Royal album is picture perfect
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AN album of previously unpublished photos of royal visits to Dounreay is to go on show at two popular tourist haunts in Caithness.
They feature shots taken during separate tours of the site by Prince Philip and the late Queen Mother.
The album also includes the signature of Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands after he visited the then fledgling fast reactor base in 1958.
The album has been compiled by site operators DSRL to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen Mum’s second trip.
The idea came from Anne Dunnett, the Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, after she saw the royal portfolio published for the first time on DSRL’s online archive.
DSRL spokeswoman Tina Wrighton said: "We couldn’t publish some for security reasons but we’re delighted with those that have been selected."
They comprise 34 images of the Queen Mother’s tours on October 15, 1957, and August 17, 1961, and 15 of Prince Philip’s visit on October 25, 1957.
Copies of the VIP visitors’ signatures at the back of the 30-page bound volume include Prince Bernhard’s following his trip round the plant on July 18, 1958.
Ms Wrighton was among the DSRL contingent who presented a copy of the album to the Queen during her summer holiday at Balmoral. Two other copies were handed over at the Castle of Mey on Friday.
One is to be put on display at the castle and the other in the Caithness Horizons visitor centre in Thurso.
The former was accepted by Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust member and local MP John Thurso.
He said: "Though I was very young, I do remember those visits. Dounreay at that time – as it still is today – was at forefront of nuclear technology.
"People were very proud of it and it received visits from people all over the world."
He added: "The Queen Mother always took a great interest in what happened there over the years."
John Thurso believes the album will spark a lot of interest amongst visitors.
Caithness Horizons curator Joanne Howdle accepted its copy of the album, which is due to feature in the centre’s revamped Dounreay exhibition next year.
Other copies of the album have gone to Miss Dunnett, who wrote the foreword, and for display in the future National Nuclear Archive.
Castle visitors numbers hold up
The Castle of Mey is on course to equal last year in terms of visitor numbers.
Given the recession, spiralling fuel costs and the indifferent summer weather, operators of the attraction are happy that they are set to again reach the 25,000 mark.
The public tours round the late Queen Mother’s holiday home and the castle’s walled garden and animal centre ended on Friday. It remains open to group bookings, with 15 coaches due to arrive before the season ends on October 20.
The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust has helped make the historic seat of the Earls of Caithness one of the North’s most popular paid-for tourist attractions.
It has also become a significant employer since the public tours were launched in August 2002, five months after the Queen Mum’s death.
Reflecting on its ninth season, trust administrator James Murray said: "We’ve had 24,600 visitors and we’re expecting another 400 to 450 to come in the coaches we have booked. It’s going to end up just about the same as last year’s total."
The best year was in 2008 when over 29,000 came through the doors.
Mr Murray added: "The state of the economy has an impact on how many people make it this far north. The dreadful summer and the cost of fuel is a disincentive."
Mr Murray learned that a coach operator spent £1200 on fuel on the return trip from Bristol to Caithness.
Most of the coach business came from the UK but the trust also hosted groups from North America and Australia.
The castle continues to be popular on the shore-based itineraries run by cruise companies which use Scrabster.
Mr Murray said: "The money that is coming in is nearly all outside money and our presence undoubtedly generates significant spin-offs for hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and local traders."
The castle this year employed 44 seasonal part-time staff as guides and working in its shop and tearoom. It has an all-year workforce of six full-time and four part-time staff.
