End of an era in Wick with closure of McDonald Photographers
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FOR well over half a century McDonald Photographers captured local life on camera, but this weekend the family firm in Wick’s Shore Lane will close its doors for the last time.
Janet McDonald, who ran the business with her late husband Ian, has decided to retire at the age of 80 and will be shutting up shop for good at 2pm on Saturday.
McDonald Photographers provided a full range of photographic services to generations of customers, including weddings and portraiture, and became synonymous with special occasions in the life of the community – notably Wick Gala Week.
Janet and Ian covered the Queen Mother’s regular visits to Caithness and provided news photography for many of the daily papers as well as the local press.
The business began 69 years ago in Wick’s Harbour Terrace and moved to Shore Lane in 1968.
“I spent 56 of those years behind the camera and the counter,” Janet said. “I have shared much laughter and some tears with our customers and met many memorable, talented people.
“I’ve made many friends. In fact, one of my 10-year-old twin granddaughters, who has just moved to Wick, said: ‘Does everyone know you, grandma?’
"It has been a privilege to share in community events for so long and I will miss it. If a price could be put on job satisfaction, I would be a millionaire!”
Ian died in 2004 and Janet retired from taking photographs around five years ago. In recent times the business has been specialising in picture framing.
“I do feel I have let down our many regular customers who have brought their superb artwork and beautiful needlecraft items to the shop to be framed,” Janet said. “But my health has let me down. I haven’t taken the decision lightly to retire and close the shop.
I didn’t think that at 80 I would still be working, but the years have whizzed by in a flash.
“Like everything else I have seen enormous changes in the photographic industry and in the running of a business, and I am very sad to see Wick lose another of its small shops.
“I didn’t think that at 80 I would still be working. But looking back, the years have whizzed by in a flash and all I can do now is say a very sincere ‘thank you’ to all our loyal customers and friends. Retirement, here I come!”
During this year’s gala week Janet held a one-day exhibition of almost 500 selected photographs, entitled The McDonald Collection, in the St Fergus Church Hall. It was attended by 700 people and raised £2845 for Church of Scotland projects.
There will be another chance to see the exhibition at New Year as it is being staged as part of the January 2 open day in Wick Heritage Museum.
Take a trip down memory lane at McDonald photo exhibition
