THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The following Italian official communiqué was issued yesterday: “On the Bainsizza Plateau the intensity of the struggle has increased. With extreme desperation and greater employment of forces the enemy is seeking to prevent us progressing towards the eastern edge of the plateau. Our troops are resolutely facing the new resistance of the enemy, and have overcome it at various points. During the day yesterday we captured more than 500 prisoners.”

50 years ago

Brian Epstein, the 32-year-old manager of the Beatles and the man who launched them on the road to fame, was found dead yesterday afternoon by his housekeeper at his home in Belgravia, London. Mr Epstein was found dead in bed and foul play is not suspected. A friend of Mr Epstein said: “He has been unwell for some months. The reason for his death is at present unknown.” When the Beatles were given the news, they decided to return to London from North Wales.

25 years ago

New Inland Revenue offices, opened during the past year in Dundee and Glenrothes, are already under threat of closure. The future of the two offices, together with a third in Falkirk, is now the subject of a top level review by the Inland Revenue because the work envisaged for them has failed to materialise in a very big way. The lack of work is understood to be affecting all 24 new offices set up throughout the UK especially to handle tax changes made in 1990 and 1991.

One year ago

An Angus primary school has been branded “not fit for purpose” after opening over-capacity for the new school year. The new Timmergreens opened its doors as part of a £12 million phase of the Arbroath schools project. But the school’s day one roll was 231 youngsters – 14 pupils above capacity – and children are already being taught outwith proper classrooms. Arbroath councillor Ewan Smith and the authority’s education convener Sheena Welsh frequently clashed over the school.