Caithness news review of 2024: July to September

JULY

Women and children in Caithness were being put “at risk” by the present level of healthcare provision, according to a report by a national body. The Scottish Women’s Convention found that travelling long distances to access vital care “actively worsens health and wellbeing outcomes”, especially for expectant mothers and babies. Responses gathered locally suggested newborn babies were being placed “in precarious positions” as a result of centralisation of services.

The future looked bright for a major Caithness heritage project after the last piece of a funding jigsaw slotted into place. The transformation of the historic John O’Groats Mill had been hailed as a great example of how funding could be used to bring more investment into the region.

Jamie Stone remained the far north’s representative in Westminster after securing victory in the general election. He took the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross seat for the Liberal Democrats with a convincing win over nearest rival, Lucy Beattie (SNP).

A plea had gone out for more volunteers to join Befriending Caithness amid concerns about an increase in loneliness in the aftermath of Covid. Senior coordinator Elspeth Manson said there was “a huge need”, with a waiting list in operation.

A new campaign had been launched under the banner of Save Caithness to help communities fight large-scale energy developments in the county. It would provide guidance on objecting to planning applications for major infrastructure projects that showed “no regard” for rural residents. The campaign emerged from the sense of anger and dismay felt in many parts of Caithness about the extent of onshore wind farms as well as plans for huge pylons and substations.

Highland Council’s unenviable ranking as the worst-performing local authority area in Scotland had led to a renewed call for Caithness to be given the chance to look after its own affairs. An investigation by The Sunday Times revealed that Highland had the worst public services in the country, being placed bottom for health and education out of 29 mainland areas. Highland Council – the UK’s biggest local authority geographically – insisted the information had been presented by the newspaper in a way that “does not reflect the true picture”.

Moves were under way to promote the “world-class” railway line running through Caithness and Sutherland as a sustainable travel choice for local residents and tourists. The Far North Line Community Rail Partnership will recruit a part-time development officer as part of ambitious plans to improve stations and attract more passengers while fostering social inclusion and economic development in the communities along the route.

The 2024 County Show was thought to have attracted a record-breaking attendance, with close to 7000 people having made their way to Thurso East. “We are all delighted with how the show went, and the excellent turnout,” secretary Nicola Macleod said after Caithness Agricultural Society’s 181st annual showpiece event. “We believe it’s the best-attended show yet.” The overall champion title went to Graham Sutherland, from Occumster, with his supreme cattle champion.

A wartime flying boat called in at Wick as part of an 80th anniversary tour honouring two pilots who each received the Victoria Cross. The aircraft, Catalina G-PBYA, was taking part in Operation Shetland 2024, a five-day flight around former RAF Coastal Command stations.

Neighbours in a Thurso street were left stunned after a total of £1.95 million was handed out in a People’s Postcode Lottery bumper prize. Cheques for £150,000 each were given to the jackpot winners – with one lucky householder pocketing a total of £450,000. The KW14 7DU postcode won the Postcode Lottery’s final Summer’s On Us prize. It came almost exactly 14 years after players in the town shared a £2.1 million prize.

The Flow Country’s status as a Unesco World Heritage Site was expected to create new opportunities in the far north. From green jobs and research positions to social and environmental programmes, the potential benefits could help to reshape the region, according to proponents of the bid. Wick councillor Raymond Bremner said it was a “tremendous feeling” to have such a significant landscape recognised on a global scale. Later the King paid a visit to the site.

Wick Gala Week began with the annual parade of floats and crowning of the queen. With 30 minutes to go, it looked as though the event would be a washout as torrential rain poured down – but a group of singing and dancing nuns had their prayers answered when the clouds parted and the sun shone down just in time for the crowning ceremony.

AUGUST

A NEW 400kV powerline connecting Dounreay, Thurso and Spittal was among the projects needed to bolster the electricity network by the mid-2030s, according to SSEN Transmission. The network operator said it welcomed a consultation from the industry regulator, Ofgem, on its proposed Beyond 2030 projects.

A plan to deploy average speed cameras in north-west Caithness has been described as a “missed opportunity” amid concerns that the worst examples of unsafe driving could go undetected. At the same time, campaigners said they were disappointed that the temporary deployment on the A836 west of Thurso – which was expected to begin in July – had yet to get under way.

Retired vet Frank Stephen has said he was “totally amazed” to have raised £35,500 for Alzheimer Scotland as a result of his 174-mile coastal walk from Inverness to John O’Groats. Frank completed a 14-day trek up the John O’Groats Trail at the end of May, and by August he confirmed his overall fundraising total. His wife Moira was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2019 and moved into Seaview House care home in Wick in August last year. Moira passed away in Seaview House just two weeks after Frank finished his walk.

A refurbished studio for Caithness FM was unveiled. The community radio station was described as a “special voice” for the county by Lord Thurso as he unveiled the new-look premises in Thurso. He also joined Caithness FM chairman Robin Young and company secretary Jackie Johnson in cutting a cake.

Players and officials of Pentland United were joined by family members and supporters to celebrate the club’s record-extending triumph in the most prestigious competition for amateur football teams in the Highlands and Islands. The Dunnet-based club came from behind to win 2-1 against Avoch, the Inverness and District FA Premier Division champions, in the 2024 Highland Amateur Cup final in Wick.

The imminent closure of a Wick-based care service has been described as “very sad news” by the town’s provost. Councillor Jan McEwan was speaking after it emerged that Care at Home, run by Pulteneytown People’s Project, was being discontinued because of “operational and financial challenges”.

Maree Todd was being challenged over her view that there should be no going back on the controversial downgrading of the maternity service at Caithness General Hospital. Caithness Health Action Team took issue with the SNP MSP after her comments on the issue at a meeting of community representatives.

A 75-year-old woman who carried out her own pothole repairs in Halkirk admitted she was “gobsmacked” by the level of media interest she attracted. Jenny Paterson was so fed up with the state of the road outside her house that she decided to fix it herself, and the story was picked up by national newspapers and BBC Radio Scotland after being reported in the John O’Groat Journal. Mrs Paterson was now keen to move on, having “got a result” – after Highland Council workers arrived to resurface the uneven section of road outside her home in the village’s Bridge Street.

SEPTEMBER

A safety briefing was issued by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch after a man died at sea near Wick. The incident happened when the crew of the fishing vessel Kingfisher were engaged in manually shooting a string of creels. A deckhand became entangled in a creel’s leg rope and was pulled overboard, where his personal flotation device inflated on immersion.

A Scottish chart-topper delighted staff and clients at a Caithness mental health project when he took time out to visit them at the weekend. Callum Beattie – in the county as headline act at the Tunes By the Dunes festival – spoke about the therapeutic value of music when he visited Stepping Stones in Thurso, one of two centres run by Caithness Mental Health Support Group.

More than 20,000 people in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross over the age of 66 would be among nearly 60,000 across the Highlands to lose out on the winter fuel payment this year. Numbers from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre revealed the scale of the problem.

Government inspectors had put Dounreay into “special measures” as a result of unresolved safety concerns. An action plan has been drawn up by operator NRS to address issues which included ageing and deteriorating plant, radioactive leaks and chemical storage.

Lord Thurso credited Wick Development Trust with saving the town’s campsite as he officially opened a new £450,000 facilities block. The work was part of a three-phase upgrading programme.

Caithness Chamber of Commerce held its annual dinner and awards night, marking 50 years since the local group was formed.

Scrabster Harbour Trust’s outgoing manager believed there were “a lot of reasons to be positive” about the future of the local economy. Sandy Mackie, who was retiring at the age of 60, helped bring about a transformation at the port with more than £38 million invested in improved infrastructure and facilities over 13 years. Mr Mackie said: “I think the prospects for the county are good.”

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