Official ceremony marks the start of Soldiers’ Tower work
WORK is about to start on restoring a tower which has stood over Wick for more than a century to bring it back to its former glory.
An official ceremony took place at the Soldiers’ Tower at North Head to mark the start of work at the monument which was on the verge of being demolished.
Wick Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) saved the tower after Highland Council was considering knocking down the monument if it could not come up with the funding to carry out repairs.
Suggestions to knock down the tower were met with a furious reaction from several groups and organisations in the town.
Wick RBLS struck a deal with landowners Hempriggs Estate to take over ownership of the tower.
Now working alongside the War Memorials Trust, Wick RBLS is about to start a £50,000 project to restore the tower back to its original condition when it was built in 1909.
Wick RBLS chairman Richard Otley said work is expected to start shortly on the redevelopment.
He said: “The funding has been agreed and we are going forward to look at the attention to detail in the contract to start phase one of the contract which will be stripping the render.
“Hopefully phase one will begin within the next few weeks.
“Phase two of the project will be the restoration of the project to bring it back to its 1909 glory.”
BBM solicitors has also helped in the project by offering its services free of charge in the legal side of the purchase and helped in the land transfer of the estate.
Director Andrew Kerr said the firm was happy to support the initiative.
“Richard approached us if it was a project we would be interested in supporting,” he said.
“It is a good project and a prominent monument that we are keen to see restored.”
The ceremony saw Wick RBLS president Tony Hagon recited For the Fallen to remember all the men from Caithness who served in battles that are engraved on the tower.
Seventh Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland Sergeant Major Jimmy Pearson then tied a wreath to the door at the side of the wall and saluted in remembrance of those who lost their lives in conflicts engraved on the tower walls.
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He said: “It is an absolute privilege to be asked to take part in the ceremony. The story behind the tower being saved at the last minute during the week of remembrance has been fantastic to hear.
“It is encouraging to see soldiers in Seven Scots are playing an active part in the community in Wick.”