Latest News

23 September 2017

FOND FAREWELL TO HEART GROUP'S PATRON
CAITHNESS Heart Support group recently bade a fond farewell to its patron Miss Anne Dunnett who retired from public life recently. The group was only one of several local organisations Miss Dunnett was involved in, not least as the county's Lord Lieutenant. Tribute was paid to her 'significant' contribution to the heart group during the past six years, at a social gathering at the Norseman Hotel,Wick.

22 September 2017

NHS Highland Board’s Dirty Tricks - Iain Baikie
Today a hard hitting letter from CHAT's Vice Chair Prof. Iain Baikie has been published in the John O'Groat Journal an is now published on the CHAt Facebook page.. Joining in is well-known local artist Ian Scott has produce a new work for the campaign "Caithness Scream".  The relentless march by NHS Highland to downgrade health services in Caithness is now once again exposed for what it is.  Nothing is safe it seems - maternity, Town and county, Dunbar, beds in Caithness General and more.     Follow on CHAT Facebook.

21 September 2017

Dunnet Beach Clean - Can You spare An Hour?
The rangers are organising another clean-up for Dunnet Beach on Saturday 30th September.  The removal  of waste from our beaches is unfortunately a never ending one but if we want to keep this one looking good go along and help between 11:00am and 2:00pm.  Gloves and bags supplied and a free hot drink.

20 September 2017

Calling Geocachers - Check out a new event in the Highland Archaeology Festival
As part of the 2017 Highland Archaeology Festival, a number of geocaches have been hidden throughout the Highlands. "There are so many wonderful sites in the Highlands to explore," explained Kirsty Cameron, Highland Council Archaeologist. ‘We wanted to hide caches where people can discover more about our rich heritage. We've also hidden some small objects in our caches during the festival." One of the geocache sites is at Dunbeath- see the web site for all of the sites in Highland at the Archaeology Festival


Buzzfeed one of the biggest online news sites highlights Caithness Maternity Issues

CHAT Facebook for the latest comments etc


Noss Primary School Wick - Raising Funds For Malawi
As well as our sponsored ‘Water Walk' next Wednesday and our Malawi display which you can visit on the Open Afternoon and parents' evenings, we are collecting loose change to try to cover a map of Africa we have set up in the library area. If you have any 5p, 2ps or 1ps lying around, please send them in with your child so they can put them on the map. It would be lovely to get our ‘Change for Change' map completely covered.

18 September 2017

Caithness JAM - Charity Music Event For Sarcoidosis

15 September 2017

Help Save the Town and County by Professor Baikie
Professor Baikie, vice-chairman of CHAT has hit the ground running is his new role with front page headlines in the John O'Groat Journal today and a letter on the CHAT Facebook page calling the whole community from whatever perspective to join the fight to save the Town and County from the despicable moves of NHS Highland trying to hide behind a consultation exercise and bed review.  Read the letter  - it says what many people feel and gives voice to the need to fight this in every way possible.  What next, after the maternity disgrace and moves on the Dunbar hospital in Thurso  as well as the Town and Coucnty in Wick,.  Another Vice-chairman Ron Gunn was appointed at the CHAT AGM a couple of weeks agao and a new branch of CHAT to specifically deal with Thurso will be formed at our next full meeting in Thurso to allow full participation without having to travel to Wick in coming weeks and months. CHAT is increasing its political activity as the only way forward as we have had no sign from NHS Highland other than their moves to close down the facilties in Caithness.  Professor Baikie has asked for as many as possible to write to the First Minister to show we are united - lets.do it.  Contact details are on the CHAT Facebook page along with the letter.......Bill Fernie.

14 September 2017

Day of action at Caithness bird haven
After an extremely busy breeding season, most of the nesting birds have now left St Johns Pool, near Dunnet which gave the Caithness Countryside Volunteers the ideal opportunity to get into action before the winter migrants begin to arrive. The volunteers undertook a range of activities such as wood preserving the viewing hides and fence posts. Weeding was carried out on one of the islands and new shutters fitted to one of the hides.

13 September 2017

Attractions of Wick On the John O'Groat Trail - Can You Help?
As some of you might know the John O Groat trail is hoping to be officially opened next year. The trail will pass through Wick and it was thought that this would be an opportunity to showcase the attractions of Wick for the visiting walkers, those driving the NC500 and others visiting the area.

We are recruiting new Trustees At HomeStart Caithness
Can you spare a couple of hours a month to help change lives? 
You may bring a particular expertise to the board, such as professional skills in finance, IT, business, personnel management or marketing and PR, but equally as important are listening and communication skills, commitment and common sense. Your commitment is to attend Board meetings. These are held every eight weeks or so and do not usually last more than an hour. All relevant papers are sent out at least one week in advance.

All The Stations - Inverness to Wick
Geoff Marshall and Vikkie Pipe have completed their journey in this last little video.

10 September 2017

Comments From The CHAT Postcard Campaign
The CHAT postcard campaign has now moved on with the first batch of 1000 postcards sent ot the First Minister.  Here are some sample comments frmo the postcards.  More to follow in coming days.  You can still leave comments about the situation on health issues in Caithness on the CHAT Facebook page whether on maternity or the soon to be launched NHS consultation/bed review which may dramatically affect the three Caithness hospitals with threat of huge reductions at Town and County in Wick and Dunbar hospital Thurso.

8 September 2017

Save The Town and County Hospital in Caithness - Sign The Petition

7 September 2017

CHAT sends first batch of 1,000 protest postcards to First Minister
Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) has gathered 2,410 postcards from members of the public protesting the centralisation of health services under NHS Highland. The postcards carry the slogan ‘100 miles too far' in reference to the 100 mile journey patients frequently have to travel to receive basic care. In 2016 14,786 patients from Caithness and Sutherland travelled for appointments at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, many of which last only 5 minutes and could be conducted on the phone. Meanwhile, around 90% of maternity patients now give birth in Inverness, and many mothers are making the journey down the A9 without an ambulance, whilst in labour.

Highland Council £160million Budget Gap Next 5 Years

HIE Helps Businesses Get Cyber Strong
Highlands and Islands Enterprise is offering its clients across the region support to protect themselves from cyber attacks, by launching the Cyber Strong business project. Co-inciding with Digital Leaders Cyber Resilience Week (11-15 September 2017), the agency is launching a programme to help local businesses and social enterprises achieve national Cyber Essentials accreditation.


Companies Set To LINC With Dounreay
Companies are being invited to LINC together and support Scotland's largest decommissioning project thanks to an innovative new scheme designed to increase the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) delivering clean-up work at Dounreay. Up to five companies will be invited to help understand and develop the best proposal for size-reducing all of the machinery and components that will need to be removed from Dounreay's Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) - the largest to be built at the Caithness site. It is the first of several opportunities expected to be advertised as part of an initiative encouraging SMEs to LINC - liaise, innovate, network and collaborate - with Dounreay.

Highland Council driving quality improvement in education

Council Programme agreed - Local Voices, Highland Choices

Highland Council Restructure Management To Save A Further £235,000

Landlord Registration Enforcement

The John O' Groats Mill - Open Weekend - 9th and 10th September
Everyone in our community is aware of the mill at Groats - we've all driven past it, some of us daily. It's very much a local landmark. You may even know a little of its history: it was grinding corn as recently as 2001 and its machinery is still in working order to this day. Not many of us, however, have had the opportunity to see through the buildings. Well, now’s your chance. By kind permission of the Houston family, the Mill will be open on Sat. 9th and Sun. 10th September from 11am till 5pm. All are welcome ................We need your opinion. Without community interest, this project will be nothing more than a pipedream.

6 September 2017

Wick Players Christmas Panto Advance Notice

£9 Million Berriedale Braes Road Contract Out To Market
The notice, which outlines construction costs of approximately £9 million, invites prospective bidders to formally apply to participate in the procurement to construct major improvements to this important route in the north of Scotland. The project will see improvements to the road alignment and the existing tight hairpin bend. Once complete the scheme will improve road safety and journey times by removing the need for vehicles to slow down or stop to negotiate the bend.

5 September 2017

Caithness Professor Appointed As Vice Principal Of UHI
Professor Stuart Gibb, director of the Environmental Research Institute at North Highland College UHI, has been appointed as vice-principal (international and external engagement). He is leading on the development and implementation of the university's international strategy, working to improve brand identity and increase the recruitment of international students.........West Highland College UHI principal, Lydia Rohmer, has taken up the role of vice-principal (tertiary) .......Iain Macmillan, principal of Lews Castle College UHI, has been appointed as vice-principal (strategic harmonisation and organisational efficiency)

Mapping the Ecosystem Services of Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs - Workshop
A coupleof places at the workshop remain.  Takes place on Thursday 7th September.

Chairman of the Royal British Legion Scotland Wick Branch Captain Richard Otley thanks Laurieton
A letter published today in the Camden Courier in Australia. Laurieton United Services Club is in New south Wales.

Crab fishermen off Orkney taken to safety in Scrabster  - BBC

Wick Riverside Volunteers Making a Huge Difference - Want to Help?
As communities in Highland and indeed Scotland get left to do more in their areas one group is showing the way. Wick Riverside Volunteers have already changed the look of several areas around the riverside and you can see the before and after photos on their Facebook page.  Dorren Gow a volunteer with the group sent some photos from last weekend and said,"We were given lots of tar planings from Highland Council roads dept for improving the paths, and GMR Hendersons supplied equipment and manpower last weekend. "We will be doing a post on Facebook asking for helpers this weekend now. All help much appreciated, and to bring along a wheelbarrow, spade and gloves if possible."   Share their facebook pages.

4 September 2017

Alexander 'Sandy' Manson born 1st August 1924 died 22nd August 2017
Alexander 'Sandy' Manson, John O'Groats postmaster and Arctic Convoys veteran. Born 01/08.1924, died 22.08.2017, both at John O'Groats, Caithness. The sudden death of retired postmaster Alexander 'Sandy' Manson at the age of 93 in his PO House home in the well-known small community at the 'top' of Scotland, has robbed the country of one of a dwindling group of servicemen who have been more honoured by a key ally in the long fight against the evils of Nazism than by our own British Government. For Sandy Manson served on board an RN destroyer that provided key support in 1943 and 1944 to seamen of the British Merchant Navy supplying ... against all the odds ... vital war-equipment to aid the Soviet Union in its ultimately successful, but bloody, land and air battles against the Wehrmacht armies. Those conflicts were to decisively turn the tide of WW II against the murderous, fascist clique that ruled Germany from 1933 till the Soviet 'Red Army' overran Berlin in the spring of 1945.

FANCY YOURSELF AS A BIT OF A SLEUTH? - Ashley Cowie Will Reveal New Discoveries
Fancy yourself as a bit of a sleuth? Come and apply your skills at a unique historic investigaton and hear all about Ashley's latest Neolithic discovery in Caithness.


Booking HERE


Woodturning Demo
North Highland Woodturners annual demonstration with professional turners Alec Mutch & Mark Sutton.

3 September 2017

Caithness man raising awareness of life after brain injury backing ID Card
An ex-fisherman whose life changed following a tumour is backing a new charity identification card aimed at helping brain injury survivors explain their condition. Callum Maclean, was a commercial fisherman for more than 20 years and a qualified welding inspector before a brain tumour changed his life in 2011. The tumour left him with a number of problems such as impaired balance, affected temperament and limited mobility. These symptoms have brought many challenges, including dealing with the often inappropriate ways people react to his disabilities.  It’s for this reason that he is supporting a new identification card being launched by Headway – the brain injury association. The Headway Brain Injury Identity Card is designed to help brain injury survivors explain their condition.

2 September 2017

Royal British Legion Scotland Wick Canisbay & Latheron Branch
Royal British legion Scotland Wick Canisbay and Latheron Branch, over the last year have had a very busy, rewarding and successful time......................................In a bid to re - engage with valued members and to ensure effective communication Chairman Capt Richard Otley has recently personally written to all members present and lapsed. Going forward the branch has introduced a monthly draw for all members and hopes to further build on the success of the recent annual RBLS Mey Highland and Cultural Games, making next year's event even bigger and better.

27 August 2017

Marymas Fayre 2017

26 August 2017

Reay and District Gardening Club 40th Horticultural Show 2017







Do You Want An Experience? - Try A Bat Night At Castle Of Mey
Try something different in September. Check out the bats at Castle of Mey. The rangers will take you out and show you around the places where bats hang out at the castle.

24 August 2017

Wizard of Oz By Thurso Players
Thurso Players are perfoming the Wizard of Oz for 4 nights from Wednesday 6th September at Thurso High School.  Tickets are on sale from McBeaths Jewellers in Thurso or you can phone to book them.  A rare chance to see live performance of this well loved musical and a great family night out.

23 August 2017

NOSCA Nippers - Updated Information







Disruption to Highland Council School Transport - Update
Highland Council is reassuring all pupils, parents and carers this morning (23 August) that all school transport routes have been covered in Caithness and East Ross following the loss of the contractor Andrew's (Shetland) Ltd. who ceased trading last night (22 August). Bill Alexander, Highland Council's Director of Care and Learning said: "This is wonderful work by our Transport colleagues and partners who swiftly managed to get replacement services up and running for this morning." The Council warns however, that there may still be some gaps on public service routes. Link to new timetable on the page inside.

22 August 2017

Disruption to Highland Council School Transport
Parents and carers of pupils using Andrew's (Shetland) Ltd coaches for Thurso, Wick, Dornoch, Golspie and Invergordon High Schools and some of their associated Primaries are warned for possible disruption to transport arrangements from tomorrow morning Wednesday 23 August 2017. Highland Council has been notified that its school transport contractor Andrew's (Shetland) Ltd has ceased trading as of this evening (Tuesday 22 August 2017).
Updates will be posted on the council’s school closure website www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures tomorrow morning (Wednesday 23 August) from 7am onwards.

Important Transport Changes - Killimster Moss - Reiss To Casteltown
As recently reported, the B876 between Castletown and Reiss will be closed for three weeks from 28 August 2017 to enable urgent repair works to be carried out. This will result in changes to the X99 and 81 services, along with the 276 / 277 / 281 services to Dounreay)

20 August 2017

Last Postbus Reaches The End Of The Road - The Scotsman
The final trip of a post bus in Scotland took place on Saturday 19 August 2017 on the route between Lairg and Tongue in Sutherland.

All The Stations Pair Arrive At Wick After 104 Days
Bill Fernie went to meet Geoff Marshall and Vickie Pipe on Saturday 19th August 2017 as they arrived at the final station - Wick after 104 days in their quest to visit all of the railway stations in Britain.  Bill gave them a small Caithness flag to celebrate their final station - number 2563 - Wow.  They have videos all along their route and kept up an endless stream of photos and contacts on social media. The bouncy enthusiastic pair have carried their selfie cameras all the time and constantly made short film clips to be edited into very professionally edited films for their Youtube Channel - All The Stations.  A great record of what the stations and indeed the railways are like  in 2017 and well worth dippiing in to see their little films.  They are still editng the final ones so keep watching. 
Photos at Wick    
Vickie Pipe - Harry Potter Locations in London   Geoff Marshall - Secrets of The Underground

17 August 2017

CORE POLITICS LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE TV SERIES 'MEET THE MPs' - Jame Stone
Meet the MPs is an ambitious online series which will introduce the colourful new personalities who have recently joined Westminster's green benches following June's General Election. Each episode features a quick-fire Q&A with an MP from the 2017 intake. Why is this different? In short, it is the questions that they weren't expecting (we weren't always expecting the answers that came back either). The episodes are fun and informal while also revealing more about the new voices in the Commons.

16 August 2017

Telephone Box At Reay - Photos Taken Before It Finally Disappears
The phone at Reay telephonebox has gone and at some point the actual box may be removed so a few photos for future reference to add to those taken 15 years ago in 2002.  More telephones  are going and BT has proposed now to take out half the remaining boxes.

15 August 2017

Our Story - Dounreay - BBC Radio Scotland 1.30pm Today
Or catch it later on iplayer

Dounreay's Oldest Reactor To Be Demolished
It is 60 years this weekend since the first criticality was achieved in Scotland using a test rig at Dounreay. Now the decommissioning team responsible for the site is marking that milestone by taking a major step towards demolishing the oldest reactor that remains at the former fast reactor research centre. Companies are being invited to bid for a contract to demolish the iconic Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) which became Scotland's first operational reactor in 1958. DMTR, which was built with steelwork weighing in at almost 600 tonnes and stands on foundations more than 25 metres in diameter, tested the effects of irradiation on metals and was the only reactor on the site to use heavy water instead of liquid metal as a coolant.

Scotland's Baby Box available nationwide
All babies in Scotland due from today 15 August 2017 will be gifted a box full of essential items aimed at tackling inequality and promoting health. The boxes are a strong signal of the Scottish Government's determination that every child, regardless of their circumstances should get the best start in life. Each Baby Box contains a large number of items which are not only practical but designed to help tackle inequality and improve health. The box itself also doubles up as a safe sleep space, awarded British Safety standard accreditation as a crib for domestic use.

14 August 2017

Ravenskald Writers Workshop - Book Your Place Now
GEORGE GUNN 12th September 2017 - 17th April 2018 Tuesday Evenings 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Join poet and playwright George Gunn on your personal creative journey from the poem, through the short story to the formal destination of the stage play. In these 16 workshops we will look at how poetry generates story. From that beginning you will explore the requirements of short narrative fiction. From the short story, you will move on to the demands of public storytelling which is the business of the theatre. Ravenskald is a new venture. The group will develop creativity through interaction, constructive criticism and mutual support. All you need is the desire to dream, to create, to write.

Sandside - New Photos
Hard to beleive but it is almost 17 years since we took the last set of photos of Sandside in November 2000





Wick Swimming Pool Timetable Starts Today
School summer holidays end this week and the new timetable has started so check your swimming times before you head over to the pool.  Get a High Life Card - -Save 10% at Castle & Gardens of Mey with High Life Highland

Thurso Swimming Pool Timetable Starts Today
Check the times for swimming before you go.     Get a High Life Card- Regular user make great savings

New Probationer Teachers For All Parts Of Highland
One hundred and forty two probationer teachers who are on the Teacher Induction Scheme and a few probationer teachers on the Flexible Route were recently welcomed to the Highlands.  Of the 142 probationers on the Teacher Induction Scheme, 58 have been allocated to secondary schools and 84 to primary schools in the Highlands.

Bats At Thrumster Woodland - Evening Walk










Gold Panning With The Rangers - You Never Know What You Will Find
The gravels and sediments of the Kildonan Burn are salted with small concentrations of gold in the form of tiny granular flecks, and the very occasional little nuggets sometimes combined with quartz. The Helmsdale river valley offers a sheltered and pleasant route to the banks of the Kildonan Burn, signposted as Baile-An-0r, the Gaelic translation of Town of gold.

13 August 2017

Reay - A New Photo Set Of The Village Taken On Saturday







See photos of Reay from 15 to 17 years ago HERE

A few Old Reay School class photos HERE

12 August 2017

Highland Council Assurance On Concerns About Wick Campus
Highland Council has written to the Wick Stakeholder Group, Wick High School Parent Council and Newton Park Primary School Parent Council to provide a statement of assurance regarding the new Wick Campus facility.  The Campus is a fantastic facility and a tremendous asset for the Community. We believe that all stakeholders can now look forward confidently and with pride in one of the best public facilities in the Highlands. The Council looks forward to welcoming pupils back for the start of the new school year.

29 July 2017

Halkirk Highland Games 2017

27 July 2017

North Lands Creative Looks to the Future
Recently re-branded North Lands Creative (Formerly North Lands Creative Glass) has successfully completed a re-structuring and held an international conference ahead of an exciting new programme of activities. Located in the delightful village of Lybster, Caithness the organisation is planning a colourful, vibrant and engaging programme of workshops, classes and exhibitions on the Lybster campus, complimented by associated events that include bite-size tours, studio talks, curator/ artist in conversation events, workshops and schools visits.

25 July 2017

Wick Gala 2017 Children's Fancy Dress  - More Photos Now In







Wick Gala 2017 - Summer Show Photos From Assembly Rooms Today

24 July 2017

Another Batch Of Photos For Wick Gala 2017 From Alistair Sinclair

23 July 2017

More Wick Gala Photos From Noel Donaldson Added - 628 Photos Now In







See previous years galas, games and shows HERE

Wick Gala 2017 Fun Run







Wick Gala 2017 - Second Batch Of Photos Now All In - 599 Photos Now In

22 July 2017

Wick Gala 2017 - The Gala Queen Crowning, Floats and Walkers














A beautiful day in Caithness carriedon to the evening for great Wick Gala night.

21 July 2017

Mey Highland and Cultural Games - Saturday 5th August - At John O'Groats
Come and join in a family fun day out at John O'Groats. Packed full of events, exhibitions and things to see and do including Highland Dancing, traditional Pipe and Drum Band, track and field events, a dog show, a classic car parade and the world famous Tug of War! The kids can enter the egg and spoon race, the three legged sprint or a sack race. If thats too energetic theres a bouncy castle and a creche too! Alongside the fun and games there will be loads of local arts, crafts and food stalls. PLUS for the first time, an adult only refreshment zone featuring beers from The Black Isle Brewery, whisky from Wolfburn Distillery and a cocktail bar hosted by Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka.   Check the Facebook page for other changes to this years Mey Games

15 July 2017

The Big Day - Saturday at Caithness County Show 2017

14 July 2017

Caithness County Show 2017 - Friday Photos








Caithness County Show 2017 Starts Tonight
A chance to get a an early look at the county show is always available on Friday evenings before the big day on Saturday.  On Saturday the gates are open very early with judging of animals underway by 8.00am.  As always a huge programme of events and things to see at Wick riverside with the show ending about 6.00pm to be followed by the Dance in the evening in the Norsemsan Hotel.  Caithness County Show Facebook Page

12 July 2017

Snap a bit of Highland Heritage - Photo Competition
Planning is already underway for the Highland Archaeology Festival, the huge celebration of Highland heritage which takes place in October, organised by The Highland Council. New this year is a chance to capture a bit of Highland Heritage in the HAF2017 photographic competition. The competition invites people to submit one or two pictures which celebrate Highland archaeology, history or heritage. Highland Council Archaeologist Kirsty Cameron explains: "It could be a monument in the landscape, a building, an object in a museum or people enjoying our varied heritage - there's so much to choose from. We've kept it simple, with entries invited from under 16s and over 16s."

9 July 2017

Latheron Show 2017

4 July 2017

Latheron Show 2017 - Saturday 8th July at West Clyth Farm, Occumster
See information on the Facebook page.

3 July 2017

Beatrice Highland Partnership Fund Open For Applications From 3 July 2017

Community Groups can now apply for funds from the Beatrice Highland Partnership fund. Grants are available from £10,000 to £50,000.







Lybster Gala 2017

2 July 2017

Canisbay Show 2017








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