William Alexander Coutts

William Coutts was Burgh Surveyor of Wick during the war. He was originally from Aberlour. He had been appointed on 26 May 1941 after some controversy at the Wick Town Council meeting. The first choice candidate had been withdrawn and William Coutts, then interim Sanitary Inspector in Banffshire, was second on the list (short list). There was a split vote on whether the town should do without a surveyor during the war or appoint Mr Coutts. He was appointed on the casting vote of the Provost. He had previously worked in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh.

Arriving in the town in July, he moved into 15, West Banks Terrace, the house that came with the post. Additional wartime duties included organising very successful salvage drives, the provision of air raid shelters and the removal of railings.

On 23 Jan 1942 he played a selection of violin pieces at the ceilidh of the Wick branch of An Comunn Gàidhealach, the Gaelic language and culture organisation.

On 30 Mar 1942 his daughter was born at the Henderson Memorial Nursing Home.

The Nov 1942 meeting of the Town Council saw Mr Coutts and Mr More challenged on their use of their motor vehicles by Councillor James Mulraine. He questioned where they were getting their supplementary petrol ration. Mr Coutts explained that this was not in relation to his Council duties but for essential work which he declined to divulge. Councillor Mulraine was not satisfied by the production of the two men's "E" petrol coupons. He described the situation as a "pure scandal" in the local newspaper report. He had opposed Mr Coutts appointment originally and  wrote to threaten his employment when Mr Coutts refused to repair a property rented out by Mulraine's wife, despite the lack of apparent damage and it not being a Council responsibility. Coutts was unable to admit to his role with Auxiliary Units, which was the source of the additional petrol supplies.

In Apr 1944 he applied for the Burgh Surveyor's post in Forres, being short listed but unsuccessful, similarly at Galashiels. At this time, much of his work was related to the construction of new housing. The Council had agreed he could also work for Thurso, who had not appointed a Burgh Surveyor at the start of the war, a point used to argue against Mr Coutts appointment.

On 12 Jul 1944 his second daughter was born.

He arranged a staff dance for the Town Council on 18 May 1945 at the Bon Accord Restaurant, not only acting as Master of Ceremonies for the event, but also decorated the room with a Victory theme, including Allied flags, bunting and dance programmes on the walls.

At the end of 1945, he took a new post as Burgh Surveyor for Blairgowrie and Rattray Town Council to the north of Perth.