Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Idleness 'the cause of hysteria' in 1922, a boatyard reprieved in 1972 and the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
Idleness the cause of hysteria
From the Groat of September 1, 1922
In the column Notes for Women Readers, advice was given on how to deal with a girl suffering from "hysteria".
It was stated that when girl becomes hysterical "a change of air and scene is very beneficial, but most important of all is to give her plenty of occupation which she will enjoy doing.
"Idleness and want of interest are the most fruitful causes of hysteria.
"At the time of an attack when the girl loses self control, very firm measures must be taken. There must be no show of sympathy. The best means to helping a girl recover herself is to speak sharply to her before going out of the room and slamming the door behind.
"If leaving the girl severely alone seems too harsh a treatment, the next best plan is to dash cold water over her and to hold very strong smelling salts to her nostrils."
Among the other advice in the column was for mothers to take time to watch their children play, "as she would see much to help her in the wise training of the little ones' characters".
It was also noted that children's fondness for sweets "is a crying out of nature for a supply of sugar which is urgently needed to give the energy which is natural for childhood". Children needed an "abundance of sugar" and so the food they ate should be "well sweetened".
Boatyard shed reprieved
From the Groat of September 1, 1972
A wood-built workshop erected at McCaughey's boatyard at Harbour Quay in Wick was granted planning permission for two years.
It had been feared that the shed may have had to be pulled down as owner James McCaughey had built it without permission, having mistakenly believed that as the ground belonged to Wick Harbour Trust the hut had come under the heading of permitted development.
The matter came before Caithness County Council's planning committee after the development attracted two complaints, one of which was from the architects appointed by the town council to draw up an improvement scheme for Lower Pulteney.
Councillors were willing to accept that the mistake had been genuine, with Mr A B Henderson of Wick declaring that "this building had not been put up in defiance of anybody". He added that there was the hope that the small building would enable Mr McCaughey to extend his business and even create employment for three or four people.
"That is the very thing we are here for," Mr Henderson said.
Elsewhere, the committee of the Old Men's Rest at the Braehead had extended their "warm thanks" to a number of local children who had raised £6 for the facility.
The youngsters had held a sale of cake and candy and jumble on the pavement outside their homes in Macrae Street. They were Lynne, Jacqueline, Donna and Grant Campbell, Russell and Colin Elder, Kay and Kevin Howden and Ian Grant.
Church call over Diana's funeral
From the Groat of September 5, 1997
Caithness people mourning the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, "should be able to gather in local churches as a mark of respect on the day of the funeral".
The county's Lord-Lieutenant, Major Graham Dunnett, appealed to ministers of all denominations to leave the doors of their churches open on the Saturday. And those who attended would have the opportunity to sign a condolence book and leave a donation to the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
Major Dunnett said that the "shock and sadness" had not diminished since news of the car crash in Paris which had claimed the life of the "People's Princess", her friend Dodi Al Fayed and their driver.
Many local schoolchildren had been remembering Diana in their own way.
Prayers had been said at Lybster Primary School, while at Wick North the head teacher Dennis Lundie led a minute's silence at the school assembly.
At Hillhead in Wick the children had opened two books of condolence. One was dedicated to the Princess of Wales and was to be forwarded to St James's Palace, while the other, for Dodi Al Fayed, was to be sent to Harrods in London, which was owned by his father.
It was expected that Thurso High would observe a minute's silence at the request of pupils.
Meanwhile, dozens of floral tributes had been laid in the centres of Wick and Thurso.
As Union flags fluttered at half-mast above the town, people from all walks of life had gathered to leave flowers as a mark of respect, from hand-picked blooms from gardens to other, more expensive bouquets.
The number of signatures in the book of condolence at the Wick service point had exceeded the 100 mark on the Thursday and that was expected to have doubled by the time the council offices closed on Friday.
