THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Information has been received in Pitlochry that Lieutenant C.B. Robertson RFA, factor of the Faskally and Pitlochry estates was killed in action on 16th inst. Lieut. Robertson, who was the son of Mr John S. Robertson, Nairn, factor to the Earl of Cawdor, joined the army voluntarily as a private in April 1916 and received his commission last May. He is survived by a widow and child. His only brother, Lieut. Ian Robertson, of the Cameron Highlanders, was killed in action in 1916.

50 years ago

Church folk in Auchterarder have received a rebuke from their minister and kirk session for “falling short of their financial obligations to the church”. The church is the town’s biggest, the Barony, with a membership of about 900. Members have been told that their average weekly givings per member in 1966 were 11d as against the national average of 1s 5d. And Barony’s 1967 average is expected to sink to 10d a member per week. The kirk session is said to be “disturbed” by the situation.

25 years ago

A Carnoustie man will next week represent Scotland in a British/ American clay pigeon shooting competition. Alastair Fairweather will carry the Scottish banner in the Brocket Cup competition which is being held in Welwyn Garden City. Played every year, the competition attracts a large number of entries from both sides of the Atlantic. Alastair was surprised, however, to find that there was no one taking part from Scotland and decided to put himself forward.

One year ago

Police had to beef up their resources in Angus after more than 100 cows escaped into the countryside. Officers spent hours “steaking” out locations across the area in an attempt to herd the animals together. The cows got loose on the B957 at Hornie Cross. Initially just 40 made their “mooove” and escaped, but as the evening wore on officers were faced with 120 bovines on the run. At least one cow was hit by vehicles on the Heatherstacks Farm road, near Forfar.