Nwicker60
15-Feb-12, 10:54
Caithness Courier review: February 15, 2012
A WICK father who lost his only child in a tragic car crash on Sunday night has paid tribute to “the best son and the best friend in the world”. Christopher Durrand (17) from Wick died in the accident near Bower while a passenger Graham Sutherland remains in hospital. Christopher’s father, George Durrand, who owns Oldwick Garage in Roxburgh Road, said that not only was Christopher his and partner Valerie Henderson’s only son, but he was their closest friend. He said: “We had a working relationship, a father-son-relationship and he was our best friend. We were tied at the hip. To get taken away from us at just 17 is just totally unbelievable. I just wish he was still here.”
ALSO on the paper’s front page a mixed reaction from Rangers’ supporters’ Far North club to the news that it hangs in the balance. There was both anger and optimism about the decision to put the premier club into administration. Craig Whyte admitted it is not able to pay its bills amid claims it owes £75 million. If a solution is not found, one of the country’s most famous clubs could go bust and face extinction. The club, which has won the Scottish Premier League for the past three seasons, has been deducted 10 points, almost certainly conceding the title to Celtic. The news has not gone down well with local fans who are angry the situation has been allowed to get to this point. Caithness Loyal Rangers Supporters Club member, Alyn Gunn (27) who also runs amateur football side Thurso Rangers, said Glasgow Rangers have become a victim of their heavy spending days but is confident they will not disappear.
THE local economy has been dealt a major blow after it emerged a world-class surfing competition, held annually in Thurso, has been shelved. The O’Neill Cold Water Classic at Thurso East, staged since 2006, will not be part of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) surf calendar after sponsors O’Neill decided not to renew its five-year deal. Following discussions with O’ Neill representatives, the Scottish Surfing Federation confirmed the event will not be going ahead. There was disappointment expressed by Thurso traders at the loss of trade.
POLICE have paid tribute to the public and various organisations for their assistance in finding a missing teenager during what was described as the busiest week for search operations in Caithness in years. The area commander, Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss, this week thanked everyone who was involved in the search for Imphotep Booth from Altnabreac, near Halkirk. The 13-year-old was reported missing from his family home on Friday morning after his parents noticed his bike had gone. After they failed to find him, they contacted police who issued an appeal for information and assembled search teams near his home. *An investigation is under way into the cause of death of a Thurso man who went missing last week. Stephen McGurk was found dead in a field at Thurso East on Thurso. The 38-year-old, who was originally from Glasgow but had lived in the town for a year, was found following a four-day search.
A CAITHNESS crofter is aiming to prove she’s shear class when she takes on the best in the world at a competition in New Zealand. Sally Crowe (34) is representing Scotland at the world sheep shearing championships which start on February 29 in Masterton. Miss Crowe, who works on the family farm at Hawkhill, near Keiss, originally thought she had missed out on the chance to represent her country when she finished runner-up in the qualifying event at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. But a last-minute change of plan, resulted in her getting the call-up.
STAFF at the Clydesdale Bank branches at Wick and Thurso face an uncertain future after its parent company announced a major strategic review of the business in the UK. Union officials fear the move – initiated by owners, the National Australia Bank-could result in hundreds of job losses although the company is stressing no decisions have been taken yet. The review is expected to be carried over the next couple of months. NAB has blamed the move on the deteriorating economic conditions in the UK and “the slow and fragile pace of recovery”.
POSTAL pricing proposals have two Caithness politicos sparring. Local MP John Thurso and his Holyrood counterpart, Rob Gibson, are at loggerheads over media watchdog Ofcom’s plans to change the price of stamps and delivery charges. Mr Gibson claims Ofcom proposes to restrict the Universal Service Obligation – a guarantee giving the same service to everyone in the country – to second class mail only. This could mean there would be no capped fee for what organisations could charge for first-class deliveries. But John Thurso said there is no plan to change this and it has not been considered by the Government, Royal Mail or Ofcom.
FOR four decades a Caithness-based group has raised thousands of pounds to help sufferers of diabetes. The local branch of Diabetes UK has provided support to those with the condition in the county for 40 years. Now celebrating its ruby anniversary, this year, the group claims it is still going as strong as ever.
WICK Academy gaffer Davie Kirkwood praised his team’s 3-1 win at Fraserburgh as the best team performance of the season. Despite claiming his side has played better in other games, the manager said that every player on the pitch received a tick in the box. Going into the game as underdogs, Kirkwood said the confidence at the club is in no danger of dropping and predicts it will continue its good form in the closing stages of the season.
A WICK father who lost his only child in a tragic car crash on Sunday night has paid tribute to “the best son and the best friend in the world”. Christopher Durrand (17) from Wick died in the accident near Bower while a passenger Graham Sutherland remains in hospital. Christopher’s father, George Durrand, who owns Oldwick Garage in Roxburgh Road, said that not only was Christopher his and partner Valerie Henderson’s only son, but he was their closest friend. He said: “We had a working relationship, a father-son-relationship and he was our best friend. We were tied at the hip. To get taken away from us at just 17 is just totally unbelievable. I just wish he was still here.”
ALSO on the paper’s front page a mixed reaction from Rangers’ supporters’ Far North club to the news that it hangs in the balance. There was both anger and optimism about the decision to put the premier club into administration. Craig Whyte admitted it is not able to pay its bills amid claims it owes £75 million. If a solution is not found, one of the country’s most famous clubs could go bust and face extinction. The club, which has won the Scottish Premier League for the past three seasons, has been deducted 10 points, almost certainly conceding the title to Celtic. The news has not gone down well with local fans who are angry the situation has been allowed to get to this point. Caithness Loyal Rangers Supporters Club member, Alyn Gunn (27) who also runs amateur football side Thurso Rangers, said Glasgow Rangers have become a victim of their heavy spending days but is confident they will not disappear.
THE local economy has been dealt a major blow after it emerged a world-class surfing competition, held annually in Thurso, has been shelved. The O’Neill Cold Water Classic at Thurso East, staged since 2006, will not be part of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) surf calendar after sponsors O’Neill decided not to renew its five-year deal. Following discussions with O’ Neill representatives, the Scottish Surfing Federation confirmed the event will not be going ahead. There was disappointment expressed by Thurso traders at the loss of trade.
POLICE have paid tribute to the public and various organisations for their assistance in finding a missing teenager during what was described as the busiest week for search operations in Caithness in years. The area commander, Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss, this week thanked everyone who was involved in the search for Imphotep Booth from Altnabreac, near Halkirk. The 13-year-old was reported missing from his family home on Friday morning after his parents noticed his bike had gone. After they failed to find him, they contacted police who issued an appeal for information and assembled search teams near his home. *An investigation is under way into the cause of death of a Thurso man who went missing last week. Stephen McGurk was found dead in a field at Thurso East on Thurso. The 38-year-old, who was originally from Glasgow but had lived in the town for a year, was found following a four-day search.
A CAITHNESS crofter is aiming to prove she’s shear class when she takes on the best in the world at a competition in New Zealand. Sally Crowe (34) is representing Scotland at the world sheep shearing championships which start on February 29 in Masterton. Miss Crowe, who works on the family farm at Hawkhill, near Keiss, originally thought she had missed out on the chance to represent her country when she finished runner-up in the qualifying event at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. But a last-minute change of plan, resulted in her getting the call-up.
STAFF at the Clydesdale Bank branches at Wick and Thurso face an uncertain future after its parent company announced a major strategic review of the business in the UK. Union officials fear the move – initiated by owners, the National Australia Bank-could result in hundreds of job losses although the company is stressing no decisions have been taken yet. The review is expected to be carried over the next couple of months. NAB has blamed the move on the deteriorating economic conditions in the UK and “the slow and fragile pace of recovery”.
POSTAL pricing proposals have two Caithness politicos sparring. Local MP John Thurso and his Holyrood counterpart, Rob Gibson, are at loggerheads over media watchdog Ofcom’s plans to change the price of stamps and delivery charges. Mr Gibson claims Ofcom proposes to restrict the Universal Service Obligation – a guarantee giving the same service to everyone in the country – to second class mail only. This could mean there would be no capped fee for what organisations could charge for first-class deliveries. But John Thurso said there is no plan to change this and it has not been considered by the Government, Royal Mail or Ofcom.
FOR four decades a Caithness-based group has raised thousands of pounds to help sufferers of diabetes. The local branch of Diabetes UK has provided support to those with the condition in the county for 40 years. Now celebrating its ruby anniversary, this year, the group claims it is still going as strong as ever.
WICK Academy gaffer Davie Kirkwood praised his team’s 3-1 win at Fraserburgh as the best team performance of the season. Despite claiming his side has played better in other games, the manager said that every player on the pitch received a tick in the box. Going into the game as underdogs, Kirkwood said the confidence at the club is in no danger of dropping and predicts it will continue its good form in the closing stages of the season.