THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

A strong demand is to be made for a general exchange of civilian prisoners of war between Britain and Germany. Such a demonstration is necessary to convince the Government that the public is exceedingly dissatisfied with the attitude with which Parliament has taken up in this matter, and that so far as the public is concerned, nothing will be left undone to release from that notorious German prison camp, Ruhleben, some 4,000 Britons whose plight is desperate in the extreme.

50 years ago

The rumour that the Tay rail bridge was likely to be discontinued as a railway line was scotched yesterday at a meeting between British Rail officials and members of Newport Town Council. Newport had asked for the meeting to complain about the closing of the branch line for four days between Christmas and New Year. Permanent closure would mean students attending evening classes, persons visiting hospitals and persons attending entertainments in Dundee would have to travel by bus.

25 years ago

Dundee is experiencing an upsurge in “Scottishness” with more people taking an interest in their native culture. The most obvious symptom of this is the flood of people eager to learn the pipes and speak Gaelic. Classes in Gaelic at Dundee University are so popular that an extra teacher has had to be taken on to cope with the demand. And more and more teenagers are turning their backs on discos and seeking out ceilidhs, while folk groups are playing in pubs and halls where rock used to rule.

One year ago

An animal psychologist who has worked for the royal household for decades also revealed the monarch ensures her knee-high companions are kept in good health with homeopathic remedies. Dr Roger Mugford described witnessing the dogs’ dinner time at Buckingham Palace for an upcoming special edition of Town & Country dedicated to the Queen’s 90th birthday in April. At feeding times, each dog had an individually designed menu, including homeopathic and herbal remedies.