Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
Gala sports day success
From the Groat of September 2, 1921
After an interval of eight years, Wick Riverside and Town Improvement Committee had "resuscitated one of the most popular events in the county – Wick Gala Sports".
There had been no sports at the riverside since 1913 and as a result local interest in general athletics had all but dwindled into insignificance.
However, despite being "handicapped by lack of funds both in the direction of organisation and prize-giving", the committee had succeeded in staging a successful and pleasing event.
None of the pre-war gala records had come close to being broken, but a number of promising young athletes had made an appearance along with one or two well-known contestants from a decade ago.
Around 5700 spectators had made their way to the riverside to enjoy the spectacle, 1000 down on the attendance in 1913.
The gate money alone totalled over £236 and the grand total exceeded £480, a large share of the revenue coming from the refreshment tent and the adjoining departments for the sale of sweets, aerated waters and flowers.
After the gala, a "splendid concert" was held in the Rifle Drill Hall, and this was followed by a public dance.
Meanwhile, a very important ceremony to the people of Halkirk took place when the Recreation Park, given by Sir Archibald Sinclair, was opened by Lady Sinclair.
In her speech Lady Sinclair spoke of the benefits of having a sports and recreation ground, particularly to those who had served in the Great War. She expressed the hope that the park would prove "a real source of usefulness and pleasure to the community of Halkirk".
Following the ceremony, the village's annual games took place.
Teachers wary after sheriff's criticism
From the Groat of September 3, 1971
Anxiety about the image of Caithness as a place of employment had resulted in newly qualified teachers refusing to take the offer of jobs.
The education committee, meeting in Wick, heard that remarks made by Sheriff Ewen Stewart during a criminal case at Wick Sheriff Court, concerning standards at local high schools, had caused a problem in recruiting staff.
It was normal practice for the committee to approach final-year students with offers of employment but it was alleged that the potential recruits had been declining work in Caithness, some on the advice of the colleges themselves.
The bad publicity as a result of the remarks was described as "unfortunate propaganda" which would result in the county education, the schools and the children suffering, according to William Shurie.
He added that the county's high schools were "fundamentally sound, happy and efficient educational establishments", but said that some lecturers at training colleges had been warning their students off.
Hugh Stewart, director of education, confirmed that he had encountered job refusals from students at such colleges, which he described as "damnably unfair".
Elsewhere, one of the "most interesting" of the applications made to the local authorities in Caithness seeking improvements grants had been considered by the housing and landward services committee.
The property involved was Braal Castle in Halkirk, which the Sinclair Family Trust (headed by Lord Thurso) planned to convert into 17 flats.
The committee found that each of the 17 dwellings would qualify for the maximum grant of £1800, a total of £30,600.
A decision on whether to give the grants was continued for the receipt of routine reports.
CASE chief hits out at critics
From the Groat of September 6, 1996
The outgoing chief executive of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) had vented his wrath at critics of the local enterprise company in a stinging letter to the John O'Groat Journal.
In it, Bob Ballantine accused the Caithness councillors and Provost John Young of using "Nazi-type tactics to undermine public confidence in CASE" and claimed they were guilty of "malicious mischief".
During Mr Ballantine's 18 months in post, a row had broken out over how £9 million of money earmarked to counter the rundown of Dounreay had been spent.
Mr Young, who had been foremost amongst the critics, said he was surprised that a public servant should write such an "inaccurate, ill-considered and ill-tempered outburst, particularly as Mr Ballantine and I never had an angry word while he was here".
He added: "I can only think that Mr Ballantine's stay here was of such short duration that he did not even have time to discover what Caithness people think of CASE."
Meanwhile, Manpower was to recruit up to 100 staff to cope with an expansion of BT's computerised helpline centre at Thurso. The company was to take over a suite of offices currently under construction at the town's business park which had originally been intended to serve as the new headquarters of CASE.
The move was hailed by Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth as further evidence that the "Highlands are the most exciting place in Britain at the present time".
Mr Forsyth had been to the site during a flying visit to the county and had officially named the new building William Smith House after the founder of the Boys' Brigade, who was born a few hundred yards away at Pennyland Farm.
He said that the expansion was a "wonderful opportunity for the people of Thurso" and that the town was "rapidly becoming the information technology capital of the north of Scotland".