50 YEARS AGO Crieff swimming pool plan in deep water

Crieff’s bid to have a swimming pool built along with the new secondary school ran into opposition at the meeting of the county education committee.

The matter was eventually remitted back to the schools sub-committee for further consideration.

Crieff Town Council had told the subcommittee that, under the provisions of a recent Scottish Education Department circular, they were asking for a pool to be attached to the new secondary school, now under construction.

Police Judge DO Maclean said the council had in mind a pool measuring 82ft, 6in by 28ft with a depth ranging from 3ft to 9ft, 10in. They would contribute one-quarter (estimated at £9500) of the cost. The sub-committee unanimously recommended that the education authority give precedence to the provision of a pool in Crieff over the provision of a pool in the Highland district.

Strathearn Pigeon Racing Club’s second race from Stafford took place and for the fourth time in succession the winner came from the loft of Crieff fancier C Allardyce and an outstanding winner it proved to be. The North West Federation sent 3257 birds and the Crieff bird beat 3254 of them to win 1st Strathearn and 4th Federation. When 40 birds were liberated from Cheltenham at 6.30am for the club’s weekly race Crieff fancier G Gauld timed the winner at 3.20pm to be well in front. It gained a velocity of 1052 yards per minute, equal to almost 36 mph for 318 miles.