Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Licence renewals put on hold
From the Groat of April 15, 1921
"Not for a long number of years has a sitting of the Burgh Licensing Court been of such public interest," it was reported.
Members had gathered to consider applications for the renewal of certificates from all of Wick's 29 licence-holders, and looking on were members of the town council and the No-Licence Committee.
The court was deliberating against the background of a vote late the previous year in which the town had opted to go "dry". However, local licence-holders had objected to the poll on a number of counts and at the Court of Session had been granted an interim interdict, effectively stalling the no-licence process.
At the burgh court, Mr G Green, solicitor for one of the applicants, asked the magistrates to deal with the applications on their merits and not to adjourn the court, as that would be "defeating the ends of justice" and "playing into the hands of people whom you are not intended deal with today at all".
However, despite Mr Green's arguments, the court decided to adjourn for a month and continue all the cases until May 10.
Provost McEwen said that they had only been served with the interdict the previous Friday "and have not had time to consider our position".
Arion Choir in Edinburgh
From the Groat of April 16, 1971
Wick Arion Choir, accompanied by conductor Mrs A Mowat and pianist Henry Rosie, had held a concert in Edinburgh under the auspices of the Edinburgh Caithness Association, delighting the audience with "the high standard of their singing and the freshness and vitality of the voices".
Provost Mr WG Mowat entertained with numerous anecdotes between items, allowing the children time to change their dresses from kilts to mod dresses "and even to 'hot pants'".
Association vice-president Mr W Sutherland said it had been a "wonderful performance".
Elsewhere, a Wick-born pilot had set a new world record. Les Bruce, flying a Boeing 707 from Gatwick with no passengers, took 13 hours and 18 minutes to reach Singapore, beating by 45 minutes the record established by RAF Phantom jets.
Captain Bruce (43) had a double connection to the county. His father Leslie was a member of a Berriedale family and had worked at the Inland Revenue in Wick for a number of years. His mother Margaret, who died when he was an infant, belonged to Wick.
Two of Captain Bruce's aunts still resided in the town.
Video showed piers damage
From the Groat of April 19, 1996
There was fresh concern about the crumbling state of the piers guarding the entrance to Wick River.
An underwater video of the two quays had revealed horrific damage, Caithness members of Highland Council heard.
The issue was raised by Councillor Anderson Murray at a meeting in Thurso with the chairman of Highland Council's transport committee and the department's director.
Councillor Murray explained that the Wick Harbour Trust did not have the money required to repair the piers and he called on the council to support the trust's bid to secure funding from the Scottish Office to carry out major reconstruction work, which was expected to cost over £1.5 million.
The trust was also seeking the support of local MP Robert Maclennan in pressing the case for government aid.
Meanwhile, parents were stepping up their bid to save a rural primary school from closure.
Highland councillors and Mr Maclennan were being asked to give their backing to the campaign to save Lieurary school – one of 30 in the Highlands with an occupancy rate below 60 per cent. A meeting was to take place in Lieurary Hall so that parents could consider their response to a consultation document drawn up by the area education services manager.
