Local business changes hands, Bay City Roller gear banned from Wick school and ‘Unsung Hero’ vote from boss
LOOKING BACK: News from the John O’Groat Journal of yesteryear
Local business changes hands
From the Groat of May 29, 1925
The property in Argyle Square in Wick belonging to long-established businessman Bailie Miller had been sold.
The house and shop had been bought by Miss Kennedy of Saltoun Street, while the bakery business had been acquired by William Mackenzie, Barrogill Street, who for many years had been foreman baker with the bailie.
Bailie Miller, who was retiring, had arrived in the town from Glasgow five decades previously to set up a business as a grocer in Grant Street.
It was reported that “he established a highly successful business connection, and during the long period of 50 years he has enjoyed the esteem and confidence of a wide clientele”.
The bailie had also played a part in the public life of Wick, having been a member of the town council, a magistrate and a member of the harbour trust.
Meanwhile, although many industries reported “severe depression of trade in these days”, the Groat explained that this did not apply to the John O’Groat Steam Laundry Co Ltd in Wick.
According to a Local News piece, “last week 9289 articles were handled in this laundry, which is equipped with the latest machinery and employs a staff of 32. The articles handled included 3073 collars and 682 shirts.
“Approximately 3000 of the articles comprised naval officers’ washing from the warships at present lying at Invergordon.”
Bay City Roller gear banned
From the Groat of May 30, 1975
Boys wearing Bay City Roller trousers and tartan scarves had been sent home from Wick High School following a ban on the apparel made popular by the Scottish pop group.
The trousers, which sported tartan stripes down both legs and which retailed at about £6 a pair, had, according to rector John Ross, become a symbol of defiance.
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Mr Ross said his concern was that “if one group is allowed to call the tune today a rival group with other idols may well appear tomorrow, creating rivalries that can only end in violence. We do not intend that that should happen.”
He added that some of the boys sent home had been under suspension at different times for disruptive behaviour.
However, the rector in Thurso had taken a different view of the trend.
William Young was “turning a blind eye” to the tartan gear. He said he didn’t like it but said: “I think you have to move with the times.”
One of the mothers whose sons had defied the Wick rector’s ban said the situation was ridiculous.
“The Rollers are clean and tidy and there isn’t anything offensive about their clothes,” she said. “They are not causing mass hysteria at the school and, after all, tartan is traditional – I wonder what he would say if the lads turned up in kilts.”
‘Unsung Hero’ vote from boss
From the Groat of June 2, 2000
An auxiliary nurse at Caithness General Hospital whose sense of humour and kindness “brightens up the lives of countless patients” had been nominated for a national “Unsung Hero” award.
Fiona Harper had been an auxiliary for 20 years and according to hospital manager Susan Eddie was the obvious choice for entry into the Norwich Union Healthcare scheme.
She explained that, when she got the information about the award, “Fiona sprang immediately to mind. She seemed to me to always be willing to do that bit extra for patients, which has been very much appreciated over the years.”
Among Fiona’s many kindnesses over the years, Miss Eddie listed phoning for football scores so patients knew how their team was faring, giving children presents before and after surgery, running errands for patients who didn’t live locally and taking in clothes for those in need.
Meanwhile, people visiting friends and relatives in hospital in Aberdeen were to benefit from a special return fare being offered by Gill Airways, which operated the route between Wick and the city.
A condition of the £59 fare was that the trip had to include a Saturday overnight stay, but this rule had been waived for those travelling to visit people in hospital. The new fare had been introduced to stimulate demand for the service.