Wick Hospital Garden benefits from community payback

Wick’s Town and County Hospital’s Garden took receipt of a replacement boat which was renovated and repaired by Wick Community Payback clients.

The boat was donated to the hospital by Community Payback Supervisor Bob Miller and repaired and re-painted in the Community Payback workshop in Wick. The boat was then carefully lifted into the Fishing section of the Town and County Hospital in Wick courtesy of Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Wick Harbour who donated the use of a crane.

The large garden at the rear of the hospital is divided into 18 sections which aim to give the residents a reminder to activities and events that the County has to offer such as Fishing, Farming and Sports.

The Friends of Town and County Hospital Garden is a registered charity and was formed in 2016 to design and create a new garden to benefit the patients in the hospital.

Chairperson of the charity, Helen Harper said : “We are delighted to take receipt of this generous donation and it looks absolutely fantastic in the fishing section of our garden. The Community Payback Team have done a fantastic job and we thank them for their efforts. Our residents will get great benefit from this.”

The community payback programme is managed and delivered by The Highland Council as part of Criminal Justice Services.

Community Payback Officer for Caithness Steve MacDonald said: “The boat was very kindly donated by Supervisor Bob Miller and the work to restore it was carried out in our workshop in Wick by clients who have been sentenced by Wick Sheriff Court to carry out unpaid work in the community. Worthwhile work such as this benefits everyone concerned and gives our clients a sense of achievement whilst paying back the community for the offences they have committed.”

The boat ‘Hallie B’ is named after Bob’s granddaughter Hallie Bremner from Wick.

Supervisor Bob Miller with clients from the Community Payback Team.