Thurso-born sheriff takes up permanent seat at Wick court

Wick Sheriff Court now has a permanent sheriff after Neil Wilson returned to the court in which he had previously served as a solicitor.

The proceedings on Monday were introduced by Sheriff Derek Pyle, Sheriff Principal of Grampian Highlands and Islands, who described Sheriff Wilson as "a local lad" born in Thurso.

Sheriff Pyle said that there was a view that sheriffs in "faraway places" might not be of the same intelligent character as those further south – not so in the case of Sheriff Wilson.

Sheriff Pyle outlined Sheriff Wilson's exceptional qualifications – a First Class Honours degree in Philosophy from Glasgow University, returning there to take his LLB and Diploma in Legal Practice.

Sheriff Wilson worked for leading Glasgow firm Ross Harper and Murphy for four years before moving to Inverness where he became a partner in Ferguson and Wilson Solicitors. He went on to qualify as a Solicitor Advocate.

Sheriff Pyle added: "There is no doubt Neil is going to be a perfect sheriff for both courts." Sheriff Wilson will also sit at Tain Sheriff Court where he was installed earlier this month.

Fiscal Depute Sharon Ralph said she had first met Sheriff Wilson some 20 years ago and had always found him straightforward, "very engageable, pragmatic, and extremely helpful".

She added: "I welcome you into the sheriffs' family and I am sure you will enjoy the challenges."

Solicitor Sylvia Maclennan, Dean of the Faculty of Local Solicitors, added her good wishes and said that Sheriff Wilson was no stranger to the Wick court, having served there as a defence solicitor on many occasions. She said that those in the legal profession were constantly having to learn new things and she was confident Sheriff Wilson would enjoy doing so and meeting the challenges.

Replying, Sheriff Wilson said it was not often the assembled group of family, friends and members of the legal profession would "witness a sheriff blushing". He paid tribute to everyone who had encouraged and assisted him along the way, particularly solicitor Miss Anne Dunnett. the senior partner in the legal firm of Dunnett and Co., now retired.

Sheriff Wilson referred to the time he was interviewed and was asked why he wanted to be a sheriff.

He replied: "I don't want to be 'a' sheriff... I want to be a sheriff at Wick."

Sheriff Wilson added: "I will do my utmost to serve the community."

Wick has been without a permanent sheriff since Sheriff Andrew Berry retired in March 2022 and, until now, the court was served by a series of locum sheriffs.