News Archive - April May June 2019
Many previous items
are archived in the Community,
Arts, Sports and Business
sections
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30 June 2019
A Short Walk On Thurso River At Halkirk
21 June 2019
Building Your Own Home Is Easier Than You May Think!
Today
we begin a series of articles written by Peter Body of Thermohaus Ltd ,
a Caithness based timber frame kit home company. Why Self-Build?
For decades the British have bought new homes as standard speculatively
built products from national and regional house builders. In most cases
you must take what the builder offers, meaning there is always
compromise. Add to this the high value of land and developers'
obligations to their shareholders and the buyer has generally got a
poor deal.
Self-build is a credible and viable alternative.
Self-build expert in Caithness launches new eco home concept
20 June 2019
Subsea7 Donate £1000 To Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT)
Mikie
Aitken , Quality Control Inspector for Subsea7 Wester
Site, recently won a thousand pounds for a safety award while working
on the Equinor Snorre project to be given to a charity of his choice.
He chose to donate to Caithness Health Action Team 100mile helper kits
which are given to Caithness General Hospital , Community Maternity
Unit who give the kits to local women that have to be quickly
transferred to Raigmore maternity hospital in an emergency situation.
The kit has essentials a mother needs such as sanitary products,
toiletries, water, energy bars, head rest, key for the disabled toilet,
baby blanket and nappies.
18 June 2019
Mount Pleasant Primary School - Public Meeting Regarding Creation Of Gaelic Medium AreaA public meeting will be held at Mount Pleasant Primary School on Tuesday 25 June 2019 starting at 7.30pm, to discuss the creation of a Gaelic Medium catchment area for Mount Pleasant Primary. Community Index
16 June 2019
Wick Harbour Day 2019
Halkirk Gala 2019 - Floats, Crowning, Children's Fancy Dress
14 June 2019
Obituary on Jimmy Simpson, Laird of Stroma Born 5 April 1928 Died 2nd June 2019
Jimmy
Simpson, the Laird of Stroma, died at the age of 91 on
June 2nd, 2019 at the Town & County Hospital, in Wick,
Caithness,
after a lengthy illness.
Mr Simpson, who was born at the fourth of a family of six in Stroma
Mains Farm, had owned the now uninhabited island in the middle of the
Pentland Firth since 1961. He operated its near-one thousand usually
wind-swept acres as a sheep-farm, servicing the two miles long by one
mile broad island it with workboats based on little piers &
harbours on the North Caithness coast.
Jimmy became best-known to visitors as the genial Stroma boatman,
ferrying hundreds of visitors each summer to the isle just off John
O'Groats. 5 June 2019
Budding Engineers Crowdfunding to To Increase Children's Access to 3D Design and Architecture
Budding
engineers are currently in the process of trying
to raise enough money through crowdfunding for a 3D Community printer
here in Caithness. In addition we are also looking to purchase several
Architectural Modelling Kits to introduce into Primary Education, some
of these are available for children as young as 4 years.
4 June 2019
North Highland College No Plans Yet In Place To Deal With Serious Financial Problems
Colleges'
financial challenges increase.
The Audit Scotland report published today (4th June 2019)
shows North Highland college is only one of several colleges not to
have any financial plan in place to deal with a growing deficit.
The auditor highlighted the need for more detailed interaction between
the college and UHI as savings plans are developed. The college has
once began a curriculum review, with a view to achieving savings for
the 2019-20 budget. However, the college anticipates that it may
require financial support from UHI, in the form of cash advances, for
2019-20. The
college has loans of £1.3 million and in 2017-18 relied on waivers from
its bank to avoid breaching loan covenants.
The college
has previously
required cash advances from its regional body, the University of the
Highlands and Islands (UHI). It is forecasting a cumulative underlying
deficit of £2.5 million by 2022-23.2 June 2019
Have You Got The Skills To Assist The Caithness Broch Project Reach Its GoalsVolunteers with project and contract management skills and enthusiasm to join management committee of the Caithness Broch Project.
The Project Aims
29 May 2019
Proposal To Establish A Gaelic Medium Catchment Area For Mount Pleasant Primary School, ThursoMoladh Sgìre-Sgoile airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig a Stèidheachadh airson Bun-Sgoil Mount Pleasant
Highland Council is to seek the views of local communities on a proposal to establish a Gaelic Medium catchment area for Mount Pleasant Primary School. The change is being proposed in line with Statutory Guidance on Gaelic Medium Education.
Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd gus beachdan choimhearsnachdan ionadail a shireadh mu mholadh gus sgìre-sgoile airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig a stèidheachadh airson Bun-Sgoil Mount Pleasant. Thathar a' moladh an atharrachaidh a rèir Stiùireadh Reachdail air Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig.
Wick Town Centre Getting A Huge Clean Up
Wick
town centre is set to sparkle following a deep clean of the High Street
area.
The deep clean started on Monday morning and will be completed on
Friday 31st May 2019.
There are 5 staff involved daily in the cleansing operation, which is
essentially a pressure wash which includes a detergent being fed
through the tank of a mechanical street sweeping vehicle. Litter
collection takes place daily anyway, so the deep clean will focus on
the cleansing of pedestrian areas. The aim is to clean and remove any
stains such as residual marks caused by liquid spillage and the clean
will also remove any existing bird mess.
Community groups and
members of the public are warmly invited to attend a town centre
regeneration meeting on Monday 10 June at 7.30pm in the Mackays Hotel. Highland Council Rescue Plan For Caithness Horizons Approved
Re-
opening on the horizon for Caithness.
Highland Council's Care Learning and Housing Committee today agreed a
package of revenue and capital funding which is a major milestone
towards the re-opening of Caithness Horizons, Thurso.
The Council agreed to commit revenue funding of £75k p.a. for 3 years,
and capital funding of up to £204k to allow the most immediate building
works to be addressed over the coming months.
The plan includes a contract with Highlife Highland the
successful arms length organisation that already runs a range of
leisure services for the council across Highland.The Highland Council Apprentice Mechanics Class Of 2016-2019
Apprentices
Mechanics excel with Moray Firth Training.
Seven of our apprentices studying with Moray Firth Training have
reached the end of their third year in style!
The team have taken 11 exams each over the last 2 years with 79
distinctions (over 80%), 9 merits and 3 passes in total between them.
Scott Matheson and Alick Elrick achieved 11 distinctions, with Elliot
Geddes, Jon Hutchison and Gregor Rose all getting 10 distinctions.
Highland on track to meet ELC expansion requirements by 2020
The national expansion of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) hours will see entitlement for three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds increased from 600 to 1,140 hours per year from August 2020. Every setting in Highland is being considered and assessed in preparation for full roll out in August 2020. The funding from the Scottish Government means that we are able to adopt a phased approach with approximately 70 sites already identified to move to 1140 hours from August 2019, with further sites expected to be identified into January 2020 before the statutory requirement in August 2020.
26 May 2019
Local Entrepreneur Peter Body Starts New Caithness Business With A National Outlook
Peter
Body, one
of the most successful business people in Caithness has launched
another new company. Thermohaus
aims to make it easier for people to get the home they want using eco
principles but with modern design. The Thermohaus design concept
comprises just five primary building blocks. Two different height
accommodation blocks, two roof forms and a link/porch unit. Together
they may be arranged in a multitude of different formations to provide
maximum design flexibility. The accommodation blocks do not require
internal load-bearing walls meaning the internal layout is also very
flexible and ideal for open plan living. Whilst Thermohaus recommend
separate blocks for living and sleeping, customers may have the layout
which suits them best.
The
new
business has launched a web site and Facebook
page and will also have a
stand at Homebuilding and Rennovation show on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2
June 2019
SEC, Exhibition Way, Glasgow.23 May 2019
A Walk Around Thurso On A Dreich Day
Yesterday
was a kind of damp drizzly day but not wet enough to stop going for a
wander around Thurso.An earlier walk September 2017 was a much brighter day.
Thurso Streets Index A to Z Index
Pentland Music In Thurso Offering Lessons To Pupils Anywhere Online
Pentland
Music Shop in Thurso has branched out to offer online music lessons.
With a growing number of people keen to learn to play but
unable
to reach a music teacher the numbers are expanding who get lessons from
a distance. The popularity of the Ukulele has been building
and
the shop has a great stock of instruments. Lessons are
offered on
several other insturments and you can buy one or get advice. So
if you are wanting guitar, ukulele, fiddle, accordion, or
keyboard
lessons then check out Pentland Music. Distance is now no
barrier
to learning to play an instrument in Thurso or any place.Another Miller Academy Photo from 1962
Jim
Christie has sent in this latest photo of his class from 1962 at Miller
Academy. We have many of the photos from that centernary year
already on the site and thought wehad gotten them all but you never
know. If anyone has a listof names please send them in to
bill@caithness.orgThe school photo section has not had new items for some time but if you have an old class photo you would like to share then send it to bill@caithness.org
Miller Acadmy School Photos Index Other Caithness Schools Early Class Photos Index
9 May 2019
Wick Councillors Announce Follow-up Meetings In Town Centre Regeneration PlanPlans for a town centre regeneration in Wick have taken another step forward with the announcement of two further stakeholder meetings. On Tuesday 28 May2019, town centre retailers are invited to join Ward 3 councillors and Highland Council officers for a workshop exploring some of the key themes identified during the first round of engagement, which took place on 16 May.
Meanwhile, councillors have also set a date for a meeting with wider stakeholders and the general public. This meeting has been set for Monday 10 June at 7.30pm in the Mackays Hotel. It will provide an opportunity for councillors to share their draft regeneration plans while seeking views, feedback and ideas from the community.
4 May 2019
McIvor and Allen Wood Chip Carvers of Castletown Exhibition
The exhibition is now on at Castletown Heritage Centre, Harbour road, Castlehill, Castletown.
A short history of chip carving in Castletown by James Dunster.
Photos from the 2001 exhibition can be seen HERE
Castletown Heritage Society Castlehill Heritage Centre opened in Novermber 2007
3 May 2019
US and UK complete project to remove highly enriched uranium from Dounreay
The
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and US Department of Energy's
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have completed the
transfer of around 700kg of highly enriched uranium (HEU) from
Dounreay, in the north of Scotland, to the US.
The HEU transfer, from Dounreay to the United States, was announced by
the UK Government as part of its commitment to the 2016 Nuclear
Security Summit held in Washington DC.
2 May 2019
Olrig House Castletown - Bluebell walks
Enjoy
a walking tour with the Head Gardener, Graham around the
grounds of Olrig House, see the stunning bluebells and learn about some
of the history and stories related to Olrig. Tours will run throughout
May on Friday and Saturday at the following times. 10.30am and 12noon. Help Find Missing Tabby Cat From Keiss
Recently
moved to Keiss and this tabby has gone missing. If you see it
get in touch. Name and phone number inside.Cat Came Home.
The Flow Country - Peatland Partnership's World Heritage Site's Project Open Days
The
Peatlands Partnership is announcing the start of an extensive community
consultation over a proposed World Heritage Site for The Flow Country,
the vast area of peatlands in Sutherland and Caithness that is now
widely recognised as being the best peatland of its type in the world.
Joe Perry, the Peatland Partnership's World Heritage Site's Project
Coordinator said: "A Flow Country World Heritage Site would not only be
an enormous accolade for the area and the many organisations, land
managers, crofters and farmers who have maintained this land for
generations but it could also bring many positive development
opportunities and undoubtedly some challenges too. Glamping, Distilling And Farm Fitness - A New Guide For Farming Diversification
Glamping,
distilling, adventure tourism and even outdoor farm fitness are among
the novel opportunities open to rural businesses looking for
"diversification inspiration". A new guide created by Scotland's Rural
College (SRUC) as part of its Rural Brexit Hub highlights successful
examples from around the UK and includes advice on how to get new
projects off the ground.
Guide author Calum Johnston says that, with current Brexit uncertainty and the onset of reductions in farm subsidy payments after 2021, diversification will become increasingly important for farmers and rural businesses to ensure long-term sustainability.
Labour Party Visit To Caithness Hears About Third Sector and Health Issues From CHAT
A
visit of the Labour Party Leader in Scotland Richard Leonard MSP
accompanied by Rhoda Grant MSP heard from the third sector and
Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) about problems arising to the
community from changes to health provision and wide range of topics.
Roger Saxon the local Labour party organiser and Alan Tait from
Caithness Voluntary Group facilitated the meeting at the Pulteney
Centre in Wick.
Bill Fernie CHAT chairman and Ron Gunn, CHAR vice-chairman set out some
of the problems for people in the county in respect of health issues
while Catherine Patterson spoke about Befrienders and the need for
assistance.
BT offers communities the chance to ‘adopt' their local phone box for just £1
BT
is offering communities across Scotland the opportunity to adopt their
local phone box for just £1 to turn them into something inspirational
for their local area.
More than 740 traditional red boxes are available for adoption across
Scotland and BT will also consider adoption requests to house
defibrillators in more modern kiosks. BT is encouraging community
groups to seize the opportunity to do something wonderful with phone
boxes that have little or no usage. Already, more than 370 payphones
have been adopted by communities in Scotland since 2008.
Photos of Telephone Boxes in Caithness - Some Now Gone
27 April 2019
Caithness Health Action Team Raised The Huge Mileages By Caithness Patients Going to RaigmorePress and Journal Today Saturday 27th April 2019
Bill
Fernie Chairman of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) at the Annual
NHS Highland review 25 April 2019 open to the public asked the top
table of Jeane Freeman MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport,
recently appointed chief executive Iain Stewart and chairman Boyd
Robertson
of NHS Highland if they were aware of how changes over the years had
increased patient travel to Riagmore to very high levels. A rough
calculation showed it was in excess of 3 million miles each year now
creating hardship for some families and huge inconvenience compared to
to a time when more clinics were held in Caithness.Story in Press and Journal 27 April on mileage piles up by patients form Caithness to Raigmore
Editorial in Press and Journal 27 April 2019 on the huge travel from Caithness to Raigmore
Caithness Health Action Team Facebook Page for comments on this situation.
Community Index
22 April 2019
Thurso's Got Talent - Entries Now Being Accepted
Join
us for an evening of entertainment from Thurso's finest
talent! We're hosting Thurso's Got Talent as a fundraiser for our
Trust. We're a grass roots, not for profit organisation which works on
behalf of the residents and businesses in the town in the hope to
develop and improve the place we call home. We're a registered charity
and all funds raised help us progress with our projects and continue
the work we've started since we formed in January 2018. We believe
Thurso is home to fantastic people, businesses and talent so, how could
we not organise a talent show?
Wick Players Announcments For Kids And Panto Dates
Open
evenings for juniors being held by Wick Players on Monday evenings from
7pm to 9pm. These evenings will begin on(Monday 22nd April 2019).
Children must be 12 years or over.
Note - These are two separate events. The open evenings are not related directly to the panto.
18 April 2019
Wick Businesses Talk With Councillors About How To Improve The Town Centre
Wick
Town Hall packed as businesses and councillors gather to discuss
ambitious town centre regeneration vision.
More than 50 retailers and business owners attend presentation and
discussion session in Wick Town Hall, hosted by all four ward
councillors.
Councillors unveil three-part draft strategy to tackle derelict
buildings, deliver flagship development, improve built environment.
16 April 2019
Green Health Week 22nd-29th April 2019 with NHS Highland - Photo Competition With Moray Firth Radio
Things
are gearing up for Green Health Week. Moray Firth Radio will be running
a radio campaign starting on the 22nd April so listen out for it!
Either side of that MFR are running a photography competition. It will
run for 4 weeks and is hosted on the MFR webpage. MFR have a
few
suggestion and ideas for outdoor places to go. So get
cracking
with some Caithness places and enter the competiton. Anyone can enter by sending a
photo online a favourite outdoor space for 4 weeks.15 April 2019
Francis Street Bowlers, Wick Supports 3 Local Groups
On
Saturday 13th April 2019 Francis Street Bowlers made
three generous donation to local groups.
A day spent playing bowls at the opening day of the season at Thurso
Bowling Club was followed by a buffet tea after which they presented
the cheques.
The three groups were -
Wick Youth Club £200
Laurandy Day Centre £250
League of Friends of Caithness General Hospital £200.
12 April 2019
Berriedale Braes Road Project Starting Soon - Spring Newsletter Issued
The
apointed contractor for the upgrade of the Berriedale
sectionof the road is R J McLeod and they have issued the first in a
series of newsletters as the main works are to begin very soon.
Berriedale Braes is located north of Helmsdale and south of Dunbeath on
the A9 trunk road in
Caithness and forms part of the strategic roads network north of
Inverness. The existing A9 at
Berriedale Braes includes a tight hairpin bend northeast of Berriedale
in order to negotiate
steeply sloping topography. The existing hairpin bend on the A9 at
Berriedale Braes entails that two HGVs travelling in
opposite directions cannot pass on the hairpin bend, as one vehicle
requires the use of most
of the carriageway to successfully negotiate the bend. This existing
substandard geometry is a
safety concern and accident records indicate a near miss where an
athletics bus collided with
the barrier. Become a Volunteer with Home-Start Caithness and help local families
Come
on the next Volunteer Preparation Course.
Wednesdays - 10am - 2.30pm May 22nd, 29th and June 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th.
Wednesdays - 6pm - 8.30pm May 22nd, 29th and June 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th and 3rd July
11 April 2019
Jobs Jobs Jobs - Vacancies - Full-time - Part-time - Bank workThe most vacancies ever in our jobs section with many positions currently available in Caithness and Sutherland.
The holiday season has begun and hotels and catering places are looking for staff. The health service and care sectors along with many others are advertising. Many indivuals positions with a wide range of employers so check them out if you are looking for work. For employers it is free to advertise in our forum - just join the forum and post your vacancies. Free for all to see.
Caithness Community Planning Partnership - Next Meeting
Wednesday 17th of April 2019 The Pentland Hotel, Thurso 11:00am - 1:00pm - Open To The Public
The Rev. Deacon Jacques Cooke - Obituary
The
Reverend Deacon Jacques Cooke born 16 December 1924, Roubaix, Northern
France: died 25th March 2019, Inverness.
James Cooke was the second of five children born to British father
(John) and a Belgian mother (Marie-Louise nee Hollebecq), who met on
the evening of the 11th November 1918 and married in June 1921. Jacques
was born on the 16th December 1924 in Roubaix in northern France, a
short distance away from the Hollebecq family home in Mouscron.
Jacques Cooke was a nuclear engineer at Dounreay who in 1986 became the
first Roman Catholic to be inducted as a permanent deacon in Scotland
for over a Millennium.10 April 2019
Success For John O'Groats Mill Trust Awarded £348,064
The
largest of the latest round of grants announced today was made to John
O'Groats Mill Trust, which has received £348,064 to acquire the
B-listed, disused John O'Groats Mill along with 9.5 acres of land and
two self-catering holiday cottages. The Trust intends to restore the
Mill to its former working condition and develop it as a visitor
attraction and a social and heritage centre, creating a number of
employment, volunteering, training, and skills development
opportunities. 8 April 2019
Charity PiecesTrustee Recruitment and Succession Planning
Is Your charity Ready For Brexit?
Up to £1,000 available to charities to help defend against cyber attacks
Goodbye Paper Applications - Hello Digital - Apply online to become a charity
5 Excuses for Not Having Young Trustees
7 April 2019
Caithness Model Club Show 2019
2 April 2019
Caithness Will Be Very Busy This Coming WeekendSeveral events this coming weekend wil make Caithness very busy. The John O'Groats Book Festival starts on Friday evening and runs all weekend. The Caithness model club annual show is in Wick for two days on Saturday and Sunday. A craft fair, a beach clean, a coffee morning, coastal boat tour and more so check the Whatson Calendar for times and places
Thurso High Second In Rock Challenge 2019
Thurso
High took second place at the 2019 Rock Challenge event at Eden Court
theatre, inverness last night. Well done to Thurso high.
Dinwall Academy took First Place. The themes for
the
music this year were on wartime tragedies. Thurso
chose -
Iolaire - 1919. The HMY Iolaire was returning war heroes to Lewis on
New Year's Day. During the voyage, the ship struck the infamous rocks
'The Beasts of Holm.' The boat was torn apart and sank. Those that
survived clung to masts and ropes to endure the night. More than 200
people drowned, just yards from their home. We will remember them.
Inside see the list of all the awards with Thurso high listed on
several others.1 April 2019
Fun At Lyth For Easter School Holidays
Towheads/Large Structures Travelling Through Wick
Subsea
7 will be moving three towheads for the Equinor Snorre Project from
Wick Harbour to Wester Site in the next 2-3 days. It is planned that
the towheads will travel along the route through town as in the
photograph. Exact timings will depend on weather conditions and how the
Police direct proceedings.
Beach Clean At Dunnet
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