From the archives of the Ayrshire Post

25 YEARS AGO

If it wasn’t for catching chickenpox 69- year- old Ian Black of 55 Longhill Avenue, Ayr would be dead today. And somewhere in Normandy there would be a tombstone with his name on it.

In March 1944 he was a Royal Navy Petty Officer and was rushed to sick bay, then an isolation ward to stop an epidemic among the 17000 seamen of HMS Victory barracks in Portsmouth.

He should have landed on the beaches. All his team were killed.

50 YEARS AGO

An insight into Troon in the year 2055 shows it is likely to have a population of more than 27,000.

The structure plan by county planning officer Clark Fyfe allows the development of 750 acres. It is suggested the Monkton- Irvine road is moved east, bypassing Loans to merge with Troon.

It is suggested the three municipal golf courses be retained, but consideration given to making them into six nine- hole courses. Also that a five storey hotel is built at Muirhead and Church Street pedestrian only.

100 YEARS AGO

A very large assembly of county sporting ladies and gentlemen met at Stair Bridge, River Ayr.

Hounds were cast off and hunted up river and the pack began to give tongue. Carrying the drag for some distance, they took the line into a dam and marked an otter. Fifteen minutes later they accounted for their game, a half grown cub. Up river the hounds hunted the line in a beautiful way for two miles and found a strong holt. Terriers were sent in and in shallow water the hounds rolled over a fine dog otter.