Wick Heritage Museum marked the start of 2025 by opening its doors to visitors – offering live music, free refreshments and the chance to catch up with friends and acquaintances.
The New Year open day has become firmly established as an annual attraction at the centre in Bank Row, and the opportunity to have Victorian-style portraits taken in the replica Johnston photographic studio again proved particularly popular.
Individuals and family groups were able to pose for the camera wearing period costumes, then buy a print afterwards.
Upstairs, local musicians Addie Harper and Joanne Sutherland played accordion tunes while museum volunteers handed out non-alcoholic wine.
Visitors made their way around the many rooms and themed display areas within the museum, which is run by the Wick Society.
Jan Gleeson (née Richard), originally from Wick, was over from Hong Kong for the festive season with her husband David and their daughters Carina (11) and Eila (8).
Members of the Richard and Gleeson families in the Johnston photographic gallery. Back (from left): Alister Richard, David Gleeson, Brian Gleeson and Jan Gleeson, née Richard. Front: Carina and Eila Gleeson. Picture: Alan Hendry
The girls had some memorable experiences during their time in Caithness.
Carina said: “We travelled to Wick for Christmas and we’ve had a very exciting journey. We’ve seen orcas and the northern lights.”
They also attended the last service at Wick St Fergus Church before it closed as a place of worship.
Also visiting was Jan’s father-in-law Brian Gleeson, from Lockhart, New South Wales, Australia.
Wick Society chairman Donald Henderson was pleased with the turnout for the open day and reported that 2024 had been another successful year for the museum, with more than 5000 visitors during the season from Easter until the end of October.
Sisters Margaret Johns (left) and Carole Green, née Plowman, in Victorian-style costumes. Picture: Alan Hendry
That figure was along similar lines to 2023 and Mr Henderson pointed out that many of the overseas visitors had come from Australia and the USA.
“A few of them have left comments like ‘best museum we’ve ever been in’”, he said.
“They come in thinking it’s quite a small building, looking from the front – then once they start going around it they realise they got that wrong!
“There’s so much in it. We’ve got 25 rooms in here with different themes.”
The volunteers try to refresh the displays when they can to create new points of interest.
Mr Henderson added: “A lot of folk come in and say they’ve seen a lot of changes.”
Accordion duo Joanne Sutherland and Addie Harper provided live music at Wick Heritage Museum’s New Year open day. Picture: Alan Hendry
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Mary and Brian Thain in the fishing hall at Wick Heritage Museum. Picture: Alan HendryWick Society volunteers (from left) Raymond Hill, Elizabeth Henderson, Donald Henderson and Callum Bramble. Picture: Alan HendryMuseum volunteer Evelyn Tait (right) handing some non-alcoholic wine to visitor Kathleen Rosie. Picture: Alan HendryWarren Johns dressed up as a soldier in front of an old Wick High Street scene. Picture: Alan HendryVolunteers Norma Craven (left) and Ann Mackay with some of the raffle prizes on offer. Picture: Alan Hendry