Celebrating being 60 in 2020 in Wick
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PLANS are being made for those turning 60 this year to take part in a special weekend of activities in Wick in the summer.
It will have the theme of Celebrating 60 in 2020 and will be centred on the Norseman Hotel from June 19-21.
The organisers are three school chums – Pat Ramsay (née Anderson), Magi Sinclair and Professor Iain Baikie.
“What we are doing is putting together a weekend of events to celebrate our 60th birthdays – we were born in 1960," Pat said. “Rather than doing it as a high school reunion it will be a weekend of events."
The three organisers, who have regularly kept in touch since being at Wick High together, recently met up to discuss ideas and plan a few visits for the midsummer weekend.
“We have had great fun reminiscing," Pat said. "I just hope we will catch up with everyone celebrating their special birthday.”
She pointed out that the weekend is for anyone who is reaching the milestone birthday in 2020, even if they didn't spend their school days in the county, as well as Caithness exiles, and those who might have been in the same class even though their 60th birthday fell in a different year.
The Norseman Hotel has been booked for the entire weekend.
The celebrations will begin on the Friday evening with a meet-and-greet giving friends a chance to catch up.
Over the weekend the hotel will provide a base for those who have had to travel from home to attend the reunion activities.
Pat explained: “I am in the process of organising a few different tours around the community.”
So far the proposed visits include Pulteney Distillery, Wick harbour, East Caithness Community Facility and Wick Heritage Museum, as well as the town's old boarded-up high school.
To take folks back in time to their school days an old-style tuck shop will be set up at the hotel with jam doughnuts already on order from MacDonald's Bakery and meat rolls from the Cliff Bakery.
Hopefully this won’t cause a stampede when the bell goes off mid-morning on Saturday.
Pat felt it would be a good time for those who “just want to come and have a cup of coffee and a blether” to share stories.
The group plan to have photographs on display at the hotel from through the years and contributions would be welcome.
While looking through the old pictures, Pat said: “We can all have a laugh and a giggle.”
The main event will be a carvery dinner at the Norseman on the Saturday night which will include some background music, but no band or dance.
On the Sunday morning it will be interesting to see how many surface for a nip and a dip at Reiss beach.
Pat said the nip would probably be a local tipple, and she wasn't sure how many would be brave enough to take a full dip before heading back to the hotel for bacon rolls.
An event has been set up on Facebook – Celebrating 60 in 2020. Pat would like to know how many plan to take part by April so that all the activities can be booked.
“We are hoping to have at least 60 people there – that could be 30 folk plus partners,” she said.
Those interested in taking part or who want to find out more information about booking can do so by contacting any of the organisers via Facebook or call Pat on 01955 603742 or email pat.ramsay12@btinternet.com
