From the archives of the Ayrshire Post

25 YEARS AGO

If it was not for the skills of surgeons there would have been more violent deaths in Ayr and district last year. That was the opinion expressed this week by Chief Superintendent John Duncan. As it was, police in Ayr and Prestwick were involved in four murder inquiries – compared to none the previous year. These resulted in two men being convicted of murder and jailed for life and two others receiving prison sentences for culpable homicide.

50 YEARS AGO

Ayrshire Music Festival was brought to a most impressive conclusion on Saturday evening with selected winners performing in the Festival Concert in Ayr Town Hall. Opening the programme were Belmont High School choir who won the McRae Trophy for secondary schools the day before. They sang, under their conductor Mr Sam Duncan, their test two pieces and peaceful atmosphere of Maurice Blower’s “Night” and then provided an excellent contrast in “May” by Benjamin Britten.

100 YEARS AGO

The principal attraction at Ayr Picture Palace on the first three evenings of the week was “Thy Neighbour’s Wife,” and large audiences enjoyed it thoroughly. Last night the usual mid- week change of programme was made, when “The Laughing Mask” was shown. Two two- reel comedies, entitled “Doing His Bit” and “The Hoax House” in one of which George Robey, the renowned comedian appears supply plenty of merriment to patrons, and should be popular till the end of the week.