Nwicker60
20-Jun-12, 09:41
Caithness Courier review: June 20, 2012
PATIENTS in Caithness have been assured there will be no disruption to emergency medical services, tomorrow, as doctors prepare to strike for the first time since 1975. Non-urgent healthcare, however, will be affected as a result of the industrial action which follows a pensions row. NHS Highland has cancelled most non-urgent activity scheduled for tomorrow, including outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.
CAITHNESS cinema fans could be enjoying the latest blockbuster releases along with the rest of the UK as early as the beginning of August. Ambitions businessman Rob Arthur intends to secure a deal to purchase the All Star Factory cinema complex in Thurso by the end of next week. He has set an opening date for the Thurso Cinema Limited, by Friday August 3, to coincide with the UK premiere of the new Disney movie, Brave , which would be the first film shown at the Ormlie Road premises since they closed in 2009.
TWO Wick girls came out on top as the curtain fell on the 58th Caithness Music Festival. Thurso High was the venue for the final on Friday night, as each of the section winners battled it out for the overall title. In the overall verse-speaking competition, Kate Jolly (10) of Pulteneytown Academy Wick, won the Thurso and District Round Table Shield with her recital of “ My Mother Saw a Dancing Bear”.
A CAITHNESS man, who launched a campaign to support victims of last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, has been honoured by the Queen. Wick born John Bremner, who is president and chief executive of Unilever Japan, was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s birthday honours on Saturday. Also picking up awards were renowned Highland dancing teacher Mina Mackay from the Hill of Forss, who received a British Empire Medal and Judie Newman, originally from Caithness, who was awarded an OBE.
AN exceptionally close encounter with a group of five killer whales, by hundreds of visitors and locals at Thurso and Scrabster, marked the dramatic return of a well-documented pod. Karen Munro from Scrabster, who has recorded sightings for the Sea Watch Foundation for seven years, was among those to see the orcas on June 10.
HALKIRK Gala Week concluded on Saturday evening with the crowning of Gala Queen Becky Taylor by retiring queen, Kate MacNicol. Queen Becky was able assisted by her attendants Naomi Crawford and Lauren Juille. William Manson, chairman of Halkirk Village Council, introduced the guest speaker, retired minister Rev Ronnie Johnstone, who has participated in several community activities since moving to the village. Mr Johnstone was attracted to live in the village by the “real sense of community because people work hard to make things happen”.
THE new operator of Dounreay, has come under fire for withdrawing its support for a number of local events after securing the site clean-up contract. Retired minister, the Rev. Ronnie Johnstone, has criticised Babcock Dounreay Partnership for pulling out of funding events such as Halkirk Highland Games, the County Show and the Halkirk country and western festival after winning the contract for decommissioning the site in a £1.6 billion deal in April.
WICK man Jock Bissett was “surprised but delighted” when he received a special award in recognition of his 69 years’ service to the maritime industry. The award was made at the annual Old Pulteney Prohibition Ball which was held in Wick and commemorates the repeal of prohibition in the town. It also raised over £6,800 for the local lifeboat station. The ball has been running since 2007 and each year, one of the highlights is the presentation of the Old Pulteney Maritime Achievement Award. It is given to a resident who has contributed “greatly, towards the community and the maritime industry.”
THE one-time capital of Europe was returned to its former glory at the weekend as hundreds of people flocked to the Wick Diamond Jubilee HarbourFest. Although the silver darlings were missing, the maritime festival which doubled up this year as a tribute to the Queen, proved Wick harbour has more appeal than ever. The festivities which included musical performances, a dance, a flyover from the coastguard helicopter, displays and sideshows, were capped off on Sunday. Scores of boats took to Wick Bay to form a flotilla, their various sails set against the grey horizon, mimicking scenes from the middle of 19th century, the boom time for the local fishing industry.
PATIENTS in Caithness have been assured there will be no disruption to emergency medical services, tomorrow, as doctors prepare to strike for the first time since 1975. Non-urgent healthcare, however, will be affected as a result of the industrial action which follows a pensions row. NHS Highland has cancelled most non-urgent activity scheduled for tomorrow, including outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.
CAITHNESS cinema fans could be enjoying the latest blockbuster releases along with the rest of the UK as early as the beginning of August. Ambitions businessman Rob Arthur intends to secure a deal to purchase the All Star Factory cinema complex in Thurso by the end of next week. He has set an opening date for the Thurso Cinema Limited, by Friday August 3, to coincide with the UK premiere of the new Disney movie, Brave , which would be the first film shown at the Ormlie Road premises since they closed in 2009.
TWO Wick girls came out on top as the curtain fell on the 58th Caithness Music Festival. Thurso High was the venue for the final on Friday night, as each of the section winners battled it out for the overall title. In the overall verse-speaking competition, Kate Jolly (10) of Pulteneytown Academy Wick, won the Thurso and District Round Table Shield with her recital of “ My Mother Saw a Dancing Bear”.
A CAITHNESS man, who launched a campaign to support victims of last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, has been honoured by the Queen. Wick born John Bremner, who is president and chief executive of Unilever Japan, was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s birthday honours on Saturday. Also picking up awards were renowned Highland dancing teacher Mina Mackay from the Hill of Forss, who received a British Empire Medal and Judie Newman, originally from Caithness, who was awarded an OBE.
AN exceptionally close encounter with a group of five killer whales, by hundreds of visitors and locals at Thurso and Scrabster, marked the dramatic return of a well-documented pod. Karen Munro from Scrabster, who has recorded sightings for the Sea Watch Foundation for seven years, was among those to see the orcas on June 10.
HALKIRK Gala Week concluded on Saturday evening with the crowning of Gala Queen Becky Taylor by retiring queen, Kate MacNicol. Queen Becky was able assisted by her attendants Naomi Crawford and Lauren Juille. William Manson, chairman of Halkirk Village Council, introduced the guest speaker, retired minister Rev Ronnie Johnstone, who has participated in several community activities since moving to the village. Mr Johnstone was attracted to live in the village by the “real sense of community because people work hard to make things happen”.
THE new operator of Dounreay, has come under fire for withdrawing its support for a number of local events after securing the site clean-up contract. Retired minister, the Rev. Ronnie Johnstone, has criticised Babcock Dounreay Partnership for pulling out of funding events such as Halkirk Highland Games, the County Show and the Halkirk country and western festival after winning the contract for decommissioning the site in a £1.6 billion deal in April.
WICK man Jock Bissett was “surprised but delighted” when he received a special award in recognition of his 69 years’ service to the maritime industry. The award was made at the annual Old Pulteney Prohibition Ball which was held in Wick and commemorates the repeal of prohibition in the town. It also raised over £6,800 for the local lifeboat station. The ball has been running since 2007 and each year, one of the highlights is the presentation of the Old Pulteney Maritime Achievement Award. It is given to a resident who has contributed “greatly, towards the community and the maritime industry.”
THE one-time capital of Europe was returned to its former glory at the weekend as hundreds of people flocked to the Wick Diamond Jubilee HarbourFest. Although the silver darlings were missing, the maritime festival which doubled up this year as a tribute to the Queen, proved Wick harbour has more appeal than ever. The festivities which included musical performances, a dance, a flyover from the coastguard helicopter, displays and sideshows, were capped off on Sunday. Scores of boats took to Wick Bay to form a flotilla, their various sails set against the grey horizon, mimicking scenes from the middle of 19th century, the boom time for the local fishing industry.