WICK VOICES: An update on the Wick Society's online oral history project by Doreen Leith

We are living through an extraordinary time and, like many heritage organisations, Wick Voices has had to adapt and evolve, particularly as we are no longer able to conduct face-to-face interviews. This transition period has enabled us to experiment with technology and creatively use the existing treasure trove of audio recordings.

Although the extensive Wick Voices archive contains a wide range of unique and interesting life experiences, there are many common themes, such as personal memories of our school days. A recent addition to the online collection is a School Days video, with a compilation of nostalgic and entertaining stories from people who attended a range of schools throughout Caithness.

Although these stories help us to reminisce, they are also a record of changing times. The school classroom of the war years, as described by Ishbel McBoyle, is very different to the stimulating and interactive classroom of more recent times. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic the necessity to accommodate social distancing will require further adaptations within schools; therefore it is important that oral history recordings reflect these changes.

Gallery1

Through exploring a range of recording methodology, Wick Voices aims to ensure that the day-to-day experiences of lockdown are captured and preserved.

To this end, Melissa MacGregor recorded her experience of completing her year as a probationer teacher at Noss Primary School. She talks about the transition from classroom teaching to communicating with her class online and impressively explains how she is able to listen to children reading aloud.

Valerie Amin, vice-chairperson of the Wick Society and an archive assistant at Nucleus: The Nucleus and Caithness Archives, recorded her lockdown reflections. In addition to adapting to working from home, Valerie describes the challenge of home-schooling and the impact lockdown has had upon her children. In particular she talks about the challenges faced by primary seven pupils preparing for the transition to secondary education and the celebration of her daughter’s 10th birthday during lockdown.

Valerie also reflects upon positive aspects of lockdown, such as family walks and enjoyment of the local environment.

Gallery1

She also talks about the adaptations made to the family business – KeyStore at Hillhead, Wick – as her husband has negotiated new contracts with suppliers, ensured social distancing within the shop and made deliveries to vulnerable members of the community.

In a similar manner, Billy Duchart reflects upon the brilliant team effort and acts of kindness he has observed in his role as lead fresh trade manager at Tesco in Wick.

“I thought I had seen everything in retail – I was wrong,” he explains. Billy describes the initial panic buying that saw the shelves go from full to empty in the space of a week. He talks about the planning and organisation required to make Tesco a safe place, for members of the public as well as staff. He also talks about the ways in which the shopping experience has changed to facilitate social distancing and the move towards Dotcom shopping to accommodate the shielded and vulnerable members of our community.

I thought I had seen everything in retail – I was wrong.

Befriending Caithness co-ordinators Angie House and Elspeth Manson recorded a conversation about their lockdown reflections. They explained that befriending has made a transition from face-to-face visits to telephone befriending in an endeavour to reduce isolation. They talked about the way that befriendees have approached these changes in a stoic and positive manner.

Wick Society chairman Ian Leith has also recorded his thoughts about how Wick Heritage Museum plans to make its collection available to the public through the use of technology and social media.

If you would like to record your experiences during this time of transition then please contact wickvoices@icloud.com and you can access the Wick Voices collection at www.wickheritage.org

• Doreen Leith leads the Wick Voices project and writes a monthly column about it in the Caithness Courier

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.