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Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear





A view of High Street in Wick, probably in the 1950s. The image came from a series of negatives found by the family of the late Donnie and Jean Mackay, formerly of the Ensign Shop.
A view of High Street in Wick, probably in the 1950s. The image came from a series of negatives found by the family of the late Donnie and Jean Mackay, formerly of the Ensign Shop.

Wick water rate dispute

From the Groat of November 3, 1922

An offer by the Wick Laundry Company to pay just £15 of a £20 special water rate assessment did not meet with approval by the members of Wick Town Council.

The amount offered had been the original rate set by the council's finance committee but that sum had been increased by the full council.

Councillors heard that the offer was the first received from the company since the notice had been sent. Such had been the delay that an action for recovery of the debt was proceeding at Wick Sheriff Court and was due to call again in a few days.

Dean of Guild Davidson said that the best course of action to the council was to cut off the water supply to the laundry. However, Councillor Bruce argued that this would "increase the number of unemployed and thus make extra expense".

Bailie Green suggested that the matter be left to the courts and stressed that "if the council compromises with them, we will have to do so with others".

Mr Bruce moved that the council accept the £15 offer on the basis that the company pay the sheriff court expenses to date, but when it came to a vote it was overwhelmingly in favour of letting the matter proceed through the courts.

Girls' gift to National Library

From the Groat of November 3, 1972

A gift from two Wick girls had resulted in the National Library of Scotland obtaining a book which was missing not only from its shelves but from those of the British Museum.

The story began when Mrs McKiddie, of Wick, and her two daughters travelled to Carnoustie for the funeral of Mrs McKiddie's mother. They stayed for a few days with family and her father, William Nicoll, noticed one of his granddaughters reading a paperback copy of Good Wives.

It reminded him that he had a better copy and on taking it from the shelf found that it was in remarkably good condition and could have even been a first edition.

He contacted the National Library and, although it was not a first edition, the staff were very interested in the volume.

Mr Nicoll suggested donating it to the library as a gift from his granddaughters in memory of their grandmother.

It transpired that the title of Good Wives had been given as a follow-up to Little Women, but only in the UK. Its absence from the National Library collection was "difficult to explain".

However, the situation was rectified by the donation of the book which was inscribed "From Christine and Anne McKiddie, Mimachan, Whitehouse Park, Wick, Caithness, in memory of their grandmother Margaret D Sturrock or Nicoll, Fallowfield, Carnoustie".

Secrecy concern over rethink

From the Groat of November 7, 1997

A Caithness community councillor called for more openness in local government after it was discovered that a meeting the following week on the public toilet closure controversy was to be held in private.

Marjory Mackenzie, Wick, hit out at the move and said Highland Council "should be as up front as possible".

The plan to close all public toilets in Caithness to save £122,000 in the local protective services budget had prompted a backlash in the county and it was expected that the Caithness members of Highland Council would consider a rethink at their meeting in Thurso.

However, Mrs Mackenzie was dismayed to learn that the matter would be discussed behind closed doors.

She said: "Administrations seem to thrive on secrecy, but as far as I am concerned the more that is discussed openly the better.

"If, as a result of the rethink, some of the toilets stay open there will have to be cuts in other areas. We should know what the options are and what arguments are being advanced."

Earlier in the week a petition containing the names of 10,000 people who were opposed to the toilet closures was handed over to the Caithness provost, Councillor John Young.


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