News
The Duke of Rothesay visits Caithness
2nd August 2009
The Duke of Rothesay said today that he hoped a new cultural centre would bring "something special" to a region with close royal ties.
The Duke, as The Prince of Wales is known in Scotland, spoke as he officially opened Caithness Horizons in the Highland town of Thurso.
The centre celebrates the culture and history of Caithness and is designed to promote environmental responsibility.
Caithness was visited regularly by The Prince’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, after she bought the Castle of Mey to restore it as part of Scotland’s heritage.
The Prince launched the North Highland Initiative in August 2005 to help promote and develop the local economy to support rural communities in the region.
Caithness Horizons, based in the refurbished Thurso Town Hall and neighbouring Carnegie Library, is the result of a year-long construction programme to preserve the listed public building.
As well celebrating Caithness, the centre will try to raise awareness of environmental responsibility by illustrating the impact of humans on the region through the centuries.
The Prince, who wore a kilt of Lord of the Isles tartan, was shown a number of exhibits, including archaeological finds, and met staff.
At the end of the tour Paul Cariss, who is Chairman of the centre, said that it had now received five-star accreditation from tourism body VisitScotland.
Unveiling a plaque to mark the opening, The Prince said: "Having visited this town hall over the years, even exhibiting my own watercolours here, it is marvellous to see the building brought back as it should be.
"I hope the facility will bring something special and extra to this part of Scotland."
The Prince was later shown a selection of fish and taken on to a local fishing boat in Scrabster Harbour on the 10th anniversary of the Marine Stewardship Council.
The council is a non-profit organisation which works with fishermen to try to stop overfishing and to promote sustainable practices.
At Thurso High School, The Prince took in the Society of Caithness Artists' annual exhibition, which included two of his own watercolour landscapes.
One of the paintings on show was a portrait of himself and his wife, The Duchess of Cornwall, at which he joked: "Fame at last!"