Revisit the past in latest book of Caithness photos
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THIS year’s issue of the Caithness photo book features a wide range of images illustrating many aspects of life around the county over the years.
Published by North of Scotland Newspapers, and compiled for a fourth year by Jean Gunn, the latest volume in the popular local series which has been in production since 1989 is called Let’s Remember Caithness – Volume 1.
As its name suggests, the book is full of pictures that will take local people on a journey back in time, revisiting some old haunts and hopefully conjuring up memories of childhood friends and old workmates.
While many of those featured will be easily recognised, there will be a few that readers may need to ponder over as they try to recall the names of school pals or work colleagues from the past.
This year’s introduction is provided by David G Scott, staff reporter at North of Scotland Newspapers, who is a talented photographer himself. During his time back living in the county he has developed a great interest in the local history while researching stories.
The latest edition has a total of 13 chapters including the usual favourite topics: farming, sport, local places and people, events in the community, galas and old school photos.
Around the County provides a number of scenes from different locations throughout Caithness, many of then very nostalgic. For example there is a great old black-and-white photo of the first charabanc at John O’Groats Hotel around 1920 which was submitted by keen local photographer Sheila Moir, of Scarfskerry. A number of Sheila's photos also feature in the Collections chapter at the end of the book.
Gala week is always a popular section and this time there are a few pictures of Thurso's first gala queen, Alice Swanson, in 1949, submitted by her daughter Alice Thomson, of Forres, as well as some more modern photos of processions in Wick and Castletown, and some old snapshots from Lybster.
The Back to School chapter has photos from classes throughout the county, including Wick, Thurso, and a number of rural schools, including a selection from Halkirk.
Once again a section is set aside for local drama productions featuring interesting old photos from performances of the Wick Players submitted by Kathlyn Harper, of Whitehouse Park, Wick, who used to be an active member of the drama group.
Another section is set aside to a series of more recent colour photos of the extensive damage caused around Wick due to a storm and the resulting flooding. The Stormy Weather collection was submitted by keen photographer Alistair Sinclair, of Northfield Avenue, Wick.
The chapter entitled Work and Play includes some cracking old photos from our readers of local folk enjoying nights out with their colleagues. Among the photos is a picture taken at the first lorry drivers' ball in Caithness, submitted by Murray Hendry, Wick.
This year also sees a chapter displaying some nostalgic photographs of Stroma, many from John Manson, of Scrabster, whose family were the last to leave the island in 1962. One of his photographs takes centre stage on the front cover of the book and is of John's father at the helm of his yawl along with the daughter of Wick photographer John Adams, who took the shot. The building work on the new harbour at Stroma is also shown in a few of the pictures along with some boats associated with the island.
In Uniform includes a few snapshots of Thurso lifeboat members as well as the fire team from Wick Airport.
Of course the book would not be complete without some royal snaps of the Queen Mother who loved the county so much. Under the heading of Royal Moments, the section contains a couple of photos from the Thurso lifeboat naming ceremony in 1989 as well as a cherished photo of a County Show presentation and one from the Mey Games.
A good sample of activities from around the county can be seen in the Local Events chapter, including a few of the local police in the 1970s and ’80s that have been sent in by retired police officer Jim Campbell, of Portree, who is becoming a regular contributor along with others who have moved away but still have a connection with Caithness.
Five individual collections are presented at the end of the book, a section which continues to be a popular with people happy to share some photos from their family albums. Sadly, some of those featured are no longer with us, but the memories provided by the pictures are priceless.
The final chapter starts with a collection of photographs from Zena Sinclair, Wick, a keen local royal watcher. However, this year she shares with us some pictures which shed some light on her own family, and the old dental practice in the town's Sinclair Terrace.
Many old farming photos feature in a great collection from Chrissie Polson, of Smerlie, Lybster, while paying tribute to her late husband John Polson, who took an active part in local ploughing matches. A few of the snapshots show traditional harvesting scenes at their croft.
As usual readers of the John O’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier have been generous in submitting photographs for the book and hopefully this year’s edition will get others motivated to search through the family albums in readiness for next year.
Let’s Remember Caithness will make an ideal Christmas present for local mums and dads or grannies and grandads. The book will be available to buy at various shops throughout the country – among the Wick outlets will be the Groat and Courier office, the Keystores at Hillhead and Bridge Street, the Gift House, and Malcolm’s newsagents.
Outlets in Thurso include Jim Bews, Cards and Things and Newsbeat, while copies of Let's Remember Caithness will also be available at John O’Groats in the post office and the First and Last Shop, Lybster post office, Dunbeath post office and in Halkirk at the post office and Splurge, the village gift shop.
Let's Remember Caithness will also be available at WH Smith and Waterstones at the retail price of £16.
