Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Common-sense hair rules
From the Groat of May 11, 1923
In the "Notes for women readers" column, advice was given on how to keep hair looking its best. It was stated that there are "certain rules, which, if ignored, often spell tragedy in the form of premature greyness, lack of quality or quantity, and many other ills to which the human hair is prone".
A common mistake was to do most of the brushing of hair at night when it was "feeling the effect of a strenuous day".
In these circumstances, five minutes' gentle massage and a few minutes' light brushing "is all that should be attempted".
The column stated: "Without a doubt the morning is the best time for brushing, but it is well to remember that there is an art in hair brushing.
"Thus 20 long even strokes from scalp to hair tips will do more toward cleansing the hair and bringing up the natural oils so necessary to the colour and wellbeing of any head of hair than, say, 50 sharp erratic strokes.
"Brushed and massaged regularly, few heads of hair will need washing more than once in a few weeks."
Elsewhere, instrumental music had been introduced to the Latheron UF Church for the first time.
It was noted that "the Latheron people are, as a rule – probably due to their Celtic temperament – slow to adopt new methods, and no alteration is usually made without due deliberation".
The congregation had unanimously approved the change.
Top prize for 'Haddie Karate'
From the Groat of May 11, 1973
Wick High pupil Davina Cowe had won the White Fish Authority's School Fish Cookery Competition national final.
Davina (15), the daughter of Mr and Mrs R G Cowe, of John O'Groats, was one of 16 finalists from across the UK who, out of a total entry of 20,000, reached the final as a result of being winners in their school, local education area and region.
In the final they had to cook a fish dish for two on a Belling electric cooker and were judged on preparation, method of cooking and presentation.
Davina had named her dish John O'Groat Haddie Karate and it comprised stuffed haddock in a sauce made from tinned mandarin oranges, cider vinegar, sugar, mushrooms and soy sauce.
Meanwhile, John Sinclair MBE was honoured at the 92nd public meeting of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen in London for his services to the mission centre at Scrabster.
The citation noted that the former Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness had been involved in the Scrabster mission's local committee since its inception.
Elsewhere, 300 trippers had travelled to Caithness by special excursion train from Bristol, arriving on "Saturday forenoon". Half of the passengers disembarked at Wick and the rest at Thurso.
Arrangements for their reception were made by the Caithness Tourist Association.
Plans lodged for battery plant
From the Groat of May 15, 1998
Thurso moved a step closer to winning a huge inward investment project when Highlands and Islands Enterprise applied for planning permission to construct a factory on the outskirts of the town.
An environmental statement lodged with the plans stated that it would be a "niche line battery production plant" producing up to one million lithium-ion batteries a year.
It was believed that in excess of 100 jobs would be created in the initial phase, with ground reserved for expansion in future years.
The application did not identify the company involved or the market for the batteries.
Meanwhile, councillors who wanted to develop the site of the Assembly Rooms in Wick to lure a proposed conference and arts venue from Thurso had been accused of "losing the plot".
Thurso Community Council heard that the local authority had ignored the fundamental argument for Thurso – that it did not have a centre of a size comparable with the Assembly Rooms.
The idea for a modern venue had been mooted by a consortium of interests brought together by managers at Thurso College.
Community councillor Tom Jackson expressed astonishment at the council's action and said that in his opinion "the council appears to have lost the plot".
Al Christie agreed and maintained that the Assembly Rooms was a popular venue that should be left well alone.
