Auction mart event at Forss will extend to a second day
THIS weekend's auction mart memorabilia event is to be extended into a second day.
Catalogues, photographs and documents relating to Thurso's former mart business will be on display in Forss Hall on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm both days.
Originally it was planned for Saturday only, but the organisers have been pleasantly surprised by the level of interest and so have decided to run it across the weekend by popular demand.
The event follows on from a public appeal in November by Iain Thomson, who was the first managing director of Hamilton’s & UA Partnership Ltd from 1996 until his retirement in 2002, and long-serving auctioneer Peter Mackay.
They challenged people in the agricultural community to gather any items of interest concerning livestock marketing by Hamilton’s marts in Caithness and Sutherland. The Thurso mart opened in 1923 and closed in 2007.
Mr Mackay – who worked at the mart for 38 years – explained this week that some people were disappointed that they would miss out as they would be unable to attend on Saturday. "So I said, well, the best we can do is open it on Sunday and give them all a chance," he said.
Earlier, Mr Mackay had spoken of the "unbelievable" response to the appeal for material.
A collection will be taken at the event in aid of Cancer Research UK.