'Everybody really seemed to enjoy themselves' at Wick street party
Wick community councillors heard this week that the town's New Year street party had been "an excellent night".
The popular event is organised by Hogmanay and People's Party Yearly (HAPPY), a subgroup of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council.
Around 600 revellers gathered in the town centre as the event was held for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Local group Reviver played on the back of a truck and there were pipe tunes from Morven and Glenn Miller.
At the community council's January meeting, Rona Morrison gave a report on her first experience of volunteering at the street party.
"I got my moment of glory up there banging the drums with the band, which I was quite delighted about," said Mrs Morrison, a co-opted member of the community council.
"Certainly from speaking to folk that night, and afterwards, I think everybody really seemed to enjoy themselves.
"It was an excellent night and we couldn't have hoped for better weather.
"I'd be more than delighted to help again next time."
Councillor Jan McEwan, Wick's provost, addressed the crowd in the run-up to midnight. At Monday's meeting she praised the HAPPY team and also expressed her admiration for the town's Christmas lights display.
The Wick Christmas Lights Committee, chaired by Claire Mackenzie, is a subgroup of the community council.
Community councillor Norma Craven told the meeting that guests she had over the festive season had been "absolutely bowled over" by Wick's lights. "They just couldn't believe that a small place like Wick had managed to do that," she said.
The truck was provided by haulage firm D Steven & Son, while GMR Henderson supplied the crowd barriers.
Additional volunteers will be welcome for future street parties.