Round of applause for Argyle Square
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RESIDENTS past and present, along with specially invited guests, gathered in Wick's Argyle Square on Saturday morning for a special ceremony.
The longest-serving resident of Pulteneytown's scenic square, Annie Rosie, cut a ribbon to officially inaugurate the completion of work to revamp the area.
Lorna Simpson of the Argyle Square Area Association (ASAA) presented Mrs Rosie with flowers for doing the honours at Saturday's "grand opening of the Argyle Square improvement works", as it was billed.
Gusty winds at one point threatened to blow over the gazebo housing a contingent of guests including Gail Ross MSP, civic leader Willie Mackay and representatives from ASAA along with others who had helped fund the project. A blast of Highland cheer from piper Alasdair Miller raised the spirits and, as if by magic, the winds died down and proceedings went smoothly.
Mrs Ross, who has resided on the square for the past eight years, said: "What a fantastic day for the whole town. Argyle Square is such a focal point for Wick and association members should be very proud of what they've achieved here.
"The green is looking amazing. It's such a nice place for people to walk through, to come and sit and for kids to play on their bikes and skateboards."
Speaking as both a resident and MSP, she said it was a "really proud day" for people in Argyle Square and Wick as a whole.
Her sentiments were echoed by many others.
Claire Mackenzie, the chairperson of ASAA, said: "The association has existed since 2003 and was initially set up to fix the benches. Then the planters and bins were done. Lampposts and CCTV followed that. Since I've come along we've worked on getting the paths re-done."
She worked alongside Mrs Simpson to help secure funds from a variety of sources for the tarmacking of paths, kerbing in the area, and introducing engraved flagstones and edging in the square.
Mrs Simpson, who has lived in the square for 45 years said: "Main funding came from Whirlwind Renewables who transported wind turbine blades through the green for the Wathegar wind farm and gave us a large donation."
Other funding sources came from Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (Bowl), Highland Council and Achairn Wind Farm. Mrs Simpson said that ASAA had "raised a fair amount of money" itself over the years by holding events and fun days.
Alan Paul from Bowl said: "I live round the corner on Beaufoy Street and played here when I was a kid. There's been a really great improvement to the square thanks to Lorna and her team."
Resident Nazir Ahmed was one of many who attended the event and popped over to Pulteneytown Parish Church for refreshments afterwards. "My father came to this country in 1952 and ran his business, Bashir Ahmed & Sons Ltd, here in the 1960s. He sold groceries, draperies and all sorts of things."
A former resident, Sheana Cormack, came for the event too. "My daughter Amalie [Johnston] was born when I lived here at number 41 in the 1960s. She's got the Corner Café at the bottom of the road."
The Rev Andrew Barrie from the church on the square said he was happy to be hosting the special coffee morning after the ribbon had been cut and speeches made.
"It's such a wonderful thing to see with all the great work that's been done. We're all very happy to have such a positive news story for our area," he said.
