Scott buys a Scott after 23-mile trek to Wick
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A THURSO businessman walked all the way from Scrabster to Wick to pick up an original artwork and then donated the £700 price to Caithness General Hospital in accordance with the artist's wishes.
Scott Youngson – who owns the Comm Bar, Top Joes and Caffe Cardosi in Thurso – had purchased the drawing entitled Wickers at War via an online auction set up by local auctioneer Matt Dear.
The drawing by Wick artist Professor Ian Charles Scott, who now lives in New York, was a satirical take on the 1978 action classic The Wild Geese which he sketched while watching the film during lockdown.
It shows a group of local worthies dressed as mercenaries and ready to battle Covid-19 on the front line.
Prof Scott was delighted to hear that Mr Youngson had not only walked through from Scrabster to Wick to pick up the work but now intends to donate Wickers at War to the hospital.
The artist said: "I would like to take some time to thank the magnanimity of Scott Youngson, who came up with the winning bid for my sketch in the NHS charity auction and has now donated the work to our local hospital.
"He not only came up with the hard cash but actually walked all the way from Scrabster to Wick to deliver it. I remember doing that trip in my youth with Willie Macleod so have great admiration for Scott's stamina."
Prof Scott said he developed the habit of sketching while watching films as a teenager in Wick's Pavilion cinema where he did pen-and-inks of people in the audience.
"This was made possible because the lights were never fully dimmed in order to deter any 'hanky-panky'," he explained.
Mr Youngson is also operations manager for Thurso lifeboat and decided to walk through from its base at Scrabster all the way to Mackays Hotel via Wick harbour where the town's lifeboat is berthed.
Setting off at 4am on a recent sunny Saturday, he picked up the artwork from auctioneer Matt Dear of Cash Point Auction and Sales who said he was "delighted and honoured" to preside over the sale.
Wick RNLI branch management committee chairman Murray Lamont, owner of Mackays Hotel, was also present to welcome Mr Youngson after his 23-mile trek from Scrabster.
On Friday, Mr Youngson returned to Wick to hand over the £700 cost of the artwork directly to Caithness General Hospital.
Pam Garbe, rural general hospital manager, talked about how the money would be spent on creating specialist units in Wick that are currently being built.
She said: “This is a lovely gesture and we are incredibly grateful to Scott Youngson and Ian Charles Scott for thinking of us.
"We have been overwhelmed with all the support and displays of kindness that have been shown towards all staff across health and social care during this time. It is very much appreciated.”
In a further show of generosity Mr Youngson has now decided to donate the artwork to the hospital in Wick.
"It seems fitting, what with Ian's Wick heritage, that it could be seen be everyone who visits the hospital in years to come.
"I'm sure it will be a reminder of the battle we all faced with Covid-19," he said in reference to the drawing's subject matter.
