Looking Back – News from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear

Collision at Wick harbour

From the Groat of June 24, 1921

A sensation was caused at Wick harbour by the sinking of the motor boat Cairndhuna as a result of a collision at the harbour entrance.

The motor boat had been returning to port with a shot of 45 crans on board and on entering the harbour was met by the drifter Pilot Us, also a Wick vessel, which was leaving for sea.

Both endeavoured to get out of each other's way but before that could be managed the Pilot Us had rammed the Cairndhuna, which immediately began to sink.

The crew of the motor boat had just enough time to jump on board the drifter before their vessel sank, the boiler busting with a loud explosion.

The quays were soon crowded with people "and much excitement prevailed". The Cairndhuna's spars and her nets and buoys floating on the water were all that could be seen apart from "a big rat which had taken refuge aloft on the collision and was an object of interest for spectators". It remained in this precarious position for six hours after the incident.

Owing to the position at which the accident took place, vessels entering and leaving the harbour were considerably inconvenienced and some grounded on the sand banks behind the North Pier.

New hotel planned at riverside

From the Groat of June 25, 1971

A scheme to build a hotel of up to 25 bedrooms at Wick riverside was considered by the Caithness County Council planning committee.

The application had come from Graeme Brown, of High Street, and the site for the proposed hotel was at the bottom of his garden, facing the car park and caravan area.

At this stage there were no objections to the plan with the only observation coming from the burgh surveyor who said the town's planning consultants had identified the site as suitable for taking over in the future as an open space.

It was noted that "the Highland Board and the Tourist Organisation" were clamouring for more hotel facilities for tourists.

The committee deferred a decision until Wick Town Council had had a chance to give its views.

Less welcome was a plan by the Post Office to site a new automatic telephone exchange at the junction of the main Wick to John O'Groats road and South Street in Keiss, a replacement for the existing timber-built building.

Councillors considered the timber exchange to be "a glorified henhouse", with one saying that the Post Office was "the most hopeless body the county council have to work with. They bend over backwards to be awkward."

Case urged to halt decline

From the Groat of June 28, 1996

A call had been made for Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (Case) to do more to help local businesses after a Thurso firm went into receivership leaving its 12 staff facing an uncertain future.

Harry Kennedy, president of the Caithness and Sutherland Chamber of Commerce, made the plea after it was confirmed that the receivers had been called into the building company.

He claimed Case lacked the commitment to counter the problems facing the local economy and appeared to be "burying its head in the sand".

He said that although major private employers, such as Norfrost and Caithness Glass, continued to be successful, many smaller firms were struggling.

"We've lost 1000 jobs with the Dounreay rundown, we've got boarded-up shops in Thurso and Wick and we've seen a number of local businesses either closing down or pulling out of the area," he said.

Mr Kennedy called for Case to show more of a lead in stimulating the retail sector.

Meanwhile, students taking part in the first course in music run at Thurso College had put their new skills to work.

They had produced a music tape containing songs they had written and performed to raise money to help replace instruments lost in a fire at Zig-Zag's nightclub in Wick earlier in the year.

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