THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The premises recently secured by Perth Town Council and converted into a centre under the maternity and child welfare scheme were formally opened yesterday by Lord Provost Scott. The new premises consist of an excellent suite of rooms well adapted for the purpose, and the centre will be conducted under the super-intendance of Dr C Parker Stewart, the medical officer of health for the city, with Mrs Rodger as matron. Every possible effort should be made to save infant life.

50 years ago

Bournemouth RSPCA has appealed to sightseers not to disturb Percy the Pelican, newest arrival at Stanpit Marsh nature reserve, Mudeford, Hants. Percy appeared mysteriously on Monday and confounded bird experts because pelicans normally keep to warmer climes. Inspector Ken Gomm, of the RSPCA, fed Percy two pounds of sprats yesterday afternoon. He is satisfied the bird can fend for himself by catching fish from the well-stocked harbour. It may have escaped from a zoo.

25 years ago

An ambitious plan aimed at bringing the glory days back to a Dundee junior football team was launched with a dinner at the Invercarse Hotel last night. Over 300 business men attended the event, primarily to hear and see the proposals which could take Dundee St Joseph’s Junior Football Club to the top of the junior game in Scotland. A new committee and management team installed at the club four months ago are hoping to take the club back to its halcyon days of the early 1960s.

One year ago

A director at NHS Tayside has revealed how his plan for tackling obesity was criticised by the health board for “wasting time”. Dr Drew Walker, director of public health at Tayside, said he was rebuked by some of his peers for developing the healthy weight strategy in 2005. Eleven years later Tayside’s obesity levels are higher than the national average, as Scotland struggles to deal with a full-blown public health crisis. Dr Walker told MSPS we are in a “slow-burning crisis”.