Lybster celebrates 80 years
A NUMBER of members of Lybster SWRI celebrated the 80th anniversary of its foundation with a meal and evening out in the village’s Portland Arms Hotel.
The celebratory cake was cut by Ola Sutherland, who is the oldest member of the branch and has been a member for over 70 years.
Also in attendance representing the Caithness Federation was its chairperson, Liz Geddes.
Lybster SWRI was formed in September 1932 when three or four ladies attending the already flourishing Latheron SWRI decided that driving the four miles to and from Latheron was often difficult, especially in winter evenings with snow on the ground. They decided the simple solution was to set up a branch in the village to overcome the problem.
The Lybster group flourished and attracted as many as 80 members in the early years and played a vital role during World War Two when parcels were sent out to the men three times a year along with a postal order at Christmas.
The efforts of the work party were recognised in an edition of the John O’Groat Journal of the time when it printed the following statement: "A lot less had often been done and a lot more often said about it!"
Similarly today, the ladies just get on with things in their own inimitable style.
