Storm the giant puppet turning into Bridge Street during her journey through Wick town centre as part of the Northern Lights Festival in October. Picture: Alan McGee
It may have been another year dominated by Covid-19, but a glance back at some of our news photography from 2021 gives a reminder that life went on in a multitude of attention-grabbing ways.
As we reflect on some pictorial highlights from the pages of the Caithness Courier and John O'Groat Journal during the past 12 months we see that pothole problems and healthcare issues generated plenty of headlines, while a giant puppet procession through Wick was the focal point of the biggest community spectacle since the start of the pandemic.
Some long-established highlights in the summer calendar had to be cancelled for a second year to comply with public safety guidance, but there were welcome signs of normality as events such as John O'Groats Strongest Man went ahead and a royal visit brought recognition for the dedicated volunteers who keep the county's beaches clean.
Newsworthy happenings were by no means confined to dry land, though. From champion surfers to cold-water swimmers, from killer whales to the eco-conscious adventurers who pedalled their way across the Pentland Firth, there were some memorable moments at sea too.
Former Rolls-Royce worker Pete Rodgers was the first patient at the first Caithness Covid-19 vaccine clinic.Megan Gillon from Lieurary sitting in a pothole that wrecked two wheels of her car – she quipped that the pothole was so big she could have had a bath in it. Picture: Kirsty GillonJo Bowd, of Roster, said she felt 'angry and let down' that Golticlay Wind Farm was approved by government ministers following an appeal. 'It’s like a dictatorship,” she claimed. 'Nobody cares about Caithness because there are not enough people here.' Picture: Alan HendryMembers of Top Joe's Tartan Army were in full voice as they set off from the Northern Sands Hotel in Dunnet to support Scotland at the European Championship football finals. Picture: Alan HendryA five-strong Pedal 4 Parks team used water bikes to go from Orkney to Caithness on the first stage of an endurance challenge. Picture: Osprey ImageryWickers of all ages turned out in warm sunshine for an open day at the revamped North Baths. Picture: Alan HendryZake Muluzi, the self-styled 'Malawian Monster', who is based in Nairn, powered his way to victory in the John O'Groats Strongest Man competition. Picture: Alan HendryFriends of Thurso lifeboat volunteer Ryan Davidson (known as Rusty), who lost his life earlier in the year, raised more than £8500 in his memory after running from Wick to Scrabster. Picture: Karen MunroLocal sheepdog handler Michael Shearer won a place in the Scottish team after coming eighth overall in the National Sheep Dog Trials, held in Caithness. Picture: Willie MackayThurso High School pupil Craig McLachlan (16) became the youngest surfer to win the open title at the Scottish National Surfing Championships. Picture: James GunnThurso endurance athlete Lorna Stanger battled through sickness and lack of sleep to run all the way to Raigmore Hospital, completing the equivalent of five marathons. The 52-year-old was raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Caithness Health Action Team. Picture: James MackenzieRetired bus driver Sandy Barclay from Thurso found a £5000 winning ticket in a Cadbury's Creme Egg at D&S Henderson's convenience store in Lybster. Picture: DGSThe sight of killer whales hunting seals off Freswick was described as 'nature at its brutal best' by Sam Mackay, of Wick, who captured the dramatic scene in a drone video. This is a cropped still from Sam's footage.Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay, chatting to volunteers from the Caithness Beach Cleans group at Scrabster. Picture: DGSA pioneering hybrid-electric aircraft completed its first trip from Orkney to Caithness. Aviation company Ampaire was running a series of demonstration flights between Kirkwall and Wick John O’Groats Airport that were the first of their kind in the UK. Picture: Colin Keldie
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