Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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New Christmas feature for Wick
From the Groat of December 22, 1922
A Palais de Danse had been planned for the whole of Christmas week in Wick, "to cater for the public in the way of Yule festivities".
It was reported that "in bygone years it has been the case that often Christmas and New Year in Wick have been observed in name only, with the exception of perhaps the New Year bonfire or the annual procession".
The committee responsible for the new venture had engaged the Rifle Hall and hoped to suit all tastes.
The week was to kick off at 8pm on Christmas Day and thereafter the Palais de Danse would open every evening at the same time for "dancing and social enjoyment".
Among the special features were a children and juniors' day, a fancy-dress carnival and a visit by Santa Claus for the younger children, along with games, dancing and amusements.
The proceeds of the week-long programme of entertainments was to be donated to the Wick war memorial fund.
It was stated that tickets were already selling well.
The Palais de Danse was a "prominent feature of the social side of many cities and towns, both north and south, and it is hoped that the patronage during Christmas week will justify this enterprise in our community".
Airport tidy-up scheme
From the Groat of December 22, 1972
Caithness County Council was to carry out a scheme to tidy up Wick Airport with a view to encouraging further industrial development.
The local authority's industrial estate had been established at the airport for more than a year and had proved very successful, with a number of small industries all making good progress.
The council was to receive £43,000 towards the cleaning-up work which would include the demolition of buildings, alterations to existing buildings and painting.
Money from the government's environmental improvement programme had also been allocated to Wick Town Council for removing debris from the bed of Wick River, demolition of some buildings, site rehabilitation work and planting.
Thurso Town Council was to spend over £16,000 on improving the east bank of the River Thurso by planting trees and shrubs and grassing over some areas.
Meanwhile, local fans of the TV quiz show Mastermind were looking forward to the final.
The winner and the runners-up were to be awarded trophies designed and engraved by Denis Mann, the master engraver employed by Caithness Glass at Harrowhill in Wick.
The winner was to receive a "beautiful modern shaped footed bowl on which there was engraved the nine Muses".
School pool upgrade questioned
From the Groat of December 24, 1997
The wisdom of refurbishing the Wick High swimming pool when the town had a public indoor pool had been questioned at a meeting of the Caithness education committee.
The renovations, costing £120,000, were high on a list of priorities bidding for additional government cash.
However, area cultural and leisure services manager Iain Robertson wondered whether it was sensible to spend that amount of money when the town already had "an adequate facility".
Education manager John Edgar said the pool served as the school's second gym and was "an essential facility in meeting the needs of a secondary school of that size".
He explained that if the pool was to be taken out of service a replacement facility would have to be built at a far greater cost.
Councillors agreed to nominate the pool upgrading as one of 46 contracts they regarded as necessary.
Elsewhere, the family which ran the Central Hotel in Thurso had emerged as the prospective new owners of Eve's nightclub in Sir George's Street.
The Cardosi family had applied for planning permission for internal modifications and a licence. However, they were unwilling to speak about their plans before the takeover was complete.
The former cinema had been run for several years as a discotheque and concert venue by the family of the late Bashir Ahmed but had been closed for several weeks.
