Contents:- Documents - Intro - Season 2007 - 2006

Documentation - ALL links below are PDF files

Introduction

The Heritage Centre has just completed another successful season but look below to view just some of the interesting information available:-.

• Halkirk Highland Games:-
  • A short history of the games - click here.
• Halkirk Ancient Monuments:-
  • The Skinnet Stone - click here.
• Halkirk Whisky:-
  • History of Halkirk Whisky - click here.
• Halkirk Village:-
  • Some photos and description of Olde Halkirk - click here.
• Halkirk Vintage Vehicles:-
  • Some vintage vehicle parts - click here

Season 2007

One of the Star attractions this season was the very rare vintage motorcycle provided by John Bremner.  See below for pictures and report.

John Bremner and motorcycle

Motorcycle:- A 1917 New Imperial Model 7 - one of only five known to exist and produced for the Imperial Russian Army.

Report/Bike History:-

The bike was bought brand new by Mr Andrew Swanson of Watten Mains, Thurso East farm and latterly, Ormlie Road, Thurso.

Mr Swanson was a soldier during World War 1 and endured a spell in hospital in Coventry, which subsequently led to his 'demob' from the service, upon which he bought the bike in Coventry for his long journey home to Caithness. The journey must've been as much as an ordeal as his military service considering the distance covered and the state of the roads in those days.

Once at home he used the motorcycle daily which was then fitted with a sidecar until cars were more fashionable and the bike was then laid up in the store of his contracting business at Brownhill Road, Thurso.

The bike lay there, forgotten about for many years until demands of the business dictated that the bike and all the clutter it was buried under be removed to make more profitable use of the floor space.

Fred Bremner, then an employee of 'Weirs of Castletown' chanced upon talking to an employee of Mr Swanson, who was engaged in the task of clearing the store building whilst he was at the council run 'wash bed', which was adjacent to the store building at Brownhill. The man informed Fred that the machine was headed for the 'scrap man' and if he wanted it he should take it now for free, if he knew someone who would want it.....

Fred's father, Sandy Bremner of Roadside Post Office, Georgemas (better known as Sandy Norton) was well known across the North for his interest in old bikes and would provide the home it deserved.

Fred would not take it for free and went to see Mr Swanson at his home in Ormlie Road, who also refused payment but after much 'bartering' and 'jesting', told Fred to turn out the contents of his pockets, which produced the grand sum of 'two bob' and a deal was struck.

The bike was then passed onto his brother, John A Bremner, West End, Castletown (picture below) - who after many hours of hard work and patience returned the machine to its former glory during the 1970's - thus saving a rare machine from destruction, which has definitely produced a colourful past.

report provided by John Bremner

John Bremner's grandad and motorcycle

Some of the Vintage Motor Vehicles available to view at the opening ceremony.

L to R:- Edward Sutherland, Alistair Tait & John Mackay

JGC Engineering kindly provided New Stands for the information to be promoted in it's best way.

L to R:- Charles Swanson & Robbie Campbell, JGC.

Opening Season 2006

Viscount John Thurso MP (middle) presents the only known bottle of Gerston whisky to the Society's Secretary James Gunn (l) and Chairman Billy Manson (r) for display at the 2006 summer exhibition. The whisky was distilled on the banks of the Thurso river at Gerston in 1859 and is believed to be one of the oldest bottles of whisky in the world.
A general view of the 2006 summer exhibition opening day attended by around 70 people.
Christie Cameron studies the display panels on the Halkirk Highland Games.
A close up view of the giant bedspread that was presented to John Ross the benefactor of Halkirk's Ross Institute building, in 1911. The bedspread has the names of nearly 1,000 locals embroidered into the feathers of peacocks. They donated 1 shilling towards the furnishing of the Ross Institute.
Peter Murchison studies the bedspread which is on permanent display in the Ross Institute after being donated to the village by the descendants of John Ross.	A showcase with a selection of vintage oil and grease guns for cars.
Local vintage car enthusiast Edward Sutherland beside one of his many pride and joys.
A magnificent display of rare vintage cars owned by local enthusiasts.
The display panels for vintage motors with a vintage trolley jack underneath.
A general view of the 2006 summer exhibition showing the panels for old Halkirk, Gerston whisky and ancient monuments in the parish.