Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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End of line for railway company
From the Groat of March 23, 1923
The Wick and Lybster Light Railway Company had been "handed over for adoption by the London Midland and Scottish group".
Speaking at a meeting in Wick to determine the future of the company, chairman Mr J Harling Turner explained that the Wick and Lybster Railway had been running for 20 years. He believed that the service had been "a great boon" to the district of Lybster, and "was glad that although the management might pass from them the line would continue to run".
However, he said, the service had not been a financial success as circumstances unforeseen had been against it, including "the great rise in wages and the competition with road transport".
In a Groat editorial it was noted that "road motor traffic has developed to an extent that could scarcely have been anticipated a quarter of a century ago".
The line, however, had proved "and is still proving a great boon to the public and many a time since it was opened it has been remarked that the wonder was how it could have been so long done without, so indispensable has it proved for the public convenience along the eastern border of the county".
The Duke of Portland had contributed £15,000 to the original scheme.
Gym complaints cause concern
From the Groat of March 23, 1973
Two groups that had hired the gym at Wick High School had left the premises in an unsatisfactory condition, members of the area education subcommittee heard.
Academy Football Club had its let suspended after it was revealed that damage had been caused to the ceiling of the gym some time before, and then just the previous evening further damage had been caused. In addition, windows had been left open with the result that the hall was then too cold to use in the morning.
The other group involved was a youth club that had held a competition in the gym.
"Before leaving the premises, some of those present threw canoes belonging to the school into the swimming pool, and also shoes, towels and a desk chair. The senior janitor reported that one of the corridors was littered with cigarette ends."
Rector John Ross said that for a long time they had tolerated quite unreasonable behaviour on the part of youth clubs. The area committee had issued severe warnings but nothing appeared to have been done to ensure that members of youth clubs behaved themselves in an orderly manner.
As such, the rector opposed the continued let of school premises to members of youth clubs.
Councillors agreed, and suspended the lets pending further investigations.
Taxi firms' fury over fees
From the Groat of March 27, 1998
Caithness taxi operators had expressed outrage at Highland Council's decision to increase their licence fees by 50 per cent.
Street traders, late-hours caterers and window cleaners would also be hit by the ruling made by the council's protective services committee.
Taxi operators told the John O'Groat Journal they had not been consulted on the changes and said the rises could result in more part-time drivers taking a chance by working without a licence.
Jim Mackay, of Harbour Taxis in Thurso, slammed the rises as "a disgrace", while a spokesman for Meiklejohn's Taxis called it "ridiculous", saying: "We are getting nothing back for the money we are handing over to the council."
Under the old district council system drivers had been able to purchase a yearly licence, but the new rules meant that licences would be for a three-year period.
Geraldine Durrand, of JK Taxis in Wick, maintained that part-time taxi drivers would be the hardest hit. She said there were so many firms operating that "none of us are making what you would call an elaborate living, and this has come as quite a shock".
Elsewhere, public funding was being sought for a new Thurso-based post to spearhead a promotional drive to support local retail businesses.
Thurso Traders' Association believed the measure would provide a timely boost for the economy which was continuing to feel the draught from the jobs rundown at Dounreay.
