Castletown coronation street party was 'a good community event'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
CASTLETOWN was one of the many places in Caithness which organised a street party at the weekend to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.
Events in the village got underway at 2pm on Sunday with music provided by the Thurso Pipe Band but the crowd was down compared to the number of people who attended the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee last June. It was cloudy and cold but the sun did make a belated appearance, much to the delight of the organisers.
Unfortunately, the Caithness Gymnastics Fusion display team had to cancel due to injury problems but there was plenty other things going on to keep the crowd entertained.
Apart from the pipe band and the Pentland Brass Band, there was free teas, coffees, sandwiches, and cakes in the Drill Hall, kids races and games as well as a tug o' war, face painting, hair spraying and an ice-cream van which proved popular.
Provost of Thurso and local councillor, Struan Mackie, came to the Castletown street party after being at the ones in Halkirk and Thurso.
He was pleased events were taking place in various parts of Caithness to mark the coronation of King Charles III and had been in London for the historic occasion. He said: "It was incredible and a great atmosphere but it was dreich with Caithness-like weather."
Councillor Mackie, who arrived home at 3am on Sunday morning, praised the efforts of the organisers of the street parties and the community spirit they engendered. "It has been really good, " he added.
Rosemary Oag was at the Castletown event with her husband, David. She said: " It is very nice and lovely hearing the bands. There are not as many people here as I thought there would be but it is a good turnout."
David said: "There is not quite the turnout that was here for the jubilee last year but I think things have gone well and we should give a big thank you to the organisers and helpers who put it on."
Penny Gunn, who helped stage the party, described it as "a good community event".
"It has been a really good day and there was a good mix of young and older people here. We are pleased with the turnout as there was so much going on in Thurso, Wick, Halkirk and Dunbeath and Berriedale and elsewhere. There was at least 200 people here so we are quite happy with that," she said.
Liz Geddes, who helped run the event, said: "The day went really well considering all the other things that were going on all over the county." Another helper, Colin Hossack, added: "We are really pleased with the outcome and the weather held for us too."
