Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Ghillies' dance at Berriedale
From the Groat of October 28, 1921
After having been in abeyance for a number of years owing to the war, a pleasant function was revived at Langwell in the form of the Ghillies' Dance.
The event took place in the hall following a "substantial supper" and later in the course of the evening there was an abundant supply of light refreshments.
The Duke and Duchess of Portland had attended to welcome their guests and remained during part of the proceedings.
They were accompanied by a number of personal guests including the Countess Resy de Baillet Latour.
Before leaving, the duke, on his own behalf and that of the duchess, extended their best wishes to all present and said that "if they enjoyed the dance as much as he had enjoyed his 40 seasons at Langwell he could be satisfied that they had had a very jolly evening".
Elsewhere it was reported that among the recent donations to the Wick Library Museum were the skin of a barnacle goose and the skin of a knot, from Mr Bain, Oban, late of Noss lighthouse; and a valuable specimen of the ruff (one of the first to be obtained in Scotland) from Mr A Macaulay, of Bruan Lodge.
Pupils have their say on RE debacle
From the Groat of October 29, 1971
In a letter published on the front page, the pupils of year six at Thurso High School took the chance to "clarify the issues which have arisen over the religious instruction situation".
It had previously been reported that RI had been suspended for some classes as a number of pupils had not wished to take the subject and had failed to engage and co-operate with the teacher.
The letter writers said that their teacher, Miss Mitchinson, had "come under totally unjustified criticism from the public" as a result, when in fact she was an "enlightened teacher" who presented her lesson "in an instructive and lively manner, but she is also very understanding, friendly and eager to help any pupil with any problem which might arise".
They said the two classes in question had been "most unresponsive and resentful" and described their actions towards the teacher as "cruel and immature in the extreme", adding "the present VI do not wish and never did wish to follow their example".
The youngsters objected to being labelled as immoral and permissive and had sought to rectify the RI situation by arranging voluntary classes, which did not interfere with their timetable, with the co-operation of Miss Mitchinson and the approval of the rector.
War medals handed over
From the Groat of November 1, 1996
British and American medals awarded to a Wick woman who played a key role in the Allied invasion of occupied Europe were donated to the Thurso branch of the Royal British Legion (Scotland).
Antoinette Robertson had left Wick at the start of World War II and served with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, MI5 and military intelligence in London before being posted to the staff of General Sir Frederick Morgan in 1943.
Sir Frederick was working on the British invasion of occupied Europe, codenamed Operation Overlord, and Miss Robertson became his military assistant. She rose to the ranks of captain and acting major.
She was later awarded the US Bronze Star by General Eisenhower and from the British she received a Mention in Despatches, the 1939-45 War Medal and the France and Germany War Medal.
Miss Robertson decided to gift her medals to the British Legion after reading an article in the Groat about how the organisation was always interested to hear from service personnel and look after medals.
After the war Miss Robertson stayed on in London and became a personnel officer for the fashion house Jaeger before serving 20 years with the BBC.
The presentation was watched by Miss Robertson's sisters, Margaret, Lady Thurso, and Kathleen Lloyd, from Gloucestershire.
