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More than 100,000 people embrace Wick oral history interviews

Ian Leith (right), chairman of the Wick Society, with his wife Doreen, who leads the Wick Voices project, and fellow volunteer Alan Hendry (centre). In the background is a photo of Davy Nicolson, whose interview on the subject of Whaligoe Steps has been one of the most popular recordings to date. Picture: Fergus Mather
Ian Leith (right), chairman of the Wick Society, with his wife Doreen, who leads the Wick Voices project, and fellow volunteer Alan Hendry (centre). In the background is a photo of Davy Nicolson, whose interview on the subject of Whaligoe Steps has been one of the most popular recordings to date. Picture: Fergus Mather

A project which has immortalised the memories of scores of Caithness residents has now reached more than 100,000 listeners.

The Wick Society has interviewed more than 130 people for its Wick Voices programme, from fishermen to musicians and various local luminaries.

The online collection has now recorded more than 100,000 individual plays as more and more people log in to hear the nostalgic recollections.

The project was launched less than two years ago, and the volunteers behind it say they are “creating an important archive” which reaches eardrums across the world.

Lead organiser, Doreen Leith, carries out interviews and regularly gives presentations about Wick Voices to local groups.

She said: “I’m amazed by the positive response and I feel privileged to be part of the project.

“Feedback suggests that people are listening throughout the world.

“One man told me that he listens to Wick Voices while ironing, and I know of one lady who sits down with a cup of tea on a Sunday to listen to it.”

The audio files are uploaded to the Wick Society’s website where they are freely available to listen to or download.

Subjects covered so far have ranged from schooldays and childhood games to shops and workplaces, and from wartime recollections to sport, art, music and leisure.

Some stories are poignant, some are reflective and others are lighthearted. In some cases they give details of working practices that have long disappeared.

There were almost 6,500 plays in June, helping to take the total number of listens beyond the 100,000 mark.

The Wick Society is the voluntary organisation which runs the award-winning Wick Heritage Museum in Bank Row, where the recordings will be stored on a database.

Group chairman, Ian Leith, said: “We are pleased that these natural storytellers have been happy to share their memories, and we are delighted with the response from listeners.”

Fellow volunteer, Alan Hendry, added: “I feel we are creating an important archive of reminiscences to be enjoyed and valued by present and future generations.

“It’s local history as told by the people who have lived through it.”

There are now 139 audio files on the Wick Voices section of www.wickheritage.org and the collection continues to grow.