THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago The testimonial at the Royal Humane Society was presented to Townhill miners John Bathgate and William Russell by Sheriff Umpherston in Dunfermline Sheriff Court. The men rescued a woman from drowning in the Town Loch. The woman was seen to jump into the loch by a man who could not swim. He ran to Townhill, half a mile away, and told Bathgate and Russell who hastened to the loch. They swam out to the woman, who was unconscious, and brought her to shore. 50 years ago Two teenage Perth Sailing Club cadets were rescued in style during Tay Week racing at West Ferry. Colin Cumming, 17, and Graham Harding, 16, were picked up by an RAF helicopter after their dinghy capsized off Tayport. It landed the two lads on the beach at the Royal Tay Yacht Club. Their National 12 dinghy X-el was recovered by the RAF launch, which had been exercising with the helicopter. “It seemed as if one moment we were planing and the next we were being hoisted in the air,” said the boys. 25 years ago The end of an era was marked as Duke of Edinburgh Award advisor Laurie Young presented his last certificate at Ancrum Resource Centre in Dundee. Surrounded by friends and colleagues from over the years, Mr Young, resplendent in his kilt, presented six bronze, four silver and four gold certificates to award participants from the city. He told well-wishers: “You’ve not heard the last of me!” Mr Young is a retired technical teacher and has a 28-year association with the award scheme. One year ago Mystery surrounds an amazing ancient discovery at an archaeological dig in Fife. Experts were hoping to uncover secrets of Falkland’s medieval past over the weekend – and they were not disappointed. A “curious” stone which may be a prehistoric tool has come to light. The find was made during the third and final Living Lomonds community archaeology big dig on Falkland Estate which was organised to investigate the fascinating heritage of royal medieval deer hunting.