THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

“For the first time since the days of the Crimean War British warships are passing up and down the Black Sea,” says a correpondent. “There is at present a frequent service of destroyers between here and Constantinople, which carry the nails and despatches of the fleet, and also the various officers who have to travel backwards and forwards on business. I returned here a few days ago on one of these and although the Black Sea may seem sheltered, it has moods which are anything but tranquil.”

50 years ago

A French farming couple were reunited with their 16-year-old son Jean Louis Bonneau last night, two weeks after he lost his power of speech, assumed an English identity and ran away to southern Spain. Mrs Bonneau embraced her son in Malaga Hospital and said: “What a wonderful Christmas present to be reunited.” Jean Louis ran away because he was worried about mathematical studies. He walked into a Malaga police station without papers and claimed he was Peter Williams from London.

25 years ago

The news that Dundee have made tentative inquiries to neighbours United about ground sharing at Tannadice poses a major question mark over what lies ahead for the Dark Blues. Since 1899 when the club made the short move from Caroline Port to their present home in Sandeman Street, Dens Park has been an essential part of the club and its character. And for the current board to have made efforts, however tentative, to abandon it now shows the depth of difficulties faced.

One year ago

After over a decade of wrangling, plans for a Fife school could be felled by trees. Campaigners fighting for a replacement school for Madras in St Andrews have urged those challenging proposals for an essential access road to be mindful of the years of delay already suffered. A link road to Langlands, earmarked as the site for the school, would run through an arboretum and home of protected animal species. With prized trees having to be axed, objectors fear for wildlife.