‘Deplorable’ state of Wick streets, Peaceful pickets target film and Cinema ‘sets an example’
LOOKING BACK: News from the John O’Groat Journal of yesteryear
‘Deplorable’ state of Wick streets
From the Groat of January 30, 1925
Council officials deserved to be castigated for the state in which the principal streets in Wick had been left, according to Wick town councillors.
Treasurer McGhan said the streets were in a deplorable condition and as such it was “a positive danger to walk on the footpaths”. He suggested that councillors instruct the burgh surveyor “to get an extra horse so that he could get the streets into some sort of civilised condition”.
He added that the state of the streets was “really tragic” and that “standing on the sidewalk one got a mud bath from passing cars”.
Bailie Miller said that people should not have to walk up to their knees in mud and supported the call for extra staff and resources to tackle the problem.
The council was unanimous in its view that “the present state of the streets was a disgrace”.
Elsewhere, under the headline “A Homesick Bullock”, it was reported that an unusual incident had occurred after a bullock belonging to William Custer had been sold in Thurso to flesher Charles Angus.
“On being driven over to Oldfield Farm the animal broke away and headed at once for its old quarters. On going out to the byre at night, Mr Custer was much surprised to find the bullock back in its old stall.”
Peaceful pickets target film
From the Groat of January 31, 1975
An unusual feature outside Wick and Thurso cinemas had been the sight of ministers and young people peacefully picketing cinemagoers and distributing leaflets.
The literature was giving warnings of “harmful effects which may follow viewing of The Exorcist”, a controversial film concerning demon possession which was being screened at both picture houses.
The leaflets claimed that the film could trigger “dangerous psychological side-effects”.
The general opinion amongst cinemagoers was that the film was a waste of money and wasn’t worth going to.
A number of people had left the screening early, while others had confessed to having been frightened by some of the scenes.
John Berrecloth, manager of the Wick cinema, said there was “no reason at all” why the film shouldn’t be shown in Caithness.
He said: “The people came expecting to see a really disgusting, gruesome and horrific film and, although there were some horrible scenes, the film wasn’t that terrifying. However, if I was to watch it by myself, in silence, I think I might have been affected.”
Elsewhere, the new St Ola ferry had berthed for the first time at Scrabster. The vessel was to give largely the same service as before, from Scrabster to Stromness, but was faster and capable of making two or three journeys a day.
• Bairns in Thurso had a choice of shops to spend their pennies
Cinema ‘sets an example’
From the Groat of February 4, 2000
A £1.4 million cinema complex due to open in Thurso later in the year was held up as an example of “the sort of project Caithness must continue to attract if the area is to stand any chance of holding onto its young people”.
Builders were set to move into the Viking Bowl and demolish a third of the former glove factory to make way for the first cinema in Caithness in 20 years.
Two theatres with seating capacities of 88 and 152 would be able to screen different films at the same time and both would double as conference and lecture venues.
Dr Gavin Burnett, of owner Thor Leisure Ltd, said the venture tied in with what the area convener John Rosie had been saying about the movement of young people and their families away from Caithness.
Dr Burnett added: “We have to provide what people expect in other parts of the country. If the facilities are not here, people will feel like second-class citizens.”
Meanwhile, the future of one of the north’s longest-established agricultural shows had been secured with the election of office-bearers – at the second time of asking.
The scheduled annual general meeting of Latheron Agricultural Society before Christmas had been aborted due to a poor turnout, prompting fears about its continuation.