Celebrations tinged with sadness as north motoring heritage centre is officially opened
A new motoring heritage attraction in a Highland village has been hailed as "absolutely fantastic" and an asset to the region as a whole.
Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Centre was officially opened in Caithness at the weekend, providing a showcase for a dozen gleaming vintage and classic cars as well as display areas devoted to different aspects of local history.
It was a poignant occasion as volunteers and invited guests remembered Edward Sutherland, whose dream it was to see a motoring heritage centre established in his home village.
Mr Sutherland, who ran a garage business and was a well-known vintage and classic vehicle enthusiast, was a founding member of Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Society. He died in 2019, before his ambition could be fulfilled, and his wife Jessie passed away the following year.
The centre, run entirely by volunteers, has been created within the old village school in Sinclair Street, formerly Stephens plastics factory. It is open to the public two days a week.
All but one of the vehicles on show are from Edward's collection.
Edward's cousins Alasdair and Iain Sutherland performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, accompanied by the society's chairman Chris Eyre. They were joined by piper Alan Plowman as a large crowd looked on in the street.
Alasdair and Iain acknowledged that the celebrations were tinged with sadness.
Alasdair, of Carrbridge, said: “We're very proud indeed. This has been 16 years in the making.
"In one way it's a very happy day for us, because we have followed its progress, and in another way it's a sad day because Edward and Jessie Sutherland are both gone now.”
Iain, of Inverness, said: “Edward will be looking down today with a big grin on his face saying, 'We've achieved it – we've done what we set out to do.'
"It's not just the cars, it's a heritage site. Chris Eyre has made a huge difference – he has spent the last seven or eight months just about every day working in the building to get it where it is today.”
Alasdair added: “We're gobsmacked by the way this committee has worked so well over the past couple of years to get this project off the ground, with the pandemic and everything coming in between.
“It is absolutely fantastic. They have worked so well together.”
Chairman Chris Eyre said: “It has been an intense eight months since I took over as chairman and a lot has happened.
“It's not just me – the committee has worked tirelessly to get it up and running. Everybody who has been involved had an input.
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“Although it has been intense, it has gone quite smoothly – there have really been no arguments!
“I think we've all worked really well. We knew what we had to do, and we just got on and did it.
“Everybody had their own sections which they were working on and it all came together.”
The society's first chairman, Billy Manson, said: “It has taken a while to get to this stage. It's tremendous for the village, it's tremendous for the county of Caithness, and for the north of Scotland.
“I think a lot of people when they hear about it will travel up here to see it, if they are interested in vintage cars.
“It's all volunteers – people do it for the enjoyment. If Edward was alive today, I can just imagine him in here – he'd be standing beaming.”
The Edward Sutherland Gallery, the main part of the centre, includes displays of Edward's vehicles as well as various trophies and rosettes. “Bluebell”, a Standard 10 car saved from scrappage and restored, is also on show.
The Jessie Sutherland Heritage Room has displays of local heritage items from cameras to radiograms, as well as farming and sporting trophies.
The Exhibition Room has a large display of china and other memorabilia on a royal theme, loaned by society member Linda Munro, while the Reading Room is the centre's library with a range of publications available to browse.
The centre is open each Tuesday and Saturday from 2pm-4pm, as well as by appointment, until the end of the season.
Chris said: “We're not charging. There is no fee to come in, but donations are welcome.”
He added that the society would be pleased to accept additional artefacts for display if people wish to hand them in.
Secretary Janet Mowat said: "The society is extremely grateful to Halkirk District Benefit Fund, Foundation Scotland and Edward and Jessie Sutherland for their financial help in getting the centre open. We are also grateful to the public who supported fundraising activities over the years, not forgetting our members who have stayed with us through thick and thin."
Highland councillor Struan Mackie (Thurso and Northwest Highland) was among those who attended the official opening.
He said: "There is so much to see – lots of local heritage hand in hand with the motoring exhibits.
"There was a brilliant attendance at the official opening for what will hopefully be a great asset for the village and the county.
"Congratulations to the volunteers, committee members and funders for making it all possible."
Anyone wishing to make an appointment to visit can either contact the society through its Facebook page, email halkirkheritage@btinternet.com or phone 01847 839101.
