The serious side of being in Wick for nearly 48 hours, is that it demonstrated how much places like this are struggling to deal with the social issues that significant industrial change brings about. For years there was full employment in this town – either fishing or supporting fishing. Jobs were guaranteed and pretty good paying ones.
Thomas Telford (a very famous Scottish engineer) helped design the harbor here – which was of significant importance. Even more importantly, he also designed the “Lay” (a narrow channel in which water flows – No idea how to spell it) which brought the fresh water from the Lock 12 miles to the distillery. The drop is only 12 feet, so quite a feet of engineering back in the early 1800’s. Now there is little hope of graduating high school kids getting work here. They have to get out, through college or working elsewhere.
There is a renaissance of sorts through the 1.5 Billion GBP investment in the harbor to equip it for the installation of off shore Wind Farms (I hate them by the way). That will bring jobs and some level of hope. However, the place is filled with roaming gangs of young men and boys – with no jobs and no outlook. Drugs are a major problem. We watched a Pipe band and some dancing on Saturday night right in the center to the small town. The band is sponsored by the Distillery. The average age attending was about mine – the youngsters were not to be seen, accept in the band, which was reassuring.
There is clearly a real sense of hopelessness and it is so palpable as to be threatening and massively depressing. I don’t know what the answer is in terms of real regeneration of a place like this, but it’s remote location and lack of resources mean it has little to work with. The answer may lie in being apart of the service based, virtual economy the UK is gorwing – if that is in fact real. May be. One thing for sure – everywhere we went in Wick – people were friendly and so they have that going for them. Perhaps the wind farms are a better thing than I thought.
FInally, the photo below is of the Funeral Home and the adjoining shop. It just tickled me!
SeaEOblog.com From CEO to SeaEO 
Really enjoyed reading your blog Nick. You should turn it into a book for your next project. You have a great turn of phrase.
Good luck on your next leg.
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Many thanks Kathleen. It’s been interesting and there are stories I just can’t tell at this stage. I’ve seen so much happiness and so much sadness in people over the course of this short journey (seems like an eternity though). Quite a humbling journey in many ways! Please come and see us either in London or in Dallas. I so much enjoyed Claire’s wedding and the time we spent earlier this year with Ant and Gina. Love and God Bless, N
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Might have been easier to have built the distillery beside the Loch perhaps? Let me know your rough ETA at the north east coast Nick in case we can meet up or at least that I can wave you by/flash the headlights from the cliff top or whatever. Btw Harry Goosens is over from Canada on Friday (but off to London shortly after).
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Thanks Vince – just passing Peterhead after some really lousy weather (very heavy rain, big thunder and strong winds). We are bound for Holy Island right now and then on Friday down and I to the Tyne. Timing is a little uncertain due to weather (running a little late right now!). I’ll endeavor to let you know when and where we will be – but Royal Quays in North Shields is where we are supposed to get to on Friday on. I am heading to a family gathering to celebrate a retirement! Stay tuned. Sorry I’ll miss Harry. Say hi from me. Best, N
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Hi Nick. I see the AIS trackers still have you last logged at Peterhead, so I assume you’re “out on the ocean” now and out of range for the present. I could probably pop down to Royal Quays simply to say hello before you head off to the family do, if you do end up there on Friday afternoon. Harry’s heading for the Free Trade Inn at Ouseburn for 7pm, so if I make that too then I will definitely pass on your regards. As I say, let me know as you move down the coast. Hope Holy Island is good. Say hello to “Beadlen” as you pass it (remember that holiday and the fisherman we could hardly understand?).
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Safely in Holy Island on a stunning day. A lot of fun and games off Edinburgh rescuing the Head Sail! I think we will be in The Tyne by mid afternoon. I’ll e mail you more info
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Good news. Is that still mid afternoon Friday (ie not today)? Im assuming you get a bit of a break on the island. I’ll look out for your email.
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Friday!
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Vince – we should be entering the Tyne around 12.00 – 1.00 and I. The Royal Quays Marina by an hour later. Sailing from Holy Island but little wind!
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Great. My brother has just spotted you 20 minutes ago
off the coast at Alnmouth from his front window.
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I’ll see you at the Quays.
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That was us! See you in the Quays. I think there is a bar there?
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