News Archive - June 2001
30th June 2001
News Flash ::
Wick Players Triumph at British Finals in Belfast
The talented crew from Wick won the British final of one act plays in
Belfast tonight winning against strong competition from England Ireland
and Wales. Well done gang.
Thrumster
Gala First Pictures
Plenty more to come tomorrow. Caithness.Org is off to the dance tonight
in the village hall.
Page Two
Now In,
Page Three Majorettes
Caithness Dial -A- Ride Group Volunteers
The community transport group that run
the Dial-a-ride are looking for more
volunteers....more
Stroma From Above
Another great view from John Moar. Bill will be visiting
Stroma on Sunday 8 July so more pictures will be coming in the days that
follow the visit.
29th June 2001
Summer Holiday Activities In Caithness
Something for everyone aged 6 - 16
Take a look at what's on offer in Caithness over the next few weeks in
activities and sport. Get extra training and coaching and have some fun.
It all starts on Monday but you can still get in on many of the activities if
you get your skates on.
More From
Kinbrace, Sutherland
Several more Kinbrace pictures to come in this new section on
Sutherland.
Forsinard,
Sutherland
Another hauntingly beautiful part of Sutherland - empty roads,
empty hills and you can just drive into it for free.
28th June 2001
Kinbrace, Sutherland
The Caithness.org team made the trip
into the Strath of Kildonan yesterday.
Here come some of the pictures from the
trip, starting with Kinbrace. What
a wonderful county it is and we have to
pass through it all the time.
North School
1947
Another addition to School Days
pictures. This section that came out of the Reunion Section is
growing inot an interesting archive of school pictures. If you
would like to include any school pictures send them to
bill@caithness.org If scanning please use the jpeg format.
We will scan any photos sent to us and return them to you.
Guess Who Has their Picture in the 49-51 Wick Reunion
Ackergill Tower - The Keiths And the Dunbars
Another article added to the Castles section - thanks to Ian Laird for
his assistance with this one. His Family History site at
http://www.iain-laird.co.uk/ is packed with information.
Sinclair Connections Links Section Updated
Serendipidists Latest News
More from Caithness singles club.
More New Properties For Sale
Check the latest properties for sale
being added later today. For huge
coverage its still only £15 to place a
property ad on our web site and that's
for as long as it takes to sell the
property - no repeat charges. Can
you find it cheaper. And remember
that includes a photo and full
particulars.
"Get Fit" - Another Jenny Stewart Poem
Another Caithness Dialect poem to amuse you.
27th June 2001
1st Wick Boys Brigade 1977
One from the collection of Harry Gray, Wick who has had a long
association with Wick Boys Brigade.
Princes Street, Thurso
Another view of Princes Street in the heart of Thurso.
Flying Over Dunnet
Head
The sweep of Dunnet Bay on the left to the most northerly point on
the Scottish mainland and St John's loch in the top left and Dunnet
Forest in the bottom right. This area has been inhabited for
thousands of years and its not hard to see why. Check out
Dunnet Bay Area Pages for a wider look or a few
Dunnet pictures.
More Houses In Halkirk
This cat sat in Church Lane in Gala Week. Nice street, nice
place.
26th June 2001
Over
Thurso
Thurso gets the fly over treatment.
25th June 2001
Young
People Launch New Drugs Initiative
Members of the Highland Youth Voice - a parliament of young people from
across the Highlands have launched an initiative to tackle what they see
as an important information gap on the consequences of drug use.
Castlehill From the
Air
See Castlehill Harbour and the Flagstone Works and Trail.
Highland Health Council Visit To
Cambusavie Unit, Golspie
Highland Health Council members visit
hospitals to find out if there are
matters concerning patients or
relatives. If you have concerns
about any hospital or medical facility
in Highland contact Highland health
Council.
Thurso
Heritage Centre - New Section
Open only in the summer months this small museum is run by
volunteers and has many pictures and items including ancient Pictish
Stones. Check it out.
Thurso Horticultural Society - New Section
If you are interested in plants or gardening check out the new pages to
find out about the programme and annual show.
Thurso In Bloom In Environment Section
Looking to help your town look good then why not ask if you can help you
local group cleaning up your town or village.
24th June 2001
More From Lybster Gala Opening
23rd June 2001
Lybster
Gala Starts In Sunshine
Lybster Gala had a large turnout tonight and the floats were
well received as they toured the town led by the Gala Queen and the Wick
Pipe Band. more pictures tomorrow. We are off to the rest of
Wick Summer Madness Music Festival. Cheers.
Thurso
High Reunion 35 Year Olds Next Year
Mandy Miller set the trend organising a school reunion in
Caithness from Australia via Caithness.org. In case you missed the
last message this possible reunion is being organised from USA.
Sara
Whitten (nee Atkins) and Morven Bancroft (nee Fairlie) who live in the
US are thinking of organizing a reunion for former pupils of Thurso High
School, who attended between 1979 and 1985. Basically anyone who will be 35 next year! They want to have it in Thurso in July 2002. Pass the word
on. The one happening in Mackays in July is being organised from
Cumbria and Surrey and its an absolute sell out. 180 tickets sold
and another 50 expected to arrive in the bars. Two other reunions
in the same week. All in Wick Gala Week. Its gonna be busy.
22nd June 2001
Thrumster
Gala Weekend 30 June
Lots of family fun and a dance a
night. What more could you ask. Get on down to Thrumster on
Saturday 30th June.
Lybster
Gala Week 23 June - 1 July
Another Gala week gets underway on Saturday. If your family
is in Caithness on holiday why not join in. Its cheap and easy and
you will be very welcome. Why not all head down to Lybster Gala
events - you never know who you might meet. Check
out Lybster. Have you checked out the New
Look Portland Bars and Restaurants.
Dounreay
Castle Reconstruction Painting
Andrew Spratt has produced another Caithness Castle for the
collection. Information will be added at a later date. We
also hope to add pictures of the Castle in its current state.
Still
Flying Over Castletown
Worked out places you know or would like to visit yet. More to come and
slightly further out as the plane banks round later.
Bucholie
Castle - The Swansons And The Mowats
An article from the Field Club Bulletins in
the castle series written by D B Miller. Originally part of his
series on Historic Families of the North.
21st June 2001
Caithness.Org
Goes To Sutherland
We travel through several counties to get home to
Caithness. So why not let you see some of where we travel often to
get to places. We will show you some parts of the Highlands that
we pass through regularly as we travel about. So for no particular
reason other than Bill was there yesterday its Portgower
and Helmsdale
first.
Todays
Poem In Caithness Dialect From W T Lyall
"Clapshot" once a part of the staple diet of many parts of the Highlands and
rural Scotland. Anyone got a poem on Mealie Puddin?
The
Coast of Caithness
Of course to get to Sutherland we have to
suffer these views every time up and down. Check the roads.
Sutherland has more road per person than any other county in Britain and
Caithness is not far behind. But then with Sutherland being the
biggest county in the UK and the lowest population that is not
difficult.
Caithness.Org
Takes To The Air Over Castletown
Thanks to John Moar for this series of stunning views of the Castletown
area that we will be bringing you over the next few days. As we add more
pictures to the section try to pick out the places you know and tell us some of
the names of the main features to add the information to the picture.
Lots more on the way.
Good Luck To Wick Players In Belfast
The players take their winning play "Bench At the Edge"
to the British Finals on Friday 29th in the Lyric Theatre.
20th June 2001
Yuri
The Clown & Tonya visit Miller Academy
Yuri the clown teaching juggling and tricks to Caithness school
children seen here at Miller Academy last week.
Isabelle
Moreland Needs Help Tracing A Man In Picture
Canada Calling About Mystery Navy Man.
"E
Ball" - A Caithness Poem by Jenny Stewart
Another bit of Caithness humour in verse
19th June 2001
Oil
- That's What Its All About
The Haliburton yard at Wester is situated at an unusual place in
Scotland. One of the very few places where you can lay out twenty
miles of pipeline - construct it, join it up to towheads and pull it all
out into the sea and float it away to its place on the seabed. All
part of the North Sea Oil industry that still contributes prosperity to
the North East of Scotland and beyond.
East Coast Ranger Walks In July
Yet
Another Towhead Today
290 Tonnes awaiting the tide to come ashore and be pulled
through town in Wick on Wednesday.
July
- Ranger Led Walks In Caithness
Plenty walks in various places so you are
spoilt for choice in July.
Another
Towhead Arrives at Wick
One of the biggest oil towheads arrived today. At 240
tonnes it will only be dwarfed by an even bigger one waiting at Wick
harbour to come round this bend tomorrow. That one is 290 tonnes.
The
Lighthouse In Wick Heritage Museum
Information on the lighthouse rebuilt within Wick Heritage Museum
has now been added to the pictures. Also added notes on barrel
making, clothing and smoke house. More information and pictures
are still to be added to this section.
Houses In Halkirk
There is an amazing variety of houses in Halkirk. Here we
start today to bring you a selection. More later.
Mystery Solved Wedding
Photo From Saturday
This is the wedding of Dawn Murray of Thurso and Martin Curr of Glasgow
who is my wife's cousin, the reception was held at the Portland Arms
Hotel in Lybster. :: Robert James
18th June 2001
A
Triflin' Tale by
Jenny S Stewart
Another slant on Caithness life From Jenny
Stewart. Thanks to Isabelle Thurley for typing this one up.
17th June 2001
Halkirk
Gala Procession
A big crowd turned out on a cool evening.
Thurso
Pipe Band At Halkirk Gala
Sounding great the Thurso Pipe Band entertained the crowds
before the start of the crowning of the Gala Queen ceremonies.
The
Nook Bar - Ulbster Arms Hotel, Halkirk
After the Procession suddenly every place is busy.
28
Former Gala Queens At Halkirk
!952 and 2001 Halkirk Gala Queens along with many other former
holders of the title invited to celebrate 50 years of Halkirk Gala.
Toftingall
Viking At Yesterdays Fancy Dress
More from the Children's Fancy Dress In Halkirk
Quiet
Walk - River Thurso At Halkirk
A beautiful place is the River Thurso at Halkirk. Well
known to anglers but this part of the river has a nice walk with picnic
tables along the way. Strewn with blue Speedwell in June the path
runs past an old mill.
Parking At Sweetie Shop
No time to park on Pocket Money Day In Halkirk. Sinclair
Street sees this rush every Saturday - Warning - Don't stand between the
kids and the shop.
Billy
(Clyne) Sutherland, Halkirk
Billy Clyne as he is know locally building a new wall in front
of his house on Saturday.
From Campbell Street To Old Free Church, Thurso
16th June 2001
Thurso
Wedding - St Peters & St Andrews
The photo taken was of
Miss Dawn Murray, Thurso with her father Mr Lennox Murray, and
accompanied by Bridesmaids, Jane, Kay, Amanda, and Lyn
Caithness Dialect Poetry
Ai
Trinkie by W T Lyall
Halkirk
Gala Children's Fancy Dress
Children's Fancy Dress Pictures.
Miller
Academy Staff Picture 1949
Names now in.
Clydesdale
Bank, Thurso
A new section for Banks
In Thurso.
Barney
Rises From Sleep In A Fish Box
"I Wonder Where George Is" - "Probably helping get
the web pages out. Must be sleepy starling I can chase
somewhere"
15th June 2001
More
Action In Wick - Next Few Days
Another massive bit of kit bound for the Haliburton yard at
Wester. Wick harbour will see several days of activity as further large
structures arrive. Lots of people involved in these moves and one
will be to within inches of the buildings on either side as they
move through Wick. Expected to be brought ashore approx 7.30pm
tonight.
Caithness
Poetry
Isabelle Thurley has offered to type up
some of Jenny Stewarts Caithness dialect Poetry to add to those already
on the web site. First in is Ma
Mam. We will also shortly be adding some audio
files to et you hear Jenny reading some of her work in Caithness
dialect. Please excuse the linking to sections as we are in the
process of moving the poetry sections into a different order.
Caithness
Galas
To help you all to find the various Galas that take place in
Caithness every year we have set up a new section to draw the
information together in one place. The various programmes will be linked
here as will reports or photos. Latest gala programme in is the Castletown
Gala whose gala runs from 30 June - 6 July. Send in any
reports or pictures for the pages.
Wick
Goes Dancing - Pipe Band Week
Saturday 7 - Saturday 14 July
Eight days of Celeidhs', Scottish Music, Traditional Entertainment,
Highland Dancers, Young Entertainers, Open Air Ceileidh, PipeBand in
Fancy Dress. Enjoy the week and a day. Why not come to Caithness
and join in. Whole
programme
14th June 2001
Scrabster
Harbour Today About 6.00pm
Scrabster was looking good today
and we took a look at the new road going in for the new pier to
accommodate the larger ferry starting next year.
Great
Wilderness Challenge For Marie Curie
If you are looking for some challenging fund raising outings then
this could be the one for you.
Warning On
Holiday Offers In the Post
Trading Standards have issued a warning to consumers in the Highlands about a
Holiday offer being marketed.
13th June 2001
Boys
Brigade - New Web Pages
With the opening of a new museum in Thurso
dedicated to the memory of William Smith the founder this seems a good
time to start this section for the Boys Brigade. More information on the
museum will be added shortly. Meantime if you have old photographs you
would like to add please get in touch.
Bucholie
Castle by Andrew Spratt
Due to the incredible interest in the castle reconstruction
pictures being produced for us by Andrew we have decided to make them
available in larger versions able to be printed at A4 size.
Bucholie is the first available in a larger
size on a white background to ease printing. We will make
the others available this way soon but we are would you believe running
out of space. Once we have resolved this problem we will proceed
to make larger versions available for all of the pictures. This
will be the last section to be added while we catch up filling in the
details. Others will follow later in the summer.
Ladies Get Those Guide and Brownie Pictures Out
We know that you ladies did lots of things
in organisations so get digging in those attic boxes to send us some
pictures. We will create new sections where needed for Caithness
groups. Let us know of any organisations now no longer operating that
you were involved in.
Wick
Scouts In Market Square, Wick
Another early Wick Scout picture.
Braemore
Mausoleum 1844
Braemore Cemetery stands in empty countryside and the
gravestones bear the names of Caithness people many of whose families
left for America, Canada and other places in later times.
Treasure Hunt and Quiz - Halkirk Gala Today
Wrecks
Of the Pentland Firth 1934 - 1981
More from the Caithness Field Club.
The
Special Touch Of Caithness
This may have been written in 1984 but it
could have been yesterday and we may catch him out on the castle
reference yet here on Caithness.Org
The Black Rat's Home In Roman Britain
Do
We Persecute Foxes Unfairly
This item was from 1984 and the arguments
still go on.
Caithness
Orchids
Another from Caithness Field Club.
You will also find this linked in the Nature
section.
Some
Discoveries In A Mound In Lythmore in 1984
Jack Saxon gave a brief article about the discovery for
Caithness Field Club.
Wick High Reunion 49-51 is a Sell Out
One of the big successes in Wick Gala week looks like being the
Wick High reunion already a major success with 180 tickets sold and lots
of people coming without tickets to meet in the bar and over the few
days of Wick Gala Week. If you want to meet old friends just check
who is on the list. Mackays
Hotel is offering a special rate for those attending the
reunion.
Traffic
Disruption For Wick 16 - 21 June
Heavy slow moving loads will be moving from Wick harbour to the
Haliburton site for a few days. Rumour has it these are the biggest loads ever and even bigger
than the one a few
weeks ago
Rip
Off Merchants Get Boot In Highlands
Rogue traders will find life getting more difficult.
Hillhead
School Family Fun Day
Saturday saw the games, tea leaf reading.
12th June 2001
Captain
Bruce Smith Announces A Busy Week
This weekend the Salvation Army in Thurso are playing host to
Lt-Colonels Peter & Sylvia Dalziel. They were founder members of the
Salvation Army pop group the "Joystrings" in the 1960's.
On Saturday 16th June at 7pm they will be putting on a concert at
the
Salvation Army in Thurso.
Halkirk
Highland Games New Web Site
In plenty of time for the games the new site has been launched to
keep every one informed. 89 events with lots of cash prizes. So
get training and get to Halkirik.
27
Hotels and 69 Bed & Breakfast Places Listed
Lots of places to stay in Caithness can now
be found in the Caithness Business Pages. If you are looking to
stay in The county its easy to use and we are linking to more web sites
all the time. If you run a place to stay make sure you are in the
FREE pages. Get a banner ad for even higher profile.
11th June 2001
Girnigoe
Castle
More on Sinclair and Girnigoe Castles now as we move to fill up the
pages in the rapidly expanding Caithness Castle project. A
Glossary of Castle Terminology has also been added thanks to
Robert Richmond
Keiss Castle Floor Plan
Another plan in the castle section.
Dirlot Castle Introduction
Some information on Dirlot
John
Pages Genealogy Information
John has now forwarded A to Z listings of his information
on his extensive web site. This cover names and places in
alphabetical lists. There are thousands of names and many
places. This may help you in your own searches for family
history. You can now check the listings before you go to John's
web site which has great cross referencing to enable you to jump between
different people and follow up a particular line. Apart from
Caithness, Orkney and Suffolk you will find links to Canadian, American
and other ancestors of John's that he has traced.
How
Many Women Got To Westminster From Scotland
Figures and statistics from Engender for
you to mull over if you need any more after the elections last week.
Highland
Ranger Services In Caithness
We have thought for some time about where
to place this excellent service as it has been buried in the Dunnet Bay
Area pages. For advice on natural history and organising all sorts
of activities for schools and walks for the general public its a good
place to start as well as having a small visitor centre. So we are
making a variety of links to their new page now in the Museums and
Visitor Centres Section.
Dunbeath
Wednesday Wanders
Wednesday 13th June - at 2pm.
Walk along Dunbeath shore. A rock pool rummage combined with foul
fulmars and coastal plants. Meet at Dunbeath Heritage Centre.
Ranger
Led Walk
Duncansby Head Sea Stacks And Sea Bird Colonies
Thursday 14 June - 2.00pm
Meet at The Light house Car Park
Walk lasts 2.5 - 3 hours
Tel 01847 821531 if more info required
Family
History
It is worth mentioning that we have a link to John Page's web site
in Australia in our Family History section. Although it is listed
as having many Miller details the web site also contains hundreds of
other Caithness, Orkney and Suffolk names and details. John also
says he has much more information not yet available on the web
site. check it out at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/8471/
Halkirk
Gala Monday 11 June 2001
6.30pm Duck Race - Riverside
7.00pm Model Boat Race - Riverside
8.30pm Ross Institute
Cheese & Wine With slide Presentation with Alan Macivor
Enjoy a selection of fine cheeses and wines from your host Peter
Murchison
Admission £4
Whole
Weeks Programme
Gunns
Of Texas
If you are looking for Gunns in Texas, USA then add this one to
your list of favourites. If you need the link later its in our new
Gunn Connections
Links
10th June 2001
Wick
River - Two Pictures Taken Same Time
They do say Caithness can have every type of weather in 10 minutes
but did they also say you can have great views in two seconds.
These two pictures were two seconds apart looking up and down Wick River
last night about 7.00pm
Ackergill
Tower
Castles still to the fore with two more plans.
Heilan
Coo At Dunbeath
Just in case you have seen enough castles for one day here is a
beast you will see on several farms in Caithness. A hardy animal
that can stand intense cold.
Ballacladdich
Cottages
Situated on the opposites side of the river beside Dunbeath near the
harbour.
Frequently
Visited Business Pages
The Latest refinement of the Business Pages
has now been made even better. Every time you look up the
Caithness Business Pages the Frequently visited listing will let you see
the last 20 pages you looked up. Yes that's you personally not
everyone else. Useful if you want that page again fast without
searching the index or search engine. Try it!!! Its at the
top of the Home
Page
Historic
Castles & Families Of The North -
Castles
Gunn & Halberry - The Gunns
Another article from the Caithness Field Club going straight into the
Castle section on Gunn Castle. The article was one of a series
written by the late D B Miller for Caithness Field Club Bulletin in
October 1975.
Forse
Castle - Another View
You can tell we have the bit between our teeth now to get caught
up on the castle information that has been piling up around here.
Braal
Castle
Braal Castle in Caithness hidden away near Halkirk and sitting
by the Thurso river. Compare Andrew Spratt's interpretation of the
evidence of how it may have looked hundreds of years ago with pictures
of the castle as it is today. The pictures and ground plans are
also being grouped for comparison purposes. You can go directly to
the pages with All
Of The Reconstrucions or All
Of The Ground Plans. Current
Caithness Castle pictures held in the A to Z will gradually be
integrated into the new section. Temporary links will be made
between the sections until everything is moved. This project has a
considerable way to go so keep looking in for the new sections,
articles, pictures, prints. There is a lot more to come.
Braal
Castle Today
Larger Versions Of Andrew Spratt's Pictures
We will be putting up larger versions of the pictures in the near
future. These will be set at higher resolutions and take longer to
download but will let you have better prints if you intend to keep them.
Hillhead
Fishing Project - More Pictures
Today we start a new section of the Fishing Pictures gathered by
the children of Hillhead School showing their family connections with
the sea. The first today shows a team involved in gutting the
herring. If you have ever seen old footage of these women at work
you will understand how incredibly dexterous and hard work it was for a
team of three gut 21,000 herring a day and pack them into barrels.
9th June 2001
Keiss
Castle Reconstruction
Rolling them out now - Andrew Spratt's Reconstructions.
Several sections now under construction. We thought you might like
to see the sections growing from now on and you get the pictures sooner
that way.
Dirlot
Castle Reconstruction
Another from Andrew Spratt's Collection of Caithness Castles.
Dirlot Castle 1776 by Cordiner
Dirlot or Dilred as it was once known.
Ackergill
Castle
Several Reconstructions of Caithness Castles will becoming onto
the site in quick succession. All of the sections will be at
different stages but we thought you would like to see all we have as
soon as possible. Articles, ground plans, pictures and other
information will be added as soon as it becomes available.
Castle
of Old Wick By Cordiner in 1776
Castle pictures are going to dominate the next few days as we
get going with the section. Pictures will come first of several.
The reconstruction pictures will follow for several and articles will be
added at a later date. A few from Cordiiner's book in 1776 for you to
get a different view. The Caithness Castles pages will built
around the reconstructions of Andrew Spratt and information being
gathered by Robert Richmond. Cordiner's pictures supplied by Hugh
Ross.
25 Season Lyth Arts Summer Exhibition
1 July - 31 August - Seven Days a Week -
2.30 - 4.30pm
This years show includes work by five artists and covers painting, drawing,
photography and constructions.
Tommy Smith - Alone At Last
Sunday 24 June 8.00pm - Booking
required.
Tommy
Smith's third visit to Lyth. He returns to us as one of Scotland's most
distinguished musicians with 15 albums under his belt and an international
reputation.
Old Wick Castle Reconstruction
The second reconstruction in
our series of Caithness Castle Reconstructions is Old Wick Castle known
as "The Old Man O Wick". Like many castles it is a ruin
but this reconstruction should help you to see what power and wealth
once sat on the cliffs along the northern Scottish coast.
Standing there today it is easy to see why they chose such spots for
defense and escape to the sea.
8th June 2001
Glass Creations - Thurso
Glass Creations, Thurso is a small workshop and shop where you
can have almost anything item made of glass. A huge hit recently
has been wedding favours made of glass. Small glass ornaments as
favours for wedding have been a huge hit making an unusual keepsake for
guests at at weddings. Demand has been growing for Scottish items
such as thistles and all sorts of musical instruments made in glass.
Blackstairs Fish Shop All Change
John
Thurso - Liberal Democrat -
MP for Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross
Result :
John Thurso - Lib Dem - 9041
Michael Meighan Labour - 6297
John Macadam - SNP - 5273
Robbie Rowantree - Conservative - 3513
Karn Mabon - Scottish Socialist - 544
Gordon Campbell - Independent - 199
More Pictures From Count In Wick
7th June 2001
Count Underway As Ballot Boxes Arrive
Castletown Heritage Newsletter Summer 2001
Castletown Community Council Minutes Meeting 16 May
Election
Results Page Ready
Caithness.Org will be at the count in the
Assembly Rooms, Wick. We will post results as soon as we can after we
get back.
Caithness Reunions Getting Close
There are several hundred of you getting ready to attend reunions
in Caithness this summer especially around Wick Gala week. Why not
be brave and send in a few pictures before then. These three old
school mates have taken the plunge. Lets see a few more. Dig
out those old class photos if we do not have them in already. Any class
outings or school trips to add to School
Days?
Polling
Stations In Wick
Assembly Rooms and Old Parish Church Hall, Wick
81 Polling Stations are now in action over Caithness Sutherland and
Easter Ross. They are open until 10.00pm tonight and as soon as
they close the rush is on to deliver the ballot boxes to Assembly rooms,
Wick where counting begins very soon after the polls close.
Results for the constituency are expected by 2.30pm unless there is a
recount.
Count
Takes Place In Wick For all Elections
This is where all the action will take place after 10.00pm tonight when the
ballot boxes begin to be emptied. Mr Whitelaw the Returning Officer has
slightly altered arrangements to try to make things a bit faster for this
election. Usually this room is also fully used for the ballot but this
time other rooms have been used to the count can get started without the usual
time taken to re-arrange the room for counting. Have you been to vote
yet.
John
O'Groat Journal Office
The shop front over the offices of the local newspaper where they
have been putting the paper together for well over a hundred
years. All the back issues are available in Wick
library
6th June 2001
Eve
Of Poll Meeting In Thurso
All bar one
of the candidates took the opportunity to speak to a large audience in
Thurso tonight and they addressed the issues facing the northern
counties. They have all worked hard and they deserve a positive
answer. Go out and exercise your vote on Thursday and tell them
who you want.
Quilters
At Work Today In St Fergus Gallery
The Exhibition at the St Fergus Gallery of Highland Quilters was
given some real life activity today when three members of the Caithness
quilters worked on a quilt. Janet Maclennan, Shelagh Jack and Kathy Gunn
are members of the group which is fast nearing its maximum membership of
40. The exhibition runs in the gallery until 23 June.
Class
1V 1946 Wick High School
More in the School Days
collection of pictures that is growing fast. Send in your school
picture for inclusion. Thanks to Ray Richard for this one.
Focus
On Dunnet Kirk
Amongst the many attractions of the Dunnet Bay area is the old Kirk.
With a cemetery dating from the 17th century and skulls and crossbones
on some of the graves there are plenty of stories surrounding the
area. The area has much to offer from beaches, forest walks, camp
site and more. Take a look at our Dunnet
Bay Area Pages or more pictures in the Dunnet
Page. Our coverage of the Dunnet area is growing
but let us know if you would like to see something in particular soon.
Scorrie
Internet Services Takes On First Employee
The new business formed to step up the pace
on the Caithness.Org and Caithness Business Pages web sites has taken on its
first employee. Moving from being a volunteer over the last two years
Niall Fernie will now be devoting himself full time to the websites and
developing a range of new web sites.
What
will Scorrie Internet Services do?
Check
Out Wednesday Wanders
Regular Wednesday Walks throughout the summer with a guide and
FREE of charge. Learn more about the local birds and wildlife,
plants and more.
5th June 2001
Thurso
Horticultural Society
Still plenty of time to get ready for the Thurso show and join up
for the rest of the season's programme if you are interested in
plants. Seems to be flower power day at Caithness.org today.
Smarter
Caithness Business Pages
Don't you just love it when the one eyed monster can do something
useful. Well the latest addition in the Business Pages means the
last few pages you looked up are stored for you to go right back to the
pages without searching the indexes. Try it out at the top of the
page.
Reay
& District Garden Club
Still time to plan an entry to the
horticultural show in Reay on 25 August or think about joining a group
with green fingers.
Walking
In Caithness
Whether you want to go as part of group or
just have a beach to yourself then you will not find better and more
interesting places. Check out just a sample of the walking
available in Caithness. Keep an eye out for notices in libraries
and shops for short walks organised by various local groups.
For example Sunday
10 June Torrisdale
to Bettyhill - leaving Wick 9.00am and meeting Thurso Railway
Station 9.30am. Visitors are welcome.
Thurso
In Bloom Group - Even Better For 2001
The group are determined to make 2001 the best yet with floral
displays in the town. If you would like to help contact the
committee.
Caithness
Heritage Fair - An Invitation To Take Part
An to invitation you or your organisation to present a display of your choice
at the Fair. Takes place October but apply by 6 July 2001.
Miller
Academy Open Day Friday 15 June
Whole school open for everyone to see and help with fund raising by the PTA.
4th June 2001
Halkirk
Gala Week 10 - 17 June
The full programme of events for Halkirk Gala Week.
Linkspan
At Gills For New Orkney Ferry
This new route will certainly hot up
competition on the Caithness Orkney sea crossing.
3rd June 2001
Caithness
Castles Reconstructed
We are pleased to announce the start of a major new section on
Caithness Castles. We thank Andrew Spratt who has generously
offered his work to help promote Caithness as a major destination for
those interested in Scottish Castles. With the help of Robert
Richmond currently living in Fife and Bill Fernie the reconstructions
being painted by Andrew will be brought together with articles, ground
plans and pictures of the castles as they are at present. Over the
the next few months this new section will grow into a much larger
section than the current
castle section in the A to Z. We start today with Forse
Castle. More information and details will be added as the
section grows. Other castle sections and reconstructions are
already underway and will follow very soon.
Statement From Robbie Rowantree Conservative Candidate
Pentland Ferries Forges New Link Caithness-Orkney
A new ferry service is now available for cars and passengers. Pentland
Ferries has set up a new web site for its new services for the
crossing from Gills to St Margaret's Hope. The Petalina B is now the
fastest route for cars across the Pentland Firth. The ferry
carries 47 cars and 249 passengers.
Caithness
Motor Show
16 and 17 June in Thurso
All the latest cars, vans, boats and motor cycles on show for two days in
Caithness.
Ian
Thompson Used To Live In Thurso
Ian lived in Thurso from the age of 12 in 1963 until 1969 and
attended Thurso High School and has sent in this message for the Where
They Went Page.
Serendipidists
Singles Club
The recently formed singles group is now getting together a programme of
outings. Check it out and see what's in it for you if you are single and
want to meet new people. Next regular meeting 8th June.
Village
Hall Dunnet
A picture as we passed yesterday
View
From Shop To Dunnet Bay
Another picture near the one above
More From Scrabster Harbour Day
Scrabster
Harbour Day First Pictures
Harbour Day had a busy time with pipe band vintage cars, machinery and visits
from the a few of the politicians. more pictures later.
Another
Record Breaker In May
Hits
1,324,188 :: Pages 232,155 :: Visits 52,132
Visitors
to the web sites once again broke the previous records.
Thanks to all of you for coming back. We are getting ready to cover some
of the smaller Galas after the phenomenal success of the pictures of the
Wick and Thurso Galas last year. We hope to bring you pictures
from Halkirk, Castletown and Lybster Galas and the first of them is in
June. Programmes will be advertised as soon as we have them.
Halkirk is here and will be on later.
2nd June 2001
Election
Meeting In Wick Tonight
Four candidates made it to the Election meeting in Wick tonight but
the main people attending were a few voters with questions. Still
time to see them all in Thurso next Wednesday or if you cannot make that
join Caithness.Org
Live
Election Chat Sessions On Caithness.Org
A timetable for Live chat Sessions with candidates in the General
election is now available. So check out the times. More
information from the candidates is beginning to flow to us and will be
appearing over the next few days in the run up to the election on
Thursday. Caithness.Org will be at the count to bring you the
results as soon as we can.
Meanwhile you can get you questions in person tonight Saturday at Wick
Old Parish Church Hall 7.00pm in a meeting for the candidates and public
chaired by the Rev. Bill Wallace. Another chance is on Wednesday in
Thurso Town Hall at 7.30pm in an Eve Of Poll meeting. If you
cannot make these come on to the
Caithness.Org
Live Chat Sessions.
A statement from Michael Meighan is now in.
Wick
High Football Team - Which Year?
Football team picture sent in connection with the 1973
Reunion Group. If you know who is in the picture or the
actual year please let us know. Any more pictures for the reunion
will be put in if you have any.
Latest
from Karen on The Thurso High Reunion
Tickets are moving now for the reunion. Don't leave it too late.
some reunions are sold out and have waiting lists.
1st June 2001
Thurso
Boys Brigade 1968
First picture into this new Photo Gallery for the Boys Brigade
in Caithness is from Thurso 1968 sent in by Ian Thompson currently in
Germany. If you have more pictures of this section then send them
in any time. Names now in.
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