Thurso driver ‘thought he was 17’, Wick harbour blockade plan and Bid for seal rescue centre
LOOKING BACK: News from the John O’Groat Journal of yesteryear
Driver thought he was old enough
From the Groat of March 27, 1925
A teenage driver who had been involved in a car accident appeared in court for not having a driving licence.
Sheriff J C Pitman at Wick Sheriff Court heard that the young man from Thurso was, in fact, in possession of a driving licence, “but it was of no effect” as it had been discovered that the accused was under 17 years and not eligible to drive.
His solicitor told the court that his client had believed himself to be 17, “and was surprised to learn that he was not”.
The 16-year-old lived with his grandparents as his father, a sailor, was mostly away from home.
Procurator fiscal D J Henry said he was prepared to accept the explanation given by the accused and the teenager was discharged.
Elsewhere, trains between Wick and Inverness had been subject to a four-hour delay following the derailment of two cattle trucks at Brora railway station.
The incident had “caused considerable excitement” and a large crowd had gathered to witness the process of clearing the line.
The accident happened during shunting operations and both the “up and down lines” had been closed as a result.
A gang of workmen had been quickly summoned but they experienced considerable difficulty clearing the line owing to the position of, and damage done to, one of the derailed trucks.
Fishermen back blockade
From the Groat of March 28, 1975
Caithness fishermen had unanimously agreed to undertake a blockade of Wick harbour if action to protect the industry was not carried out by the government.
The Wick fishing fleet had been recalled to port for the meeting in the Assembly Rooms which was also attended by fishermen from throughout the county, including Scrabster.
The intention to carry out the blockade was in support of action threatened at other Scottish ports and already being carried out in England.
The blockade would be “made effective against any shipping entering the harbour against the interests of the fishermen”, with exceptions for the lifeboat service and any mercy call.
Members of the fishing industry throughout the country wanted the government to revisit the allocation of £2 million of subsidy which had been “ill-divided”; impose an island-wide 50-mile limit against foreign vessels; introduce minimum pricing so that fishermen could get a fair return for their catch; ban foreign imports of fish; and immediately negotiate in the Common Market in support of the industry.
Stressing the importance of the campaign, Wick skipper James Sutherland said: “If we lose and give in now we will never get anywhere. We have already been sold down the river.”
Seal rescue centre plan
From the Groat of March 31, 2000
A seal rescue centre costing over £300,000 was being mooted for Caithness and could be up and running by the summer of 2001.
The centre, which was being proposed for Castlehill, would also work with other mammals such as dolphins and porpoises.
The plan had come from two charities – International Animal Rescue and British Divers’ Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) – and was expected to employ five people initially and attract around 25,000 visitors a year.
An outline planning application was in the process of being made for the facility, which would be the largest of its type in the UK and had the potential to be a centre of excellence for Europe.
The focus of the development was to be at the Castlehill building which originally had been earmarked as a flagstone museum.
Alistair Jack, of Scarfskerry, a director of BDMLR, explained that audio-visual displays and an exhibition area were planned as part of the scheme, while improvements to the existing heritage trail and the nearby harbour slipway would be incorporated.
He said that a “similar operation which was started in a remote part of Holland 10 years ago is getting 300,000 people who come just to see the seals”.
Mr Jack stressed that there would be no smell and very little noise from the local centre and that it would not house resident or captive animals.
The plan had been supported by the Dunnet Bay Initiative and welcomed by two local Highland councillors.
