I enjoyed Caithness as soon as I set foot in it
Recorded 12 months ago
About this recording
Ron Stevenson was the last county clerk to Caithness County Council, serving from 1967 until it ceased to exist in May 1975. That was when local government reorganisation brought an end to town councils, such as those for Wick and Thurso, as well as county councils, and a new system of district and regional authorities came into being.
In this recording, Ron looks back fondly on his Wick-based role and mentions some of the provosts, other elected representatives and council officials he worked with. “I enjoyed Caithness as soon as I set foot in it – I just knew it was a good place for me,” he says. “It was a very nice place to bring up a young family.
“I liked the two towns. There was a decent rivalry but pretty healthy and good-tempered most of the time, and I was exceptionally lucky with the people I worked with in the county buildings in Wick.
“As far as the county council was concerned, there were no high egos around, or great ambition. It was all men – and a few ladies – working generally for the public good.
“I know it sounds boring being a bureaucrat, but it was far from it in Caithness.”
Ron, originally from Fife, had begun his career in local government with Ayr County Council in 1960 before moving to Dumfries the following year. He made the move to Wick 1963, initially as deputy county clerk.
He went on to be chief executive of Highland Regional Council from 1981 until retiring in 1996. That was the point at which further local government reorganisation took place, with the districts and regions making way for 32 single-tier council areas including the current Highland Council.
“I greatly enjoyed my career,” Ron adds. “But, as I say regularly, the best part of that was my time in Caithness.”
The recording was made in Ron’s home in Inverness.
One of the senior Caithness councillors Ron mentions is the late John Young. John was interviewed for Wick Voices in February 2025 and that recording is also part of our collection.
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