THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Mr Harry Lauder was the central figure in a very interesting ceremony at the close of his performance at the first house at the King’s Theatre, Dundee, last night. He was presented with his portrait in oils, the work of James Lockhart, Lammerton Terrace and in presence of an audience which crowded every part of the building. The presentation was made in a strikingly eloquent speech by Mr J.H. Onkden, the manager of the King’s Theatre. Mr Lauder had friends in many parts of the world, he said.

50 years ago

Scottish police in their hundreds are anxious to emigrate to Canada. This was learned in Glasgow last night, when it was reported 1,200 policemen from all parts of Britain, half of them from Scotland, had replied to a newspaper advertisement for vacancies in the Ontario police force. They had been attracted by salaries ranging from £1,874 to £2,160 for constables. Between 10 and 15 policemen had been making a personal application each day since the advertisement appeared.

25 years ago

Thousands of ramblers demanding the right to roam over open countryside yesterday staged protests in 40 parts of Britain. Forbidden Britain Day was being staged in protest at what the Ramblers’ Association claims are unfair bans imposed by water companies and private landowners. In a series of rallies, most of them staged on privately-owned land, ramblers’ officials and activists urged the Government to take action to force landowners to allow the public access.

One year ago

A Perthshire group is hoping public pressure will help in its bid to convert a redundant school into a community hub. The Ericht Trust believe its plans for a cinema, heritage and print museum, arts and crafts studio, play centre and café in the former Hill Primary in Blairgowrie is being frustrated by Perth and Kinross Council’s failure to debate its request to buy the building. They submitted an offer by the deadline but two council meetings when the bid was on the agenda were cancelled.