New ministers for the Salvation Army in Wick and Thurso

Cadet Diane Johnson has started a three-month summer placement at the Salvation Army in Wick.

A minister in training at the William Booth College in London, cadet Johnson's service in the county will be part of her learning and development.

She has had a long connection with Caithness having had many holidays here over the years along with her husband David and children, who now have their own families. Formerly a head teacher, she applied for a position at Wick High School 10 years ago.

Commenting on how her placement was going, Cadet Johnson said: "It is such a joy to be in Wick. It is absolutely wonderful, we love it here. Things are really going well with the Salvation Army. We are meeting every Sunday now at 10.45am and as we start to return to normal we are having a fellowship meeting on a Wednesday from 2-3.30pm.

"It is very informal with some refreshments and the opportunity to chat, anyone is welcome to attend. We have been collecting together photographs and artefacts ready for our Wick Corps History Weekend – when we will be remembering not only the history of the Corps but the 1921 revival that happened in Wick."

This special weekend will take place on September 4-5 and on the Saturday the hall in Wick's Victoria Place will be open to the public from 10.30am to 2.30pm for cream teas and a chance to look at the exhibition. Then on the Sunday a Songs of Praise service will be held at 10.45am, where people can share their favourite song and why it is special to them.

Cadet Johnson added: "I am only here to the middle of September then I return back to London to finish all my training. The people of Wick have been so welcoming, something we were well aware of having holidayed many times in the area. It really is a special place."

Her first service was on Sunday, July 18, at which the retirement of local officer Mary Glass was acknowledged. Mrs Glass (85), who is well-known in the town, had been an elder of the Salvation Army in Wick for over 40 years and has been the backbone of the local corp along with her husband Jack.

Mrs Glass said she had enjoyed her time as an officer and had first been taken to the Corp as a baby in a cradle 85 years ago. She and her husband had both been in the band.

Meanwhile major Elaine Turner has just moved to Thurso from Fort William and has been a Salvation Army officer for more than 25 years. Her first service was on Sunday, July 25, at 2pm.

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