Plenty to blow off about
A PERMANENT memorial at John O'Groats to commemorate seafarers lost in the Pentland Firth has taken a step closer to completion.
John O’Groats Development Trust last week submitted a planning application to Highland Council for the memorial, which includes a small playpark area, historic foghorn feature and standing Caithness flagstones.
Andrew Mowat, treasurer of the trust, had announced at a special memorial event to the George Robb tragedy in December that funding for the project was under way.
In his speech at the Seaview Hotel, which he runs at John O'Groats, Mr Mowat said the permanent memorial will commemorate not only the George Robb tragedy but the loss of other boats, including the Cyprus-registered cargo ship Cemfjord which sank in the Pentland Firth in January 2015.
He also announced that the old foghorn from Duncansby lighthouse is to be incorporated into the memorial.
Over £300 was raised at December's event and donations are still welcomed.
Mr Mowat said this week: "We have an application for the positioning of the foghorn from Duncansby Head as it has now been completely repainted by the community payback team.
"This will also incorporate the stone memorial for the George Robb and Cemfjord and also the landscaping of the area around this and the start of the path to Duncansby Head."
He said the Caithness standing stone feature will be inscribed with "John O'Groats" along with "Start" and "Finish" in recognition of the popular route to or from Land's End, and will be sited near the famous signpost feature.
The playpark equipment will be positioned in front of the Groatie Buckie shop and toilet block.
Donations to help fund the creation of the permanent memorial can be made to John O'Groats Development Trust via its Facebook page or by contacting Andrew Mowat by email at seaview@fastmail.com