THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

A debate took place in the Lords on the subject of the settling of Highland soldiers and sailors in their native land after the war. It arose on a question addressed to the Government by the Duke of Sutherland, who asked whether ministers would consider legislation to effect this purpose and pointed out how it might be done. His suggestion was that they should cause arable and other suitable farms in the Highlands to be divided up with compensation to the farmers.

50 years ago

There is a new tartan around Dundee streets. It is brighter than they wear it in the glens – the colours of the Italian flag, in fact. The Italians of Dundee, the Mordente, the Sciortino, the Soave, have gone tartan conscious and given a boost to the production of a city woollen mill. Material in bright red, green and white marks the Mordente tartan, designed and produced with the approval of Scotland’s Tartan Information Centre. The tartan was commissioned by local restaurateur John Mordente.

25 years ago

Another significant event in the run-up to the launch of Britain’s first regular privately-operated passenger rail service took place at the BREL Carriage Works in Derby when the company handed over the first of six coaches being refurbished for Stagecoach Rail Ltd. The coaches, chartered from British Rail, will be attached to InterCity overnight trains between Aberdeen and London. They will provide seated accommodation – a service that was to have been withdrawn from British Rail.

One year ago

Members of the group that stalled the new Madras College at Pipeland Farm claim they had a moral responsibility to the people of north east Fife to do so. In their first interview since the Court of Session deemed the plans “unlawful”, the directors of St Andrews Environment Protection Association Ltd insist they enjoyed “wide support” from the community. Members said they know they have been branded the “wealthy old guard” but deny it was “arrogance” that fuelled their ongoing battle.