My Grandmother, Margaret Taylor was born and raised in Wick. She immigrated to Canada in early 1900’s. My Grandmother, Mother and myself visited Wick and her brothers and families in 1953. I remember a thriving town and enjoyed our summer visit. My Uncle Andrew Taylor owned a butcher shop there and I remember going with him in a lorry (we say van) to deliver meat to the countryside folk. A long time ago but fond memories. Many of our relatives were fishermen. I hope to visit once more when safe to do so. Hoping to find a relative or two! One never knows! Thank you for the video. Hoping for prosperity for Wick. 🤗
Thanks for the video. I spent my childhood in Wick (in Australia now) and it was nice to have a trip down memory lane. I had mix emotions. Seeing the boarded up houses and shops was sad but it still has its charms. It feels like the place needs a burst of energy, I never used to feel that way.
Looks very quite. I loved the mist down by the bridge and river - made it look very mysterious! Would love to have seen how the place looked when it was a thriving fishing town.
My late Father's Uncle by marriage,Alexander Mackay, came to Australia at the age of 17 by himself, from his hometown, Wick in Scotland. He eventually married my Fathers Aunty, who was my Grandads Sister. I loved my Uncle Alex dearly and he passed away when I was in my early teens, I am now 61. When I was in England in 1977-1978, I made it my mission to travel to Wick, so I could see Uncle Alex birth place and where he lived until he left at 17 by ship to make a new life on the other side of the world.When I was in Wick, I enquired at several places about how I might find out about my Uncle Aex as I so wish I knew why he did that, but because of my age, I never thought to ask him why. I also have never known if he had his Mum & Dad & siblings in Wick when he left. If only I had been older before he died, so I had thought to ask him so many things I now wish I knew. My Uncle Alex was a wonderful husband to his wife, Aunty Tilly and nursed her through her cancer, at home until she died there. Their home in Melbourne was sold and he came to live with us in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. After some time, he went to live in a nursing home in Ballarat, where he lived until he died. He spent many hours there using a weaving machine that was in the craft room, making beautiful tartan scarves. How he learned this craft I have no idea, considering he left Scotland when so young. But the tartan was beautiful, just as was my much loved Great Uncle Alexander Mackay. from Karen Welfare (nee Laverick)
Hi Karen - you can buy books on Caithness or you can go on the Caithness web page and ask around someone back will know something. www.caithness.org/caithnessbooks/ I am from Wick myself but I also moved away in search of warmer weather and stuff to do, but yes Wick is ok just to isolated and remote for me now.
@@Kehua800, thanks so much for your message. I remember when I went to Wick in 1978, when I was in UK from Australia and it was so cold and felt like so far from anywhere else. I did go to some places then, trying to find out about my Great Uncle Alex, but when I mentioned his name was Alex McKay, I was told, " Do you have any idea how many Alex McKay's there are in Scotland" So I never tried to find out any more about him while I was there. I don't know who his parents were, if he had brothers and sisters or any details. All I ever knew was he was 17 when he came by ship on his own to Australia and he came from Wick. I was disappointed I had no luck in finding out anything about my Uncle Alex when I went to his home place, especially as it isn't a very big village or at least it wasn't in 1978. But just being there was special, as I knew it was a place Uncle Alex was born and lived. It always amazed me that someone so young left Scotland to make a life in Australia. I never even knew when he was alive, why he chose to do that. If I had been older I would have asked him. So you have said you moved away in search of warmer weather and stuff to do. Where is it you moved to, hopefully Australia as it is much warmer here than anywhere in England. I should know as I lived in Kent for several years and am married to an Englishman.
@@karenjulie1958 - Yes there is so many Alex Mckays. I know a few myself who live in Wick. The only thing I can think of is to tell your story to the website I sent you, You can join the forums its free. Start a chat there is people on the site all the time. My Grandmother is a historian by Nature she might know something I will ask her. Never been to Australia, I will go sometime. For now I live in the Middle East. Wick is very cold and miles away from anywhere, nothing to do even nowadays. The people in wick are also small minded its no fault of there own its just the way it is. However as a kid growing up there the summer nights lasted so long, the sun does not go down until after 11pm that's the good days which last forever. Take care
@@mtrahman5735 Yes he was and I never thought to ask my Uncle Alex, who we called him, even though he was my Dads Uncle, why he chose to leave Scotland at such a young age and why he came to Australia. I wish when I was young, I had thought to ask many questions and now all my relatives who may have had answers, have all passed away. I travelled to Wick many years ago, hoping to find out about Uncle Alex, but got no help sadly. He was a true gentleman and I so wish I had learnt about his life before I knew him.
Where are the people? Looks like the place is stuck in a bygone era. So sad. My mother was born here many years ago and asked to be buried here after she passed. So sad a place now. Come on Wick!
I have genetic roots from wick. My family name is wick, I believe they financed fisherman along time ago. I want to visit wick and do records searching. How is the health care and what type of hospitals do they have
I am from there and they are two hospitals the biggest one is caitness general and the other one is called town and county they are also a doctors office
I born in wick pronounced week 1955 it's run down now 2 social clubs shut down atomic club and back bridge st club .only ever go up for funerals fishing fleet gone no lea rig Valhalla sunk norrie long retired Hugh Spragie all the characters long gone .
Thanks for your reply Alex, it is sad to hear that Wick has become a different place over the years and I imagine it would have been a thriving fishing village when Uncle Alex grew up there. I so wish I knew why he chose to leave at only 17 and why he came to Australia. I have been trying to work out his age when he died and think Uncle Alex would have been in his mid to late seventies. I would have been about 14 and am now 61. Uncle Alex married my Dads Aunty Tilly, who was my Dads Fathers Sister and I know they had a daughter. Apparently they had nothing to do with her for many years and I don't know if she ever knew that her parents had died. So many unknowns Alex, which for me, is very sad.
Many thanks i lived between wick and thurso many years ago the most fabulous friendly people you could meet 🍀.
My Grandmother, Margaret Taylor was born and raised in Wick. She immigrated to Canada in early 1900’s. My Grandmother, Mother and myself visited Wick and her brothers and families in 1953. I remember a thriving town and enjoyed our summer visit. My Uncle Andrew Taylor owned a butcher shop there and I remember going with him in a lorry (we say van) to deliver meat to the countryside folk. A long time ago but fond memories. Many of our relatives were fishermen.
I hope to visit once more when safe to do so. Hoping to find a relative or two! One never knows! Thank you for the video. Hoping for prosperity for Wick. 🤗
Thanks for the video.
I spent my childhood in Wick (in Australia now) and it was nice to have a trip down memory lane.
I had mix emotions. Seeing the boarded up houses and shops was sad but it still has its charms. It feels like the place needs a burst of energy, I never used to feel that way.
I am North West England but I have friends ten miles from wick,it looks very nice.
Looks very quite. I loved the mist down by the bridge and river - made it look very mysterious! Would love to have seen how the place looked when it was a thriving fishing town.
Currently in Argentina, but planning a wee trip home soon, to Caithness
My late Father's Uncle by marriage,Alexander Mackay, came to Australia at the age of 17 by himself, from his hometown, Wick in Scotland. He eventually married my Fathers Aunty, who was my Grandads Sister. I loved my Uncle Alex dearly and he passed away when I was in my early teens, I am now 61. When I was in England in 1977-1978, I made it my mission to travel to Wick, so I could see Uncle Alex birth place and where he lived until he left at 17 by ship to make a new life on the other side of the world.When I was in Wick, I enquired at several places about how I might find out about my Uncle Aex as I so wish I knew why he did that, but because of my age, I never thought to ask him why. I also have never known if he had his Mum & Dad & siblings in Wick when he left. If only I had been older before he died, so I had thought to ask him so many things I now wish I knew. My Uncle Alex was a wonderful husband to his wife, Aunty Tilly and nursed her through her cancer, at home until she died there. Their home in Melbourne was sold and he came to live with us in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. After some time, he went to live in a nursing home in Ballarat, where he lived until he died. He spent many hours there using a weaving machine that was in the craft room, making beautiful tartan scarves. How he learned this craft I have no idea, considering he left Scotland when so young. But the tartan was beautiful, just as was my much loved Great Uncle Alexander Mackay. from Karen Welfare (nee Laverick)
Hi Karen - you can buy books on Caithness or you can go on the Caithness web page and ask around someone back will know something. www.caithness.org/caithnessbooks/
I am from Wick myself but I also moved away in search of warmer weather and stuff to do, but yes Wick is ok just to isolated and remote for me now.
@@Kehua800, thanks so much for your message. I remember when I went to Wick in 1978, when I was in UK from Australia and it was so cold and felt like so far from anywhere else. I did go to some places then, trying to find out about my Great Uncle Alex, but when I mentioned his name was Alex McKay, I was told, " Do you have any idea how many Alex McKay's there are in Scotland" So I never tried to find out any more about him while I was there. I don't know who his parents were, if he had brothers and sisters or any details. All I ever knew was he was 17 when he came by ship on his own to Australia and he came from Wick. I was disappointed I had no luck in finding out anything about my Uncle Alex when I went to his home place, especially as it isn't a very big village or at least it wasn't in 1978. But just being there was special, as I knew it was a place Uncle Alex was born and lived. It always amazed me that someone so young left Scotland to make a life in Australia. I never even knew when he was alive, why he chose to do that. If I had been older I would have asked him. So you have said you moved away in search of warmer weather and stuff to do. Where is it you moved to, hopefully Australia as it is much warmer here than anywhere in England. I should know as I lived in Kent for several years and am married to an Englishman.
@@karenjulie1958 - Yes there is so many Alex Mckays. I know a few myself who live in Wick. The only thing I can think of is to tell your story to the website I sent you, You can join the forums its free. Start a chat there is people on the site all the time. My Grandmother is a historian by Nature she might know something I will ask her. Never been to Australia, I will go sometime. For now I live in the Middle East. Wick is very cold and miles away from anywhere, nothing to do even nowadays. The people in wick are also small minded its no fault of there own its just the way it is. However as a kid growing up there the summer nights lasted so long, the sun does not go down until after 11pm that's the good days which last forever. Take care
How brave he was! Just 17 and moved to the other side of the planet! Amazing.
@@mtrahman5735 Yes he was and I never thought to ask my Uncle Alex, who we called him, even though he was my Dads Uncle, why he chose to leave Scotland at such a young age and why he came to Australia. I wish when I was young, I had thought to ask many questions and now all my relatives who may have had answers, have all passed away. I travelled to Wick many years ago, hoping to find out about Uncle Alex, but got no help sadly. He was a true gentleman and I so wish I had learnt about his life before I knew him.
Where are the people? Looks like the place is stuck in a bygone era. So sad. My mother was born here many years ago and asked to be buried here after she passed. So sad a place now. Come on Wick!
Lovely video gavin
I have genetic roots from wick.
My family name is wick, I believe they financed fisherman along time ago. I want to visit wick and do records searching. How is the health care and what type of hospitals do they have
Nice place to visit
I am from there and they are two hospitals the biggest one is caitness general and the other one is called town and county they are also a doctors office
John wick also wick
Thank you for posting.
Love Wick and its great to see it here.
Are there any web cams online for Wick ?
Not that I know of Edward
Don't think so, well worth a visit though
Wick is no longer worth a webcam, unless you like seeing vandalism and drunken meds
Thanks Gavin 🙂
I born in wick pronounced week 1955 it's run down now 2 social clubs shut down atomic club and back bridge st club .only ever go up for funerals fishing fleet gone no lea rig Valhalla sunk norrie long retired Hugh Spragie all the characters long gone .
Thanks for your reply Alex, it is sad to hear that Wick has become a different place over the years and I imagine it would have been a thriving fishing village when Uncle Alex grew up there. I so wish I knew why he chose to leave at only 17 and why he came to Australia. I have been trying to work out his age when he died and think Uncle Alex would have been in his mid to late seventies. I would have been about 14 and am now 61. Uncle Alex married my Dads Aunty Tilly, who was my Dads Fathers Sister and I know they had a daughter. Apparently they had nothing to do with her for many years and I don't know if she ever knew that her parents had died. So many unknowns Alex, which for me, is very sad.
What is the name of the street in the opening scene
0:09 0:09
Bridge Street
My home town is looking a wee bit decrepit.
What a sad looking lonely place
Where are all the people?
At Tesco
@@billyshearer1 the only thing to do in wick is go to tesco, I know.!
We moved away for a better life. I still miss it up there though. Memories