Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Council comes out against clubs
From the Groat of March 3, 1922
Wick Town Council agreed to support the Clubs (Scotland) Bill following a request from the United Provisional Committee of the Scottish Churches.
Most councillors took the view that if Wick was to become "dry" as a result of the No-Licence vote then private members' clubs should not be allowed either, and they decided to ask the local MP, Sir R Leicester Harmsworth, to support the bill.
However, the decision was not unanimous, with Bailie Green speaking up in support of the clubs.
He said: "Club life is a very valuable asset to a community – it broadens a man's vision and adds a little sweetness to life.
"It might be said that it could do that without a licence. I hold that this is a distinct interference with the individual liberty.
"These busybodies will soon be saying what we shall eat, what we shall drink, and wherewithal we shall be clothed.
"It is against the encroachment on the liberty of the individual that I object."
Meanwhile, an audience of "some 1500 persons" listened to John Troup, evangelist, when he spoke in the Wick United Free Church.
It was reported that "every seat was occupied and many had to be content with standing room in the passages and vestibule".
New-build plan for youth club
From the Groat of March 3, 1972
A purpose-built centre was the "only option" for a youth club in Wick after plans to redevelop an existing building stalled.
Members of Wick Youth Club Management Committee agreed to submit a scheme for the provision of permanent premises to the Caithness Education Committee for approval.
A careful search had revealed just one existing property suitable for conversion, but since negotiations with the owner, British Rail, had made no progress in eight months, the committee members decided the only option was to build premises on a site offered to them by Wick Town Council.
If the proposals were to garner support and the premises built, then "Wick will be served by facilities equal to any in the Highland area".
Elsewhere, scenes of Wick in pre-war days were viewed at a screening of silent films from the defunct Wick Film Society.
At the event organised by the Wick Society, around 100 people enjoyed films of Herring Queen ceremonies, steam drifters in the harbour, Boy Scout fêtes at Harrowhill, model yacht racing and the opening of Wick High School, among others.
Meanwhile, the Wick Society had been "advised by Mr Arch Taylor, fishcurer, that he possesses a map of 1813 showing what is today the town centre area. Where the John O'Groat Journal buildings and Mackays Hotel now stand is shown as a shingle beach of the river."
Prehistoric site uncovered
From the Groat of March 7, 1997
A normal working day for two north Sutherland builders took an unusual turn when their excavations uncovered a prehistoric earth house dating back to before the Vikings.
Stewart Macleod and Christie Mackay had been constructing a track from the Skerray loop road towards River Borgie when they removed a half-tonne boulder to reveal what was believed to be an earth house or souterrain sunk into what had formerly been the riverbank.
Floodwater was removed from the chamber to show a "well-constructed passage of around 30 feet in length with internal walls five-and-a-half feet high".
Such structures, found in the north and west of Scotland, were usually associated with hut circles. In this case, however, there were no surface remains visible, although modern building work at the site could have accounted for that.
It was thought that the structure could date back to the time of the brochs – from 400BC to 100AD.
Elsewhere, Wick RBLS Pipe Band held a special presentation to thank Hamish Pottinger for his help when buying the Wick Old Parish Church hall.
When the band could not secure a bank loan because of their voluntary status, Mr Pottinger had offered to lend them the money, thus allowing them to buy the building to serve as the Pipe Band Hall.
