THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The members of the Dundee jute trade took a real live interest in a small pig which was brought to their market. The animal was presented by Mrs John Sharp, Balmuir and it was exposed for sale on behalf of the Red Cross funds. Mr W.F Soutar was the auctioneer and, ere the little porker was finally knocked down, £156 9s was obtained for the Red Cross. It was first knocked down to Alfred Cox for 30 guineas and he intimated that he wished the pig to be resold. This happened several times.

50 years ago

Roger Taylor (25), son of a steel worker, whose early tennis was played in the local parks against his mother, carried Britain into the men’s singles semi-finals at Wimbledon. Taylor, a burly lefthander, took only 90 minutes to win his quarter-final against Australian Ray Ruffels, 6-4, 8-6, 6-4 to become the second British player since the war to reach the last four, and the first since Mike Sangster did so in 1961. Taylor and Ruffels were two of six unseeded players in the quarter finals.

25 years ago

A new youth orchestra took to the stage last night for their first major concert of Scottish music. Previously affiliated to the Dundee Strathspey and Reel Society, the junior group broke away to form the Tayside Youth Strathspey and Reel Orchestra. Members range from eight to 18 years old and perform under the guidance of musical director and conductor Bob Edward, who also coaches them during the week. They have already performed smaller concerts.

One year ago

A Tayside girl was at the centre of a rabies alert after a bat bit her five times. Emergency medication was rushed from Edinburgh after Victoria Kimmet’s ordeal in her Dundee home. As the 11-year-old enjoyed an evening meal with her mother, the bat flew in through an open window and repeatedly sank its fangs into her before fluttering to the curtain rail and hanging upside down. The youngster received treatment at Ninewells Hospital and faces follow-up checks with her GP.