An entry from Sinclair 2000: A Personal View by Malcolm Caithness
Monday 31st July
Girnigoe Day. Although another day of quite detailed timings with Sinclair and Girnigoe Castles; Noss Head and Clan Sinclair Study Centre and Wick Heritage Centre to see it didn't matter so much if things went wrong as we were up here and all was going well.
They didn't! The only slight hitch was the Glass factory was not functioning fully due to holidays. We had borrowed two longwheelbase landrovers (one driven by Berrie) to ferry people between the coaches, the Castles and Noss, where we also had the mobile shop open. What a difference that made and saved a huge amount of time.
The haar swirled in and out but Girnigoe was a picture whatever it did. Lachie Stewart, the Clan Trust architect, was on hand to explain what they saw and what our plans are.
The three Thurso coaches rotated between the sites, doing one in the morning and two in the afternoon, so there was never more than one coach at a time at any one place. This was made all the more important with the single-track roads. The Halkirk coach only went to the Heritage Centre and Glass factory and then they had the afternoon free.
I went to Noss Head to collect the wine, whisky and medals for the banquet on Wednesday and even drove my car down to Girnigoe as the road is so good and it was dry. Marion Thurso took the goods back to Thurso East and she and Camilla Sanson stuck on the wine labels I had printed on my computer.
After some chores at Noss I also went to Thurso East where John and I started to do the placement for the Clan Banquet. It was not working so gave up, went back to the hotel and slept for a bit.
After a quick supper with Iain and Annabel Laird at the Station Hotel we all went off to the Ceilidh at the British Legion Hall. It was organised by Donald and Maureen Sinclair and compèred by Peter Murchieson. It had been very well arranged with a good array of local talent - piper, Caithness Gaelic Choir, the solo Gold Medallist from the Mod, highland dancers, accordionist and fiddle player.
They were all very talented and were supported by the Clan Sinclair Pipers. In addition Rory and the Rev. Malcolm Sinclair did a duet of pipes and songs including Malcolm's version of Amazing Grace written for the occasion.
It was Iain Laird's birthday and I arranged for his daughter Sarah (aged 5) to wish him a happy birthday over the microphone. There was an interval in the middle for tea and biscuits.
I made a mistake at the end when, after a few "housekeeping" announcements - I had to take the few occasions we were all together to do these - I said the coaches would leave at 11.15. That was in twenty minutes time, which allowed for the final two acts to be performed. However I had so drummed into people the need to be on time that most got up straight away and started to leave! Confusion reigned and John had to do a quick vote of thanks and it finished earlier than planned.
Some remained and so the accordionist and fiddler agreed to play a Dashing White Sergeant and we taught those who did not know. That was very popular and it finally ended on a high note.
Girnigoe Day. Although another day of quite detailed timings with Sinclair and Girnigoe Castles; Noss Head and Clan Sinclair Study Centre and Wick Heritage Centre to see it didn't matter so much if things went wrong as we were up here and all was going well.
They didn't! The only slight hitch was the Glass factory was not functioning fully due to holidays. We had borrowed two longwheelbase landrovers (one driven by Berrie) to ferry people between the coaches, the Castles and Noss, where we also had the mobile shop open. What a difference that made and saved a huge amount of time.
The haar swirled in and out but Girnigoe was a picture whatever it did. Lachie Stewart, the Clan Trust architect, was on hand to explain what they saw and what our plans are.
The three Thurso coaches rotated between the sites, doing one in the morning and two in the afternoon, so there was never more than one coach at a time at any one place. This was made all the more important with the single-track roads. The Halkirk coach only went to the Heritage Centre and Glass factory and then they had the afternoon free.
I went to Noss Head to collect the wine, whisky and medals for the banquet on Wednesday and even drove my car down to Girnigoe as the road is so good and it was dry. Marion Thurso took the goods back to Thurso East and she and Camilla Sanson stuck on the wine labels I had printed on my computer.
After some chores at Noss I also went to Thurso East where John and I started to do the placement for the Clan Banquet. It was not working so gave up, went back to the hotel and slept for a bit.
After a quick supper with Iain and Annabel Laird at the Station Hotel we all went off to the Ceilidh at the British Legion Hall. It was organised by Donald and Maureen Sinclair and compèred by Peter Murchieson. It had been very well arranged with a good array of local talent - piper, Caithness Gaelic Choir, the solo Gold Medallist from the Mod, highland dancers, accordionist and fiddle player.
They were all very talented and were supported by the Clan Sinclair Pipers. In addition Rory and the Rev. Malcolm Sinclair did a duet of pipes and songs including Malcolm's version of Amazing Grace written for the occasion.
It was Iain Laird's birthday and I arranged for his daughter Sarah (aged 5) to wish him a happy birthday over the microphone. There was an interval in the middle for tea and biscuits.
I made a mistake at the end when, after a few "housekeeping" announcements - I had to take the few occasions we were all together to do these - I said the coaches would leave at 11.15. That was in twenty minutes time, which allowed for the final two acts to be performed. However I had so drummed into people the need to be on time that most got up straight away and started to leave! Confusion reigned and John had to do a quick vote of thanks and it finished earlier than planned.
Some remained and so the accordionist and fiddler agreed to play a Dashing White Sergeant and we taught those who did not know. That was very popular and it finally ended on a high note.
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