LOOKING BACK: Wireless set for Halkirk, Bright future for radio station and Unease over cyber café plan
Wireless set for Halkirk
From the Groat of August 29, 1924
One of the most interesting and largely attended gatherings held in Halkirk for a long time took place in the Ross Institute on the occasion of a fine wireless set being presented to the institute by Dane Sinclair, of Weybridge in Surrey. Hundreds turned out for the occasion, with Wick, Thurso and other districts being represented.
A native of the county, Mr Sinclair, the donor, was “well known for the leading position which he had made his own in the sphere of the telegraph and the telephone”.
Early in his working life, Mr Sinclair had taken up employment with the government in Japan to help the introduction of the telegraph to that country and later had pioneered the introduction of the telephone in Britain, as well as having “several important relative inventions to his credit”.
Presenting the five-valve wireless set to the community, Mr Sinclair “expressed the hope that it would render them service and enjoyment”.
Elsewhere, a bid had been made to have a 10 mph speed limit introduced at Berriedale. Local representative Mr King told a meeting of Caithness County Council that the limit would allow the prosecution of those who drove at excessive speed.
However, it was decided to opt instead for warning notices about the bad turn and concealed entrance at Langwell House, with one councillor taking the view that “the danger was really only to the motorists themselves”.
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Bright future for radio station
From the Groat of August 30, 1974
Wick Radio Station was likely to be enlarged “to cope with the increase in radio traffic – a result of North Sea oil development”, according to Captain Christopher Wake-Walker, director designate of the Post Office maritime services division.
During a visit to Wick, Captain Wake-Walker envisaged that a prefabricated extension would be added to the Wick base within the year and more equipment and better facilities installed.
He described the facility as “an important communications centre” and pointed out that it was the biggest of the 11 coastal stations under his command.
The station had 18 radio operators, which was four under strength, and this reflected, he said, “a national shortage of trained radio operators”.
He added that there was no reason why local people could not be recruited to the service.
Elsewhere, two new firms had been allocated premises in the shopping complex that was nearing completion in Rotterdam Street, Thurso.
They were McAllan’s, the men’s outfitters, and electrical contractors Emslie and Simpson.
Meanwhile, Thurso football referee Bob Sutherland had required stitches to a cut after being punched in the eye by a player during a match between Alness and Bunillidh at Helmsdale.
Unease over cyber café plan
From the Groat of September 3, 1999
Thurso Community Council was to consider commissioning an independent survey of the needs of young people in the town amid continuing unease among members about church-inspired plans for a £700,000 youth project in the pavilion in Beach Road.
Councillors wanted to learn from young people what they would like to see the money spent on and if residents near the proposed site of the cyber café were for or against it.
At a previous meeting addressed by the project’s supporters, the community council had appeared to endorse the principle of a cyber café in the town but some members continued to have doubts about the choice of site.
Their concerns seemed to deepen after questioning Helen Allen, who worked for Highland Council’s community education department and had extensive experience of Thurso Youth Club.
Mrs Allan had made it clear she couldn’t talk about the specific proposal but point out that such projects had to “come from the young people themselves, young people talking together and saying ‘this is what we want’, not a bunch of adults saying ‘this is what we need’”.
She added that what was being proposed was already offered at Thurso Youth Club.
Community councillors also expressed concern that they had been led to believe by the project’s supporters that the pavilion was due for demolition but Al Christie said he had been advised by Highland Council that this was not the case.
