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View Full Version : Fit's in 'e Groat 'e day?



Nwicker60
06-Jan-12, 19:08
John O’ Groat Journal review: December 6, 2012

A CALL was made this week for local health bosses to provide details of the cost of repairing buildings at the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso. The plea, reported on the front page, came from Far North MSP, Rob Gibson, who accused the North Highland Community Health Partnership of failing to discuss the cost of the repairs. He is concerned it is claiming the condition of the building is one of the factors driving the west Caithness redesign plan. The other reasons given by local health chiefs included the increasing number of elderly people – the figure is expected to double in the next 25 years – and health inflation is going up by more than budget increases.

FARMERS in the Far North have reported no significant damage to their businesses despite their land being flooded due to prolonged downpours. The banks of the River Thurso and Wick River failed to contain the heavy rain, which was accompanied by the strong winds battering Caithness on Tuesday and Wednesday, when gusts of up to 60mph swept through the area. Among the worst hit flood areas were Haster in the east and Halkirk in the west, with fields near the riverbanks submerged in several feet of water.

A CLIMBING expedition to the Antarctic “was one way to get a guaranteed white Christmas”. That is Bob Kerr’s way of looking at potentially becoming the first British person to climb to the highest point in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. Mr Kerr scaled the highest mountain peak in Antarctica – Mount Vinson – as everyone back home in Scotland was unwrapping their Christmas presents. The Christmas Day ascent to the summit, means that the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team member from Melvich, has now climbed six of the highest mountains on each of the seven continents.

LOCAL Heath bosses have been forced to listen to public opinion on controversial changes planned at the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso. That is the view of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP, Rob Gibson, who claimed GPs in west Caithness and the public “picked holes” in the original plans. The SNP MSP is opposed to moves to close the 12 inpatient beds at the hospital and to reduce the opening hours at the minor injuries unit. Mr Gibson argues up to four palliative care beds should be retained at the Dunbar, with the minor injuries unit kept open 23 hours a day – a view he expressed at a meeting with NHS health officials in Inverness, yesterday.

A LOCAL village heritage group, shortlisted for an arts award, is leading the field in an online People’s Choice competition. Castlehill Heritage Society entered the Epic Awards 2011 with its September re-enactment of an Edwardian concert that took place 100 years ago in the village. The group has received massive support, with votes coming from as far afield as Taiwan and America, said chairwoman Muriel Murray.

PUBLIC land at John O’ Groats could be leased out to the new site developers who are aiming to make it one of the top 10 tourism destinations in the UK. Cash-strapped Highland Council has agreed in principle to hand over control of several pieces of land at the historic harbour site, to Heritage Great Britain and private partner, Natural retreats, who are transforming the iconic hotel. The areas involved included the car park next to the hotel, the toilets and land next to the harbour and around the famous signpost.

“AMUSED, proud and bemused” is how James Sutherland, a former member of the local rock group, Radio City described the band’s success in Japan, more than 30 years after they broke up. Sutherland, who now lives and works in Cambodia, was the vocalist in the Caithness group and co-wrote its songs along with the late Raymond Henderson who played bass. The release, a double A-sided single called “Love and a Picture” and “She’s a Radio” in 1980. It received much critical acclaim with one music paper nominating it as its single of the week. The interest shown by the Japanese resulted in a record company there, bringing out a CD of the bands’ songs which is stocked in major record stores, as Sutherland recently discovered.

AND finally...A local chef has completed a “hair-raising” year-long fundraising mission, in tribute his friend who died in the line of duty. Guiseppe De Vita, of De Vita’s Pizzeria and Cafe Bar in High Street, Wick was raising funds for armed forces charity, Help for Heroes, by refusing to cut his hair or shave for an entire year! He might be finding it a trifle chilly, for a while, though, in the current winter weather.