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

Bathing costume advice for women

From the Groat of July 1, 1921

Weekly topics of feminine interest were to be found under the heading "For women readers".

Among the various topics, from the benefits of a cycling holiday to making your own rose perfume, was an item on what to wear for swimming.

A new pavilion at the Wick's bathing pond meant more people were taking to the water and readers were informed that "bathing is twice as jolly if you are sure your costume suits you – even though there are only the seagulls to look at it".

The columnist, who preferred a black costume with brightly coloured facings, advised: "Use the very simplest pattern, making the costume in one piece and buttoning on the shoulders. A V-neck shape at the front and round at the back always helps to make the costume look prettier.

"Materials usually used are stockinette, serge or sateen.

"If you want to go in for plenty of swimming and yet keep your hair dry, wear a close-fitting rubber cap. Even then you will probably find that the water insists on finding its way through, and, if so, tie a gaily coloured scarf tightly over it in a picturesque fashion."

Mum and children flee burning house

From the Groat of July 2, 1971

A Lyth mother and her six young children had escaped from a burning house.

Mrs Neil Mackay, of Howe Cottages, awoke at 1.30am to find her home on fire.

With smoke and flames barring her escape through the front of the house, she managed to save herself and her children by getting out through a rear bedroom window.

She got help from neighbours and the fire brigade was called. Firefighters managed to save the house, although the living room, where the fire had started, was badly damaged.

Mrs Mackay had a family of four boys and two girls. Two were of school age and the youngest was an infant.

Elsewhere, the district of Murkle had experienced "the most severe thunderstorms for many years".

Lightning, thunder and torrential rain had lasted for most of a day, causing the electricity supply to fail and the telephone system to be disrupted.

Workers from the Hydro Electric Board restored power in the late evening, while Post Office engineers got the telephone system back up the next morning.

It was reported that "the public are grateful to the Hydro Board and to the Post Office employees who had sometimes to work under most disagreeable conditions".

Plea to keep Pulteney House in the public sector

From the Groat of July 5, 1996

The Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council had maintained that public ownership was the best option for the future of Pulteney House.

Three members of the Pulteney House Action Group had travelled to Inverness to hand over a petition containing 8000 signatures to social work officials.

The Rev Alistair Roy said that public ownership of the facility for the elderly would continue to be the best for the residents and the community.

"Public opinion is quite clear and our MP supports us in this," he said. "There's something about Pulteney House that is unique and that's something we mustn't lose."

The home had been earmarked for possible closure in a bid to cut budgets but, while that threat had been lifted, the possibility of private ownership remained on the cards.

Meanwhile, a cut in the rail journey time between Caithness and Inverness of an hour or more was "pie in the sky".

A public meeting in Thurso, called to discuss the future of the north line, heard from Chris Dickinson of Railtrack that a series of improvements could cut times by less than 30 minutes.

He did not rule out a rail link across the Dornoch Firth but said such a project would need significant public support.

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