Antiques, explosions and notable personalities in new collection of stories from Thurso's past
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A new book by a local author gives an insight into notable people and events from Thurso's past – and delves into some explosive subject matter along the way.
Thurso: Reminiscing with a “Thirsa Loon”, Volume Two, came about following the positive response to the initial collection of historical tales published a year ago.
Local personalities featured among the 32 chapters include Henrietta ("Hetty") Munro and her brother Alastair, who ran the Ship’s Wheel antiques shop, and Donald Grant, "teacher, rector, author, playwright, poet, researcher and writer of jokes".
The book tells of a huge explosion at Thurso's gasworks in 1887 when rubble and boiler parts were hurled in all directions, leaving the town in total darkness: "It was a miracle that there were no injuries from the falling debris."
It also reveals a local connection to the Silvertown munitions factory explosion in east London in 1917 when 73 people were killed and 500 were injured. One of the rescuers who fought through the wreckage to help save lives was William Manson, from Thurso, a captain in the Salvation Army who was trained in first aid.
As with Volume One, the new book serves up an informative and entertaining mix of true stories ranging from the distant past to relatively modern times. Readers are introduced to William Bremner, "the multi-tasking chemist", and Sir Tollemache Sinclair, "the genial baronet", while there are further accounts of the town's Inspector of Nuisances and his seemingly never-ending list of duties.
Other chapters are devoted to Thurso's new road bridge and the town hall – now home to the North Coast Visitor Centre – as well as the coming of the atomic age. There are countless snippets of information that give a glimpse into changing times – such as the fact that Sir George’s Park, or the Dammies, used to be known as Cairdstoft.
The idea stemmed from a monthly series of heritage articles in the Caithness Courier. The author – referred to only by his Thirsa Loon pseudonym – resolved to bring out a second collection after the encouraging reaction to Volume One.
"I knew when writing the first that a second volume was achievable," he said. "But what really spurred me on was the amount of positive feedback on the first, which I never expected. That really highlighted the interest the public has towards Thurso’s past and its people.
"Following the theme of the first, I have kept to a mixture of various subjects. Some recount tragic events, while others have some humour.
"Like the first, I wanted to mention the people of the town as well. I feel strongly that social history must be captured for future generations.
"We often see people’s names, such as the works published by Henrietta Munro and Donald Grant. While some generations didn’t know them, they have gained significantly from their work. It is right to give them credit for the legacy they left.
"I hope this book will be as equally welcomed as the first. In some small way, I hope they add to the works of various others before me in recording some of the rich history this little northern town has to offer."
The book has a foreword by Lord Thurso, who writes: "What the Thirsa Loon has done through painstaking research and a lifetime of collecting is to assemble a collection of items, stories and pictures that allow him to tell us of the real people who lived and worked, triumphed or failed in Thurso over bygone centuries. In this he has done a huge service, and brings to life through small details not just big events in the past but the fascinating details of everyday life."
Thurso: Reminiscing with a “Thirsa Loon”, Volume Two (Mango Books), is available from Jamieson’s Bakery and Eye Candy and online at www.thursobooks.com (price £10). Stocks of the book are low at present but more will be arriving.
