News Archive - September 2017
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29 September 2017
Taste North - North Highland's Premier Food, Drink And Craft Event
Taste
North, the north Highland's premier food, drink and craft event,
in association with Venture North and the Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority (NDA), are back for the third year running and this year
return to Ackergill Tower with a packed line up and a leading name in
the culinary world to head up the fantastic schedule and inspire the
foodie passion in us all! Nick Nairn will be joining us as our very
special guest this year at Ackergill
Tower on 1st October 2017.
11.00am - 4.30pm
- Drop in and get a taste of the north.Newtonhill Talk Fundraiser For Caithness Heart Support Group
THE
renovated croft house at the top of Newtonhill will be the focus for an
illustrated talk by volunteers who are hosting it on behalf of
Caithness Heart Support Group. The historic croft house dates back to
the 18th century. Since it was opened to the public in 2015, extensive
improvement and landscaping have been carried out in the surrounding
area. The talk, at 2:00pm
on Saturday, (30th September 2017) will be delivered by
Willie Bruce and Billy Nicolson. Admission £3 will include tea, coffee
and biscuits.
Noss Primary School Exhibition for Malawi Kids
Noss
Primary school has been involved along with other schools in
helping kids in Malawi and have an ongoing collection of pennies on a
map of Africa. Recently the school in Wick donated the old sweat shirts
from the old schools to a project sending items from lost property
boxes in Highland schools to schools in Malawi where they could be put
to use.
The exhibition consists of postcards, photos and artwork from the kids
in Malawi responding to the supply of sweatshirts from Noss School
pupils.
Since the story about the pennies on the map of Africa at Noss primary
has run more people have turned up to donate collections of pennies to
the project.
Let
us all get behinds this great wee project by Noss Primary.A raffle will be held at the exhibition for funds to the Highland Malawi Trust
27 September 2017
Thurso Town Improvments Newsletter and Halloween Parties for Kids and Adults in Community50th Wedding Anniversary Wick Couple Asked Guests To Donate to CHAT
Maureen
and Gordon Doull from Wick have celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary at Mackays Hotel and asked their guests to make donations
to Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) as they are so concerned at what
is happening to health services in Caithness.
The couple handed over a £750 to Bill Fernie, chairman of CHAT and
founder member Councillor Nicola Sinclair.
Tackling poverty is everyone's business
An
initiative to address poverty and tackle the deprivation that is
prevalent throughout the Highlands is launched today (Wednesday, 27
September 2017) by the 9 Community Partnerships.
Highland Community Partnerships were formed at the end of 2016 and are
a coming together of individuals within local communities, the third
sector and public agencies to reduce inequalities and to agree key
improvement opportunities that are important to local residents and
businesses and thereafter to take the appropriate action. Caithness Business Index
Recycling For The Future
Projects
which are increasing recycling rates, reducing emissions and re-using
resources are to receive a share of £8.4 million.
Around £4.2 million will help 17 small to medium sized enterprises
(SMEs) develop new products which will re-use whisky by-products, waste
plastic and household furniture, through the Circular Economy
Investment Fund.
Community Index
23 September 2017
FOND FAREWELL TO HEART GROUP'S PATRON
CAITHNESS
Heart Support group recently bade a fond farewell to its patron Miss
Anne Dunnett who retired from public life recently.
The group was only one of several local organisations Miss Dunnett was
involved in, not least as the county's Lord Lieutenant.
Tribute was paid to her 'significant' contribution to the heart group
during the past six years, at a social gathering at the Norseman
Hotel,Wick.
22 September 2017
NHS Highland Board’s Dirty Tricks
Today
a hard hitting letter from CHAT's Vice Chair Prof. Iain Baikie has been
published in the John O'Groat Journal an is now published on the CHAt
Facebook page.. Joining in is well-known local artist Ian Scott has
produce a new work for the campaign "Caithness Scream". The
relentless march by NHS Highland to downgrade health services in
Caithness is now once again exposed for what it is. Nothing
is
safe it seems - maternity, Town and county, Dunbar, beds in Caithness
General and more. Follow on CHAT Facebook.21 September 2017
Dunnet Beach Clean - Can You spare An Hour?The rangers are organising another clean-up for Dunnet Beach on Saturday 30th September. The removal of waste from our beaches is unfortunately a never ending one but if we want to keep this one looking good go along and help between 11:00am and 2:00pm. Gloves and bags supplied and a free hot drink.
20 September 2017
Calling Geocachers - Check out a new event in the Highland Archaeology Festival
As
part of the 2017 Highland Archaeology Festival, a number of geocaches
have been hidden throughout the Highlands.
"There are so many wonderful sites in the Highlands to explore,"
explained Kirsty Cameron, Highland Council Archaeologist. ‘We wanted to
hide caches where people can discover more about our rich heritage.
We've also hidden some small objects in our caches during the
festival."
One of the geocache sites is at Dunbeath- see the web site for all of
the sites in Highland at the Archaeology Festival
Buzzfeed one of the biggest online news sites highlights Caithness Maternity Issues
CHAT Facebook for the latest comments etc
Noss Primary School Wick - Raising Funds For Malawi
As
well as our sponsored ‘Water Walk' next Wednesday and our Malawi
display which you can visit on the Open Afternoon and parents'
evenings, we are collecting loose change to try to cover a map of
Africa we have set up in the library area. If you have any 5p, 2ps or
1ps lying around, please send them in with your child so they can put
them on the map. It would be lovely to get our ‘Change for Change' map
completely covered.
18 September 2017
Caithness JAM - Charity Music Event For Sarcoidosis
15 September 2017
Help Save the Town and County by Professor BaikieProfessor Baikie, vice-chairman of CHAT has hit the ground running is his new role with front page headlines in the John O'Groat Journal today and a letter on the CHAT Facebook page calling the whole community from whatever perspective to join the fight to save the Town and County from the despicable moves of NHS Highland trying to hide behind a consultation exercise and bed review. Read the letter - it says what many people feel and gives voice to the need to fight this in every way possible. What next, after the maternity disgrace and moves on the Dunbar hospital in Thurso as well as the Town and Coucnty in Wick,. Another Vice-chairman Ron Gunn was appointed at the CHAT AGM a couple of weeks agao and a new branch of CHAT to specifically deal with Thurso will be formed at our next full meeting in Thurso to allow full participation without having to travel to Wick in coming weeks and months. CHAT is increasing its political activity as the only way forward as we have had no sign from NHS Highland other than their moves to close down the facilties in Caithness. Professor Baikie has asked for as many as possible to write to the First Minister to show we are united - lets.do it. Contact details are on the CHAT Facebook page along with the letter.......Bill Fernie.
14 September 2017
Day of action at Caithness bird haven
After
an extremely busy breeding season, most of the nesting birds have
now left St Johns Pool, near Dunnet which gave the Caithness
Countryside Volunteers the ideal opportunity to get into action before
the winter migrants begin to arrive.
The volunteers undertook a range of activities such as wood preserving
the viewing hides and fence posts. Weeding was carried out on one of
the islands and new shutters fitted to one of the hides.
13 September 2017
Attractions of Wick On the John O'Groat Trail - Can You Help?As some of you might know the John O Groat trail is hoping to be officially opened next year. The trail will pass through Wick and it was thought that this would be an opportunity to showcase the attractions of Wick for the visiting walkers, those driving the NC500 and others visiting the area.
We are recruiting new Trustees At HomeStart Caithness
Can
you spare a couple of hours a month to help change lives? You may bring a particular expertise to the board, such as professional skills in finance, IT, business, personnel management or marketing and PR, but equally as important are listening and communication skills, commitment and common sense. Your commitment is to attend Board meetings. These are held every eight weeks or so and do not usually last more than an hour. All relevant papers are sent out at least one week in advance.
All The Stations - Inverness to Wick
Geoff Marshall and Vikkie Pipe have completed their journey in this last little video.
10 September 2017
Comments From The CHAT Postcard Campaign
The
CHAT postcard campaign has now moved on with the first batch of 1000
postcards sent ot the First Minister. Here are some sample
comments frmo the postcards. More to follow in coming days.
You can still leave comments about the situation on health
issues
in Caithness on the CHAT
Facebook page
whether on maternity or the soon to be launched NHS consultation/bed
review which may dramatically affect the three Caithness hospitals with
threat of huge reductions at Town and County in Wick and Dunbar
hospital Thurso.8 September 2017
Save The Town and County Hospital in Caithness - Sign The Petition7 September 2017
CHAT sends first batch of 1,000 protest postcards to First Minister
Caithness
Health Action Team (CHAT) has gathered 2,410 postcards from members of
the public protesting the centralisation of health services under NHS
Highland. The postcards carry the slogan ‘100 miles too far' in
reference to the 100 mile journey patients frequently have to travel to
receive basic care. In 2016 14,786 patients from Caithness and
Sutherland travelled for appointments at Raigmore Hospital in
Inverness, many of which last only 5 minutes and could be conducted on
the phone. Meanwhile, around 90% of maternity patients now give birth
in Inverness, and many mothers are making the journey down the A9
without an ambulance, whilst in labour. Highland Council £160million Budget Gap Next 5 Years
HIE Helps Businesses Get Cyber Strong
Highlands
and Islands Enterprise is offering its clients across the region
support to protect themselves from cyber attacks, by launching the
Cyber Strong business project.
Co-inciding with Digital Leaders Cyber Resilience Week (11-15 September
2017), the agency is launching a programme to help local businesses and
social enterprises achieve national Cyber Essentials accreditation.
Companies Set To LINC With Dounreay
Companies
are being invited to LINC together and support Scotland's largest
decommissioning project thanks to an innovative new scheme designed to
increase the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) delivering
clean-up work at Dounreay.
Up to five companies will be invited to help understand and develop the
best proposal for size-reducing all of the machinery and components
that will need to be removed from Dounreay's Prototype Fast Reactor
(PFR) - the
largest to be built at the Caithness site. It is the first of several
opportunities expected to be advertised as part of an initiative
encouraging SMEs to LINC - liaise, innovate, network and collaborate -
with Dounreay.
Highland Council driving quality improvement in education
Council Programme agreed - Local Voices, Highland Choices
Highland Council Restructure Management To Save A Further £235,000
Landlord Registration Enforcement
The John O' Groats Mill - Open Weekend - 9th and 10th September
Everyone
in our community is aware of the mill at Groats - we've all driven past
it, some of us daily. It's very much a local landmark. You may even
know a little of its history: it was grinding corn as recently as 2001
and its machinery is still in working order to this day.
Not many of us, however, have had the opportunity to see through the
buildings. Well, now’s your chance. By kind permission of the Houston
family, the Mill will be open on Sat. 9th and Sun. 10th September from
11am till 5pm. All are welcome
................We need your opinion. Without community interest, this
project will be nothing more than a pipedream.
6 September 2017
Wick Players Christmas Panto Advance Notice£9 Million Berriedale Braes Road Contract Out To Market
The
notice, which outlines construction costs of approximately £9 million,
invites prospective bidders to formally apply to participate in the
procurement to construct major improvements to this important route in
the north of Scotland.
The project will see improvements to the road alignment and the
existing tight hairpin bend.
Once complete the scheme will improve road safety and journey times by
removing the need for vehicles to slow down or stop to negotiate the
bend.
5 September 2017
Caithness Professor Appointed As Vice Principal Of UHI
Professor
Stuart Gibb, director of the Environmental Research Institute at North
Highland College UHI, has been appointed as vice-principal
(international and external engagement). He is leading on the
development and implementation of the university's international
strategy, working to improve brand identity and increase the
recruitment of international students.........West Highland College UHI
principal, Lydia Rohmer, has taken up the role of vice-principal
(tertiary)
.......Iain Macmillan, principal of Lews Castle College UHI, has been
appointed as vice-principal (strategic harmonisation and organisational
efficiency)
Mapping the Ecosystem Services of Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs - Workshop
A coupleof places at the workshop remain. Takes place on Thursday 7th September.
Chairman of the Royal British Legion Scotland Wick Branch Captain Richard Otley thanks Laurieton
A letter published today in the Camden Courier in Australia. Laurieton United Services Club is in New south Wales.
Crab fishermen off Orkney taken to safety in Scrabster - BBC
Wick Riverside Volunteers Making a Huge Difference - Want to Help?
As
communities in Highland and indeed Scotland get left to do more in
their areas one group is showing the way. Wick Riverside Volunteers
have already changed the look of several areas around the riverside and
you can see the before and after photos on their Facebook
page.
Dorren Gow a volunteer with the group sent some photos from last
weekend and said,"We were given lots of tar planings from Highland
Council roads dept for improving the paths, and GMR Hendersons supplied
equipment and manpower last weekend.
"We will be doing a post on Facebook asking for helpers this weekend
now. All help much appreciated, and to bring along a wheelbarrow, spade
and gloves if possible." Share their facebook pages.
4 September 2017
Alexander 'Sandy' Manson born 1st August 1924 died 22nd August 2017
Alexander
'Sandy' Manson, John O'Groats postmaster and Arctic Convoys veteran.
Born 01/08.1924, died 22.08.2017, both at John O'Groats, Caithness.
The sudden death of retired postmaster Alexander 'Sandy' Manson at the
age of 93 in his PO House home in the well-known small community at the
'top' of Scotland, has robbed the country of one of a dwindling group
of servicemen who have been more honoured by a key ally in the long
fight against the evils of Nazism than by our own British Government.
For Sandy Manson served on board an RN destroyer that provided key
support in 1943 and 1944 to seamen of the British Merchant Navy
supplying ... against all the odds ... vital war-equipment to aid the
Soviet Union in its ultimately successful, but bloody, land and air
battles against the Wehrmacht armies. Those conflicts were to
decisively turn the tide of WW II against the murderous, fascist clique
that ruled Germany from 1933 till the Soviet 'Red Army' overran Berlin
in the spring of 1945.
FANCY YOURSELF AS A BIT OF A SLEUTH? - Ashley Cowie Will Reveal New Discoveries
Fancy
yourself as a bit of a sleuth? Come and apply your skills at a unique
historic investigaton and hear all about Ashley's latest Neolithic
discovery in Caithness.
Booking HERE
Woodturning Demo
North
Highland Woodturners annual demonstration with professional turners
Alec Mutch & Mark Sutton.3 September 2017
Caithness man raising awareness of life after brain injury backing ID Card
An
ex-fisherman whose life changed following a tumour is backing a new
charity identification card aimed at helping brain injury survivors
explain their condition.
Callum Maclean, was a commercial fisherman for more than 20 years and a
qualified welding inspector before a brain tumour changed his life in
2011.
The tumour left him with a number of problems such as impaired balance,
affected temperament and limited mobility.
These symptoms have brought many challenges, including dealing with the
often inappropriate ways people react to his disabilities.
It’s for this reason that he is supporting a new
identification
card being launched by Headway – the brain injury association.
The Headway Brain Injury Identity Card is designed to help brain injury
survivors explain their condition.
2 September 2017
Royal British Legion Scotland Wick Canisbay & Latheron Branch
Royal
British legion Scotland Wick Canisbay and Latheron Branch, over
the last year have had a very busy, rewarding and successful
time......................................In a bid to re - engage with
valued members and to ensure effective communication Chairman Capt
Richard Otley has recently personally written to all members present
and lapsed. Going forward the branch has introduced a monthly draw for
all members and hopes to further build on the success of the recent
annual RBLS Mey Highland and Cultural Games, making next year's event
even bigger and better.
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