Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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'Outrage' claim at council meeting
From the Groat of May 4, 1923
A request to take down part of a wall which belonged to Wick Town Council was met with an unfavourable response.
Messrs D W Georgeson and Son, solicitors, had written on behalf of Mr A Cabrelli asking permission to remove part of the wall at No 1 Shore where he proposed to build a garage.
Bailie Green was unhappy with the request and stated: "This is a gentleman who outrages the feelings of the community by keeping his shop open on Sundays. I think the wall should be heightened and not lowered, and move that the council take no action."
The motion was seconded but an amendment was made that the matter be remitted to the Dean of Guild Court, prompting Provost McEwen to ask: "Why should we enhance the property of this man who defies the wish of the people?"
Having made the amendment, Councillor Munro argued: "We are here to improve the town, and the part referred to in the application requires to be improved."
The burgh surveyor said that removing the section of wall would leave the ground two feet below the level of the road, causing water from the roadway to run into the man's property "and therefore there would probably be complaints from him regarding that later".
After a vote it was agreed to put the matter to the Dean of Guild Court for consideration.
Elsewhere, a man was killed at Halladale while working on the construction of a swing bridge which was to span the Halladale River at a point known as the "Forsie".
He was one of four men at the scene when scaffolding collapsed, throwing two of them "into the swirling pool below".
One enrolment a year 'a benefit'
From the Groat of May 4 , 1973
Plans were afoot to have a single enrolment for primary pupils instead of the existing two, which saw pupils being admitted to school after the summer and at Easter.
Mr A B Henderson, the retired headmaster of Wick North, told a meeting of the Caithness Education Committee that this year the Easter intake had resulted in two schools having "more pupils than they could reasonably take" and he hoped this would spur on a move to have just one intake a year.
The committee was in favour of the single intake but stressed that it would require the consent of parents. Mr Henderson said he had been assured by parents' representatives that they were in favour of one entry date and noted that this was the norm in most other local authority areas.
Chairman T W Pollok said the change would "certainly be a great benefit to primary schools".
Meanwhile, the people of Caithness were looking forward to some spring sunshine following a very poor start to the year.
Bitterly cold weather had seen the temperature in Wick reaching just 41 degrees Fahrenheit the previous Saturday, "the coldest day in a disappointing month". This had been followed by a heavy fall of snow – up to three inches lay in some areas – then steady rain for 24 hours, which resulted in rivers and burns running clear for the first time in many months, allaying the fear of "continued drought".
Vandals target play park
From the Groat of May 8, 1998
A play area in Wick had been so badly treated by rowdy youngsters that council officials wanted it closed down.
The playground in Glamis Road had been a target of vandalism for years, according to the area cultural and leisure services manager Iain Robertson. "Impact-absorbing safety tiles had been torn up and equipment broken while the area had been strewn with rubbish, including old carpets, prams and timber."
Northern Constabulary had received complaints from nearby residents about the behaviour of youngsters.
Acting Inspector K J Gordon said: "Numerous other play facilities exist within Wick but none appears to attract such adverse public reactions as the Glamis Road site."
He added that the condition of the park had deteriorated to such an extent that "it may no longer be serviceable, or indeed safe to be utilised as a play area for children of all ages".
Elsewhere, the Highlands of Scotland Tourist board (HOST) had been criticised by a Thurso businessman who believed the group acted as a fee-paying club rather than an agency to promote the area.
After visiting the tourist information centre in Thurso, Jim Mackay, of Harbour Taxis, said he was "very disturbed to find there is virtually nothing... about the places of interest in Caithness".
However, in its defence HOST said that with the lack of public money it was supported by member businesses and that attractions could not expected to be promoted using resources paid for by others.
