Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Mail robbery at Thurso
From the Groat of February 3, 1922
There had been several cases of burglary in the Thurso area but these had reached a climax when a "daring mail robbery was perpetrated at Thurso Railway Station".
Since the curtailed rail service had been in force, the south mail was despatched by the 9.15pm train to Georgemas where it awaited the midnight connection from Wick to the south.
As was the custom of the Post Office, the mail, consisting of 11 bags, had been sent to the railway station at 9pm and loaded onto the train.
In ordinary circumstances very little time would have been left to allow for the carriage to have been burgled, but on the night in question the train was delayed owing to "heavy fish traffic" – thus "affording ample time for the burglary to take place".
The discovery was made when the train arrived at Georgemas and the mail was being transferred. It was found that two of the bags had been cut open and registered packages removed.
"That the object of the thieves was for hard cash was evident from the fact that registered envelopes found to contain no money were thrown aside," the report stated. "It is understood that in a measure the thieves were successful in getting a sum of money but the authorities are reticent on the matter."
Caithness Glass gift fair success
From the Groat of February 4, 1972
At the Blackpool Gift Fair, Caithness Glass had achieved record sales for all its products.
The sales team from the Wick company had been led by managing director Alistair Mair and engraving director Colin Terris. They reported that sales had nearly doubled for the five-day event.
Mr Mair said that important new accounts had been opened with major departmental store groups and other quality retailers throughout the country.
The limited editions of engraving had been nearly sold out for the first six months of the year and the demand was high for Caithness Glass, Oban Glass and Caithness Jewellery.
Meanwhile, the fight went on against the Scottish Development Department and its refusal to authorise a traffic speed limit on the section of the A9 that skirted the village of Lybster.
Within the past three years the county council had twice asked the department to impose a limit but these requests and an approach from local MP Robert Maclennan had been turned down.
Undaunted, Mr Maclennan had made a fresh approach to George Younger, Under-Secretary of State for Development, and said that if a major accident occurred, the blame would fall squarely on Mr Younger's shoulders for his "absolute refusal to take a realistic look at the hazards in Lybster".
Council search for town gifts
From the Groat of February 7, 1997
Members of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council were trying to track down items that had been gifted to the town but removed from the town hall.
Community councillor Clair McLeod had complained that certain things which she maintained belonged in the town hall were being housed in different premises.
She told the meeting of a silver bugle that had been gifted to the town after the war, as well as a table bought out of the town's common good fund, along with various other items.
Members agreed to contact Ian Robertson, the Caithness area culture and leisure services manager, to find out where the items had gone and if they were to be returned to their original home.
Meanwhile, the contract to carry out upgrading work on Wick town centre had been awarded to a Caithness company.
John Gunn and Sons Ltd, Lybster, was due to begin operations in the Market Square in just over a week's time.
Wick councillor Anderson Murray was delighted that the contract had gone to a local firm. He described the scheme as prestigious and said it would give "a quality environment to this important part of the town".
