Wick Society chairman steps down after nine years
New Wick Society chairman Harry Gray (right) is pictured with Councillor Robert Coghill and Muriel Murray, of Castletown Heritage Society.
THE Wick Society has announced Donald Sinclair has retired as chairman having served in the role for nine years.
The position has been filled by the appointment of Harry Gray, a well-known local historian. Mr Sinclair will continue to serve as a director.
Under Mr Sinclair’s chairmanship, the society has undergone significant changes and expansion.
The development became possible when the society became a company limited by guarantee in 2004. Since then the objectives and activities of the organisation have been focused into three distinct sections – each headed by a director and organised by members.
The museum section has responsibility for the care and development of the Wick Heritage Museum. A boat section is concerned with all aspects of the restoration, maintenance and programme of the Isabella Fortuna, along with other boats in the society’s ownership.
A third section is concentrating on the Johnston Collection and working to ensure the photos are digitised, preserved and made available worldwide.
In recent months a fourth section has emerged to research local history and dialect so the stories behind the images and artefacts are recorded and saved for future research and interest.
The new chairman’s first duty was at the launch of this year’s Johnston photographic exhibitions – Our Rural Heritage.
Highland councillor Robert Coghill opened the first exhibition at Castlehill Heritage Centre before a capacity crowd.
It features historical images from the Johnston Collection that specifically relate to the Castletown/Dunnet district. It will run during the centre’s summer season.
A second exhibition in the series, revealing scenes from the Halkirk district, will begin on July 5 at the Ross Institute and will run until August 25.
The exhibitions, together with a third at the St Fergus Gallery in Wick from July 23 to August 25, have been made possible with the support of grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Highland Council’s Wick and landward funds and the Wick Society.