A memorial bench marking the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan has been installed in Thurso.

It was commissioned by the local branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland and is located just across from the club rooms beside the river.

The steel seat was made by Ayrshire firm David Ogilvie Engineering. Covid-19 delayed its arrival and prevented a dedication the branch had been planning around the time of the VJ Day commemorations in August.

It features symbols of remembrance such as poppies and the message "Lest we forget", as well as doves of peace and a small plaque dedicated to those of all nations who lost their lives in World War II.

Branch chairman Gus Mackay said: “Simon Middlemas, our president, came forward with the idea. He progressed it and made it happen.

"Since one of the two Caithness Territorial units [101st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment] served in Burma, we were mindful that a number of local men were involved and it marked the real ending of World War II."

Mr Mackay explained that this year's poppy appeal and acts of remembrance in Thurso have been scaled down because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

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"We are particularly disappointed that we are not able to maintain our link with the young people of the cadet units or primary schools," he said. "We will not be able to hold our Saturday morning ceremony of placing crosses at the Thurso war graves by the cadets, and they will not be able to carry out the street collection for Poppyscotland – nor can we hold the primary schools' Armistice Day church service on November 11.

"We will, however, observe the act of remembrance on Sunday, November 8, at the war memorial. There will be no parade of formed units led by the Thurso Pipe Band, no attendance at the morning church service, nor any reception in the club rooms afterwards.

"A limited number will assemble, socially distanced, at the Thurso war memorial at 10.45am. We have organised the road closure and insurance cover in the usual way but we cannot invite members of the public to join with us as we have done in the past.

"We are inviting each of the organisations that may have attended to send one person to represent them and lay their wreath. The form of the remembrance ceremony will be as in the past, albeit with no hymn-singing or national anthem.

"It will be led by our branch padre, the Rev David Malcolm. Wreaths may either be picked up from the club rooms beforehand or at the town square. We have purchased the same number of wreaths as last year."

Meanwhile, ahead of next year's 100th anniversary of the British Legion, substantial improvements are being carried out at the Thurso branch's Riverside Road premises.

“The numbers of Legionnaires quite naturally are falling away, but we would like to keep the organisation in being and we still feel there is a need for it," Mr Mackay said. "We’ve got to reinvent ourselves and make sure that we are still viable in years to come.”

He stressed that the club rooms serve as a home for the branch, as a community hall for Thurso and as a place of hospitality for members and guests.

"To make the club rooms fit to go forward for the next 100 years, a programme of modernisation and decoration is being undertaken. New ventures such as adapting it to a wedding venue are in hand, while the provision of meals has already proved successful and we have had much positive feedback about that.

"The fallacy persists that you have to have been a member of the armed forces to join the branch and club. This is not the case and we are trying to get the message out that anyone of good character who shares our values may apply to join."

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