THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The old trade of whisky running in the Scottish Highlands has received an impetus through the scarcity and high price of whisky. In several districts the presence of the fine strong peat-flavoured whisky has set the preventive officers on the alert and they have been searching in the wild region of Strathcarron. On the slopes of Strathoyel they discovered a fully-equipped illicit distillery with a fermenting tun of 250 gallons capacity. The whole equipment was destroyed by the Excisemen. No one was captured.

50 years ago

A retired Perthshire nurse who chained herself to Buckingham Palace railings last summer in a “Save the Argylls” move is to continue the fight. Mrs Pelham Kent (68), of Scone, said yesterday: “I am bowed but not beaten by the Ministry’s decision to substantially reduce the ranks of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.” The Government plans to reduce the unit from battalion strength of 600 and officers to company strength of 120. Mrs Kent says she wants the Argylls fully reinstated.

25 years ago

The craft of thatching is on display in Lintrathen while a 150-yearold house is rethatched. Knockshannoch Lodge, which is one of the only round houses in Scotland to have a thatched roof, is having the roof replaced after 70 years by Cheshire firm Master Thatchers. Owner Garry Webster decide that the time had come to renew the thatching on the roof as it had become very thin and was letting in the cold. The work has been under way for about a week and should be completed within the next few days.

One year ago

Rosyth residents were rescued by boat after flash floods hit Fife. A burn burst its banks at Park Road, affecting a number of homes and possibly causing flooding at Park Road Primary School. Fife Council was expected to assess the school last night. Two homes suffered “significant” flooding, with a number of households evacuated. Park Road resident Annette Young, 65, said: “They won’t let me in. They evacuated us. The man next door got brought out in a boat.” Cordons remained in place around the flood last night.