Wick lifeboat crew’s royal appointment
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WICK harbour’s plans for the future were given the royal nod of approval when the Duke of Rothesay visited the former herring capital of Europe on Monday.
As well as hearing about the plans to transform the harbour into a renewables centre, HRH also spoke to members of the Wick lifeboat crew about their recent involvement in the search-and-rescue operation in the Moray Firth after two RAF Tornado jets crashed, killing three airmen.
Chairman of Wick Harbour Authority Willie Watt – a depute lord-lieutenant of Caithness – spoke to the duke on the quayside just after the royal visit to the new offices of North Highland Products at the harbour.
"The prince’s visit was to see his office at North Highland Products and during the visit he also showed his support to the harbour, the lifeboat and the coastguard," said Mr Watt.
"It’s just a real good boost for us as we try to establish the harbour as a tourism and industrial centre for marine technologies.
"It was great that he could spare some time to come and see us – when you have the Duke of Rothesay showing up it’s fantastic."
During his visit, the duke expressed an interest in the demise of herring fishing, showing particular interest in the Johnston Collection of photos in the meeting room of North Highland Products – which was formed as a direct result of the prince’s North Highland Initiative.
Mr Watt said the duke was keen the harbour’s move to marine renewables is balanced by retaining the natural beauty of the surrounding environment.
As well as meeting various representatives of the harbour authority and North Highland Products, the duke spent some time chatting with locals on the quayside and meeting and greeting local RNLI volunteers, sea cadets and coastguard officers.
Wick lifeboat coxswain Ian Cormack spoke to the duke while standing beside the Roy Barker II which was launched after the two military aircraft crashed in the Beatrice oil field 25km east of Wick on July 3.
"He was interested in the Tornado shout and finding out what part we played in it," said the skipper.
"He also asked how busy we had been and that sort of thing, and had some questions about the lifeboat and commented on how good it looked."
Mr Cormack had previously met the duke but for most of the Wick RNLI crew it was the first time they had been formally introduced to HRH.
Wick’s sea cadet corps was introduced to the duke as he toured the harbour and he also took in the sights of the sails of the Isabella Fortuna moored just down from the lifeboat.
