Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
Thurso street names proposal
From the Groat of March 18, 1921
Thurso's Bailie Munro was to propose changing the name of two of the town's streets.
He had intimated that at the next meeting of the town council, he would move that Princes Street and Olrig Street have their names changed to King Street and Kitchener Road respectively.
The reason for this proposed change was "quite apparent" when it was explained that both streets were the principal roads leading from the railway station to Scrabster and, during the period of the war, had been frequently passed over by His Majesty the King. It was also along this thoroughfare that "the late Earl Kitchener passed on his ill-fated journey".
Meanwhile, the Wick Riverside and Town Improvement Committee had decided to take immediate steps to upgrade the riverside area of the town.
In order to raise funds for the work it was proposed to institute a shilling fund in the local newspapers and to hold a gala in August. A bazaar was also being planned.
Elsewhere, a public meeting had been convened in Wick Town Hall "for the purpose of awakening interest in the sale of Housing Bonds for the financing of the council's housing scheme".
It appeared that interest had not been awakened as the meeting attracted just one member of the public.
Caravan site refused
From the Groat of March 19, 1971
A scheme to lay out a private enterprise caravan site at Port Dunbar in Wick was unanimously refused permission by Caithness County Council's planning committee.
The burgh surveyor Alex Begg reported that the land involved lay immediately to the east of an area of ground which had recently been developed for private housing and part of which was still in the ownership of the town council.
He said that feus had been granted to people on the condition that the remainder of the land was for agricultural purposes or more private housing.
It was also noted that the scheme, proposed by Alex Banks, was a departure from the original plan for that area and was against the interests of amenity.
Councillors agreed caravan sites were needed in the town but not situated beside a new housing development where people had spent five to 10 thousand pounds building new bungalows.
Elsewhere, a local solicitor had been honoured by the Danish government.
John Graham, Wick, had been awarded the Royal Honour of the Knight of the Dannebrog (First Class) in recognition of "his most valuable services" as Danish Vice-Consul in the town.
Mr Graham had been vice-consul for almost 25 years.
Dounreay boss set to quit
From the Groat of March 22, 1996
Dounreay boss John Baxter was set to leave the site in the summer, bringing to an end "the stormiest and shortest tenure of any director in the site's 40-year history".
Mr Baxter had presided over the privatisation of large parts of the site and the ever-increasing shift towards outside contractors.
His departure was announced at a press conference in the Pentland Hotel in Thurso.
He denied that the change had been made in response to widespread criticism of his management, saying: "I do not see promotion to the main board of the UK Atomic Energy Authority as anything other than recognition of the significant changes we have had to make at Dounreay."
He also revealed that Dounreay's public relations office had been kept in the dark about his departure.
The Groat and Courier had become aware of rumours about his future but just three weeks previously had been assured that Mr Baxter had no plans to leave the site.
He said he had not wanted the news "leaking out".
Elsewhere, two men from the Highland and Islands Fire Brigade's Wick station had received long-service medals.
Station Officer Gordon Cook and firefighter Michael Yellop had both notched up 20 years' service and were handed their medals by Firemaster Robert Gordon.
