New book tells of notable personalities and key events from Thurso’s past

Notable personalities and key events from Thurso’s history are recalled in a new book by a local author.

Thurso: Reminiscing with a Thirsa Loon, Volume One is an eclectic collection of informative and entertaining true stories that open up a window on the past.

It features characters such as a councillor who was credited with inventing aerial warfare, the “female barber” who worked until midnight on a Saturday and an ironmonger who went swimming outdoors every morning until he was well into his eighties, as well as describing the wide-ranging role of the town’s Inspector of Nuisances.

The 36 chapters, which have been indexed, span a period from the 18th century onwards and cover topics from street names to shipwrecks as well as important local buildings including the Turnpike and Dunbar Hospital.

It also recounts the story of Harry Hawker and Kenneth Mackenzie-Grieve, the adventurous airmen who were saved from the Atlantic and given a rousing reception when they arrived at Scrabster.

An insight is given into long-gone workplaces such as the tannery, the pavement works and the “crab factory”.

The book even reveals what happened to the horse trough (“a much-loved piece of street furniture”) that was gifted to Thurso by Sir Tollemache Sinclair.

The idea stemmed from a monthly series of heritage articles in the Caithness Courier. The author – referred to only by his Thirsa Loon pseudonym – says there has been a “fantastic” reaction since the book went on sale recently.

A pre-order advert was posted on the Thurso Heritage Society Facebook page, along with some others, and the initial stock sold out by mail order before it could even go on local shop shelves. A second order has had to be placed.

“If I hadn’t started writing the articles the book quite likely would never have come to mind,” the author said.

“I would really like to give a big thank-you to Jamieson’s Bakery and Eye Candy who are selling the book and have been incredibly supportive, and those who were involved in helping it come to fruition.

“There has been a fantastic reaction so far and lots of good feedback with people saying that they have read it in one go and there was lots of information about the town they didn’t know – which, for me, is a real bonus. They are already asking for a second volume.

“For anyone ordering online, books are dispatched as soon as possible, usually on the same day, but Royal Mail has reported that due to the high volume of online shopping this year, and Covid, there are delays. Books are arriving, just later than normal.

“Copies have been sent throughout Europe, to Australia and America and right across the UK, from Shetland down to England. I really didn’t think it would be so widespread. I take that as a very positive sign that people are interested in learning about Thurso’s history – the good and the bad.

“I say the bad, because in the book I mention problems regarding foul-smelling graves, roads in poor repair, drownings, a charge of homicide, riots and the county being overrun with inns. Using original sources and first-hand accounts, the chapters recount Thurso as it was recorded at the time.”

The book is available to order online from Mango Books or locally from Jamieson’s Bakery and Eye Candy in Thurso, priced £10.