‘War trophy’ in Wick street, tribute to Groat editor and millennium celebrations
‘War trophy’ brandished in Wick street
From the Groat of December 26, 1924
A Wick carter had been charged with “flourishing a revolver” in Wick’s High Street and behaving in a disorderly manner.
Wick Sheriff Court heard that the accused, who pleaded guilty, had “captured the revolver in France in 1916 and that it was registered as a war trophy”.
The report went on: “The sheriff said he had no wish to take a war trophy from a man who had fought for his country and, on the accused promising not to repeat the offence, he was permitted to keep the weapon.”
However, he was fined £1 with the alternative of 10 days in prison.
Meanwhile, an incident in the town was expected to be the subject of a court case “at an early date”.
It was reported that local police officers had “visited the Caledonian Hotel, Bridge Street... and on a magistrate’s warrant took possession of a large quantity of liquor, which they removed in two handcarts to the police station.”
The appearance of police at the hotel had attracted a considerable crowd “who followed the proceedings with interest”.
Elsewhere, the remarkably mild winter weather had been “the subject of general conversation” in Wick. The traditional Christmas Day weather of frost or snow had not materialised. Instead the day had been “dry and pleasant”, with the result that “large numbers of country people were in town”.
Council tribute to editor
From the Groat of December 27, 1974
Wick Town Council had paid tribute to “the long record of service to the community made by David Oag, editor of the John O’Groat Journal.”
At the council’s final meeting of 1974, Dean of Guild James Miller reminded members that Mr Oag would be relinquishing his post at the end of the year and that it would be an “appropriate occasion for the council’s formal appreciation of his service to be noted”.
Provost William Mowat said that Mr Oag had served the community for many years as both editor and a reporter and that it was “a long and impressive record”.
He went on to thank Mr Oag for keeping the community informed, saying it was “a vitally important job done by a dedicated man”.
The councillors said they were grateful to him for “the honest way in which he had worked and for helping to keep Wick burgh on the front page”.
Also retiring from a long-held post was John Carter, who had served for 38 years in the Caithness and North Isles branch of the RSSPCC as a child cruelty inspector.
Mr Carter, a native of Dunbeath, had been based in Wick but his work had taken him all over the area, “sometimes as far north as Unst”.
Caithness millennium celebrations
From the Groat of December 31, 1999
As a new century and a new millennium dawned, Caithness was getting ready to celebrate a truly historic New Year.
Throughout the county plans had been made for the momentous occasion and organisers were hoping for favourable weather and large crowds for the celebrations.
In Wick, a street party in the Market Square was to feature a number of local musicians. The stroke of midnight was to be marked with the lighting of a new banner across the square, while 20 to 30 flares were to go off at the harbour.
In Thurso, a Hogmanay party was to be held in Sir John’s Square with live music, a fireworks display and hot food and soup, with entertainment for families and children in Skinandi’s nightclub.
Castletown was to host a torchlight procession to Back Park for a bonfire and fireworks display, followed by a party and barbecue in the Drill Hall, while a bonfire and fireworks were also planned for Lybster, along with a “mega-party” in the community hall.
Fireworks and a dance were to take place in Dunbeath, while at John O’Groats a beacon was to be lit using a historic stick belonging to Sandy Manson, which had first been used to light a bonfire at Warth Hill when Queen Victoria was crowned.
Church bells were to ring in Halkirk, followed by fireworks, while dances were to be held in Watten, Reay and Freswick.