THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The Admiralty have approved of the employment of women on various duties on shore hitherto performed by naval ratings, and have decided to establish a Women’s Royal Naval Service for this purpose. The members of this service will wear a distinctive uniform, and the service will be confined to women employed on duties directly connected with the Royal Navy. It is not intended to include those serving in the Admiralty Departments or the Royal Dockyards at present.

50 years ago

More than 600 handicapped people did their Christmas shopping in a Dundee store in what Lord Provost Alex Mackenzie called a “tremendous community effort”. An “army” of nearly 200 volunteers and escorts helped provide the “sheltered” shopping facilities in Marks and Spencer in the Murraygate. The idea got Town Council approval this month after the Health and Welfare Committee heard of the problems the handicapped and disabled had amongst jostling shoppers.

25 years ago

Tayside health officials have drawn up controversial plans to send babies and young children to Aberdeen for surgery in a move which doctors fear will cause distress to patients and their families and seriously undermine the region’s paediatric service. Local health managers are to dicuss a confidential plan to “purchase” paediatric urology services for Tayside children from the Foresterhill Trust in Aberdeen. At present these operations are carried out at Stracathro Hospital.

One year ago

Opposition councillors have reacted with concern to news that Dundee City Council is struggling to lure newly-qualified teachers to Dundee. The administration conceded it had been able to recruit just half the number of recently-graduated teachers it had hoped for the current school year. Education bosses had anticipated 34 teachers joining high schools throughout the city, but just 17 took up posts. Council figures admit the shortfall has had a “clear impact on workforce lanning”.