Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Licencees lose court bid
From the Groat of December 23, 1921
Licence-holders in Wick who had sought to have the No-Licence vote declared unlawful had failed in their bid at the Court of Session.
Lord Ashmore had maintained that the licensees' claims of voting irregularities at the poll, which had taken place a year previously, were unfounded and ordered them to pay costs.
Shortly after news of the decision was received in Wick, the town crier was sent around to announce a No-Licence thanksgiving meeting in the Breadalbane Hall.
Despite the fact that it was held on a market day and at 4.30, when most people were out shopping, the meeting was "surprisingly large and very enthusiastic".
Several speakers delivered speeches and it was agreed to formally thank the town council for defending the action and the town's officials for their efficient conduct of the case.
Meanwhile, arrangements were practically complete for the procession to be held in Wick on January 3 in aid of the Wick and Ackergill branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
The route for the procession was to be the same as the previous year and it was expected that "the usual attractions in fancy dress collectors and comic turn-outs will not be lacking".
No dancing at Keiss
From the Groat of December 24, 1971
Plans by Keiss Youth Club to hold a concert and dance in the new Keiss school – the first school-cum-community centre to be built in the county – were subject to concerns about smoking.
The area education subcommittee heard that there had been no objections from members of the local committee to the concert proposal but they were not so sure about allowing a dance until "a proper set of rules was drawn up and the question of smoking in the building determined".
The subcommittee heard that already a hole had been burned in the tiles of the new floor by a cigarette.
James Mowat, Keiss, said that until rules and regulations had been drawn up it was "all a bit risky".
Margaret Robertson, Wick, said it was unfortunate that the flooring in the new building was of a kind that could be easily damaged by a cigarette end, but she reminded her fellow members that not only was this the school but also the community centre and there was nowhere else to hold a dance.
It was agreed to go into the matter further at another meeting and in the meantime to allow the youth club to hold the concert only.
'Hooligan' fans condemned
From the Groat of December 27, 1996
Local police chief Farquhar MacGregor condemned "hooligan" supporters at a match between Brora Rangers and Wick Academy and warned that such behaviour would not be tolerated at the return game at Harmsworth Park.
A total of seven fans from both clubs had been ejected from Dudgeon Park for disorderly conduct or drink-related incidents, with one man to be reported to the procurator fiscal for allegedly trying to repeatedly gain entry to the ground with alcohol.
Superintendent MacGregor, who was present at the match, expressed "disappointment and concern" that his public appeal to the supporters had to a certain extent gone unheeded.
He said: "I don't believe they would have behaved in such a manner if they were true fans, and I would seriously have to question whether they can be accepted as supporters of their clubs. In my opinion, football seemed to be furthermost from their minds. I would would welcome any measure taken by any football club to reduce or remove a hooligan element from their terracing."
Academy chairman Alistair Gunn said any repetition could lead to supporters who step out of line being banned from the ground.
Supt MacGregor stressed that there would be a significant police presence at Harmsworth Park when the teams met next.
