians there and any other
groups who will give the whole day a bit of atmosphere and family
fun. Participants need to be 16 or over and weigh less than 18
stones. Fancy dress encouraged.. No experience or
strength is need and very experienced team will be in charge on the
day. �20 to register and raise a minimum of �80 in sponsorship.
If you have abseiled the Wick Hospital Chimney then have go whizzing
over Wick river on the Zipslide on Saturday 25th July.
Complete A Registration Form and Send It In Go
on you know you always wanted to slide fast over the Wick
River..........
Children�s nature detectives - Children�s holiday events at Wick river All
events run from 11 am till 12.30 pm, and will start at the boating shed by
Somerfield car park. Suitable for all ages, but under 8 must be
accompanied by an adult. All events are free, but we welcome any
donations!! For more info, please contact:
[email protected]
01955 607758 Thursday 16th July - Big Chief tells little stories - Meet Chief �hehoehasawarptmind�,
who will take you on a journey along the river to tell you little stories
about nature. Thursday 23rd July - The last tree in the forest - Come along with
the old forester who will tell you how two little kids saved the forest. Thursday 30th July - Selkies and water horses - Follow �Tam O�
Shanter� as he travels through a magic land full of fairies and other
creatures.
Theatre Modo seek creative team for Caithness community project Theatre
Modo has been commissioned to create a large scale community project in
Caithness. The project will take the form of a processional show in Wick
on 11th September. We are looking for a team of workshop leaders, props
and costume makers and crew with detailed knowledge and skills in youth
and community work, and with experience of outdoor performances. The
project will run from 17th August � 12th September. These jobs are
being created by the same theatre group that brought
Assipattle to the streets of Wick in 2003. Get ready for
something interesting.........Apart from these short-term jobs
take look at
the Jobs section at the moment as there is a big variety on offer
right now in Caithness.
Thurso Heritage Society Needs Your Help To Secure Grant Aid To Restore Old
St Peter's Church Thurso Heritage Society is a registered charity (SC015758). The
Society was formed in order to preserve and promote the character, history
and traditions of the county of Caithness in general and the town of
Thurso in particular. Thurso Heritage Society needs your help as it will
be applying for grant aid to raise funds to restore and interpret Old St.
Peter�s Church. As part of its fundraising campaign the Society needs to
gather letters of support from the local community and visitors to the
area so please complete and return the letter of support.
Download the form or write your own letter and send it to Mrs
Isobel Corner, Honorary Secretary of Thurso Heritage Society, Morven,
Olrig Street, Thurso, KW14 7JA or Caithness Horizons, Old Town Hall, High
Street, Thurso, KW14 8AJ. You can also join the society and make a
donation but that is not essential. The main thing is to take couple
of minutes and post a letter of support for the restoration of this
important Caithness building - a gem in Thurso and rarely open to the
public. Let's see if we can help Thurso Heritage Association
change that.........
Take A Look At The Church
Mey move threatens Dunbia jobs - meatinfo.co.uk More than 20 jobs are expected to go in the meat trade
in Scotland after Dunbia (Dornoch) lost a major contract. The company has
lost a beef boning and packaging contract to North Highlands Products of
Caithness, which produces the Mey Selections brand..........
Witnesses Sought For Serious Crash
About 0800 hours on Monday 13h July 2009 a two vehicle road crash occurred
on the A836 Thurso / Castletown road at Lady Janets wood, Thurso . The
collision involved a blue motorcar and a motorcycle. As a result the rider
of the motorcycle received serious injuries and has been transferred to
Raigmore Hospital, Inverness where he is under going treatment. The
carriageway was fully reopened at 1100 hours same date. It requested that
anyone who may have witnessed this collision contact Thurso police
station.
Adventure At Sea Departing From Wick With Alba Endeavour
The Alba Endeavour was moored at Wick harbour today as a new crew of folk
were coming aboard for a n adventure at sea. Normally the vessel
which is one of three owned by Ocean Youth Trust Scotland sails with young
people aged 12 - 24. This trip they are setting off with adults as
part of a fund-raiser to help subsidise later trips for young people.
The fast yachts owned by the trust were built as world ocean racing yachts
and have excellent specifications as well as speed. The trips offer
the chance to develop sea and life skills for young people. To date
very few young people have been among the crews on board but there are
moves to change this in the future and we may see trips leaving Wick with
Caithness youngster aboard. To find out more about the trust and the
trips got the
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland web site
Ian Scott - Life
and Art As
part of Science 03's Homecoming Events we are pleased to welcome
Caithnessian Ian C Scott who will give a talk in Lyth Arts Centre on
the 19th of July at 8pm. He will discuss how growing up and living in
Caithness influenced his art. Entrance is free but due to limited seating
booking is recommended via Lyth Arts Centre on 01955 641 270 or
www.lytharts.org.uk
See some of Ian Scott's paintings
Here At Wick in 2001
Here Sept 2001
Here The artist at Wick Youth Club 2004
Johnston Revisited
St Fergus Gallery, Wick Library The
Wick Society have put together an extraordinary exhibition of some fifty
images from the Johnston Collection, now showing in the St Fergus Gallery,
Wick. The images were printed on a new large format A1 printer obtained
recently by the Wick Society with grant aid from Awards for All and the
Highland Council Culture Fund. The original photographic plates were made
by three generations of the Johnston family between the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. The exhibition opened with a private viewing for
Wick Society members and friends and other guests on Friday July 3rd.
After introductory remarks by Wick Society Chairman Donald Sinclair, the
exhibition was formally declared open by Highland Councillor, Bill Fernie.
Over one hundred guests attended to view the fifty images displayed.......
Exhibition runs until August 1st. Opening hours Mon, Tues, Thurs 1 to 5pm;
Fri 1 to 8pm; Sat 10am to 1pm. Admission is Free
Flood
Worries Subside Thanks To Castletown Sewer System Properties
in the Caithness village of Castletown that have experienced flooding in
recent years are benefiting from the completion of a �136,000 Scottish
Water project to upgrade the local sewer system. An investigation showed
that a section of pipe under Main Street struggled to cope during
downpours of heavy rain, causing water and sewage to back up and flood
nearby properties. Work started at the end of April to replace the sewer
with larger pipes to enable the system to cope better. The project is part
of Scottish Water's 2010 Vision for the Highlands, the �200million
campaign of improvements across the region. By 2010 Scottish Water expects
to have invested around �20million in Caithness & Sutherland since 2006,
while the average household water bill remains below �1 a day. People can
find out more at www.scottishwater.co.uk/highlands2010
Caithness Businesses Staging "The Wedding Show" For Laurandy Despite
these recession times Caithness businesses are banding together to put on
one of the biggest Wedding Shows ever seen in the county.
The Wedding Show will be a chance for everyone getting married in the next
cxouple of years to see what is on offer locally. Everything from flower
arrangements to wedding clothes, transport to stationery. The show will
start with a Bridal Catwalk Show believed to be the first in the county.
The Catwalk Show will last for 30 minutes...........The organisers think
the event will have a much wider appeal as a show in itself and with all
the proceeds of the event going to the local charity "Laurandy Centre" who
do so much for elderly people providing vital services. The Wedding Show
takes place on Wednesday 2nd September at 7.30pm in the Waterfront with
tickets costing �5.
Summer Activity
2009 - At Caithness Horizons The
weather might have turned cooler this week, but there's plenty to do at
Caithness Horizons, Thurso during the summer months. Whether it's watching
the sky, painting a picture or treading the boards, the message at the new
Thurso museum is: Heritage is definitely huge fun. Astro-Art Exhibition - 1st - 19th July Astronomy slideshow 'Eyes on the Skies' film screened daily 2-3pm -
FREE Astronomy Fun - Drop-in session for all the family - Wed. 15th and
Fri. 17th July, 2.00 - 4pm -FREE Activity Workshops for ages 9+ - Thursday's 9th Jul - 13th Aug,
2-4pm
(- a different theme each week): Fossils, Vikings, Natural History, 'A
Sinclair Odyssey', Art Project - 'Old Thurso', Weaving - BOOKING ESSENTIAL
- �2 per session Drama Workshops - '2009: A Sinclair Odyssey' - Mon 27th - Fri. 31st
July, 10.30am-12.30pm
BOOKING DESIRABLE - FREE
Council
Signs Historic Agreement The
Highland Council has signed and sealed a formal agreement with the
National Archives of Scotland and the Church of Scotland to secure the
transfer of historical documents from Highland Presbyteries and Kirk
Sessions to Inverness. These important historical records, currently
preserved in Edinburgh by the National Archives of Scotland, are to be
transferred later this year to the new Highland Archive Centre currently
in the final stages of construction at the Bught, Inverness. Bill Fernie,
Chairman of The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee,
said: "This long awaited development will enable people to access these
significant historical documents locally, and create a useful, accessible
resource for anyone with an interest in the history of the Highland area."
Young
Wick Team's Technology Project Wins Them A Trip To USA Team
TIC from Wick High school were among the finalists in a
Highlands and Islands-wide information and communications technology
competition. The inventiveness and marketing skills of TIC saw them reach
the last six of the 2009 ICT Youth Challenge and win the
Microsoft-sponsored award for the project with the best commercial
potential. While visiting the company's lab in Seattle in October, the
team will have the opportunity to pitch their idea to Microsoft's
Scots-born Vice President Bob McDowell.
Young Wick
Swimmers In Winning Form It
was a small but talented group of Wick Amateur Club swimmers who took part
in the recent Elgin Mini Meet. At the 9 year old age group Darren Taylor
gained more experience when he participated in three strokes which
included a personal best time in his back stroke. The remaining four
swimmers were all taking part in the very competitive 11 year old age
group. The Keiss pair of Ben Johnston and Ross Perry are now getting the
benefit of the commitment to their training over the last twelve months
and are now able to compete with the top swimmers in the North of
Scotland. Both the boys came home with Pb�s and Ben took a fourth place in
his breast stroke......read
on for gold winning performances
"Body Currents" Dance Project Coming To Caithness
Eden Court has secured �590k funding for this community based dance
project, � 475k from Scottish Arts Council, �39k from Highland Leader, �36k from Cairngorm Leader, �15k from Robertson Trust and �25k from the
Council (�20k from the Highland Cultural Programme and �5k from Area Arts
Budgets), thus securing significant new resources for the Highlands. "Body
Currents" will consist of four dance residencies, each of 9 months
duration, centred on the locations of Dornie, Aviemore, Lybster and Fort
William and involving other communities, towns and villages in the
surrounding area; these locations were chosen because of their waterside
locations and in consultation with local communities. The project plans to
involve as wide as possible a range of local people in dance classes and
activities. Each residency will culminate in spectacular, outdoor
community performances and events. As dance provision has been identified
as weak in terms of arts provision and opportunity in the Highlands, this
project would offer valuable new access. It also aligns well with the
Service's Youth and Sports strategies and the Highland 2007 legacy.
8 Dance
posts are being created on fixed term contracts of 9 months
the posts will be two each in Caithness, Skye & Lochalsh, Badenoch &
Strathspey and Lochaber. Highland Councillors heard about the
project at the
meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport committee held on 21 May
2009
7 July 2009
Looking
For Something To Do Or Places To Go In July In Caithness?
This month there are many events and activities for young and old
available in Caithness. July is always a busy month in Caithness and
this year is busier than ever. Just check the
What's On section to find something of interest. In the past
6 days there were over 30,000 visits to the section to check out what was
happening in Caithness so if you are organising an event, putting on an
exhibition or want visitors to know about something then make sure you
advertise it here by
completing the
form - It's FREE Museums and
Visitor CentresSt Fergus Gallery
Swanson Gallery
Humanists Get
A Celebrant for Caithness
On 1st July 2009, Kate Buchanan became licensed to wed! Kate, who lives in Thurso is neither a Minister of religion nor a
Registrar, but a Celebrant for the Humanist Society of Scotland. Humanism
is an ethical belief system which focuses on the things that unite us as
human beings rather than those which divide us. Kate decided to train as a
celebrant as she strongly believes that all people have a right to mark
important occasions in their lives with a meaningful ceremony, and her own
experience as an atheist had highlighted the absence of that for those
with no attachment to an organised church. Humanist Celebrants officiate
at non-religious Funeral, Wedding and Naming ceremonies, which are
becoming ever more popular. Kate and 4 other newly registered Celebrants
join the team for Highland, Islands and Moray, now nine Celebrants in all.
Johnson Photographic Exhibition - 4 July to 1 August St Fergus Gallery, Wick Library, Wick - The Wick Society
presents The Johnson Photographic Exhibition
www.highland.gov.uk/stfergusgallery
A superb sampling of Wick photographs from the Johnson Collection held by
the Wick Society. These black and white photographs have been blown
up to large sizes and the detail in them is amazing. You are sure to
be enthralled looking at Wick in earlier times - it is the must see
exhibition for this year at the St Fergus gallery. - Opening Times - M, T,
Th 12 to 5.30pm, Fr 2 to 8pm, Sat 10.30am- 1pm
Orders will be taken for copy prints at various sizes at the gallery or
you can order direct from Wick Heritage Society at the museum in Bank Row.
Forsinain Trail
- A Four Mile Circular Route Sitting
on the edge of Caithness & Sutherland�s high quality bogs, the four mile
Forsinain Trail is self-guided and takes in farm fields, bog pools,
riverside and woodland allowing an insight into conservation management
and exciting wildlife. It starts on The Flows National Nature
Reserve, part of RSPB Forsinard Nature Reserve, continues through Forestry
Commission Scotland�s Forsinain Forest and returns along the privately
owned River Halladale salmon river. This circular trail which rises 100m
to the bog begins at the roadside car park on the River Halladale before
ascending the farm road through fields used intensively by feeding and
breeding peatland bird species.
Calluna
Country Marks Return Of Hunter's Tweed To Brora "Calluna
(the Latin for heather) Country with Hunter's Tweed" has opened its newly
renovated classic store at London House in Brora on the corner of the main
A9 and Station Square. This is opposite the original Hunters shop and is a
welcome return for Hunter's in beautifully turned out premises. It
cleverly combines items made from the long established and unique Hunters
brand of tweed with quality country clothing, a horse tack and equipment
section and Scottish country gifts from jewellery to jams, and is now a
major attraction to visitors and locals alike. The Hunters tweed name and
quality, hefted to Brora, will remain and in future the tweed will be
manufactured locally to the original formula by weavers at Johnstons of
Elgin whose renowned cashmere and woollen goods are also stocked in this
new shop along with garments made by Toggi and other well known
brands......Calluna
Opened Their First Shop in Caithness in April
North 'cheapest
for seaside home' - BBC
The cheapest place to buy a home by the sea is in the north of Scotland,
according to latest property figures. The Bank of Scotland survey suggests
Wick in Caithness has the country's cheapest seaside homes. Prices were
about three-times the average salary.
Caithness
Properties For Sale
Email Deluge Crashes Bill's Email Box
In the past week or so there have been so many emails being sent with
large attachments - mainly photos that Bill's email system has been unable
to cope. Check with Bill to see if your's got through. They
can be sent again and hopefully will get through now things are cleared.
Welcome Wick
Harbourfest Spinoff For Pupils Wick
HarbourFest has provided a welcome spin-off for some fortunate local
primary and High schools pupils. Three of the heritage sailing boats were
chartered by the HarbourFest organisers to provide educational sea trips
for local school children during Monday and Tuesday following the
HarbourFest weekend. Groups of eight children from each of the four Wick
Primary schools were shown what life below deck was like on a herring
Fifie 100 years ago by the crew of the 80ft long Reaper. They were then
given an exciting sea trip along the Caithness Coastline aboard the
Caithness SeaCoast RIB in the company of a Highland Council Countryside
ranger who pointed out the flora and fauna to be found on the rocky
cliffs. Groups of High school pupils were treated to half-day trips aboard
the 100 year old Swan into the Moray Firth where a Countryside Ranger
explained the ecology of the Firth and its natural habitat value as fish
breeding grounds and seabird territory......
Items Lost At Wick HarbourFest Found
A electronic Game Player and a Gold Bracelet were found during the Wick
Harbourfest. the items can be reclaimed by contacting Wick Police
Station.
Thrumster Mini Gala 3 - 5 July
Thrumster Hall continue with their fundraising activities this weekend
by staging a fancy dress Rounders Competition on Friday evening starting
at 6.30pm. Top prize is �25.00, a BBQ and refreshments will follow. On
Saturday afternoon at 2pm. Willie Mackay Oldhall, will compere a Mini
Highland Games, there will also be a Pet Show, Face painting, a vintage
tractor display, fun activities, baking stalls and teas. At 7pm Prize
Bingo will be held in the hall with a raffle and refreshments, Then on
Sunday evening at 7pm a Quiz takes place in the village hall where again
every one is wellcome to join in.
Want to
take part? Then grab your binoculars and head for the coast! Local Sea
Watch site: Strathy Point - Saturday 25th July. 10am.
All
events run from 11 am till 12.30 pm, and will start at the boating shed by
Somerfield car park. Suitable for all ages, but under 8 must be
accompanied by an adult. All events are free, but we welcome any
donations!! For more info, please contact:
