Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
Gallant returned honoured
From the Groat of March 11, 1921
An "echo of war" stirred the air locally at a special presentation to Wick's ex-servicemen who had won distinction in the latter stages of the Great War.
A total of 20 wristlet watches, suitably inscribed, were handed over in the name of the town council by Ex-Provost Sandison.
Addressing the audience, Provost McEwen said they were honouring "20 brave young fellows who have fought for us, bled for us and would willingly have died for us rather than suffer defeat".
Ex-Provost Sandison spoke of the town's pride in the servicemen and hoped for brighter days ahead, saying: "When peace was declared in 1918, we thought we would have an era of goodwill and prosperity.
"Unfortunately the conditions following the war have been such that no one can shut their eyes to the fact that there is a great spirit of unrest abroad. It is saddening to think of the men who have made great sacrifices during the war and are now out of employment.
"The problems following the war appear to be as difficult as a solution of the war itself was. I hope there are brighter days in store for all of us, especially for those to whom we have made promises in our hour of need."
Bid to stave off factory closure
From the Groat of March 12, 1971
Efforts had been made by the development committee of Thurso Town Council and the Highlands and Islands Development Board to prevent the closure later in the month of the Young's Sea Foods Ltd factory in the town.
A total of 55 full and part-time to workers would be affected.
These employees had made representations against the move and had offered to accept lower wages in the hope that they might assist the firm in its financial difficulty.
Lord Thurso had visited the firm's head office in London to plead the case, and local MP Robert Maclennan was also to make contact with the company's directors.
Meanwhile, the prime minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, had married a young woman whose grandfather was a native of Wick.
Margaret Sinclair was the daughter of James Sinclair, who had risen to prominence in Canada's Liberal Party.
Miss Sinclair's grandfather, the late James Sinclair, had been principal of Vancouver Technical College and had contributed to the Groat under the pen name "Tommy".
His brother was another well-known Caithnessman, Herbert Sinclair.
Miss Sinclair had visited Wick two years previously, along with one of her four sisters and her mother and father.
Wester yard's Danish contract
From the Groat of March 15, 1996
Rockwater's fabrication yard at Wester had won its first order from a Danish oil company.
The contract, worth an estimated £10 million, had been placed by Maersk Oil and Gas for its Dan FF development project.
Work on the pipeline bundle, measuring about two kilometres, was expected to get under way in October.
A spokesman for the fabrication company said that although it was a relatively small project, it would hopefully lead to other work from the Danish sector.
"It is also unique because we have not operated so far south before or in such shallow waters," he said.
Elsewhere, Wick Academy had reached an agreement with County League football teams over access to the Harmsworth Park.
Despite fears that the controversy over the issue had been set to escalate, the two sides had had a frank exchange of views at a special meeting and had reached a compromise.
It was recommended that the provision for Wick Amateur Football Association clubs to have the use of the Harmsworth from April 20 to June 30 each year should be included in the lease which Caithness District Council was negotiating with Academy.
The Wick association had earlier feared that use of the park by county teams would be "severely restricted" as a result of Wick Academy's deal with the council.
